Urbana B-17 "Champagne Lady" Update 25 June 2010

[Craig59]

Trivia question: What do a B-17 Flying Fortress and a 1937 Ford have in common?

Ashtray or a trunk/door handle of some sort?

[Fouga23]

ashtray

[Shay]

Trivia question: What do a B-17 Flying Fortress and a 1937 Ford have in common?

Ashtray or a trunk/door handle of some sort?

ashtray

Yep news to me, located on the throttle quadrant. Was also told that the same ashtry was/is used on the B-52 as well.



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[warbird1]

Wow, that sure is a pretty vertical stab! By the shininess of that thing, I take it that the rest of the airframe will be the same highly polished NMF?

[Shay]

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/ChimChim3/Champagne%20Lady%2012%20DEC%2009/?start=all


Any guesses? The guy who was working on these was not present to ask.







Weird fairing, any thoughts?





Work continues on the nose. These hand controls have been installed. Any idea what they are used for?




The pace of work seems pretty consistant. I talked with a gent named Bob and he was quite informative. He stated that they are getting ready to separate the 2 sections and move them further apart the correct distance in an effort to start construction of the radio room. Once that is complete the fuselage will make the move to the new hangar. Perhaps as early as the end of summer of the Fall. Exciting stuff.

Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

[Warbirdjohn]

Weird fairing, any thoughts?

The first is a drift meter I think. The second is the piece that covers the opening for the tail wheel. Not positive but I think that is what those two items are.

[RAMC181]

Work continues on the nose. These hand controls have been installed. Any idea what they are used for?

That's the cable-type control stand for the bomb doors and bomb rack settings:



Outboard-to-inboard:
External racks: Safe-Select-Salvo.
Internal Racks: Safe-Select-Salvo.
Bomb Bay Doors: Open-Close.
The bar on the side of the doors lever is an additional physical safety interlock to prevent internal bombs being dropped when the doors are closed.
The wheel is to take up the slack in the cables and reset the mechanism if the bombs are salvoed in an emergency, allowing the doors to be closed.

All the best,
PB

[Warbirdjohn]

I also meant to say that the tail looks superb!
John

[clangjr]

Anyone have any updates on this bird?

[390BG]

Couple of recent (last month) photos. The jig is to build a "new" radio room.

[seabee1526]

What pieces / parts are you bringing up to TOM?

[390BG]

Current plans are to bring the ball turret, possibly the Cheyenne tail, and other new built parts such as pilot/radio room seats, etc.

[390BG]

Progress on the new-build radio room.

[CrewDawg]

I work on our B-17 "Chuckie" every weekend and I thought I was familiar with just about every inch of her, but I have to say WOW, you guys are doing amazing work!! Looking at those wings, I can't even imagine how much work it must have been to build those! All the trus'es with the huge rivets and the corrugatted skin, you guys are amazing!!! I can't wait to see a NEW B-17 take to the skies!!

[Shay]

Updated progress pictures from this past weekend in my photobucket account


http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/ChimChim3/Grimes%20Field%2019%20June%202010/?start=all






Shay
____________
Semper Fortis