Restoration Update – Boeing B-17G “Champaign Lady”

VintageAviationNews · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:46 am

Restoration Update – Boeing B-17G “Champaign Lady”

Here is the full article - Thanks to Roberto and Carole for the pictures and the update.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-res ... pdate.html

Invader26 · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:56 am **Posts:** 843

Quote:

Fans of the B-17 know it was often affectionately called a “big-assed bird”, due to the size of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Champaign Lady is well on her way to living up to that sobriquet.

A quote from the newsletter but I'm not sure if it refers to the B-17 or the gal painted on the side! :lol:

VintageAviationNews · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:59 am

Invader26 wrote:

Quote:

Fans of the B-17 know it was often affectionately called a “big-assed bird”, due to the size of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Champaign Lady is well on her way to living up to that sobriquet.

A quote from the newsletter but I'm not sure if it refers to the B-17 or the gal painted on the side! :lol:

LOL!

She is kinda sexy...

AURktman · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:59 am

Invader26 wrote:

Quote:

Fans of the B-17 know it was often affectionately called a “big-assed bird”, due to the size of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Champaign Lady is well on her way to living up to that sobriquet.

A quote from the newsletter but I'm not sure if it refers to the B-17 or the gal painted on the side! :lol:

Whoa! As some of the kids today would say, "She's thick.."

And I am referring to both. :supz:

Quick question about the red paint I see in the photos, is that a red oxide primer or a left-over red paint from the days of fire bomber / previous paint?

Misterg97 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:12 am

Warbirdjohn · **Joined:** Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:21 am **Posts:** 21

Anyone know where they got the noseart from? Is it original or historical??
-John

Urbanab17 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:14 pm

Story of the nose art.

http://youtu.be/EYWfR04XZXg

17f · **Joined:** Sat Sep 25, 2010 10:56 pm **Posts:** 87

AURktman wrote:

Invader26 wrote:

Quote:

Fans of the B-17 know it was often affectionately called a “big-assed bird”, due to the size of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Champaign Lady is well on her way to living up to that sobriquet.

A quote from the newsletter but I'm not sure if it refers to the B-17 or the gal painted on the side! :lol:

Whoa! As some of the kids today would say, "She's thick.."

And I am referring to both. :supz:

Quick question about the red paint I see in the photos, is that a red oxide primer or a left-over red paint from the days of fire bomber / previous paint?

That`s actually hi-viz paint from the horizontal of the B-17 recovered from Alaska. I don`t believe a set of horizontals came with the project, so bits recovered from that wreck are being recycled and / or used as templates.

Ken · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:30 am

I typically prefer an accurate scheme, but I must say that their efforts have created one of the nicest imitations of WWII nose art style that I have seen. My family has a special fondness for the 401st as well, so I say "win-win". Can't wait to see her fly.

Ken

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:07 pm

AURktman wrote:

Invader26 wrote:

Quote:

Fans of the B-17 know it was often affectionately called a “big-assed bird”, due to the size of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Champaign Lady is well on her way to living up to that sobriquet.

A quote from the newsletter but I'm not sure if it refers to the B-17 or the gal painted on the side! :lol:

Whoa! As some of the kids today would say, "She's thick.."

And I am referring to both. :supz:

Quick question about the red paint I see in the photos, is that a red oxide primer or a left-over red paint from the days of fire bomber / previous paint?

She has a real nice shape to her which beats the anorexic look of todays models.

Jesse C. · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:39 pm

What some of these groups are doing with their restos is just freaking awesome!

And yes, the nose art looks totally correct and I wish some other operators would do the same with their birds and get rid of the cheesy nose art. I know, their birds, their choice. But, I can have an opinion!

DH82EH · **Posted:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:31 pm

Urbanab17 wrote:

Story of the nose art.

http://youtu.be/EYWfR04XZXg

That is really cool!
It gives this Fort her own, well deserved, identity, while staying true to how these things were named in the first place.

The folks in Urbana, deserve all the credit coming to them, for practically scratch building this B-17 from tid-bits . :supz:

Kudos!!!

Andy Scott

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