Aero Vintage Books

I am now producing new manufacture sheet metal parts, such as gussets, webbing smaller than 2' X 4', and any parts that can be bent using a standard brake. These parts are being made at an approved FAA repair station using traceable metal, and will be inspected by an FAA approved inspector against t...

I've finished making 4 sets of 41-9804 "Aileron Chain Guard" out of 356 aluminum. They will eventually be treated to T6, and machined to become 41-9817. I made a post elsewhere if anyone is in need of these impossible to find and hard to make parts. Just another step towards the cockpit! https://i.i...

I've finished making 4 sets of 41-9804 "Aileron Chain Guard" out of 356 aluminum. They will eventually be treated to T6, and machined to become 41-9817, although they are available now if needed. Now is the time to get these parts, while I'm still making them! When the parts are finished to 41-9817,...

Does anyone know where B-17s in South America were scrapped? That might be interesting to learn about. I've certainly never heard about it...

I'm wondering where B-17s were scrapped after the 1940s. A few stuck around into the 50s or 60s before being scrapped, so where was that done?

I think it's time for another update on my work so far for the B-17. My new short term plan is to build a complete cockpit, and use it as a simulator. I think it would be a great opportunity to go around to local airshows and connect people with this history. I haven't gone too far down that path ye...

Hello all, I am currently making small production runs of aluminum castings for the B-17. As of right now, I can only provide them in the as-cast state. I do cut off the runners and sprues, and clean them up. For reference, are images of castings I have just made of 41-9901. If anyone is in need of ...

Very interesting! I haven't worked much on the model for horizontal stiffeners yet, I had assumed that they ran between major assemblies as specified in the instructions, "overlapping" for extra strength. From what I can see of the bomb bay sections that might not be the case? I'll try to pull up th...

In the E & M Instructions the major assemblies are shown on page 55 and the sub assemblies are on page 56. All the forward sub assemblies make up the forward fuselage assembly (55-7330). Oh! Alright, I see what you were talking about. I beleive those are for maintenance and repairs? More or less ma...

The navigators/bombardier compartment BLK 1-3 is a sub assembly, the forward fuselage BLK 1-6 is a major assembly. The B-17 SRM shows the breakdown. It also shows the part and BAC numbers needed for the sub assemblies. I have not encountered any subassemblies of 1-3. There are subassemblies specifi...

Latest update on the CAD model, here are several images. I've been working on the cockpit and related.

I haven't posted an update in a while, so here it goes... Gallery is here for full size images (the overlay image is 5000 pixels wide, allowing for zoom): https://imgur.com/a/XvYCt https://i.imgur.com/asfXIWj.jpg?1 Far forward, not much new https://i.imgur.com/PkzlrKW.jpg?1 The overlay image. Tried ...

Doesn't seem very practical. The attitude and vector of the aircraft can't be adjusted fast or accurate enough to stop an attack at a slightly higher altitude. If a fighter isn't directly in front of the guns 90 degrees to the wings at the perfect altitude it becomes useless. My guess is this is why...

varsity07840 wrote:

FoCoB17G wrote:While we're at it, how about this? 42-31435

media-413570.jpg

Fixed guns, not a turret.

Why place fixed guns on a B-17? It's not suited for an attack role.

While we're at it, how about this? 42-31435