PaperModelers.com

Go Back   PaperModelers.com > Papermodelers' Bar and Grill > The CardBoard Lounge

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-18-2017, 08:51 PM
Sakrison's Avatar
Sakrison Sakrison is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ripon, WI, 20 mi from Oshkosh - center of the Aviation Universe
Posts: 1,639
Total Downloaded: 1.51 GB
1:1 scale B-25 Project

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is restoring its 1943 B-25 Mitchell "Berlin Express" to flying condition. As an EAA member and longtime volunteer, I will be spending a few afternoons a week helping with the restoration. I spent this afternoon and evening "getting intimate" with one of the aircraft's 14-cylinder Wright Cyclone engines, pulling exhaust stacks from the cylinders so the engine can be removed and overhauled.

On the airplane, the rear of the Cyclone is a rat's nest of pipes, tubes, and shrouds. Getting a socket wrench onto a bolt hidden deep in the maze and then finding room enough to swing the ratchet wrench was often a real challenge. I really could have used an eyeball on the end of my index finger.

Several years ago, I worked on the repair/restoration of the EAA's B-17, "Aluminum Overcast," pulling, cylinders, cleaning landing gear bays, installing guns and ammunition boxes. and other tasks. Crawling in and around that airplane, I gained a heightened appreciation for the young men and women who built, maintained, and flew these historic warbirds.

This B-25 has been on static display in the EAA's AirVenture Museum for many years. After restoration, it will be flown on tour as a "flying museum." I feel very privileged to take part in returning this beautiful aircraft to the air.

You can read about "Berlin Express" here:
https://www.eaa.org/…/1943-north-american-b-25h-mitchell---…

You can read about the restoration project here:
https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/contribut...25-restoration
Attached Thumbnails
1:1 scale B-25 Project-b-25.jpg  
__________________
I'm an adult? Wait! How did that happen? How do I make it stop?!.
My Blog: David's Paper Cuts My paper models and other mischief
Reply With Quote
Google Adsense
  #2  
Old 10-18-2017, 09:15 PM
southwestforests's Avatar
southwestforests southwestforests is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On the edge of the river valley
Posts: 1,474
Total Downloaded: 5.88 MB
That is cool! A once in a lifetime to opportunity to get frustrated with historical significance!
__________________
Screw the rivets, I'm building for atmosphere, not detail.
later, F Scott W
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-19-2017, 06:48 AM
Don Boose's Avatar
Don Boose Don Boose is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Posts: 20,702
Total Downloaded: 424.90 MB
Good wishes for your work on restoring this historic aircraft.

I suppose it's a little too big and noisy to use to lead cranes on their migration flights?

Don
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-19-2017, 09:22 AM
Sakrison's Avatar
Sakrison Sakrison is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ripon, WI, 20 mi from Oshkosh - center of the Aviation Universe
Posts: 1,639
Total Downloaded: 1.51 GB
Quote:
Originally Posted by southwestforests View Post
That is cool! A once in a lifetime to opportunity to get frustrated with historical significance!
That made me laugh. Thank goodness I'm not paying the bills for this bird.
__________________
I'm an adult? Wait! How did that happen? How do I make it stop?!.
My Blog: David's Paper Cuts My paper models and other mischief
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-19-2017, 09:26 AM
Rubenandres77's Avatar
Rubenandres77 Rubenandres77 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bogota, Colombia
Posts: 2,849
Total Downloaded: 652.45 MB
Is always great news when a classic warbird is restored. And very nice that a member of our forum participates in the process.

Good news indeed
__________________
Rubén Andrés Martínez A.

Reply With Quote
Google Adsense
  #6  
Old 10-19-2017, 12:45 PM
Sakrison's Avatar
Sakrison Sakrison is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ripon, WI, 20 mi from Oshkosh - center of the Aviation Universe
Posts: 1,639
Total Downloaded: 1.51 GB
Before I left the hangar last night, I crawled inside the B-25 for a few minutes. It was a tight fit for my 6-foot, 200-lb frame, even with much of the interior hardware removed for the restoration. Thinking back to wartime photos I've seen, I got a real sense of how cramped it must have been in combat with guns, ammunition, oxygen bottles, and crew. I thought about what it must have been like to be under fire from fighters or flak. Talk about "no place to hide"!

These photos are not "Berlin Express." I will post photos as the restoration proceeds.
Attached Thumbnails
1:1 scale B-25 Project-b25_nose.jpg   1:1 scale B-25 Project-b25-tunnel.jpg   1:1 scale B-25 Project-b25waist.jpg  
__________________
I'm an adult? Wait! How did that happen? How do I make it stop?!.
My Blog: David's Paper Cuts My paper models and other mischief
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-19-2017, 02:35 PM
kingjason14 kingjason14 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 257
Total Downloaded: 42.25 MB
Sakrison, thank you for sharing your experience and those photos. That is beyond cool! That looks incredibly cramped. I work on Paine Field, and when John Session or Paul Allen fly either of their B-25s I have to stop work and watch in awe.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-19-2017, 04:48 PM
Wyvern's Avatar
Wyvern Wyvern is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Centreville, VA, USA
Posts: 5,134
Total Downloaded: 499.03 MB
Fascinating!

Wyvern
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-19-2017, 06:06 PM
VinceM's Avatar
VinceM VinceM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 573
Total Downloaded: 145.94 MB
On October 7 the B-25 "Yankee Warrior" came to Elkhart and offered rides. Went to see it, but unfortunately didn't have $ 400 lying around. Nice to see you're helping one of Yankee Warrior's sisters return to the sky.
Attached Thumbnails
1:1 scale B-25 Project-b-25-1.jpg   1:1 scale B-25 Project-b-25-2.jpg  
__________________
Recent builds: RMS Queen Mary 2, Paris Opera House
In the shipyard: USS Missouri, DKM Graf Zeppelin, RV Calypso.
Future builds: IJN Akagi, SS United States, HMVS Cerberus, and lots more!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-19-2017, 08:15 PM
willygoat's Avatar
willygoat willygoat is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Papillion,Nebraska
Posts: 4,090
Total Downloaded: 76.03 MB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakrison View Post
Before I left the hangar last night, I crawled inside the B-25 for a few minutes. It was a tight fit for my 6-foot, 200-lb frame, even with much of the interior hardware removed for the restoration. Thinking back to wartime photos I've seen, I got a real sense of how cramped it must have been in combat with guns, ammunition, oxygen bottles, and crew. I thought about what it must have been like to be under fire from fighters or flak. Talk about "no place to hide"!
.
I know what you mean about the tight quarters inside the B-25. I got the chance to crawl through the pair (well, 1 1/2 planes) of B-25s at the SAC Museum where I used to work many times. At 6'3" and 250 lb, I nearly got stuck crawling into the nose through the tunnel. I hope to be able to help out in the restoration shop as I have more time once the kids get older.
Reply With Quote
Google Adsense
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Parts of this site powered by vBulletin Mods & Addons from DragonByte Technologies Ltd. (Details)
Copyright © 2007-2023, PaperModelers.com