Progress continued these past eight weeks on the P-51 sheet metal model project. SAB members picked up where they left off before Winter break, assembling all the cut-out pieces of both the wings and fuselage, making progress towards the completion of the final product.

Members were able to choose to attend one of three weekly build sessions on either Sunday, Monday or Wednesday. In these sessions, members were busy doing everything from using the drill press and hand drill, to aligning and riveting the many interconnection parts and sections together. As the weeks progressed, the shape and design of the P-51 became realistically clear. All internal pieces have now been cut out and most have been assembled into the shape that will serve as a path for the metal skin of the plane.

To help bend the metal for the exterior of the model, SAB acquired a metal forming and fabrication slip roll. This slip roll will help those working on the exterior skin create the perfect bends in the metal to fit to the preassembled interior structure. The interior however must first be constructed before the exterior can finish being applied.

With the final stages of construction set to begin after Spring break, SAB members can hope to have the model fully finished in the next few weeks!