January 2008 Red Tail Project Update:

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2933

I just finished another daylong,whirlwind 430 mile round trip to Wahpeton and I am happy to report the project is coming along nicely.
The rebuild of the canopy framing and lower fuselage has begun:

The Office:

Left side:

The landing gear ready for reassembly even though the Cat did not like giving up this spot:

One of my jobs for the day was to reassemble the lord mounts:

Steve (Slick), John, and Mark reassembling the landing gear:

The engine mounts are back from OWI.
Mark was kind enough to paint them yesterday so we could attach them today.
Eric, Tony, Mark and John prepping the mount:

Mark tightening the bolts:

There would have been far fewer Mustangs produced if I’d have been in charge of installing these 12 bolts on the engine mounts at the North American factory. The forward most 4 are agonizingly just out of fingertip reach:

It is really starting to look like a Mustang now!

retroaviation · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:32 am

Great work y'all! Be sure to keep us posted.

Gary

6trn4brn · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:52 am

Gotta love that toolbox sticker in the second pic from the end

Fandamtastic work!!! Will she be painted the way she was before her tragic accident?

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2933

6trn4brn wrote:

Gotta love that toolbox sticker in the second pic from the end

Fandamtastic work!!! Will she be painted the way she was before her tragic accident?

Thanks. The Red Tail will be painted pretty much the same as before, there may be subtle change or two that only those really paying attention will notice...

flyingsailor · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:07 am

Bryan
Have the wings gone into the jig yet? If I recall they were in the line for sometime this winter, if they are in the jig how are they coming?

Thanks,
Chris

Matt Sharkey · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 2:27 pm **Posts:** 223

Thank you for the update. I can not wait to see this in the air again.

Matt

Matt Sharkey · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 2:27 pm **Posts:** 223

double post. this one can be deleted

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2933

The wings are not in the jig yet.
Word yesterday was it would be in less than two months.
Check out these molds for the wing ribs Tri State made:
John or Steve may have a shot of the whole "wing" to share tomorrow.

flyingsailor · **Posted:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:01 am

Warbirdnerd wrote:

The wings are not in the jig yet.
Word yesterday was it would be in less than two months.
Check out these molds for the wing ribs Tri State made:
John or Steve may have a shot of the whole "wing" to share tomorrow.

Bryan
Thanks for the update, can't wait to see her up in the air again

Warbird Information Exchange

January 2008 Red Tail Project Update:

Who is online