Good day, gentlemen (and, hopefully, some ladies). I'm inquiring on behalf of two amigos, one building an in-flight rendition of the 1/32 styrene B-17 E/F kit with the crew at their battle stations, the other scratch constructing a 1/12 RC Fort which he wants to double as an accurate static display when it's not mission ready.
As to the area in question, this I know: on E, F, and early G models, the large egg-shaped plexi cover over the radio room had to be removed to allow the gun mount to be slid into position. I have been able to find many good reference photos of both types of gun mount, both stowed and in firing position, but have thrown Snake Eyes when it comes to answering the question, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLEXI COVER ONCE IT WAS DETACHED?" Given the size and weight of the thing, it would make sense to have had it drop down a couple inches and slide forward to a stowed position. However, I can't see how that could happen without colliding with the life raft panel release handles, the gun mount, or both. Did the radio operator/gunner have to wrestle the thing down into his little compartment and strap it somewhere? I have a mental picture of the cover being grabbed from his cold-numbed hands by the slipstream and sent hurtling through the formation like a huge plexiglass projectile. Most importantly of all, can anyone post pictures (or a link to pictures) of the cover in its stowed position? Illustrations from relevant AAF manuals would be a real God-send.
Any assistance at all would be greatly appreciated.