B-36 Gun Turrets

Just a clarification: You want to model a B-36 TURRET (what scale? you wouldn’t waste your time on a dinky 1:72 turret), not a full B-36?

First, thanks for posting the pictures. they help a lot.

Second, i want to model the turrets extended from the dorsal forward turret bay on a full B-36. the 1/72 B-36 model is huge, the turrets would be about 1 inch long finished, so i think they would look awesome.

Third, no undertaking is a waste of time when it comes to building a model... if that was the case you could classify modeling a complete waste of time to begin with. some people ask "why waste your time with building a little toy airplane that you just put on a shelf and look at once in a while?" the only answer i give them is, "why waste your time asking me that question?" its a hobby, and its fun.

I also have this model and according to a book I have it loosely resembles an RB-36 reconnaissance bird.  To make it into a bomber requires much rescribing and making larger sighting blisters among other things.

The defensive turrets were problematic at best and were eventually removed from the AC.  This was especiaaly so under the latter Featherweight I, II and III programs to increase operating altitude, speed and range.

I am at work and don't have the book with me but when I get home I'll post the title and author.  This book has a whole section on what is necessary to make this model accurate and includes numerous photos.  Shouldn't be too hard to scratch the turrets and 20mm cannon.

                                                                                                          Pat.              

there is a glory shot of the in flight b-36 with it's gun turrets exposed, in the jimmy stewart movie   the stratigic air command.    have fun

Spark84

[No] undertaking is a waste of time when it comes to building a model...

See my thread “Bugs Bunny Moment” initiated 06-18-2011 8:45 PM. What I said was that it would be a waste to build JUST a turret in 1:72. You need either a bigger scale if if you wanted to to duplicate those museum shots »OR« build a B-36. A free standing turret in 1:72 would be a curiosity and IMHO, a waste of eyesight.

See also Lucien Harpress’s thread “Question of Dimention (Can I do this?)” initiated 07-22-2003 12:36 PM (you weren’t the first person interested in scratch-building B-36 turrets in 1:72).

And for grins:

"A free standing turret in 1:72 would be a curiosity and IMHO, a waste of eyesight."

LOL... Agreed, apologies, indeed it would be  a waste to build just the turret in 1/72.

Thanks Tom

-Andy

  Totally agree with not questioning why; it's a zen thing. Anyway, as far as research stuff I highly recommend Dennis Jenkins' book "Magnesium Overcast". As a huge fan (no pun intended) of the B-36 I found it to be a superlative read; fantastic pics and great narrative.

Glad to see there are others who own that MONSTER!.  I signed up for a GB w/that bird and everytime I think about starting it.... I shake.  I promised myself to get a couple more NMF models under the belt before I crack it open, good luck on the turrets, I want to see wip's!

mikeymize

  Totally agree with not questioning why; it's a zen thing. Anyway, as far as research stuff I highly recommend Dennis Jenkins' book "Magnesium Overcast". As a huge fan (no pun intended) of the B-36 I found it to be a superlative read; fantastic pics and great narrative.

I think everyone should build it once.

Thanks for all the good info everyone! that book is in the mail.

dont think ill bother enlarging the sighting blisters, but scribing the bomb bays correctly i'll take a shot at.

i plan to build my B-29 before moving on to this beast. i'm going to try out the Alclad paints on it first to get the technique down. (going to paint a few scrap pieces before the B-29 too) should be fun, and expensive

I can't recall seeing the turrets in Strategic Air Command, but if you say they were there, ok.

Someone built a B-36 with the turrets out a while back, I think it was Swanny but don't quote me on that.

Thanks for all the good info everyone! that book is in the mail.

dont think ill bother enlarging the sighting blisters, but scribing the bomb bays correctly i'll take a shot at.

i plan to build my B-29 before moving on to this beast. i'm going to try out the Alclad paints on it first to get the technique down. (going to paint a few scrap pieces before the B-29 too) should be fun, and expensive