Worked on Desert Rat this weekend...

HotRodJosh · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:30 pm

This past Saturday my wife, me and my friends Mike and Chris went out to see and work on the B-17/XC-108A "Desert Rat". It was a volunteer day for EAA Squadron 4. This plane is owned by Mike Kellner. This was our first time out there. I was amazed on what they have done with the facilities that they have. This is all being done in a Morton building in The owners yard! We spent the day cleaning a wing out so it can be readied to be stood up for reskinning. Here are some pics:

Glass nose:

Old meets new!:

Cockpit section:

Re-skinned waist section:

Main fuselage sections:

Ball turret:

Me with the turret door:

It was a fun day and I got to meet alot of great people. We plan on returning again to help and learn more about aircraft restoration.

Nathan · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:39 pm

Hey John, there's your missing ball turret parts! :twisted:

Wow, and it's an "E" model too! If it were me I'd paint her up in RAF three tone with early USAAC markings. How cool would that be?

DryMartini · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:42 pm

You all better come back and help!

It was a beautiful day, and we needed the manpower to get
going on some of these things. One just doesn't realize what
a big job it is until you actually spend 8 hours there, and see just
how much time some of these tasks take.

Big thanks to you, and the rest of Fighter Squadron 4!

Rhinelander · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:44 pm

Wow, great picks. If you were in Dallas, Texas I could bring some labor.

Former Member · **Joined:** Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:40 pm **Posts:** 1493

Great pics...thanks for sharing. I've only seen a few pics of the "Rat" and was seriously starting to question it's existance! :lol:

(just kidding)

Bill...it looks as though your ball turret is in far better condition than I originally thought. Hopefully we can some day swap parts with some of the spares I have to get both of ours complete.

John

DryMartini · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:16 pm

Oh, don't worry John.
We have you inked in as
a buyer for all our spare
and new made turret parts.
And you know how we've been
making things as of late.

K5DH · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:26 pm

I really picked the wrong career. Instead of being an electronic technician, I should have been a salesman for Cleco fasteners! :shock:

Seriously, the quality of workmanship appears to be first-rate! I wish you guys the best of luck with the Rat, and I very much look forward to seeing her flying one day, both from the outside and from the inside!

And I echo Rhinelander's sentiments... if you were in Dallas, you'd have some extra help!

Cheers!

Steve · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:34 pm

great job When I first saw the Rat it was in a million boxs and cut into 3 pieces. Where is the restoration taking place. (address)

Steve

hang the expense · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:04 pm

Those are some great pics. Great work going on with the Rat. Alcoa just has to love you guys. :lol:

DryMartini · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:53 pm

We're in Marengo, Illinois.
If you use the locator (which is
pretty darn nice, BTW), you can see a
cool satellite image of the building.
It's the one with the 1940 style
insignia on the roof.

FWV · **Joined:** Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:39 pm **Posts:** 24

What a wonderfull plane, I love her!!

but... on the 5th photograph... there is a B-26 Marauder, maybe...

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:34 am

Quick question and favor...

If I remember well, she was found in pieces in the woods right :?:

Do you have ay pictures of what she looked like when you found her ?

How complete was the airframe ?

Tks for sharing.

Eric Friedebach · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:02 am

It looks like Bill and the crew is doing some great work!

I think I see some T-28 wing panels there as well.

DryMartini · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:27 am

No, we have no B-26 Marauder...unfortunately.

Yes, those are T-28 wings.

Yes, the plane was found in pieces in a wooded area.
The fuselage was in 8 pieces, and the wings had been
torched off. We do have pictures, which I hope to get
on the web shortly. There were a few shots in a "Warbird
Digest" - I think it was issue #4 with the P-40 on the cover.

And if anyone is wondering, we are selling T-Shirts too!
;-)

Django · **Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:04 am

Hi Bill

I was hoping to go with those guys on Saturday, but I had to work. When are you doing another volunteer day?

Also, would you be interested in giving a tour? My hot rod shop does a reliabiltiy run called the Open Wheel Reunion, where we pic a few places and drive our cars. It might help generate some local interest in your project. Last year one of our stops was to see the Collins Foundation and it was a big hit. July 29 is this year's run.

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Worked on Desert Rat this weekend...

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