Model aircraft - In the larger scale

Flieger · Oct 12, 2008

That's a good question dhermann - We've learned that you can flatten out bent aluminium. It takes some careful heating of the part you are trying to restore. Too cold and it will crack... too hot and it will melt.

When the project was started it was estimated that we might be able to use 40-50% of the orignial material. Since then we have learned how to save a lot of what we first thought was beyond repair and now we are talking 75-80% original parts. In fact, just the other week the crash site was visited again and a diver was able to secure an additional 100 objects from the bottom of the bog/marsh where the aircraft had rested since the crash. Among these was one of the LG-doors for the tailwheel, one of the instruments and live .50 ammunition! Strangly enough there are three big objects that are missing: The tailwheel, the canopy (the one we use comes from another aircraft) and the seat. Noone knows where these parts went. [huh]

/F

Smithy · Oct 12, 2008

I'm really enjoying this thread and following progress.

Many thanks Flieger.

Flieger · Oct 12, 2008

Glad to hear that Smithy. I'll continue to report as the project develops.

/F

MikeBravo · Jan 17, 2009

any updates for 2009?

thanks
Mike

dhermann1 · Jan 17, 2009

The way airplane restoration projects go, we can expect a post that says "Any updates for 2010?", "Any updates for 2011?", "Any updates for 2012?", and probably several years beyond that. Let's hope the Lounge continues to thrive!

Flieger · Jan 19, 2009

Hi guys!

I'm happy that you are still following this project of ours and I have some photos to show as a reward.

Before winter set in here in Sweden we got the tail almost done:

This is the hatch and cover for the camera (a SwAF modification):

Here's how the camera is supposed to be placed:

Just before it became too cold to work, this:

... was bent back into this:

And finally a shot showing the less glamorous part of aircraft restauration - The poor diver sent into the hole at the crash site. The hole in the bog was 6 feet deep and full of mud, oil and fuel!

The project is down to crawling speed until late March 2009 when it gets warmer again. Our focus is on the "belly" of the airframe then, getting the radiator in shape.

More as it happens,
/F

Spitfire · Jan 19, 2009

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
I love this thread. Please keep us posted.

Dixon Cannon · Jan 19, 2009

Here is a Douglas A-20 Havoc discovered in Labrador - soon to be restored by UAS.

Underwater Admiralty Services, Inc. (UAS), is also working on it's plan to raise the
Honolulu Clipper from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

-dixon cannon

carter · Jan 19, 2009

Spitfire said:
:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
I love this thread. Please keep us posted.

:arated: This has been fascinating to read. What happens indoors when it's too cold to work outdoors? There must be a lot of painstaking research involved in a project like this one.

Flieger · Jan 19, 2009

carter said:
:arated: This has been fascinating to read. What happens indoors when it's too cold to work outdoors? There must be a lot of painstaking research involved in a project like this one.

When we started the project we where lucky enough to find a guy who had all the P-51D blueprints on microfilm. Wintertime is when we work on that material (enlargements) in preparation for the next season. There's also the constant hunt for parts from other crash sites, museums private "collectors" and ebay.

The trick to a project like this is not getting overwhelmed. We try to focus on the small parts and little by little an aircraft is emerging.

/F

Rufus · Jan 19, 2009

Flieger, This is absolutely amazing.. I'm awe struck at the dedication involved on such a massive project.

Thank you so much for all the fantastic pictures and updates. I can't believe how that crushed metal was bent back into shape..just incredible!

Yours, incredibly impressed,
Rufus

filfoster · Jan 26, 2009

restoration

what a labor of obvious love!

MikeBravo · Feb 7, 2009

dhermann1 said:
The way airplane restoration projects go, we can expect a post that says "Any updates for 2010?", "Any updates for 2011?", "Any updates for 2012?", and probably several years beyond that. Let's hope the Lounge continues to thrive!

Thanks for the update, Flieger

fr8dog · Feb 7, 2009

great project!!!

Flieger · Mar 6, 2009

Latest photo from the rebuild:

Starting to look like a pony.

/F

carter · Mar 6, 2009

Flieger, This has been a treat to see and read as the restoration proceeds. I took the liberty of putting a brief retrospective together from the initial pile of parts to today's picture.

Original pile of parts dumped in yard

Propeller and wing

12-07-2007

Airframe 09-01-2008 - new bulkheads

01-19-2009 - Tail section almost completed

hatch & cover for camera

camera placement inside fuselage

10-12-2008

03-06-2009

The Mustang P-51D SwAF S-26 Recce version as she appeared originally

Flieger · Mar 6, 2009

carter said:
Flieger, This has been a treat to see and read as the restoration proceeds. I took the liberty of putting a brief retrospective together from the initial pile of parts to today's picture...

Excellent idea, Carter. Thanks!

:cheers1:

/F

carter · Mar 6, 2009

Flieger, Is there a Blog on this project? The reason I'm asking is because it seem to me that some additional support might be garnered this way.

I'm also wondering if a list or compendium of needed items is available on the off chance that someone reading may have something needed and be interested in donating it to this restoration project.

Spitfire · Mar 6, 2009

This is just absolutely bloody amazing!!!! (pardon my french)
I LOVE THIS THREAD!

Flieger · Mar 6, 2009

Carter: Real men don't blog!

Seriously, I have been toying with the idea of writing some kind of online journal, blog or project homepage. Problem is: I'm not the one doing the actual work on the aircraft and I'm not there watching 24/7, so updates would probably be a bit sketchy and irregular at best. Another thing is that I'm working on a book about this aircraft, it's history and rebuild and I feel that I want to save some of the "goodies" for that.

We don't have a list of "parts needed" as such. So far we have managed to find the stuff needed via local museums and collectors.

Spitfire: Great!

I'll renew my promise of a private tour if you are ever in northern Sweden.

/F

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