Oct/Nov: Texas Flying Legends’ P-47D-23RA

The first joined large assemblies on the bench.

Project Update

By Chuck Cravens

In October and November, for the first time we began some assembly of the major components of the airframe. Other work on the P-47 this month centered on parts fabrication, disassembling the veteran fuselage, beginning the new fuselage, and assembling the fixed tail surfaces.

Parts Fabrication

P-47 RazorbackThese two are fume seal pulley brackets, tail wheel uplock part number 89M42212. That means they cover the tail wheel uplock pulley bracket to seal off fumes from reaching the cockpit. In a Thunderbolt, exhaust gas fumes in the ducts back to the turbo supercharger and fuel fumes in the high pressure induction duct running back to the engine can present a problem not common in other fighters. A great deal of engineering went into keeping those fumes where they belong and safely away from the pilot.
P-47 RazorbackHere are a few parts that are ready. The packaged parts are cowl flap rod guides. Parts fabrication continues as assembly goes on.
P-47 RazorbackSome control system related parts both new and patterns are visible on this shelf. A few of them are the aileron differential fork assembly, elevator rod assembly, and right elevator control lever assembly.
P-47 RazorbackSteve and the CNC mill where many of the parts are fabricated.
P-47 RazorbackMachined plastic forms for some of the fuselage components will be used as the aluminum is press formed over them to create the part. The forms with the two visible part numbers are for a fume-proof baffle and a diaphragm in the fuselage. Both are part of the design that is intended to prevent fuel fumes from reaching the pilot.

Fuselage Disassembly

The fuselage was further disassembled in order to use the parts as patterns as we begin assembling the new fuselage in the fixture. Parts that appeared usable were inspected. With the fuselage in sections, various parts and assemblies can be accessed easily while apart or the sections can be set back together for a more overall look.

Empennage

The vertical stabilizer skins were riveted on permanently this month. The horizontals skins have been permanently installed for a while now. Once both were skinned, they were assembled -the first large, identifiable Thunderbolt parts to be put together!

Assembled Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizers

It is always great to see major, identifiable airplane components come together as a project progresses. This time we have the tail surfaces joined together.

Project Update

Parts Fabrication

Fuselage Disassembly

Empennage

Assembled Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizers

Chuck Cravens

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