1/72 B-52D with Big Belly Mod, Operation Arc Light

Hi, Bish,

Many thanks for the compliments, my friend! I'm happy if I've contributed something useful to your future project and I'll be looking forward to seeing it take shape - whenever that happens .

Cheers,

Russ

Hey Bish, could you post that Hannants link that has the B-4 stand? I searched the site but couldn't find anything about it.

Many thanks,

Russ

Yep, no problem.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../GE72030

And if you click the link on the Hannants page, it takes you to the AIM site. They have some nice looking ground stuff but I haven't got anything yet. I had to check as I wasn't sure if theirs was the same platform you had made.

And you certainly have helped a lot. What you produced is sort of what I had in my mind all those years ago, though not so well detailed. Now I am certain I can do it justice. I am hoping to get a purpose built model shed next year with plenty of display space, and then the B-52 will be the first thing on the bench.

Thanks, Bish.

Their model doesn't look bad at all. It almost looks like a derivative - maybe another US company or maybe European - rather than a model of the USAF B-4 stand. In any case, they left off the hydraulic actuator and line so that is kind of a serious omission IMHO. They do model the hand pump but it doesn't look like any I ever saw, but ours had a cover over it so maybe Hannants left it off.

The most striking difference is the leg assemblies that support the lower frame - they're not there. And the tow bar is too flimsy.If you built one of these for real, the front cross bar would bend or snap as soon as you made a turn while towing the stand. That's why the real B-4 stands had triangular-shaped tow bar frames.

But overall, at this scale, the model looks good and will be a cool addition to a diorama. Only those familiar with the actual stands will notice any difference. And Hannant's model will be a lot easier to build than mine .

Thanks again for the link, Bish,

Russ

Ye, I wasn't sure if it was exactly the same, or maybe a modern replacement. Their site doesn't give any date for use as it does for some of the other items. I noticed that with the tow bars as well.

So you think if I bought these ones they could be modified  to make them more accurate.

I am not sure if these are available elsewhere, the company that makes them seems to have close links to Hannants.

Well, there are some things you could do, but I'm not sure it's necessary. Most people will not know the  differences anyway.

The lift mechanism and the platform are ok as is. You could remove the kit wheel assemblies and scratchbuild the leg assemblies and braces, and the tow bar, using my instructions. You would definitely want to re-use the wheels.

The ladder assembly is totally wrong. The real stands had three fixed steps and only a single movable step while this model has 4 fixed steps and 3 movable steps. You would have to remove the two top movable steps and one of the fixed steps.

The handrails are not right - the real stand only had a single handrail assembly while this one has two - and there are no guides for the movable step rods. If you look at their model, the movable steps appear to be attached directly to the fixed steps so it's going to look odd if you show the platform in anything but the fully extended position. You could get away with removing and attaching the movable part with handrails directly to the platform. I would reshape the lower handrails so they are smaller and closer in form to the upper handrails  - a scale figure grabbing those rails as they are would be at a 45 degree angle climbing up .

The hand pump was inside a rectangular box, not exposed as in their model, and had a straight handle or one with a kink at the end. You would need to add the hydraulic actuator and a hydraulic line connected to the pump.

Keep in mind this model is tiny at 72 scale. Modifying the stand would be lot easier than building my model and would save you a lot of time, but you would have to really be careful.

Russ

Thanks for the info, I will keep that all in mind. I like to be as accurate as possible, but I think its often a case of keeping it within reason and being realistic as to your abilities. Its good to stretch them, but not to the point when you just trash what your working on. So I think I will get a couple of those ladders and compare them with yours and see what I think is doable.

I will be ordering from Hannants next month, so I think I will add one, and while I won't be building it for a while, I can at least see for myself what needs to be done.

Striker8241

If you look at their model, the movable steps appear to be attached directly to the fixed steps so it's going to look odd if you show the platform in anything but the fully extended position.

Ahh, disregard this comment - I looked at the model at another angle and the movable steps are attached to the platform, not to the fixed steps.

Russ

Hi, All,

Before these old brain cells atrophy, I decided to go ahead and write up instructions for scratchbuilding the revetment around my diorama. If any of you would like a copy, please PM me.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi, All,

I decided to catch up on some details I didn't have time to do before. I tried out glazing the gunner's compartment windows and I like the effect! Below is a picture of the results.

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, All,

I decided to catch up on some details I didn't have time to do before. I tried out glazing the gunner's compartment windows and I like the effect! Some pictures of the results below.

 

Also, I built a mounting frame for the third bomb clip and installed it in the bomb bay.

Cheers,

Russ

 

 

Wow Russ, that is incredible work!  How did you make that mounting frame?

Ken

Thanks, Ken!  

I just made it from some scrap pieces, and some I-Beam stock.

Cheers,

Russ

I had an itch to do a more detailed version of the kit display engine so I ordered a resin version from Roll Models, Inc. The result was pretty rough as you can see below.

The whole surface was stippled and there were some serious holes in the casting. In addition, the shape of some of the engine sections was wrong, especially the exhaust nozzle. It had a solid plug flush with the end of the nozzle and the cone was too large and too long. I drilled out the nozzle and reshaped the cone so it looks much better.

Below is the reshaped engine with the molded on details removed. Now it's ready to add the fuel pumps, tubing, wiring and etc. I also added 7 mm to the front of the engine to replicate the intake shroud  represent the water injection shroud.

To add this to my diorama, I built an engine trailer that was used to transport engines to and from the flight line and frequently to work on the engine while in the shop. It looks like a simple structure but there are some really small and delicate parts that gave me fits.

Cheers,

Russ

Russ;

That sure is a lot of sculpting, the resin parts are supposed to

be more accurate than the injection parts.

The average modeler would have no way to know how to fix

that resin part.

Looking forward to seeing the hardware go on it,

Dom

Striker8241

I had an itch to do a more detailed version of the kit display engine so I ordered a resin version from Roll Models, Inc. The result was pretty rough as you can see below. 

 

The whole surface was stippled and there were some serious holes in the casting. In addition, the shape of some of the engine sections was wrong, especially the exhaust nozzle. It had a solid plug flush with the end of the nozzle and the cone was too large and too long. I drilled out the nozzle and reshaped the cone so it looks much better.

Below is the reshaped engine with the molded on details removed. Now it's ready to add the fuel pumps, tubing, wiring and etc. I also added 7 mm to the front of the engine to replicate the intake shroud (I guess that's what you call it ).

 

To add this to my diorama, I built an engine trailer that was used to transport engines to and from the flight line and frequently to work on the engine while in the shop. It looks like a simple structure but there are some really small and delicate parts that gave me fits.

Cheers,

Russ

Incredible work Russ!  Your skills at scratch building are just fantastic!     

Here is a picture that my Dad took while stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Viet Nam.  I believe that is the same trailer with an engine on it.  Not quite sure what engine that is.  I also believe that is a B4 maintenance stand to the far right.

Ken 

Bockscar

Russ;

That sure is a lot of sculpting, the resin parts are supposed to

be more accurate than the injection parts.

The average modeler would have no way to know how to fix

that resin part.

Looking forward to seeing the hardware go on it,

Dom

Roger that, Dom. Actually neither the injected version nor the resin version are very accurate, but the injected version is more accurate. I was surprised too about the resin engine - neither the accuracy nor the quality was good. A lot of the details were just gestures rather that attempts to replicate the real engine. But that's ok - I planned to remove all the detail anyway and correcting the basic shape of the engine isn't that hard. It just takes a lot of time.

Also, the basic J-57 engine didn't necessarily have the shroud on the front of the intake - it appears that only the B-52 engines had those. There were a lot of planes that used the J-57 in a wide variety of configurations and finding usable pictures of those used on the D models has been difficult.

Cheers,

Russ

Son Of Medicine Man

Incredible work Russ!  Your skills at scratch building are just fantastic!     

Here is a picture that my Dad took while stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Viet Nam.  I believe that is the same trailer with an engine on it.  Not quite sure what engine that is.  I also believe that is a B4 maintenance stand to the far right.

Ken 

Thanks for the good words, Ken!   Yes, that is the same trailer. Actually, that looks like two engines on trailers, one slightly behind the other. They are probably new or rebuilt J-57s without the afterburners. And that is a B-4 stand off to the right .

Cheers,

Russ

Ken:

Another great pic from your dad, much appreciated.

Dom

Here's the engine after painting. Ready to add the detail.

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Here's the engine after painting. Ready to add the detail.

Cheers,

Russ

 

                           

 

 

Very nice Russ!  Great job on painting the metallic look!  Very realistic!   

Ken

Striker8241

Here's the engine after painting. Ready to add the detail.

Cheers,

Russ

 

                           

 

 

The housing around the combustion chamber looks good and burnt!

That is such a tiny project, my eyes hurt just thinking about it; also like that intake shroud,

Dom

Thanks, Guys!

Russ

Hello Russ!

A very nice looking engine - now I'm curious, how you are going to do all the plumbing on it. Good luck with the job and have a nice day

Paweł

Thank you, Pawel!

As for how I'm going to do all the plumbing, I plan to add the major assemblies like the fuel pump, larger valves and breathers, then add the piping and wiring in layers starting from the inside out. Should be interesting .

Cheers,

Russ

Hi, All,

I finished and installed the fuel pump assembly and added the oil filler cap. Below are some photos. Next comes the components on the engine casing itself and the plumbing. I corrected the colors a bit but they will be toned down when I add a wash.

Cheers,

Russ

Great job on the fuel pump assembly Russ!      It is hard to believe that is 1/72 scale!

Ken

Thanks, Ken!  Now if I only had your painting and detailing ability, it would be 100% better!

Russ

Striker8241

Thanks, Ken!  Now if I only had your painting and detailing ability, it would be 100% better!

Russ

Thank you for the compliment Russ!  But I think your detailing is great!  As far as painting goes, I think that if you started using an airbrush you would be as good if not better than me!

Ken

Striker8241

Hi, All,

I finished and installed the fuel pump assembly and added the oil filler cap. Below are some photos. Next comes the components on the engine casing itself and the plumbing. I corrected the colors a bit but they will be toned down when I add a wash.

Cheers,

Russ

 

 

 

 

 

when I reduced your picture to about 1/72, it looks real good! That pump and fuel section is excellent, and again, unless someone has been up close to the real thing, they'd never be able to reproduce your details.

Dom

Thanks for the good words, Dom.  The pump assembly is only a gesture - the real setup is incredibly more complex and would be pointless in trying to fully replicate at this scale. As long as it gives the right "flavor" when viewed up close, we're good .

Cheers,

Russ