Kermit Weeks has released the second part of his FOF Mechanic’s Corner video series detailing the wing skin fabrication of his Seversky P-35A.
In the new video, Fantasy of Flight’s sheet metal specialist Rick Reeves continues the process of restoring the P-35 wing, which was damaged in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew struck the Florida-based collection. The wing skin work begun in part 1 is carried through the final steps of the fabricating process and Rick demonstrates the paint prep and painting, followed by the the wing skin going to the wing for fitting, clecos, and riveting.
Click below to check it out.
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Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new FoF Mechanic’s Corner video dealing with the restoration of his extremely rare Seversky P-35A. The new update will be released in two parts and features Fantasy of Flight’s metal specialist Rick Reeves “taking us through the process of restoring the P-35 wing.”
To help show all the steps in detail, we’ll follow one particular wing skin through the whole process. Rick starts by pulling the old wing skin off the frame, and then goes through all the steps it takes to bring a new skin to life.
As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s Florida-based collection in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.
Click below to check out part 1 of the new series.
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Kermit Weeks has posted a new update on the restoration of his extremely rare Seversky P-35A.
As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.
The new update details work to the wings. Click below to check it out.
[continue reading…]
Kermit Weeks has posted a new update on the restoration of his extremely rare Seversky P-35A.
As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.
The new update reveals the structure of the port wing panel following removal of the skins and details some of the work that will need to be carried out in order to restore the panel to new condition. Click below to check it out.
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Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has posted a new video update on the restoration of his rare Seversky P-35A.
In the video, Paul Stecewycz offers a brief overview of previous updates before explaining the next phase of the project, which will see the wings going into wing fixtures and the beginning of wing skin removal by FoF sheet metal specialist Rick Reeves. This process serves as the starting point for “fully striping the wings, examining the status of the components, and proceeding to do what is necessary to completely restore both wings to new condition.”
The new update is reportedly a prelude to the next update, “which will take you through the restoration and fabrication process, following a single wing skin from removal, to fabrication, to finishing, to placement back on the wing.”
Click below to check it out.
[continue reading…]
Kermit Weeks has shared a new series of images detailing the ongoing work on his exceedingly rare Seversky P-35.
As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.
Click below to check out the update.
[continue reading…]
Kermit Weeks has shared a new video detailing the ongoing work on his exceedingly rare Seversky P-35.
As previously reported, the machine was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck Kermit’s by Florida-based Fantasy of Flight attraction in 1992. When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world.
The newly released video was reportedly filmed in the summer of 2017 and documents the fuselage being detached from the center section and “put into a rotisserie fixture for easier access during the restoration process.”
Click below to check it out.
[continue reading…]
Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks has released a new video detailing the ongoing restoration of his Seversky P-35.
This particular aircraft was acquired years back in a trade with the USAF Museum and is reportedly one of only three remaining examples of the single seat fighter, which was introduced in the mid-1930s and saw limited action at the beginning of WW2. It came from the Swedish Air Force and was stored in underground bunkers during the war, which resulted in significant pitting and surface corrosion. Additional damage was sustained when Hurricane Andrew struck the museum in 1992.
When complete, this will be the only airworthy example of the type in the world. The newly released video was reportedly filmed last summer and shows the beginning of the “next phase” of the project, including the removal of the machine’s fairings, cowls, tail and other refinished panels as well as the engine. The work was performed in order to remove the fuselage from the center section so the wings can be re-skinned.
Click below to check it out.
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Fantasy of Flight’s Kermit Weeks has released the second installment of his “Kerime Q’s” video series which answers select questions from his YouTube channel videos.
The second episode sees Kermit responding to questions on the P-51C paint scheme which were raised after the first episode. He then answers a broad selection of questions dealing with Hurricane Andrew and it’s aftermath, progress on the S-38 and Fokker D.VII, acquisition of the Seversky P-35, and much more.
Click below to check it out.
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