jigs n things on the rat

[Guest]

i was just looking through the desert rat pages and after i got through admiring just how much work and dedication a project of this magnitude must require , i thought to myself it looks like they are building that thing on the dollies. now ,claiming total ignorance on the procedures of building aircraft, i was wondering just how one could put an aircraft of this size together and still have everything line up if it wasnt jigged? i'm not knocking what you are doing, just more curious as to whether the jig thing is overblown or do you folks have a method of keeping her straight without the need for a so-called jig? the pics you have posted really look great and i'm sure we would all love to see any and all recent photos that have been taken as they become available!! keep up the great work guys !!

[DryMartini]

Yes, the main fuselage is not in a jig at the moment.
We basically have been repairing one piece at a time.
making new parts, using the old ones as a pattern.
This is the technique Tom Reilly uses, and which we started
with. And it works OK for what we've done. However,
with some major work ahead on the main fuselage,
we will be putting the fuselage on a jig to maintain
alignment, and then removing and replacing some
major assemblies.

HTH,

[Guest]

thanks for the response! i hope everything goes well for you guys. do you have a timeline for the project or is it just too difficult to say? i guess before i die would be the obvious answer.

[DryMartini]

Yes, that is the obvious answer.
One that my wife gives out (too) often.

It all comes down to $$$$.
If we had $500K, it could be 2 years.
Right now, it is looking a bit farther out.


Selling about 75 T-Shirts would purchase
the extrusions to finish the vertical stabilizer.

[VCS1]

Like This?

[Guest]

jiggity jiggity goo........aaallright!!!!!

[hang the expense]

Thats funny.No station three to be found anywhere.Maybe something in its place but no Boeing sta 3.It is supposed to be a Boeing airplane right?Also the fixture leaves alot to be desired in my opinion as it leaves to much to chance on alignment.

[Chuck Giese]

Ahh... So that's what they did. Looks like they drilled the shortened cockpit off of bulkhead 4, and moved it forward. Then what - splice in new stringer sections to reach back to bulkhead 4? Hmmm, I'm going to have to look closely next time I'm working on her to see what they did.

That would mean that bulkhead 3 was eliminated by Boeing when they modified her for the fifth engine, and never was replaced when it was 'restored'.

Interesting...

[Guest]

am i sensing a bit of displeasure with the restoration of liberty belle?? not quite up to standard??

[Chuck Giese]

Had a quick look from the outside. No stringer splices apparent. Another wrong guess . Oh well, I guess I could just ask the guys who built it, but that takes the fun outta it.

Chuck

[hang the expense]

Man is that outlaw.

[VCS1]

Looks like early B-17C's under construction. Came across this photo in an old tech training manual.

[hang the expense]

Now that is one sweet picture.Did you notice what was being built in the right hand back ground[Model 304?]

[VCS1]

Came across a couple of more shots I had not scene before. Good luck with the Rat!!

[VCS1]

I thought this factory jig was interesting compared to the Reilly one I posted awhile back!