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

Bockscar

........and for realism, you have to get a rag with some JP and soot on it, and hide it near your diorama,

you know, for the full effect.......i can figure you another little 'cart'......lol

Dom

Lol, thanks Dom. That'll help my allergies!

Russ

Russ;

Hey, not being nasty, just being a smartass,

Yeh, I figured as much, I can't resist...maybe didn't get into

enough bar fights,,,,yet,,,,,.....lol

I think you have a sweet historical build going on.

Can hardly wait 'till you actually get the wings on the Eagle........

and for realism, you have to get a rag with some JP and soot on it, and hide it near your diorama,

you know, for the full effect.......i can figure you another little 'cart'......lol

Dom

Lol, Dom!

The picture was taken at a low angle and I had to massage it into a reasonably circular version. The lettering was difficult to read anyway and most of the detail was lost in the distorting process. The only thing you can read clearly is the manufacturer's name - Dabco. The yellow lift panel says "Fuel...something".

I made the grounding point in Office Powerpoint.

Russ

Russ,

Is that a ground fuel cover, or a Saigon subway token....lol

Sorry, it didn't show too well.

Dom

Hi, All,

I've added six ground points and two fuel pit covers. I don't actually have a diagram that shows the correct position and number of ground points, but I have various pictures showing them near the bomb bay, front main gear and nose so I'm assuming there were at least six, three on each side.

I did find a TO that shows a B-52 with a fuel pit cover just behind the right wing root. The manual shows only one fuel pit but with a plane that size, I can't believe there would only be one, so I added a cover on the left side as well.

If anyone has any official information on the location of these items, I would appreciate a copy.

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Lol! Thanks, Dom!

BTW, that's not my plane - my paint job won't look that good . It's just a drawing I found on the internet.

If you're interested in the files, I've created them as TIF files so they can be read by just about any image editing program that recognizes layers. I'd be glad to send you copies of what I have. The main file is quite large - 165 mb and growing, but I can break it down into smaller files. And unless you're building a similarly sized diorama, you won't need all 10 of the ramp slices anyway. Let me know.

Cheers,

Russ

I wuz wundrin' howz youz gawt thowz rufflekshunz so purfek!

Nice oil spills by the way, could almost smell the beast from here.

Dom

Hi, Allen,

My base is 38 x 38 inches, but yours doesn't need to be that big. The dimensions of the model assembled is 26 x 31 inches. Since you will have the wings off and the fuselage in pieces, you should be able to get away with something this size or smaller. If you're going to show an access road around it (as in the picture at the link below) these dimensions might be just right:

www.artificialowl.net/.../amarc-biggest-plane-graveyard-tucson.html

Cheers,

Russ

Russ,

Major Kong here, Kinda curious as to the dimensions of your Dio board. im thinking it would be about the same size as for my "eliminated" B-52D.... cept its gonna be covered in sand ruther than concrete...

Any ideas or suggestions?? i have some nose cowlings and engine access doors already for the Dio and am gonna have to have a base soon so I can start assembing the Dio. Have tons of AMARC B-52 pics so I think Ive got enough stuff to do the Dio, complete with the spares laying around...

Toodles!!

Mjr Kong

Thanks, Duke!

Yes, in fact, I've been experimenting with fuel and oil drops and spills. The first image below is a composite image showing all the "dirty" layers together. The second image shows how it would look with the aircraft in position.

One thing that is hard to replicate with these images is the actual effects of the sun on the oil and fuel patches. The sun adds highlights and textures that are hard to duplicate without a detailed sample picture to work from. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found a suitable overhead shot of an empty revetment, but I'm still looking.

Right now, I have two working TIF files - one to assemble the slices into the ramp image, and another file with the complete ramp image as the background. I'm using this second file to create the jet blast, oil and fuel stain, etc. layers. This keeps the files much smaller while I'm working with them. Later, I'll combine both files. Each file is over 150 mb in size, so be sure you have enough memory available for undo's.

I have two aircraft images on the top layers that I use for reference - the image of the bomber on one layer and an outline of it on the other. This way, you can see where to put the stains in relation to the aircraft and the revetment.

Thanks again for the good words, Duke,

Russ

That is so incredible! Way to go! Are you also going to add fuel drops around the outer wing tanks? Not to mention the hydraulic and oil spills around where the fuselage is. I wouldn't mind having a copy of all these as well!

Man, keep up the great work, this is one tremendous diorama! I do hope I can see it in person one of these days!

Lol! Thanks, Dom!

BTW, that's not my plane - my paint job won't look that good . It's just a drawing I found on the internet.

If you're interested in the files, I've created them as TIF files so they can be read by just about any image editing program that recognizes layers. I'd be glad to send you copies of what I have. The main file is quite large - 165 mb and growing, but I can break it down into smaller files. And unless you're building a similarly sized diorama, you won't need all 10 of the ramp slices anyway. Let me know.

Cheers,

Russ

Russ,

You sure you don't want to take that image down and sell it on Ebay?

I am your first customer.

By the way, you did a fantastic job randomizing those tiles and setting the tires and smoke on the concrete.

Looks fantastic

Dom

Hi, All,

Here's an update on my tarmac printing project. I've completed building all of the slice layers and today I added the jet blast, tire tracks, and what I call the "grunge" layer - the general dirtiness around the areas that see the most traffic and maintenance. Below is the first composite of these layers. This weekend, I hope to print out the complete ramp and see how it looks.

Cheers,

Russ

Hmm, well I don't remember ever seeing one back in those days, or using one on base... But then, they did make them starting in the 60s so I guess it's possible, and certainly practical, especially with a big base like Utapao or Anderson . However, having one of those standing out in that heat and humidity all day... erg... I'll check around .

Russ

Why yes, I would!

Hi, All,

This idea of using Photoshop to create my tarmac is turning into a real challenge. The biggest problem is the overall size of the ramp in the diorama (~ 38 in x 38 in). Since my printer will only print 8.5 in x 11 in sheets, I will have to print the ramp in segments. I found that with 50 mm squares, I can print a full 3 x 5 segment ( I call it a "slice").

But this presents another problem because now I have to be able to position the tie down points, grounding points, fuel ports, etc. as well as the oil and fuel stains, tire tracks and blast marks in the correct locations relative to the aircraft - but with the correct portions of these details on specific slices!

To tackle this, I've created a full scale layered TIF file that represents the entire diorama. On one top layer, I have the revetment outline and on another the outline of the aircraft. I've begun filling in the slices from left to right starting at the bottom left. Each slice is on a separate layer and is labeled alpha-numerically (in the program) according to the row (A, B, C,...) and slice number (1, 2, 3, ....). Each row consists of four slices. A copy of the file so far is shown below.

For example, the first row consists of slices A-4, A-7, A-6 and A-3. I've created a total of 10 different slices and I'm placing them so as to make the pattern generally random - that's why the numbers are mixed up.

Next, I'll create separate layers for the oil stains, position and warning symbols, and taxi stripes.

Cheers,

Russ

Buffirn

Did I forget to mention tool boxes and assorted rags?

:)

 

Lol, I suppose next you'll want a porta-potty over against the revetment... .

Bingo!

Russ:

Glad i asked, never knew any of that, always an education for the real information Russ - thanks.

I was going to say the foot of the ladder looked like it could fall

into one of those canyons.

Come to think of it, concrete pavement is always the first thing to buckle on a really hot summer's day, engineers prawley had that all figured out.

Looking forward to the J-57 soot, and all the tire and oil marks bud.

BTW, nice VTOL, looks like my ride.....

Dom

Dom,

When the concrete squares are first formed, you can just about stick the toe of your shoe down in the cracks. Later, they fill them with tar to prevent rain from seeping under them and to keep plants from growing up between them. In the hot sun, the tar swells and oozes out on either side, making the cracks look even wider.

I actually made the cracks in my pattern thinner than they appear in the photo because they made the pattern look like a block of decorative tiles you can buy at the store. Probably an obstacle illusion . However, I'm working on a layer that will replicate the tar in the joints.

Below is the photo I used to make the pattern. It's about the closest to an overhead shot I've been able to find so far that uses the 10-12 ft concrete squares.

Cheers,

Russ

Dumb question Russ, so forgive me here:

Are the seams in the pavement really that wide scale-wise?

Dom

Thanks, Ken!

Striker8241

Hi, All,

While I struggle with the framework for my diorama, I've been experimenting with creating some scale pavement. Being inherently lazy, I balked at manually marking and detailing such a large expanse of parking ramp, so I'm creating it in Photoshop.

Below is my first basic tarmac pattern that I created from an actual photo. I will add other details such as oil and fuel spills, fuel covers and static grounding point marks and jet blast marks on separate layers. I plan to print them out on a heavy matte paper, piece them together and then spray the whole thing with lacquer dullcote - but then, that's a long way down the line and there are a lot of options.

I am creating about five different versions of this segment, all slightly different so I can piece them together in a random pattern.

 Below is a preliminary look at how the pavement will look with the model. I'm still experimenting with color and light shades as well.

Cheers,

Russ

Great idea there Russ!  I think it will look fantastic.     

Ken

Did I forget to mention tool boxes and assorted rags?

:)

Buffirn

The "little toothbrushes" are the actuators for the clip release.  Those legs fit into the bomb release mechanism on the rack.  

The thingy sticking down probably is a loaded indicator.

I'll have a look through my stuff and see if I can come up with some drawings and some nomenclature.

 

Buffirn

And you still have to make chocks and grounding wires and all sorts of other things.  At least you will have something to occupy your time.

I did find some drawings of the bomb releases today.  I'll get them up soon.

 

That's great, Jim. Thanks! 

Russ

And you still have to make chocks and grounding wires and all sorts of other things.  At least you will have something to occupy your time.

I did find some drawings of the bomb releases today.  I'll get them up soon.

Hi, All,

While I struggle with the framework for my diorama, I've been experimenting with creating some scale pavement. Being inherently lazy, I balked at manually marking and detailing such a large expanse of parking ramp, so I'm creating it in Photoshop.

Below is my first basic tarmac pattern that I created from an actual photo. I will add other details such as oil and fuel spills, fuel covers and static grounding point marks and jet blast marks on separate layers. I plan to print them out on a heavy matte paper, piece them together and then spray the whole thing with lacquer dullcote - but then, that's a long way down the line and there are a lot of options.

I am creating about five different versions of this segment, all slightly different so I can piece them together in a random pattern.

 Below is a preliminary look at how the pavement will look with the model. I'm still experimenting with color and light shades as well.

Cheers,

Russ

The "little toothbrushes" are the actuators for the clip release.  Those legs fit into the bomb release mechanism on the rack.  

The thingy sticking down probably is a loaded indicator.

I'll have a look through my stuff and see if I can come up with some drawings and some nomenclature.

Bockscar

Still the same old loops on the bomb itself, any idea what those little 'toothbrushes' are I see

sticking out the top of the clip shackle? I saw them in other clip photos.

Dom,

I'm guessing those engage the release mechanism - probably solenoids mounted in the panel.

Bockscar

 

The picture of the clip shackle has a background that looks more like Nevada than 'Nam.

Again, thanks for those pictures.

Dom

You're welcome . That "mountain" threw me too the first time; then I realized what it was - it's the sand berm around the bomb assembly area. The hills in the background are real. This photo is probably from Utapao, Thailand. There are hills and mountains like that around the base.

Cheers,

Russ

Thanks for those pictures Russ:

That's real nitty gritty.

I can see a solenoid for the pylon shackle, and the stabilizer pads/discs.

I am guessing that small rod in the middle and pointing down is some kind of "bomb present yes/no"

logic switch.

Still the same old loops on the bomb itself, any idea what those little 'toothbrushes' are I see

sticking out the top of the clip shackle? I saw them in other clip photos.

The picture of the clip shackle has a background that looks more like Nevada than 'Nam.

Again, thanks for those pictures.

Dom