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jigs n things on the rat
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:29 am
by 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 !!
Jigs
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:17 pm
by 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,
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:38 pm
by 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.
Before I die
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:08 pm
by 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.
Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:54 pm
by VCS1
Like This?
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:17 pm
by Guest
jiggity jiggity goo........aaallright!!!!!
fixtures
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:18 pm
by 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.
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:28 pm
by 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...
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:15 pm
by Guest
am i sensing a bit of displeasure with the restoration of liberty belle?? not quite up to standard??
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:45 am
by 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
LB
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:43 pm
by hang the expense
Man is that outlaw.
B-17C Under Construction
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:57 pm
by VCS1
Looks like early B-17C's under construction. Came across this photo in an old tech training manual.
early model
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:48 am
by hang the expense
Now that is one sweet picture.Did you notice what was being built in the right hand back ground[Model 304?]
More B-17 Production Shots
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:23 am
by VCS1
More B-17 Production Shots
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:09 am
by VCS1
