Assembling Volunteers to go to Texas - Sikorsky Corsair

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:18 pm

looking great! you guys deserve so much past due credit for what your doing. Wish i could be there with you and learn some great stuff. I'm almost complete with the 2nd plaque for VMF-222, which is coming out great. Hopefully i will have the 2 done for Sat. when i get down there. Also, i was able to secure 3 high grade locks with 4 keys. The locks are donated to help secure tools or the collection etc. The keys are universal and all have dogtags on them that state, " VF-550 Corsair." I just need direction as to who should i give them to come sat? Best wishes,

Frank

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:52 pm

Looks Great, I''l be over this coming Monday...

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:59 pm

Frank - We'll talk about the displays.

Drew - Keep fighting the good fight. Were all rooting for you back home. I only wish I was still going. But alias I'll make it someday.

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:26 pm

Thanks Frank and Chris. Lynn Ill see you Monday, hope you don't mind bucking some rivets LOL. Tomorrow I get to start using the English Wheel. Very Cool. My extra volunteer from California Scott Ramos is sure getting an education on the Corsair and metal fabrication in general. We have been really privileged to have the opportunity. These guys do some seriously amazing work. The Brewster is going to be an amazing looking bird when complete.

Just a few new shots...

Thunder Storm in Breckenridge Texas.... These folks haven't seen rain since the Possum Kingdom fire back in April. First day here when it dipped into the low 90's with the sun out.

Warbird Wear is seen frequently around Breckenridge Texas. The "Mule Skinner" is finishing the paint stripping on the center section.

The Sikorsky Memorial Corsair has been the subject of a lot of damage over the past 65 or so years. This area is below the gastank at the leading edge of the cockpit tub.

Careful cutting and cleaning of the area

Some very careful cutting and fitting. Then drilling and drilling.

Riveting complete. Next step replacing the cockpit floor.

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:54 am

Great work Drew! Was able to make it down Sat. and continued to strip paint from port wing. I heard there is a "Baking soda" technique that works much better than the paint stripper. I worked until i ran out of it. The best part was i finally got to work with Bill. He's a class act and i tried to soak up as much information as he could tell me. If i can't learn something from a guy who made the plane since 1941, then i'm a blockhead! The 3 locks and 4 key sets were brought down, along with the VMF-124 plaque for the musuem. Here's some photo's from Sat.

notice the blue rivets discovered from under all that paint! According to Jim, " Those are blue, 2nd shift put those on."

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 2:50 pm

Next to be donated is VMF-222 " Flying Dueces" in honor of Art Miller with a 111 combat missions.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 3:52 pm

Very cool Frank!!! :drink3:

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:58 pm

Frank,
Let me get Art in for the presentation when I get back from texas neat month. That looks really cool!
:drink3:

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:38 pm

Here is a quick update from Ezell's shop. The heat let up for a few days but it's back in all its glory. Im leaving panels clecoed on with the hopes that they may spot weld themselves to the ribs...

Day 10 at Ezell Aviation - Terry Farmer from Dallas stoped by to help out. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Day 10 at Ezell Aviation - Terry Farmer from Dallas was very proud of his work. This was his first chance to work on a warbird and he had a blast! by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Scott Ramos showws off his handiwork, managing to get all but 3 #8 nutplates to work again. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Day 10 patching so far by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

The decision was made to replace the cockpit floor by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Rocking the english wheel. The panels are rolled but also have a compound curve going fore to aft. This is way harder than it looks. Chad and Randy at Ezells gave me some pointers and after unintentionally making a Wok, I was able to create a new floor for the cockpit. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Freshly wheeled (my second attempt) by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Skin pulled... by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Fitting - The circles are where to make your rows, do the big circles then the small one, back and forth... by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Time to make some holes by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Rivet fan by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Visitors at Breckenridge - Heading back from Fargo by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:43 am

thanks guys! very nice update drew! i'd love to have Art there for a presentation. maybe next i'll do nick's squadron? :supz:

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:19 pm

Great day down here in Breckenridge. The cockpit floor is riveted in and additional small items have been tapped and re threaded. Numerous pop rivet holes have been riveted over to avoid using a lot of filler in the paint job. Best of all WIXer Lynn Allen stopped in and helped me get the floor pan riveted in. Steve Dickey stopped in for a few minutes as well and it seems we had micro WIX gathering.

Day 14 at Ezell's - Cockpit floor is finished by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Lynn makes a beautiful take off with his really cool Cessna 140. Thanks for all your help today! by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Next the mid section belly is a mess and I am considering pulling it this weekend by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

From the set of the new Star Wars movie... by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

The Corsair has yet agaiin tried to eat someone, it's hunger will never be satisfied until the restoration is finished. by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:32 pm

Thanks Drew, it was a bucking event for sure. I'm working on a Monday all day kitchen pass and I'll make a few photo passes as well when I depart...

Lynn

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:19 pm

Was down at the shop today working with Mark. Dropped off the latest edition of the FG-1D manual.

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:30 pm

Some work that we did to the wing today. Swept out the corsair corner as well filled with dirt and leaves from the storm. No water touched anything where we were working that I saw.

Is that the original star I see after all that paint is gone!?

I think it is!

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 03, 2011 2:15 pm

In honor of all VMF-451 men who served our nation.

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Assembling Volunteers to go to Texas - Sikorsky Corsair

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