Tsunami rebuild update

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

More progress. The empennage is going on. Its going to look like an airplane in not so long.








Will

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Idea, get RARA to give "Team Tsunami" a pit spot with tent. Every day after the races they can have open house, let people admire the workmanship (entry requires of Pit pass) and have a 1-2 hour Q & A session.

During the races have something on display in the general admission area highlighting the meet & greet in the pits after races.

What a way to help fund bringing one of the legends back.

Maybe show fans some of the processes. Change the process daily.

Perfect opportunity to help the team get-er-done.

Its not a bad idea. I wonder if RARA would be interested? I know they pay for a vender spot every year, I wonder if it would cost more to get a pit? It would be mutually beneficial for both. That said, I don't know if they would get more traffic in their current spot or in the pits as they have a pretty visible spot near the stands.

Will

[Desertdawg]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Idea, get RARA to give "Team Tsunami" a pit spot with tent. Every day after the races they can have open house, let people admire the workmanship (entry requires of Pit pass) and have a 1-2 hour Q & A session.

During the races have something on display in the general admission area highlighting the meet & greet in the pits after races.

What a way to help fund bringing one of the legends back.

Maybe show fans some of the processes. Change the process daily.

Perfect opportunity to help the team get-er-done.

[Desertdawg]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Will,

Thanks to you and the Tsunami team for sharing their progress here.

In 2010 when they were here they were selling some very nice work shirts. I treat it just like my Dago red shirts and only wear on special occasions.







In 2017 when they returned there was signs of progress.



If they come back in 2021 that would be awesome. They definitely need to bring some stuff to sell.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

They might bring this out to Reno if they can afford to do so.

Weeeelllllll Reno National Championship Air Race Fans...

How many of you, I know, there are really too dang few of us regulars.. but, how much would each person reading this pledge if there were a fund set up??

Will, do we have an idea of how much they need to make it happen?

We really gotta make this work!

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Wayne, I hear you. Yes, the workmanship is top notch. I mean look at the reflection of the polished metal. From what I can see, there isn't a divot around a single rivet. Its really impressive work. I so wish I could routinely show up and help out with the project. Being on the wrong coast kinda makes that tough to do.

They might bring this out to Reno if they can afford to do so. They want to, but from what I understand, its just a matter of fuel costs to do so. I think for people to see the fuselage sitting there in the tent would move the project from a publicly perceived dream to an actual reality. I've spoken with a lot of people who remember Tsunami from back in the day, who had no clue it was being rebuilt. Its one thing to see pieces of the tail sitting there, its a totally different deal to see a new fuselage sitting there waiting to be joined together with the rest of the plane.

Will

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Way beyond exciting Will! This entire project is a huge reminder of how it used to be! A bunch of guys "rebuilding" an airplane into a racer...

BTW, is anyone else as impressed as I am with the level of workmanship?

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

This is a bit exciting, Tsunami's fuselage is out of the jig. Time to build a fixture for the tail and start assembly of the empennage.



Will

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

An update from the Tsunami guys....

"
The skins are going on permanently. We riveted the right skin to the top longeron this week and started riveting to the bottom tonight. Also the tail gear is coming along well and is almost complete. "









Will

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Sweet update! Anyone know what the tail gear is out of?

If I'm not mistaken, the tail wheel itself is off an S2 Tracker. I think the rest of it is all P51 stuff.

Will

[Samuel]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Sweet update! Anyone know what the tail gear is out of?

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

Thanks for the continued updates. I know it's a labor of love & at 88 years old I hope to get to see it fly again as a Gold Winner.

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

From facebook:
"I?ve been slowly rebuilding Tsunamis tail gear when I have a bit of time after work. Surprisingly the gear and strut made it through the accident unscathed. However the actuators rod end was bent, so we will be looking for P-51D actuator in the not too distant future. Aside from that the gear and strut have been completely disassembled, cleaned, soda blasted and tonight we were able to throw some paint at it. "

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update



"Pieces parts prepared and waiting primer."



"It?s been a long few months of disassembling the empennage, stripping, blasting and forming parts, but this weekend we were finally able to start putting parts back together!"


More headway being made.

Will

[RAD2LTR]

Re: Tsunami rebuild update

The guys were back at it...

"We started disassembling the empennage this weekend. Although we plan to build all new longerons, formers, stringers and skins there are many internal parts that look like we can save. "






Will