Sea Wolf project

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:02 am

By request.

This is neither restoration nor maintenance, but rather a simple man's (emphasis on simple) attempt at a static recreation of an extinct aircraft: the Consolidated-Vultee TBY-2.

With very few original bits available and incomplete engineering drawings, this project is currently in wood mock-up stage (to make sure the pieces fit before cutting 2024. Hey, if wood mock-ups were good enough for Vought-Sikorsky...).

Many, many thanks to all those who have been keeping eyes peeled for parts (Give me a jingle if you've got anything that begins with "VS2" or "VS-2" for a part number :wink:

). A significant section of original canopy will be coming my way shortly, and Albert Stix has discovered a number of TBY turret bits amongst the stash in Missouri. Check Grandma's attic one more time for that elusive center section!

I am neither an A&P nor metal bender by trade. This project exists simply to demonstrate that an average guy with average means and a little desire can contribute to aviation history, learn some skills, have a little fun, and completely annoy his spouse all in one process.

These pics are actually a bit old, but will give you an idea of the intended evolution. Hopefully not too many of you will tear me a new one (like the Flypast folks did to that poor fellow with the MB-5 replica :wink:

).

Steven M. Dennis · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:07 am

It's looking pretty good my friend!

(Kim can't be half as annoyed with you as Lisa is with me and my "collection".....)

Here's to long suffering wives :drinkers:

Steve

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:51 am

I have this goofy image in my head of Dan squating in the cockpit making airplane sounds in the driveway. I bet I'm not that far off, am I Dan? Eh? Eh?

Seriously, it's looking good. Your instrument panel is coming together really well. I fully expect to see this thing completed and on display during AirVenture 2030. Of course I'll be running the show by then too...

Zack

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:47 pm

Hopefully by 2030 maybe somebody will have made a flyable newbuild?

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:54 pm

Dan,
Good work! I can hear Billy Joel music wafting through the air.

"Well we're living here in Allentown, and they're closing all the factories down."

Keep us posted!

Bear · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:25 pm

Looking good Dan! :drink3:

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:15 pm

You all are entirely too free with the flattery.

John, you're quite right: The TBY really was Allentown's pride, and I'm sure her heart was broken a bit when the ol' Sea Wolf never got the chance to show her stuff in combat.

Zack, by 2030 I will have completely lost what's left of anything resembling sanity. :rolleyes:

I'm not quite sure a flying reproduction is in the cards for the TBY. Lockheed-Martin wouldn't authorize the release of the engineering drawings to me unless I signed in blood that there'd be no flier.

I'm hoping to begin hammering out the first fuselage frames once the snow flies (and work quiets down a little).

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:49 pm

Dan,
I'll sign my life away to get the drawings. Then give them to you to build a flier. What are they doing to do? Sue me?

Secondarily, what is amazing is the amount of piston-powered aviation innovation that came out of WWII and was eclipsed by the jet age. There were some real interesting aircraft being built and a collection of them would make quite a museum display.

Canso42 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:44 pm

Dan, I like the point you made about the average guy just having some fun with average skills. I see you have small kids. Do they see 'Daddy's airplane" as a future play structure?
What kind of gun for the turret?

Canso42

Dan K · **Posted:** Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:34 pm

Canso42 wrote:

Dan, I like the point you made about the average guy just having some fun with average skills. I see you have small kids. Do they see 'Daddy's airplane" as a future play structure?
What kind of gun for the turret?

Canso42

Although Mrs. K and I have several children of our own, the toys in the pics are mostly for the handfull of little ones my wife babysits each week--ages 1-4. The project is thoroughly barricaded, plus they all know that if they really wish to see their next birthdays to stay clear of the workshop.

The turret mounted the ubiquitous Browning M2 .50 caliber.

astixjr · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:44 am

Dan,
Maybe now I recognize this strange turret ammo box lid and feed motor. I'll see if I can find a VS or VS2 P/N on it on Monday. It's the right color and I've not seen anything like it in any of my manuals yet. It's the right color, same as the TBM stuff though so I'm not sure. Still, if it's TBY, then we've only got about 2,000,000 more pieces to find.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:28 am

Very interesting indeed! I cant wait to see this project progress!

astixjr · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:08 pm

1,999,999 parts to go. I found P/N ET VS2 2505381 on that odd ball ammo box cover. Those photos you posted of the turret being installed in the fuselage, were they taken at the turret plant or at the aircraft plant?

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:20 pm

astixjr wrote:

1,999,999 parts to go. I found P/N ET VS2 2505381 on that odd ball ammo box cover. Those photos you posted of the turret being installed in the fuselage, were they taken at the turret plant or at the aircraft plant?

Albert Stix, you are...

DA' MAN!!

Turret installation took place on the Convair line in Allentown, PA. I honestly don't know where turret assembly happened. Were completed turrets shipped from Missouri? Major assemblies? I'll try asking around.

astixjr · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:18 pm

Dan,
I have to admit, I'm having fun finding parts for a Sea Wolf, an airplane that I'm still not sure really existed. The reason I asked about the photos you posted is that I can see they are lowering the complete turret into a fuselage and I was wondering if that image was taken in Allentown or St. Louis. As far as I can determine, completed turrets were shpped from the Emerson plant in STL to the plane's assembly plant in Allentown. I thought maybe there could have been a Sea Wolf fuselage here in town. I have recently located the other salvage company that took in a large amount of Emerson turret plant stuff at the end of the war. It's another family owned outfit, complete with an old crusty owner that at first glance, appears to be alive. It's a long shot. I doubt I'm going to find anything but I figure it's worth a shot.

Is the Consolidated Vultee plant still standing in Allentown? Have you taken a day off and visited all the old salvage yards in the area?

Sorry if you have already covered this question in an earlier post but is there any chance of a Sea Wolf being recovered from the water? Any operational losses or crash sites that you are aware of?

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