Curtiss Jenny Restoration: September 2008

Spider Plate

Good to be back at work on the Jenny after a long 8 day trip (work) to Europe. Didn't see any Jennies, but I did see lots of neat castles.

Over the last two days, I decided to tackle the Spider plate. The lower half of the plate was welded to the upper section. I welded both sides the entire length of the plate. Since I gas welded this, it took a bit of time.

Here's a closer shot. I have a few more rivets to shoot yet before the plate is finished. After that, the entire spider plate will be blasted and painted. This is the last major part I had to finish. Now, all the basic fuselage fittings are complete and the next step is to paint them all and reassemble the fuselage.

While I was away, Paul Daugherty sent me a progress picture of the Golden Age Air Museum Jenny. Very nice!

Also found this neat Jenny picture on the NASAM website. Thought you might like to enjoy it.

Till next time

Brian

Coppering done!

All the coppering on the vertical and horizontal pieces is done!

My parents were visiting, so I put my father to work. Each copper end needed to be sanded smooth....

...and given a coat of varnish.

Here are an entire Jenny's worth of verticals and horizontals.

Next week, the fittings need to be painted and the longeron splices wrapped. Till then...

Brian

Coppering

This pile has been getting bigger...

...and this pile has been getting smaller. Only a few more pieces to go!

Here's a close up of one of the verticals.

Our son Brighton tried to steal my pliers. I caught him in the act.

I got an e-mail from Ed Rogers the other day. It seems like his High School kids are making great progress in their shop class. They put together a practice Jenny section 9 and 10 to see if the parts they were making fit properly. They did. Sure looks like a Jenny section to me!