Ray Moore's B-17 project

[DH82EH]

I second (d'oh I guess that would be third) the welcome!
It's amazing to see all of theseB-17s being built ! I especially love the idea of cooperation between teams to share patterns and parts, as well of production of materials when required. What a great community and everybody wins! Us airplane s included!
We will eagerly look forward to your posts and progress.

Thanks

Andy Scott

[Travisd80elcam]

Ray if you don't mind me asking, have you a already started or/ have acquired the complex pressed bulkheads and stringers needed to begin the project? And an add on to that question, are the bulkhead panels that make up the mounting surface for the rudder and the tail gear of 44-85813 going to be able to be reused in your project or will they be really good patterns? I saw where you posted an update of you working on for station 2. Also Good Luck and thanks for your posts on Aero Vintage.

Travis

[wendovertom]

Awesome! Good luck with the restoration, I'll definately follow the posts.

Tom P.

[lucky 13]

Travis I have station's 1,2 and 3 new and part of 4 and 5. I have all new longeron's and stringer's and just about all of the tubing in the bomb bay.There is not much that is good on 44-85813 so most of it will be pattern's.

[Travisd80elcam]

Thank you for your response and I wish you the best of luck.

Travis

[lucky 13]

I am posting this request on here and aero vintage too.I need a piece about 48 inch long it is 2024 alum.This is a angle that is part of station #2 floor. No one is making it,so I was hoping some one might have a piece of it.

[The Inspector]

I am posting this request on here and aero vintage too.I need a piece about 48 inch long it is 2024 alum.This is a angle that is part of station #2 floor. No one is making it,so I was hoping some one might have a piece of it.

Your provided drawing is, to be polite, just a bit hard to read as posted and unreadable when enlarged onscreen. Is it an extrusion or flat pattern? If it's extrusion I'd suggest a visit to your local metals suppliers place and taking a stroll through the volumes of standard extrusions dimensions. A bit longer legs or thickness can be adjusted for by a machine shop. Flat pattern is easy, obtain the material (careful about the grain direction) and see if a heating and air conditioning company can bend it for you, as long as it's not very thick and T-3/4 it should bend easily.

[kidjim25]

Have you contacted Mike up at the desert rat? I know we've been working in that area of her reciently
he might have some insight

[lucky 13]

Here it is again

[lucky 13]

I am also looking for this bracket, the bomb cables pass thought it.This bracket mounts on station # 2

[The Inspector]

Take the extrusion cartoon to your local metal supply house, those look to be pretty standard extrusions or they can get very, very close. The bracket may be another story as it's probably a cast piece that was finish machined, just get a big block of aluminum and carve away everything that doesn't look like what you need. Honestly I don't think anyone has a big box of those sitting around but....you might get lucky!

[Chuck Giese]

Take the extrusion cartoon to your local metal supply house, those look to be pretty standard extrusions or they can get very close.

Unfortunately, as Ray probably knows, its not quite that easy anymore. 90's, T's you might get lucky if it's in current production aircraft, but the days of calling in and getting BAC 1505-Xxx in 2024 are gone. We've had to have small runs of extrusions made, particularly bulb angles, Ray has been involved in them.

[SPANNERmkV]

Keep of the good work Ray!

From another 384th BG family member.



SPANNER

[Travisd80elcam]

For those that would be interested, Ray as up dated his on going work on the Aerovintage forum. here's the link http://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewto ... 9&start=30 and it looks like he is keeping very busy.

Travis

[DH82EH]

Okay, some people build homebuilt airplanes.....
Some ambitious folks are homebuilding B-17 flying fortresses
Ray, on the other hand, is homebuiding a B-17 production line WOW!!!
Beautiful work Ray.
Thanks for the link Triangle P

Andy Scott