Back in late 2022, during the period where Pioneer Aero awaited the arrival of our SBD's fuselage, the restoration team made good use of its time by working on items from the previously supplied parts cache. The empenage control surfaces were amongst those components attended to, with the rudder being completed first (as reported HERE). The elevators received some attention as well (as seen in the images below), but that effort entered temporary hiatus once BuNo.36175's fuselage arrived in Ardmore last May.
The SBD's starboard elevator following its removal from the protective bubble wrap. (image via Pioneer Aero)
Dents to the leading edge of the SBD's port elevator revealed themselves after bubble-wrap removal. (image via Pioneer Aero)
The right hand elevator with its fabric covering partially removed. While the use of pop rivets is acceptable in the Ceconite fabric system, it is not a method which Douglas Aircraft employed. Furthermore, drilling new holes in the original ribs to install these fasteners during a previous restoration decreased each rib’s structural integrity. This rendered a potentially useable set of elevator ribs unserviceable, and required their replacement. (image via Pioneer Aero)
While these elevators had undergone earlier restoration, that effort - rather strangely - did not include primer painting the bare metal structure prior to fabric covering. (image via Pioneer Aero)
Minor surface corrosion is evident in this image of one of the SBD's elevators, helping illustrate precisely why coating bare metal with inhibitor or primer paint is an absolute necessity. The corrosion had to be removed before Pioneer could apply a strontium epoxy wash primer. (image via Pioneer Aero)
Another image of the SBD elevator revealing the surface corrosion which had crept in due to the lack of primer paint following the assembly's restoration two decades ago. Note the Cherrymax pop rivets from the previous restoration too. (image via Pioneer Aero)
Elevator Restoration Resumes:
While last May saw restoration of the SBD's elevators suspended, that effort resumed again in recent weeks. The team began by disassembling the port elevator and assessing each component for its potential airworthiness - manufacturing replacements for anything deemed beyond repair. They then bead-blasted the salvageable parts to remove any dirt and/or corrosion before carrying out any necessary repairs. Everything then received a coat of primer paint before reassembly began. The starboard elevator will undergo the same process sometime soon; it is currently sitting in the alignment jig.
The set of parts for the SBD's left elevator following refurbishment/remanufacture and primer-painting. (image via Pioneer Aero)
Reassembly of the SBD's port elevator underway. Here we see the ribs being reattached to the already-completed leading edge assembly. (image via Pioneer Aero)
A closeup view of the SBD’s port elevator during reassembly. Here we see the four rivets which hold a trailing edge rib to the spar (and the nose rib hidden behind it). The lightening hole provides the only access for bucking each of these rivets, a process which required the manufacture of a custom-shaped steel tool, held carefully in place. It goes without saying that this effort required a great deal of care due to the minimal access available - not to mention the total lack of visibility. (image via Pioneer Aero)
This view shows the components which secure the middle hinge eyebolt for the SBD’s port elevator. Ensuring that such components are riveted together in the correct order is key to ensuring each rivet tail is properly accessible for bucking. (image via Pioneer Aero)
The port elevator’s trim tab during the riveting process. Work on the ribs is done, whilst the spar is almost completed. (image via Pioneer Aero)
A close up view of the pushrod mounting bracket for the SBD’s port elevator trim tab during its reassembly process. The pushrod, once connected, will adjust trim tab position on the elevator. (image via Pioneer Aero)
