Refurbishing Parts:
Back in December, the team at Pioneer Aero began disassembling the SBD's tail fin to begin its restoration. While some parts were salvageable, corrosion had damaged others beyond their reuse. Thankfully the project also includes another fin from a donor airframe, and this provided additional original parts for the overall restoration. In recent weeks, Pioneer Aero's William Lowen has begun refurbishing some of the original parts, while also manufacturing replacements where necessary. This update reveals some of the progress he has made towards this endeavor.
Some of the ribs from our SBD’s fin required replacing. Here is a pair of new-build examples sitting on their forming blocks. Each of them still requires a lightening hole to be cut (and flanged) at the circular location indicated in ink. Following this process (and heat treating) they will be ready for primer paint and fitting. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Three additional replacement ribs for our SBD’s tail fin, part way through the manufacturing process, sitting atop their forming blocks. While the left two still require lightening holes to be cut and formed, the example on the right is ready for its coat of primer paint. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Priming the Parts:
With the cleaning, inspection and repairs completed on the parts salvaged from BuNo.36175's fin and that of the donor aircraft, it was time to coat them with primer paint, as the following images reveal.
Additional original tail fin parts awaiting primer respraying in the paint booth. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
An original, leading edge skin from our SBD’s tail fin and the rib which mounted to its aft end sitting in the paint booth awaiting a coat of primer. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
One of the original ribs from the donor fin on the drying rack following primer painting. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Original SBD tail fin parts hanging from the drying rack following their respray with primer paint. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)