PBY Restoration

After the tail just aft of the air stair we moved to the stair area forward to the aft most bulkhead. Another large amount of work. Years ago the back end was modified by removing a small gun turret hatch and installing a large air stair as well as significantly altering the structure to accept the stair. Some of the work was less than excellent work and the area acquired some minor corrosion as well. More stringer repairs done IAW structural repair manual , replacing the two sister keelsons and cleaning , sandblasting or repairing everything in the area of the stair. The large steel hinges were sent out to be cadmium plated then painted. The stair itself was also completely disassembled and every part has been replace except the step platforms themselves. But that is a side project, the parts are in but since the stair will not be installed until the end there is no rush. It was decided that there is no reason to rebuild the stair and install it just to have us climbing on it a thousand times doing all the other work. Soooo, a stair that was taken from scaffolds or something like that and modified to work. The port side bulkhead skin was replaced and patches made for the starboard side.