Center Section Progress:
Following on from progress with the SBD’s wing center section last month, Pioneer Aero’s Craig Cunha and his team have positioned the newly fabricated topside skin between Spars #3 and #5. They then trial-fitted the ribs between Spars #4 and #5 and drilled them off against the two spar webs. Next, the flap bay ribs were positioned and drilled off against both Spar #5 and the top skin.
This is the outboard face for an original rib from B-22’s wing center section between Spars #3 and #4. While the rib was too damaged for reuse, some of the attached components were salvageable. The image shows a refurbishable, original rib-to-stringer connector clecoed to the rib, with a partially finished newly-made example sitting beside it for use at a different location. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is the outboard face of the lefthand rib at Station #49 of the SBD’s wing center section between Spars #3 and #4. The spars, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have been positioned and drilled to match the skins (and each other) where required. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is the outboard face of the lefthand rib at Station #33 of the SBD’s wing center section between Spars #3 and #4. The spars, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have been positioned and drilled to match the skins (and each other) where required. This rib is almost identical to the one at Station #49 shown in the previous image. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is the outboard face of the righthand rib at Station #49 of the SBD’s wing center section between Spars #3 and #4. The spars, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have been positioned and drilled to match the skins (and each other) where required. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is the outboard face of the righthand rib at Station #15 of the SBD’s wing center section between Spars #3 and #4. The spars, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have been positioned and drilled to match the skins (and each other) where required. This rib is different from those at Stations #33 and #49; the holes are dissimilar and it is formed from two separate rib-shaped sections riveted back-to-back. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Skin Drilling:
The lower skin panel between Spars #3 and #5 has had a new top hat section stringer made for it. Cunha’s team trial-fitted this skin panel to its associated structure, drilling off the ribs against it. New rib-to-stringer connectors were also fabricated as required, and drilled off at their appropriate positions. Thankfully, some of B-22’s connectors were able to be salvaged, refurbished and reattached at their original locations. The team then positioned the rear cockpit rudder pedal mounts and drilled them off to match the top skin and structure. They have also refabricated various cable pulley brackets and drilled them off against the top skins as well.
A view inside the SBD’s wing center section from the righthand side between Spars #3 and #4. Note that the original structure for Spar #3 is still in place, serving as a jig for correctly aligning the structure aft of that position. Spar #4, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have all been located and drilled to match the skins (and each other) as required. The three top hat stringer sections are all newly-manufactured items; the two on the upper skin (right side) were fabricated last month while the one opposite was made this month. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A view inside the SBD’s wing center section from the righthand side between Spars #4 and #5. The spars, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have all been positioned and drilled to match the skins and each other as required. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A view inside the SBD’s wing center section from the righthand side between Spar #5 and the trailing edge. Spar #5, stringers, ribs and rib connectors have all been positioned and drilled to match the skins and each other as required. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A remanufactured pulley bracket for routing the chemical (smoke) tank operating cables to the center bomb rack, where the device would have been attached. This component, sitting atop its factory assembly drawing, mounts to the upper side of the SBD’s wing center section atop Spar #5. The original was too corroded for reuse, but it was sufficiently intact to serve as a guide for fabricating its replacement - with help from the original drawings. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another of the cable pulley brackets (remanufactured) for operating the chemical (smoke) tank when it is fitted to the central bomb rack. The device mounts to the upper side of the SBD’s wing center section atop Spar #5. Like the example from the previous image, the original component was corroded beyond repair, so a replacement was fabricated using the drawing and the original as a sample. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
The two pulley brackets for the cables which operate the chemical (smoke) tank trial-fitted to the wing center section at Spar #5. Note that there is a hole just ahead of each of their mounting positions for passing their associated cables through the upper wing center section skin. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A view of the upper side of the SBD’s wing center section aft of Spar #3, which is still in position (note the dividing line between new and old skin). The two extrusion sections lying against the bare aluminum skin comprise the left rudder pedal mounts for the rear cockpit; they are in the process of being correctly positioned. The green-painted mount was salvaged from a donor aircraft, while the other is newly-fabricated. The black rod slotted between them ensures that the pedal mounting holes are aligned properly. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another view of the rudder pedal mounts for the rear cockpit, this time revealing all four of them. Of these four items, one is original to B-22, one is from a donor aircraft, while the other two, unpainted examples are newly-fabricated. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
One of the pulley brackets which routes the trim cables from the rear cockpit. It is mounted to the upper side of the SBD’s wing center section outboard of the gunner's left rudder pedal. The original was corroded beyond repair, so a replacement had to be fabricated using the drawing and the original as a sample. This image shows the part while it was being test-fitted to the airframe. (Image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Current Status:
The various structural components aft of Spar #3 are now mostly complete. All of these components will head into storage for a while, awaiting the point where they can be primer-painted and riveted together. This will occur once more of the SBD's wing center section is ready for reassembly.
