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B-17 Restoration Thread...

Greetings All

A few more small glimpses. The new floor in the nose, and we are beginning to fit the bead on the co-pilot's seat. This was indeed a task because we made the bead more round and pinched it extra tight. This made the bead look much better, but made it next to impossible to slip over the curve in the bottom of the seat.

We got it on, and we are beginning to rivet it on.

-witt
 
Progress is slow lately. I haven't noticed anything major changing. I think there is a lot of work being done on a lot of small things.

Here's our co-pilot's chari with the bead in place. Now we must set it on the chair just right, a very hard task.
 
Thought it was time for another update from B-17 land!

Actually got some stuff done tonight... Made the pieces that mount between the radio operators seat & the seat mount.
 
Bottom skin of the radio room put on finally and the Top Turret painted & with some of the machine gun workings in place....
 
Sorry to everyone for getting away from the thread for awhile. I have been pretty busy with work and the loss of my other B-17...................(large sigh)......... But I will try and update regularly once again....

Some updates via photos.....

The last photo is of a seat that will NOT go into Champaign Lady, but another B-17 which shall remain nameless....Why? Just to drive everyone crazy....
 
I'll place my bets on that seat is for the USAF. Will end up in the "Memphis Belle" or "The Swoose"

You can "neither confirm, nor deny that claim" like you did with the seat that you used from the USAF like you did way way back on page 3.:mixedsmi:
 
HA! I forgot all about that! I wish I remember what picture that was... I am thinking the other pic on page 3 I actually took AT the Air Force Museum.... The seat is mostly original and we had to make a new bottom because the original was almost all gone.
 
Big Big Big step in the right direction...

Check this out!! Two down, one to go!!!

And no, the pilot & co-pilot seats are not done.... we can only work on the same seat so long before we have to quit before someone kills somebody...
 
Witt, do you guys need a Norden bombsight? I might know where there's one to be had. Not totally sure but I can check.
 
Ok. I wasn't sure if you guys could save the one from Liberty Belle or not.

There is one around the corner very close to me that works and is the real deal. The owner was looking to donate it to a museum that needs one.
 
GT182 said:
Ok. I wasn't sure if you guys could save the one from Liberty Belle or not.

There is one around the corner very close to me that works and is the real deal. The owner was looking to donate it to a museum that needs one.
Click to expand...

If he is looking to donate it to an organization, I will ask some folks down it Atlanta if Liberty Belle's sight was saved.... I really have no idea, looking from pictures, it could have made it through the fire, but I'm not sure. I'll get back with you though this weekend...

-witt
 
I'm afraid to ask, because I'm afraid of the answer. What was done with the old girl?

Hopefully, they put her on a flatbed and sent her to someone who can make her productive in some form.
 
Railrunner130 said:
I'm afraid to ask, because I'm afraid of the answer. What was done with the old girl?

Hopefully, they put her on a flatbed and sent her to someone who can make her productive in some form.
Click to expand...

Last I saw or heard she is sitting at an airfield close to her spot of her final landing.... I saw pictures somewhere on the net of her... But I can't remember where... I'll see if I can dig it up. Frankly, it was not a sight that I really wanted to remember!

We are still waiting on the insurance company. We are all anxiously waiting to see what direction the Foundation takes. I knwo for several us that work for the Foundation that are yet to be "in the know" are dying inside as the months drag on awaiting news as to our next step. Though, as Ray stated, we are dedicated to the preservation of vintage aviation... So I think we will continue down the path that we already started.....

-witt
 
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