Hi, All,

Quick update - I've had to hold off finishing painting the fuselage so I'm concentrating on the MD-3 generator. It's a challenge but it's coming along as shown below. That oval object on the front is the gas tank.

Cheers,

Russ

Cool!  Iron rain

Many thanks Russ;

Last night I pulled the engine assemblies apart to deal with the exhaust details.....yikes

dang things were glued 6 years ago.....lol

I have 84 Mk 82's incoming, I better duck'n'cover.....

Here's one for you:

Rainin' crater eggs......

Dom

Bockscar

Russ:

One last dumb question:

The inner Bomb Bay doors, they opened up and made a lot more room vertically in the BB,

was that for loading only, or did they open as well when dropping the ordnance?

If they opened during weapons deployment, I need to follow your lead and cut those inner doors open.

If not, I'll put the clips in and leave them up.

Tx

Dom

Not a dumb question at all, Dom. The upper set of doors were only opened during weapons loading. They didn't open during bomb drop, so you don't need to cut them out if you plan to show the plane in flight. You may run into a tight fit for the bomb clips though with the upper doors closed so you may have to leave off the eyelets on the hangers. I will send you some instructions on building the new panels - they take up less space than the previous ones and should give you more room to maneuver.

Russ

You're right - it does look good, and it was your idea . I wanted to see it with the bomb clips too but I only have one completed for my trailer and I've already attached the cradle. However, I'm building the bombs for the other two clips (I decided to fully populate the both of them) and as soon as I get them installed I'll snap some photos from down under.

Thanks for making me an honorary member of the build. I'll be happy to contribute in any way I can.

Russ

Russ:

One last dumb question:

The inner Bomb Bay doors, they opened up and made a lot more room vertically in the BB,

was that for loading only, or did they open as well when dropping the ordnance?

If they opened during weapons deployment, I need to follow your lead and cut those inner doors open.

If not, I'll put the clips in and leave them up.

Tx

Dom

Striker8241

Hey, Dom,

I got some free time this evening so I was able to finish your "mirror trailer" . I put some edging around the mirror to hide the glass. Below are a couple of pictures. It sorta looks like a trailer that has standing water on it after a rain, doesn't it? . The mirror has really good clarity but naturally, the size limits the total amount you can see on a model this size. For a smaller model, like a fighter, it should show quite a bit. I think it's a great idea.

Thanks!

Russ

 

 

I didn't think you would have that up and running so fast!

That's a real nice trailer, full of 'Nam rain.......

Uhhhh.....not trying to overstate my addition, but I think that looks pretty good.

I would love to see it under the bomb clips.....

Of course there may be a number of ways to position them to get the right effect.

If it does anything, it adds to the visual complexity, so seeing that hook is

kind of neat.

By the way Russ, you are our Honorary Member on the BUFF GB.

-and i will be using your guidance for details......like bomb clips.....lol

Dom

Hey, Dom,

I got some free time this evening so I was able to finish your "mirror trailer" . I put some edging around the mirror to hide the glass. Below are a couple of pictures. It sorta looks like a trailer that has standing water on it after a rain, doesn't it? . The mirror has really good clarity but naturally, the size limits the total amount you can see on a model this size. For a smaller model, like a fighter, it should show quite a bit. I think it's a great idea.

Thanks!

Russ

Right, Dom - 3 clips per bomb bay, if you fully populate each clip. For a hanging model, you probably need to fully populate them; if it sits on the shelf, you could get away with populating just the first three bombs of each row since you can't see much past that. That's only 15 bombs per clip.

Russ

Striker8241

Bockscar

Hi Russ:

I found those MK 82's on SB's.

Any challenges putting those together?

Also, dumb question, your source for the Plastruct beam stock, i can't find it.

Tx

Dom

Hi, Dom,

SB's is...? 

If you're looking at the Verlindin MK82s (kit #2508), keep in mind that there are only 12 each 500 lb bombs in the kit your can use with the clip, so you actually have to buy three sets to have enough bombs - unless you're into resin casting.

As for assembling them, it's pretty straight forward - you just have to be careful to get the tail fins straight with the rest of the bomb. If you decide to use my method of mounting them on the panels, let me know and I'll give you some guidelines so you can have the fins oriented the same. BTW, I'm working on version 3 of the clip assembly instructions and should have them done by next week. 

For the Plastruct beam stock, I bought some from two places: Walthers and my local HobbyTown store. The Walther's numbers are: 1/16" I-Beam  PLS 570 90511, and 3/32" I-Beam  PLS 570 90052. You can reference the last 5 numbers at your hobby shop or just about anywhere onliine. I think you can also get them from MegaHobby online (www.megahobby.com).

Cheers,

Russ

 

 

 

SB's was supposed to read Sprue Brothers, sorry 'bout that.

Yeah, 28, right, 500 lb bombs per clip. So was that two or twas that hree clips per bomb bay?

Somehow I got three stuck in my head. So it's either 5 kits, i.e. enough for 56 bombs, or

7 kits for the full 84 bomb load of three clips.

Thanks for the info, I'll see if I can get that styrene stock.

Dom

Bockscar

Hi Russ:

I found those MK 82's on SB's.

Any challenges putting those together?

Also, dumb question, your source for the Plastruct beam stock, i can't find it.

Tx

Dom

Hi, Dom,

SB's is...? 

If you're looking at the Verlindin MK82s (kit #2508), keep in mind that there are only 12 each 500 lb bombs in the kit your can use with the clip, so you actually have to buy three sets to have enough bombs - unless you're into resin casting.

As for assembling them, it's pretty straight forward - you just have to be careful to get the tail fins straight with the rest of the bomb. If you decide to use my method of mounting them on the panels, let me know and I'll give you some guidelines so you can have the fins oriented the same. BTW, I'm working on version 3 of the clip assembly instructions and should have them done by next week. 

For the Plastruct beam stock, I bought some from two places: Walthers and my local HobbyTown store. The Walther's numbers are: 1/16" I-Beam  PLS 570 90511, and 3/32" I-Beam  PLS 570 90052. You can reference the last 5 numbers at your hobby shop or just about anywhere onliine. I think you can also get them from MegaHobby online (www.megahobby.com).

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Russ:

I found those MK 82's on SB's.

Any challenges putting those together?

Also, dumb question, your source for the Plastruct beam stock, i can't find it.

Tx

Dom

subfixer

When and where were the pictures taken, Ken? My old man was there at Bien Hoa from '68 to '69.

Those pictures were taken between August and December of 1964 at Tan Son Nhut Air Base (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Son_Nhut_Air_Base).  He was a crew chief on the RF-101C at that time.  What did your Dad do at Bien Hoa?

Ken

Yes, I think it was the White Onyx. Looks like fresh concrete to me though you could lay a coat or two of paint over it to weather. I just used it as is and then took some thinned black paint, or maybe I should say tinted water, a little thinner than a wash and loaded up a big brush and then flicked it throwing drops of tinted water all over the surface. It soaks in and looks like oil stains to me.

Gamera

Russ: Were you going to use a pre-made tarmac? I've had good luck with spraying Krylon textured paint on poster board and then marking out the gaps between the slabs with a Sharpie brand marker.The paint gives a nice gritty finish like fine sandpaper which to me looks like concrete.

BTW: Great photos Ken.

Hey, Cliff,

Good idea! The color is White Onyx...right? I'll give it a try.

Thanks!

Russ

When and where were the pictures taken, Ken? My old man was there at Bien Hoa from '68 to '69.

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Russ,

Looking at that MD-3 unit reminded me of some pictures I have that my Dad took while he was in Vietnam.  I am sure you will recognize some of the equipment!

 

Ken

Cool pictures, Ken! We didn't have to deal with too many types of ground equipment. We had to be able to use the MD-3 power generator of course and at night, we needed to operate the light cart. And we had to drive the jammers. The unit your dad is leaning on looks like some kind of compressor for starting the jet engines. The one used on the B-52s was the MA-1A. The large unit behind him could be an air conditioning unit but more likely is a hydraulic test cart.

That hat he is wearing, BTW, was inspired by the Aussies who appeared now and then. The hats were made and sold in both Vietnam and Thailand. I brought one back in 1970 but it was stolen out of my car shortly after I arrived home.

Cheers,

Russ

Russ: Were you going to use a pre-made tarmac? I've had good luck with spraying Krylon textured paint on poster board and then marking out the gaps between the slabs with a Sharpie brand marker.The paint gives a nice gritty finish like fine sandpaper which to me looks like concrete.

BTW: Great photos Ken.

Hi Russ,

Looking at that MD-3 unit reminded me of some pictures I have that my Dad took while he was in Vietnam.  I am sure you will recognize some of the equipment!

Ken

Hi, All,

Just a quick status update. I'm in the process of painting the camoflage on the top of my fuselage so I can't do any additional detailing for awhile. So I've been dividing my time between the diorama base and some of my supporting AGE equipment.

I'm taking it slowly on the base because I want to get it right the first time. I've decided to build it in two sections that I can take apart and put back together (many thanks to Bish for mentioning the he had seen this done). I'm also going to build a free-standing pedestal to set the diorama on. It will be in two sections as well.

I've also begun scratchbuilding an MD-3 power unit. I have the US Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) set, but it has the -60 power generator which wasn't available for our B-52s back in 1968. We only had the MD-3s. I've searched for commercial versions in 1/72 but Hannants seems to be the only company willing to market one and theirs is not available yet.

That's about it for now.

Cheers,

Russ

Buffirn

And now, we return this thread to it's original purpose.  Good Day!

Russ's diorama may turn out to be the father of, maybe the grandaddy of, BUFF builds.

Dom

And now, we return this thread to it's original purpose.  Good Day!

Rich came up with the final title and badge,

but I gotta' tell ya', that barrel was expensive....

Many Thanks Rich

Dom

Lol! Good title, guys, and the badge looks great! .  Can't wait to see this get rolling!

Russ

Hey Guys it's up!

THE OFFICIAL IN THE BUFF B52 GROUP BUILD

link:

cs.finescale.com/.../153086.aspx

Dom

Jim: Nice looking model!!!

Allen: Even if you can't get the photos to post I can get the links you posted to work so no problem. Again- nice work.

Good luck with the GB, I'd consider entering but don't have a BUFF here!

Cliff

Buffirn

Since we are playing a bit of show and tell, here is my last BUFF.

 

I have 2 more H's that I want to finish.  I have decals now for my aircraft, 61-0025 with the noseart my crew came up with.  I have been possibly inspired  by the fine work here to put it on Alert.  That display base will take up some serious space.

Nice looking BUFF, Jim! And roger that on the display base - mine came out to 38 x 40 in with the revetment and that's with a scale 10 ft separation between the wingtips and the revetment wall  instead of a normal 25-26. If you put it on ramp alert instead of the christmas tree pad, you can save a lot of space.

Cheers,

Russ

Hey guys:

We are just finishing the badge for the BUFF GB.

It should be ready tomorrow afternoon. I'll see if I can get the GB thread up

this afternoon, it might help divert general traffic a bit from Russ's thread.

Interesting, we weren't even thinking about BEARs, I got one just before Christmas,

we were thinking more along the lines of a KC for associated aircraft, and a BEAR shouldn't be a problem, but we do hope guys will put in a BUFF.

Thanks, and

See you all on the GB guys,

Dom

DLM stands for "Depot Level Maintainence" They used to send em to Tinker AFB for the procedure. Its basically  an overall freshening of the airplane.

... And what is DLM??