Hangar Thirteen’s first order from RIBType. Photo taken 15 April 2020.
Back in November we started a campaign to raise the money to recreate the red markings typically seen on bare aluminum in WWII. Then, as does today, aluminum arrived from the manufacturer stamped with markings which indicated the composition of each sheet. Since the Boeing B-17’s interior was unpainted, these red markings were VERY visible. So far, only a tiny few restorations and rebuilds have attempted to recreate these markings. Lucky Thirteen is the first B-17 project to attempt to do so – which also makes it the largest.
Using pieces of wreckage from various B-17s, Megan and I traced the original markings, scanned them into the computer and cleaned them.
Since an industrial ink stamping machine was cost prohibitive, we opted for a handheld device to apply these markings. United RIBType of Fort Wayne, Indiana were able to take our artwork and create rubber molds to apply the markings. Then it was just a matter of raising the funds to purchase the molds and applicator devices.
That is where our supporters came in.
The left waist position on 42-30880. Note the ALCLAD markings on the wall beside the window. Photo taken 9 August 1943.
While we did not reach our original goal of $1,300, we did manage to raise enough money to order the hand printer and the markings for ALCLAD 24S-T – the type of aluminum most common in the B-17. We will eventually need to order molds to recreate the markings used on the other aluminum types – which will also require tracing and scanning other wreckage pieces – but for now, we have what we need to get started.
We at Hangar Thirteen want to express a special thanks to those who contributed to this fundraiser. You guys made this happen.
Richard Boyens (Hickory, North Carolina)
Andrew Cathcart (Woodlands, Texas)
Keith Ellefson (Ozark, Alabama)
Joe Hall (Osterholz-Sharmbeck, Germany)
Steve Heeb (Puyallup, Washington)
Wayne Somerfield (Balmain, Australia)
Kevin Trotman (Aiken, South Carolina)
Chris Wilkinson (Santa Monica, California)
Ray held off on riveting the skins to Station 4 in anticipation, and so I brought these skins home with me to test the equipment. Here are the results of these tests.
Please excuse my cat and the reflections in the metal. I will be applying the markings for the manual landing gear cranks while they are here.
Photos taken 9 May 2020.
If you would like to contribute to this effort it is not too late.
Not only are there more ALCLAD markings to scan and recreate, but there are multiple projects going on in connection with Lucky Thirteen all the time. The Parts Drive section of the website lists out various pieces we are on the lookout for. Right now, however, alongside the ALCLAD markings, the focus is on collecting bombbay and gun turret equipment, instrument gauges, and completing the Radio Equipment parts drive.
If you want to volunteer or would like to contribute a piece, feel free to contact us.
And if you would like to financially donate, just send your contribution to Store@HangarThirteen.org using a pay service like PayPal. If you want your contribution to go toward a specific project, we would be happy to do so.