Strategic Air Command GroupBulid

Well today I set out to unintentionally prove rule # 32 in the Bondobook-"Initial success leads to a gradual degradation, starting with a 50% failure rate and decreasing to a steady 25% over time".

The C-54 conversion set got tricky with the replacement cabin windows (ports?). On the port side all went well. The inserts are meant to be proud of the fuselage side and get puttied and sanded down. All so good. Somehow, on starboard, with a differing pattern, it got bad. I've broken it apart twice and started over. (-33%) The pic shows it ready I think to be bondoed and sanded.

But I'm jazzed because the port proves that it can come out ok. I have assembled and painted the cockpit, which is not visible anyways. I had Airman Jim bandsaw the nacelles off (his fingers not mine) of their casting blocks, and the horizontal stabilizers have been cut down to shape.

On another front, the C-46 is done enough to go into storage and never appear in this GB again to make way for the second kit- the F-82. I have all of the decals I need, thanks to advice from Nebrnat and my paypal acct.

DRat call in soon. At the risk of sounding silly, we keep you and the boss in our prayers.

Wirr- that B-36 is really fun to build. I'm going to build another one some day.

RC-Man- I built my BUFF on the kitchen table with my 10 year old daughter helping: we built the "Leper Colony", Major Kong's aircraft from "Dr. Strangelove".

FMM- keep us posted on your great Model as time permits.

Great GB guys, keep the posts up!

Bondoman

On the bench- C-54 somewhere in (50%-60%)

F-82 on the ramp

F-89 the Academy 1/72 kit which is WAY cool and I've got the scheme:

Hey Bondo! Thanks for the encouraging words. You're a real pal

    Well, let me give you the rundown on my 1/1 scale builds here, shall i? Class is going well, and i'm down to just 2 1/2 weeks left before flying home. For the most part, the most difficult thing i've had to deal with is the difference in terminology (ie. tailboom vs. tailcone, gearbox vs. module, pitch change link vs. pitch change rod, etc.) But this particular airframe does have it's difficulties, and i've had plenty of bloodloss to prove it! But all in all, i've been having a great time! I was at Gettysburg a few days ago, and the weather was beautiful! Took a whole buncha pictures too- i just haven't downloaded them yet. I was flying solo that day, so there was none taken of me. Otherwise, i would be posting them up. My only complaint is just the $2,100 car rental fee i'll need to contend with. But other than that, it's all good here!

   There's a really nice C-46 there! I really love the fact that it's primered in yellow before the outer paint- just like the actual aircraft. I think i'm gonna need to start doing that, myself! But it's looking good, from the last photo ya got up there. I have to admit though- the design of that aircraft does seem kinda odd. Is it just me? Or does it look like a Buck Rogers rocketship with wings? But now ya really done it! Looking at that picture of the F 89 ya got lined up next, now i wanna do one! You're making me wanna buy more kits!

   Anyways, i had a little time here, so i figured i would pop on and say hiya! Hope ya guys are doing well

I have figured out that the F-89 was not assigned to SAC, and should have looked at the lists yardbird created. Saved for another time.

Bondoman

Hey Bondo check out the home page For SAC the F-89 was part of SAC here is the link for it

http://www.strategic-air-command.com/aircraft/0-aircraft_home_page.htm

There are 68 total aircraft used by SAC

4 Attack Aircraft

9 Bombers

16 Cargo

7 Command

19 Fighters

2 Reconnaissance

4 Tankers

7 Trainers

R-CMan73 wrote:

Hey Bondo check out the home page For SAC the F-89 was part of SAC here is the link for it http://www.strategic-air-command.com/aircraft/0-aircraft_home_page.htm There are 68 total aircraft used by SAC

That list is fairly inaccurate.  They list the F-22, C-17, C-27, T-1A and T-6A which weren't even in the Air Force inventory until after SAC ceased to exist in 1992.  SAC did not operate the A-1H, A-10, AC-130, AC-119, F-4, F-89, F-94, F-15, F-16, F-117, F-104, or F-105 which are all on the list.  SAC transported a lot of their equipment on C-141 and C-5 transports, but did not operate the aircraft per se.  They were operated by MAC.

It did operate the KB-50, RB-45C, RF-84F, F-84E, F-84F, F-84G, U-3, U-4, U-6, HU-16, C-45, C-47, C-82, T-29, T-39,  and some others that are not on the list.

Darwin, O.F.

Thanks everyone for their input. What sources can you reccomend for assignments of groups within the Air Force to SAC? Wikipedia seems to have alot down to about the Wing level, to the degree its accurate. But most of the Wings don't seem to show up in searches or provide any info at Squadron level. I don't want to go overboard about this but for instance if an aircraft is in the 6622nd Squadron of the Northeast Air Command, is that enough to find out whether that is a part of SAC? or God help us, partially?

 This is beyond the scope of FMM's rules I know for the Group build, so I'm feeling ok with the C-54, as he has based this mostly on aircraft types. But I'm curious.

Bondoman

on the bench c-54 55% I'm gluing the halves together a little bit at a time. When you cut each side in thirds, there are some little issues, but surprisingly its fitting pretty well.

F-82 It's headed for the beach house I think.

Ford Trimotor 25% to be painted. For another GB.

Lockheed Lodestar. 0% for another GB

I glued the halves of the C-54 together last night, and attached the lower middle wing.

I also shortened and rounded the horizontal stabilizers and the vertical fin. Next, rescribing the panel lines, which I've not really done in a big way before.

Bondoman

One last thought on the F-89. I do want to model this aircraft at a later date because of its era and location, plus the markings are great. Careful study of this photo shows something:

This one is armed with the wingtip rocket pods with a total of 104 2.75" Mighty Mouse FFRs, which in sum total was the armament of the -D, plus it has pylons for four Falcon AAMs and two Ding Dong (later Genie) nuclear armed AAMs these six last of which were the sum total armament for the early -Js, and the Genies alone for later -Js and ANG units. So this is by far the most heavily armed fighter to that point in time, really bada**ed.

The C-54 is in the sand/prime/sand/prime room, i.e. close to the radio with the baseball game.

Bondoman

All J model F-89s were converted from D models rather than being "new build".  Most were given the new tip tanks that were fuel tanks only.  A few kept the rocket pod/fuel tank pods installed.  They were technically J models, but retained the 2.75" FFAR capability.  The conversion from D to J involved making the underwing fuel tank pylon capable of mounting the Genie missile and adding the two AIM-4 Falcon pylons.  The Falcon was so terribly unreliable, especially when left mounted with the aircraft outdoors that their use was discontinued.  The ANG units started receiving the F-89J models after this action and never used the Falcon.  They operated with only the nuclear warhead Genie for armament.  God help us if we had ever had to use them.  We would have done more damage to ourselves than the Russians would have done.

Darwin, O.F.

D-rat- First of all how goes the TDY? If you're back by Memorial Day and in my area I'd have you over for the grille feed, really. Going thru the string I looked again at the pictures of the Dragon Lady wing tips and I'm guessing they're on backwards, i.e. rotated front to back. So, if you broke them off and rotated them 180 on the end of the wing, the ends would look more like they matched the ends of the wings and the teardrop shaped position lights would point (round end) forw'd.

Yardbird- good info on the F-89. There was a pilot instruction I read abt firing the Genie: Immediate 135 deg left turn and descend at max altitude with full afterburners and throttle, to "enhance the rate of pilot survival". I picked up a cheap Hobbycraft F-89J to get the weapons pylons; my -D had no pylons. I also bought the Hasegawa C weapons kit which has much better Falcon models. The plan, post this build, is to do the first -J with the rocket/fuel tanks and empty pylons, like the photo. That one is of a 59th FIS a/c at Goose Bay.

The second I don't know. Probably an NMF Air Guard with the slim end tanks, and Genie missiles on the pylons , which I'll copy from the first kit. So why do I own so many Falcons? Do you think an interceptor GB might be a go? F-101, F-89, F-86D, F-84, F-94?

Bondoman

On the bench:

C-54 sanded and primed. All of the previous DC-6 control surfaces are smooth, and will be textured to look like fabric.

F-82: cockpits painted but not detailed.

I'm off to the beach. My daugther and I are going to build a couple of kits, probably the Boeing B-307 which is a Maquette/ Hasegawa B-17 trainwreck, and the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.

In Peace and Christ

Got back and resumed the C-54.

How are things, people?

Bondoman

Hey all!

My apoligies that i haven't been around and in contact at all in the last 2 months. Sufficed to say that things have been insane, and i'm just working to keep my head above water. I haven't had time to get to the bench at all since coming back from Pennsylvania. And i'm not quite sure that i will be able to any time soon. My wife is back from overseas. But she came back with divorce papers. So all of my time will be wrapped up with that. But i'll try to check in when i can. Hopefully i'll be able to get back to it before the end. Hope all is well with ya guys.

To thine own self be true....

Since this was my first GB I'm not willing to give up, and the C-54 is close to done. If any of the people who made this so fun have the time, please check in.

Roger, I feel for you man and I hope you get to a better state of mind.

Bondoman

Hey I'm glad you're back. Poor Roger is off in divorce Hell somewhere. I keep banging away at the C-54. Lets set a goal to keep in contact once a week with photos and hopefully we'll get the guys and Tex gal back. I know Yardbird was away, and others are mostly military which means right now they are getting womped.

Bill

Well that makes Roger and I soulmates at the moment.  Its not hell, but its not pleasant either.  Nonetheless, I am currently located where my stash is not, so all builds have come to a grinding halt. 

Paul.

Jeez Ms. Bondo cannot see this forum! Well my advice to all my mates who go thru this is;

1. Save the marriage.

or

2. Save the kids

and 3. Always look out for number 1

Hiya guys,
Would any of you mind if I join up on this GB a few months late?
My Grandfather flew B-47s for the SAC, and I'm planning to build
him a B-47E model for his birthday (which is in the 1st week of Oct). 
So I will be finishing before the GB completion date.

Here's the kit I'm working on.  1/144 Academy B-47.
I've just finished trimming the pieces from the sprues.

Thank you, Sir.

I just breezed through the entirety of the thread looking at everyone's
photos.  Some really neat and uncommon models were chosen for this build.
It's somewhat suprising to me the vast variety of aircraft employed by the
SAC.  I suppose with over 40 years of activity, I should not be so suprised.

I'll be mounting the B-47E in a wheels-up, flight configuration on a stand. 
At 1/144th scale, it will be a nice-sized desk model, about the size of a 
1/48 mustang.  I considered 1/72, but having seen your build Herr Modell,
I'm glad that I went with the smaller model!  I'm not sure what my Grandpa
would do with such a large model. 

My Grandpa told me about the loft-bombing immellman manuever that he
practiced in the B-47.  I can only imagine what it would be like to drive an
aircraft that size through such a radical manuever.  Simply awesome.

I saw some mention of the SR-71 at Hill AFB.  That museum is very near my
house, actually.  They recently put a B-47 on display, so I'm planning to stop
by and take some photos of it for reference in my build.  I can take photos of
the SR-71 too.

hey everyone,

this is an excellent group build and ive read through the whole thread and i noticed a lot of you were looking for references.  i live in the Antelope Valley in CA home of Edwards AFB, NASA Dryden and Palmdale AF Plant 42.  there is an excellent airpark with two SR-71s, an engine and D-21 drone on display, as well as many other aircraft.  I also have access to Edwards AFB, they have a static "display" on the old tarmac in the North Base area as well as an on base museum.  I would be willing to go out to these locations and take reference photos, mainly at the Plant 42 airpark.  Here is a link to the airpark website along with aircraft listings: http://www.palmdaleairpark.com/aircraft.html

Ryan

Look carefully at those two "SR-71s" at the Palmdale display.  One is a two seat SR-71 (tail # 17973) and the other is a single seat A-12 (tail # 06924).  Very similar, but distinctly different aircraft.

Darwin, O.F.

yardbird78 wrote:

Look carefully at those two "SR-71s" at the Palmdale display.  One is a two seat SR-71 (tail # 17973) and the other is a single seat A-12 (tail # 06924).  Very similar, but distinctly different aircraft. Darwin, O.F.

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Yes shes a pretty good size bird, IL2.  My model didn't really come with any great detail, there isn't really a good cockpit, just simple stuff.

Yeah, I've read about that 1/72 kit, and the complications it has. 
It's funny, the cockpit floorboard you showed in one of your earlier
photos looks exactly like the 1/144 cockpit floor in my kit.  Same level
of detail!  Still, I think your model will shape up to be a real beauty.

I din't know that there were significant differences between the A-12
and the SR-71.  Can anyone give me a link?

I haven't done any modeling for 3 or 4 months, due to work, being on vacation and spending a whole lot of time with my grandson.  I hope to get back to the modeling very soon.

Grandma L

IL2windhawk wrote:

I din't know that there were significant differences between the A-12 and the SR-71.  Can anyone give me a link?

This site has some good pictures of the whole Blackbird family.  There are lots of others also, just do a google search for Blackbird, SR-71 and/or A-12.

http://www.sr-71.org/photogallery/blackbird/

The A-12 was the first of the Blackbird family and had only the pilot for crewmember.  The area immediately behind him was called the Q bay and housed all the cameras.  This area became the RSO cockpit for the SR-71 which necessitated moving the cameras to the chine bays and the nose.  The A-12 nose is a little shorter and the chines taper much more rapidly and form a narrower point.  The fuselage ends at the trailing edge of the wing instead of extending past it about 3 feet as is the case with the SR-71.  The A-12 has one less fuselage fuel tank, is a couple thousand pounds lighter and has different main gear wheel hubs.  The pitot tube is angled down 7.5 degrees instead of the 6 degrees on the SR.

Darwin, O.F.

Hi

Checked out the ROADRUNNERS INTERNATIONALE web site for infomation on the A-12 Oxcart.

This site is by the people who tested the A-12 and the U-2 out at Groom Lake.

http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/

Thanks for posting the Roadrunners web site.  I had seen that site several years ago but had lost track of the address.  The Memorial to General O'Malley was especially poignant for me.  I first got to know him as a Captain and Major when he was an SR-71 pilot and later as a Colonel Commanding the 9 SRW.  He was my Commanding Officer as well as a close personal friend.  His loss was a stunning blow to the USAF and the Blackbird program.

Darwin, O.F.