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

Hi, All,

Buffjock sent me some pictures of some of the models he's done (see below). The paint jobs look fantastic - they were done with rattle cans!  Nice work, Allen! BTW, he accidentally dropped the vacuform XB-52 on its nose, crushing it all the way back to the wingroot, but you wouldn't know it from the repairs he did.

Russ

{My apologies - Buffjock's pictures that I posted here were lost in the image hosting debacle I went through. However, you can view his photos at www.flickr.com/.../8297577382}

Hi, All,

In a previous post about detailing the main hatch, I described the outer plate on the ejection hatch as a "reinforcement", which was what I thought it was until I found the image below. Interestingly, the outer plate is called a "hatch lifter" and is used as part of the ejection sequence to help pull the hatch up and out. Apparently, the hatch lifter catches the wind stream and helps pull the hatch cover off to clear the way for the ejection seat.

Cheers,

Russ

buffjock

Russ,

Just finished reading this thread from start to finish. All I can say is "Wow" As a fellow modeller myself, I build only B-52s. i currently have 21 built, 4 under construction 2 in what I call "DLM" and another dozen or so in the "stash". this is by far the most detailed build I have ever seen. I would like to know what you think of a project Im slowly working into my empty schedule. im working on an "eliminated" B-52D at AMARC. Any thoughts?? also, I have around 14,000 photos, and lots of info on the B-52 as Ive been building a database since the late 90s. Oh yea and an engine nose cowling from a B-52G, several different guages, co pilot seat from a "D" etc.... You can email me directly at  rkline  AT roadrunner DOTCOM.

Allen

Allen:

That is incredible info. Naturally you are most welcome to the BUFF GB, even if it is only to stop by and comment now and then. If you wanted to post a build that would be an honor!

Dom

Hi, Allen,

Welcome to the thread and thanks for the good words. And all  I  can say is - "Wow"! I can' imagine anyone building 21 BUFFS, much less being dedicated only to building BUFFS. I tip my hat to you! BTW, some of our guys are going to start a BUFF build soon. I think it would be great if you could participate. There should be more details on the build coming here soon.

A model of a BUFF at AMARC would be awesome, and what a challenge!  Not only to recreate the damage from the guillitine but you would have to detail the interior parts that are exposed. If you have some pictures of your progress, please post them here.

I've been buildiing a database of photos myself but it's nowhere near that extensive. That's fantastic! But I can understand why you need it.

Sounds like you're building quite a collection of B-52 souvenirs too. The only memento I have from my B-52D days is a reading light.

Cheers, 

Russ

Russ,

Just finished reading this thread from start to finish. All I can say is "Wow" As a fellow modeller myself, I build only B-52s. i currently have 21 built, 4 under construction 2 in what I call "DLM" and another dozen or so in the "stash". this is by far the most detailed build I have ever seen. I would like to know what you think of a project Im slowly working into my empty schedule. im working on an "eliminated" B-52D at AMARC. Any thoughts?? also, I have around 14,000 photos, and lots of info on the B-52 as Ive been building a database since the late 90s. Oh yea and an engine nose cowling from a B-52G, several different guages, co pilot seat from a "D" etc.... You can email me directly at  rkline  AT roadrunner DOTCOM.

Allen

They sure do! I was fortunate to purchase my kit about 7 years ago at a local hobby shop. At that time, it was priced at $30 but was marked down to $22. Had I known then... .

Russ

Striker8241

Buffirn

 

Yeah!  A BUFF build!  Now I can build one of the 6 I have laying around.  Don't ask, I don't know why I have 6 either!

Jim

6 BUFFS??   All 1/72 scale? I wouldn't even have room to store the boxes lol!

5 at 1/72 and at least one at 1/144, maybe 2.  I gotta go look back in the corner.

I still need a D model.  Danged things go for too much on Ebay.

Jim

Astrogopher1

Great stuff!  I worked B52Gs and Hs for about 10 years at Anderson AFB Guam and Griffiss AFB New York.  I worked as a computer/radar technician on the Bomb Navigation system. Spent a lot of time in the lower crew section and under the radome.  Bomb drop misses were never our fault, only the Radar Navigators :)  No, not realy.  They were some of the best people I ever met.  

~

  - Bartock

 

Hi, Bartock,

Great to know you have experience with the nav radar system. Below is my version of the D-model nav antenna. I was only able to find a picture of the back of the dish so I had to guess at the feedhorn and how it was mounted. Does this look about right?

Thanks,

Russ

Buffirn

 

Yeah!  A BUFF build!  Now I can build one of the 6 I have laying around.  Don't ask, I don't know why I have 6 either!

Jim

6 BUFFS??   All 1/72 scale? I wouldn't even have room to store the boxes lol!

Dom, that looks great! I'm surprised how much you can see with it. I'm working on the trailer now so as soon as I get the mirror we can try this out.

Good work and thanks!

Russ

Russ:

I managed to get the glass cut:

Now I am not dropping mirrors, and I know what I am doing, I can cut more efficiently.

So if you need a better piece let me know.

Here's the first cut, 'not the deepest'.....lol:

Here's the final product, sorry for new scratches and chips at L - 1.6":

and W - 1.25":

Let me know if that's okay, I can make adjustments.

Dom

Buffirn

Bockscar

Well, Russ;

Rich and I were thinking about it, so we would have to give you one

for inspirational support.

I'll page him and see if he's still on board for that. Now is a good time to

put out a feeler for the OFFICIAL BIG UGLY FAT FELLER GROUP BUILD.

Dom

Yeah!  A BUFF build!  Now I can build one of the 6 I have laying around.  Don't ask, I don't know why I have 6 either!

Jim

That's great, and as with Russ, we may lean on you a bit to comment on the subject as we move through the build.

Russ is an honorary member, but no pressure to post every update.

I have 3 AMT 1/72 of the later versions, an uncompleted Revogram, and a really old

vintage 1954ish Revell with fab box art I payed for with the money I was supposed to use to buy my wife flowers.

So, 6 BUFFs is what I call a good start....lol.....

Yes, I need a few more, before I go into 'denial,' and then 'accept' therapy....lol....

Dom

Striker8241

Bockscar

I will go ahead and cut the scratched end, unless I hear back from you,

as there is no rush, I'll put the dang thing away fer now.

That's fine, Dom. A small scratch shouldn't be a problem.

I still have more glass, a beauty piece, about 2" by 3" and rounded

corners about, what a coincidence, 5/32 radius.

You may want that for your inspection mirror if I don't screw up

the next cut.

That sounds good, Dom. Thanks!

Russ

Great, I'll "press on".....PTP,

Shisshh....glass shards on the floor I can't see, but I will feel them out for sure.....yikes.....lol

Tx

Jim:

No worries;

inhale too much O2, and it's "vaying" all right!!!......lol

dom

Bockscar

Well, Russ;

Rich and I were thinking about it, so we would have to give you one

for inspirational support.

I'll page him and see if he's still on board for that. Now is a good time to

put out a feeler for the OFFICIAL BIG UGLY FAT FELLER GROUP BUILD.

Dom

Yeah!  A BUFF build!  Now I can build one of the 6 I have laying around.  Don't ask, I don't know why I have 6 either!

Jim

Bockscar

I will go ahead and cut the scratched end, unless I hear back from you,

as there is no rush, I'll put the dang thing away fer now.

That's fine, Dom. A small scratch shouldn't be a problem.

I still have more glass, a beauty piece, about 2" by 3" and rounded

corners about, what a coincidence, 5/32 radius.

You may want that for your inspection mirror if I don't screw up

the next cut.

That sounds good, Dom. Thanks!

Russ

That is "varying"!  Stupid fingers!

Striker8241

Bockscar

LOX????

I didn't know the BUFF ran on Liquid Oxygen.....LOL....

Please educate me here, what is LOX?, on a bagel?....lol

Russ, I am not in a rush to do the glass, it was on the sched, and if I leave stuff

for too long a strange thing happens.....lol

I still need the width you need me to cut unless you have already posted that,

many thanks,

Dom

Lol! You nut! You got it though - liquid oxygen was used by the crew (help me here, Jim) - I believe it was mixed with air . Also, I posted an updated width = 1.25

Cheers,

Russ

The crew used the LOX for oxygen at altitude.  It was mixed in vaying amounts with the cabin air.  Unless you went to 100% O2 on your mask.  Sometimes, you didn't want the your oxygen mixed with the cabin air.  Stinky!

Striker8241

Lol, Dom! I've been doing that all day. Hang in there. Fortunately, my parts catcher has saved me a lot of incidents like that but I still manage to drop things on the floor in spite of it.

Russ

The back-up glass has square corners and a tiny hairline scratch on the silver side about 3/8" long, but

could be masked with silver paint.

If'n I cut from the other end, one corner is slightly shattered about

a 5/32 radius.....

I will go ahead and cut the scratched end, unless I hear back from you,

as there is no rush, I'll put the dang thing away fer now.

I still have more glass, a beauty piece, about 2" by 3" and rounded

corners about, what a coincidence, 5/32 radius.

You may want that for your inspection mirror if I don't screw up

the next cut.

Tx

LedFut390

WOW!, this build looks awesome!

Thanks, LedFut! I appreciate your stopping by and checking it out.

Cheers,

Russ

Lol, Dom! I've been doing that all day. Hang in there. Fortunately, my parts catcher has saved me a lot of incidents like that but I still manage to drop things on the floor in spite of it.

Russ

WOW!, this build looks awesome!

Well Russ:

I'm glad I planned ahead. I did the first cut, and beaming

with smug pride, picked it up to admire my own brilliance.....

Then I dropped it. It didn't land on the carpet, it landed on a piece of

granite.......

LOL, you will be finished your BUFF before me bud.

Dom

1.25 - Got it!!

Tx

Bockscar

LOX????

I didn't know the BUFF ran on Liquid Oxygen.....LOL....

Please educate me here, what is LOX?, on a bagel?....lol

Russ, I am not in a rush to do the glass, it was on the sched, and if I leave stuff

for too long a strange thing happens.....lol

I still need the width you need me to cut unless you have already posted that,

many thanks,

Dom

Lol! You nut! You got it though - liquid oxygen was used by the crew (help me here, Jim) - I believe it was mixed with air . Also, I posted an updated width = 1.25

Cheers,

Russ

Bockscar

Striker8241

Hey, Dom,

I do have a trailer that is 1.3 in. W x 1.75 in. L (33.0 mm x 44.5 mm). If you can trim the mirror to 1.6 in. in length, I could use that. I don't want something that looks obviously out of place in the diorama. Otherwise, I could use the full-size mirror and mount it at an angle on the end of a handle, or just purchase an inspection mirror with an extendable handle.

Russ

Hey Russ, just to double check:

What was the final width you want on that glass, i.e. 1.6" by ??"

Tx

Hi, Dom, make it 1.6 x 1.25.

Thanks!

Russ

Bockscar

Hey Russ:

Bartok posted that on page 19,

looks like he's BUFFologist as well.

Dom

Well DOH!  I did reply. Guess I forgot...  Sorry, Bartock   Ahh, what were we talking about.....?

Russ

Striker8241

Bockscar

Looking good per usual Russ!

If you got a hankering to scratch a few base buildings it wouldn't surprise me.....lol

Hey Russ, sorry if I missed it, did you plan/make a fuel truck? Just wondering.

By the way, I am actually working on the mirrors today,

Dom

Thanks, Dom! 

Lol, no buildings - unless I turn this thing into a layout .  As for the fuel truck, it would be out of place in this diorama since no munitions loading or maintenance is allowed when fueling or loading LOX. Power has to be completely off.

Good to hear you're making progress on the mirror. Remembrer, it's not urgent so don't feel you have to rush. Many thanks for your doing this by the way.

Russ

Thanks, Dom .

I didn't know the BUFF ran on Liquid Oxygen.....LOL....

Please educate me here, what is LOX?, on a bagel?....lol

Russ, I am not in a rush to do the glass, it was on the sched, and if I leave stuff

for too long a strange thing happens.....lol

I still need the width you need me to cut unless you have already posted that,

many thanks,

Dom

Sparrowhyperion

I'm up for a Buff build.  I have one of those X-15/B52 combo kits (Monogram 1/72).  I have been pretty ill lately, so I have hardly been on the boards.  My only stumbling block is that I can't take images right now since my camera died and I can't replace it.  So I wouldn't be able to participate very much.  I'll work up a badge at least and work out Details with Dom to get it going.  Again, I'm still sick, so I won't be on as much until I get rid of this virus.

Rich

Great to hear that, Rich. Sorry you're still battling that virus. Hope you get over it soon.

Russ

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Hello, All,

I've been experimenting with different materials to simulate the fill used in revetments. They can be filled with sand, dirt, rocks or a combination of these. Since sand is more tedious to model, I decided to go with rock. I was fortunate to find a brand of cat litter that has the right shape, size mix and color. Below are a couple of pictures of the results.

Cheers,

Russ

 

Wow Russ, that does look so realistic!  Great idea!

Ken

Thanks, Ken! I do appreciate the good words .

Russ