B-17 Flying Fortress/44-83735 ~ the Duxford resto thread

[Django]

Again, great photos! I love it.

[Rubenandres77]

I think it’s great that modern technologies allow people to share an experience like this one. Many people living in different parts of the world can now witness almost immediately what otherwise could be impossible to see.

Thanks again for sharing this!!

[bomberflight]

The staff at the Imperial War Museum have been incredibly helpful granting me permission for the "Rosie" photo shoot for the 4th of July

So once again ~ we owe them a big thank you for making it happen.

I haven't got any plans for any further nose art projects ~ I am after all just a humble volunteer on the B-17 restoration.

The great thing with digital images is I can share them with people and I really enjoy doing that !

Stay tuned for another update soon

[bomberflight]

Crumbs ! It's NINE DAYS since my last post

We best get cracking with some updates hadn't we .....

I missed the movement of the first of the inner wing sections from the American Air Museum down to the Conservation Hangar





It looks enormous standing on its end like this



Even when seen alongside the B-17 fuselage .....



Which is looking pristine now it's been cleaned and had corrosion treatment



But what's that ? There's some writing on the nose ?



Let's take a closer look .....



If you stare very hard you can just make out the letters "DUXFOR" from when the IGN christened it "La Duxford Belle" before
it left France

I'll try to be on site for the other inner wing section move !

Meanwhile ~ I've got some more updates to post soon

[bomberflight]

This post is devoted to one of the horizontal stabilizers for all you modelers and people who just love detail

This side's been checked out and the skin is being button up



Lets wander around the other side



A closer look at the internal structure ~ the center skin looks to be a replacement panel





And this inscription inside the stabilizer appears to be a from when the panel was originally made way back in World War 2



More soon

[warbird_patrick]

Great thread. Love seeing the progress on her. Thank you for sharing the updates.

Patrick

[DLSheley]

Thanks for the new pics, love it! I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms from a lack of new pics.

[Super18]

Thanks for the new pics, love it! I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms from a lack of new pics.

Ditto.....

[bomberflight]

"Normal service" updating this thread can now been resumed ~ with Flying Legends behind us !

Here's a few pix of the underside of the inner wing section .....



with close ups







This area has then been masked up in preparation for wing panel paint removal





Another update coming soon

[The Inspector]

'Hey buddy, ya gonna do sumpin' 'bout dat cracked exhaust pipe? it's kinda noisy and could gitcha a ticket'
Your in close detail shots are the kind of stuff modellers have been looking for forever. thanx

[bomberflight]

I suspect the exhaust pipe was swapped out either during the original spares recovery for Sally B or when they were filming the Memphis Bellie movie in 1989.

We'll have to wait and see if it's replaced !

Meanwhile ~ a few more detail pix for you guys .....



Engine nacelles and nacelle cowl flaps





Cooling air ducts from the rear of the upper wing section





Chin Turret rear housing





And let's take a quick look at paint stripping the wing section

A section has been masked up and the paint remover has been applied



With the plastic covering peeled back ~ the paint is ready to come off





Well .... the top layer of paint came off. Lurking underneath is the same grey paint that was found on the underside of the fuselage.





So it's going to need a repeat process to remove it .....



Although it doesn't extend across all areas





Stay tuned for another update soon

[CrewDawg]

Thank you Bomberflight for starting and updating this thread! Also thank you to the incredible crew at IWM for doing such an incredible and detailed restoration of Mary Alice! I haven't read every post, but I did see the one where you said that IWM has no intention of ever flying her again, however I can't help but wonder if this wouldn't be a prime opportunity to do the spar A.D. just in case the future ever has something else in mind for her? All I'm saying is never say never. Who knows if years in the future the decision is made to return her to the air? It would be a shame to miss a perfect opportunity to do it and then 5 or 10 years down the road have to open her back up again to do the A.D. because they want to fly her.

[bomberflight]

Hi Bill ! I'll check on the Spar A.D. and report back

[ZRX61]

I suspect the exhaust pipe was swapped out either during the original spares recovery for Sally B or when they were filming the Memphis Bellie movie in 1989.

We'll have to wait and see if it's replaced !

Piece of cake to TIG weld it, there has to be someone at Dx that can take care of that. Are there any plans to clean up the exhaust sections?

[bomberflight]

An update from Wednesday July 20th ~ The last section of the B-17 will be leaving the American Air Museum today !

A last minute inspection to ensure all is well .....



The inner wing section is slowly swung towards the doorway



And then it will be inched towards the exit ( The B-17 reflection in the window is Sally B )



And out it comes .....





Next stop ~ The Conservation Hangar







A slow waltz thru 90 degrees to get it lined up



And then it's a case of some gentle persuasion to get it over the hangar door rail







And it's in Hangar 5 !







More soon