Floor Disassembly:
Back in September, Pioneer Aero’s restoration team disassembled the SBD's fuselage, separating the structure from the wing center section. This also involved removing vestigial lower fuselage components from the top surface of the wing. One of those items included the structure supporting the gunner's compartment floor (as seen above), which attaches to the fuselage frames on either side of the rear cockpit. The team disassembled this component, assessing the serviceability of each of its numerous pieces. Unfortunately, several key items exhibited areas of significant corrosion, rendering them unsalvageable. As a consequence, Pioneer has remanufactured replacement parts as and where needed.
This view shows most of the components which comprise the floor structure in the gunner's cockpit. They are lying beside their newly-manufactured replacements, as each of the original items shown here exhibited corrosion damage too deep to allow its airworthy restoration. Rather frustratingly, the corrosion typically appeared in only a small area, with the remainder of the item being in good condition - even so, the damage was too severe. (photo Via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A close up of one of the components and its replacement to show the level of corrosion discovered. While it was only in a small location, it was in too critical a place to permit its airworthy restoration. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A close up of another component (and its replacement) to show the level of corrosion discovered. While it was only in a small location, it was in too critical a place to permit its airworthy restoration. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Structure Ready for Reassembly:
In recent weeks, Pioneer Aero finished restoring the floor structure for the gunner's cockpit, repainting each of its numerous pieces in primer paint. Much of it is of new-build construction, but some original parts also made the grade. With each component now ready for reassembly, the team clecoed them together to ensure everything fitted correctly. Following that, Pioneer placed the structure in storage, where it awaits the day it can be formally riveted together in the restored fuselage.
Another view of the structure as the parts are test-fitted using clecos. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A closeup of the floor structure showing the circular bracket which holds the lower end of the aft control column when it is stowed away. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another closeup of the floor structure showing some of the many small parts which hold it all together. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)