B-17G Champaign Lady Restoration

[Matt Gunsch]

While VP ( Visible Progress ) is good, sometimes it is better to be working with smaller sections. It is much easier to build and fit out the wings and forward fuselage on the ground than as a assembled airframe, the heart of a B-17 is the forward fuselage as everything attaches and is controlled from there, the rear tail cone does not have that much connecting it, so it would be easy to leave off until very late in the rebuild.

[DH82EH]

You are, of course, absolutely right Matt.
Very often with a restoration, the visual progress, gets in the way of the actual progress.

The hard detailed work, does not, unfortunately, make for very interesting press or pictures.
It's the dramatic visual milestones that take that glory.

Andy

[390BG]

August progress - skins riveted on top of radio room and vertical fin starting to be riveted in place.

[Warbird Kid]

Both Champaign Lady and Desert Rat are nearing the point of connection the two fuselage halves.

Whats the distance between the two?

NEVER MIND! Just looked it up on Google maps

[390BG]

One of our local students who work on the B-17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDIJFox72s

[390BG]

Radio room update.

[390BG]

Cockpit overhead radio equipment -




Skin riveted to vertical.

[390BG]

Scaffold moved away from the vertical for re-positioning.

[390BG]

October 18 - 2014

[JohnB]

Wow!

What a project, a real labor of love!
Great workmanship, a real tribute to those who are building her.

[390BG]

Tail coming off - more work and then it will be re-attached permanently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJLk1bQp-cc

[Nathan]

it's nice to see a fresh type of markings. love b-17's. But there are many of them flying with red tails.

great work, and fantastic craftsmanship !

[390BG]

Gene with his horizontal tip bow. Made the old fashioned way with hammer, stump, and english wheel.

[390BG]

November photos:



Building up rear wing spar (inboard wing).





Cheek gun mount:

[Pat Carry]

Nice work there.