Warbird Information Exchange

More pics and a video. And Lightening? I respectfully disagree after having seen both up close.

History here from AirCorps Aviations website

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

Many things are known now about P-51 production and detailing, incorporated into Sierra Sue, that weren't known about or incorporated when Upupa Epops was restored. If Upupa Epops had been restored now, within the last few years, there would be quite a list of differences in the details of its restoration for closer authenticity than what was achieved over a decade ago.

Any specifics that come to mind John? That's certainly an interesting statement which makes perfect sense really. It would be interesting to see fine detailing examples of what was considered authentic a decade ago compared to today's examples.

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

The restoration of Sierra Sue is unique in that various details go against normal sense aesthetics of a multi-million dollar airplane, and thus have not been done before, or quite like it, in a Mustang restoration, but are 100% authentic to original mass production appearances/details/finishes - like the period-correct primers and paints (and the specific look/finish they have, compared to modern copies/alternatives) - the streaks in the primer finishes of the parts that were dipped in primer (as per original) - the mass void of any primer in certain regions and parts of the aircraft (as per original) - paint applications made only at the correct intervals in the restoration as done during original manufacture - a random mixture of silver anodized and yellow iridite rivets, as well as blue anodized rivets, which were all used during the manufacture of the aircraft at the same time, all poured together - remnants of the period-correct Alclad watermarks on the metal, not just internally, but on panels all over the exterior - primered rub plates on the clamshell doors, rather than bare/polished, as was the standard process (as well) during a lot of early/mid P-51 production - orange and red dyed bolts and screws from the period inspection process - all of the stencils (exterior and interior) were applied as per original, as either ink stamped (as much of/all of the exterior stencils are, and the imperfections that naturally comes from the stencils being stamped-on), or transfers - period-correct look/application of acid etching everywhere there is spot welding - all original period-correct fittings - no polishing of the bare metal - and the list can go on.

The aircraft of course has, or will have, everything to be expected of a super authentic Mustang restoration - including the fuselage fuel tank, period radios, armor plating, armament, etc. Furthermore, it isn't just a general high level of authenticity, but rather every detail has been done in such a way/included so as to specifically match exactly how the aircraft was finished and configured when it was being manufactured at NAA amongst its specific production block (down to within a few hundred serial numbers). For instance, on this one, it has the early ball-tip throttle lever, not the prototypical 'bicycle-grip' throttle, because the K-14 gun sight was not yet introduced into Mustang production, and it still had the earlier N-9 sight. The cockpit is configured exactly as per original in every detail, which is very specific to the production block it came from (panels, hardware, brackets, stencils, placards, gauges, etc., which all differs from one production block to another).

Here are some of my favorite photos from the restoration over the past few years which have been shared by Aircorps Aviation, and highlight the level of detail in the restoration.

Just as can be seen in color photos of Mustangs (and other aircraft) from WWII, the rivets are not just silver, but a mixture of silver and yellow, and in some cases blue, and assorted randomly, as although they came from different batches, they were all poured together in the employees trays and pockets.



The fuselage is assembled with each part either primered, painted or not primered/painted at all, as per original, and only then is the cockpit sprayed interior green.







































Note, on the yet to be filled and painted wing, the authentic mixture of silver anodized, blue anodized, red anodized, and yellow iridite rivets, as well as red-dyed screws (from the inspection process) and areas of spot welds with acid etching of the metal in those areas.




















In a small confine of one of the wings, now completely buttoned-up, are the signatures of the all of the Aircorps employees, done with grease pencil just as if they had signed it at the factory in 1944.

Here are both videos from the first flight:
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqM8qqIq_Ss
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqSVllwMB_g


Here is a walk-around video from shortly before the wings and fuselage were mated, providing some more great close-up views of the restoration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6pylSQlINs


If you missed it earlier, here is a video from its first engine start up and engine runs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwj-66GDS0A


Also, here are some videos from very, very early on in the restoration (as well as covering other Aircorps projects at the time the video was made - including the Harvard which won Post-WWII Reserve Grand Champion at Oshkosh last year).
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo3EZ5lefyU
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymnC4_TPp4s

I am grinning big as I go through this information. The attention to detail is fully appreciated. Fantastic project, fantastic!

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Thanks for all of the info John.
I can see you are getting a great deal of joy from this level of detail.
I am enjoying this immensely!
The team has done an amazing job. This kind of dedication to craft is marvelous to see come to fruition.
Congratulations to the team on such a masterpiece.

Andy Scott

With the stunning restoration being complete, it makes me wonder. What is next? Personally i a pretty hopeful it will be the P-38 project, but any of the projects in the pipeline will be great to see complete. It was posted on the AirCorps FB that they have painted the nose art on, and i have to say it looks great.

Travis

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/74595482@N04/

Next up is a P-51C model, then a P-47D-23-RA, then a P-38.

I won't lie, I didn't know the name and when I saw "Mustang" I lost 90% of my interest in seeing it. I went through the thread looking for pics, without having to leave the site, and stopped when I saw the Joanna Johnson shots JohnTerrell posted.

Wow. Talk about benchmark. Those images are truly gorgeous.

I'm lost for words.

Will there be a book? Or at least a big (6+ pg) magazine article?

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

This is one amazing resto

Sierra Sue II is complete.

Hoping there will be some more photos shared from this weekend, and showing the final details/artwork added over the past week.

As I've mentioned before, the aircraft is "Authentic Down to the Rivets", as this 'National Rivet' article explains: http://www.nationalrivet.com/warbird-re ... rettyPhoto

Here's an original wartime color photo which is just clear enough so as to see the same random mixture of yellow and silver rivets (besides blue, and sometimes red) used in the manufacture of these aircraft originally: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery. ... rchString=

The P-47D "Dottie Mae", which is nearing completion of its restoration, which also happens to be a 9th AF combat-vet like "Sierra Sue II", also has this same authentic random (sometimes intended) mixture of silver, yellow, blue, and possibly red rivets in its just as detailed restoration.