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

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 .

Hey Russ:

Bartok posted that on page 19,

looks like he's BUFFologist as well.

Dom

Bockscar

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.  

Anyway, I have that particular 1/72 B52D I have been carrying around for several years. So I have two questions reguarding your model:

1. What would the challanges be to build it as a G model. I am going to do a couple of smaller models first to build/rebuild my skills. (I haven't built a model since high school). I have only built kits out of the box with no scratchbuilding.  

It seems some of the major issues would be the tail gun, adding the second ejection seat hatch beside the ECM operator, the tail shape and the steerable chin turrets under the radome.

I know that is kind of a broad question  and if this thread is the wrong spot then I apologize before hand.  

2. Would anybody recomend a (at least) 1/72 G or H model.  The reason I a doing several models first is I want to get it right. So I am willing to wait for the right model.  But if I can modify this, I will.  

Thanks greatly for your time. and "Wow, I tell you, Wow!"  - Bartock

 

Hey Bartock:

Missed your post,

You ask good questions, and the level of detail you put in and level of satisfaction are supposed to match.......doesn't always happen, but you never know until you're in the ocean.

I can't help with your ultimate choice, any BUFF is a great BUFF, but we do have some old hands around here to make suggestions and help out.

Starting with a few easier builds is a great idea. Finding space to build a big 1/72 BUFF is also a great idea, unless you already have it handy.

Rich and I are starting a BUFF build and just organizing stuff right now, so no rush to commit.

Best,

Dom

 

Hi, Bartok,

Sorry, but I missed your post too. Where is it BTW - what page? I looked back through the thread and can't find it. Anyway, I don't have any experience with any but the D-model kit, and I think AMT and Revell/Monogram are the only companies that produced 1/72 scale buffs in any model. Dom and Rich have a lot of experience and can point you in the right direction.

Cheers,

Russ

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

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

Tx

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.  

Anyway, I have that particular 1/72 B52D I have been carrying around for several years. So I have two questions reguarding your model:

1. What would the challanges be to build it as a G model. I am going to do a couple of smaller models first to build/rebuild my skills. (I haven't built a model since high school). I have only built kits out of the box with no scratchbuilding.  

It seems some of the major issues would be the tail gun, adding the second ejection seat hatch beside the ECM operator, the tail shape and the steerable chin turrets under the radome.

I know that is kind of a broad question  and if this thread is the wrong spot then I apologize before hand.  

2. Would anybody recomend a (at least) 1/72 G or H model.  The reason I a doing several models first is I want to get it right. So I am willing to wait for the right model.  But if I can modify this, I will.  

Thanks greatly for your time. and "Wow, I tell you, Wow!"  - Bartock

Missed your post,

You ask good questions, and the level of detail you put in and level of satisfaction are supposed to match.......doesn't always happen, but you never know until you're in the ocean.

I can't help with your ultimate choice, any BUFF is a great BUFF, but we do have some old hands around here to make suggestions and help out.

Starting with a few easier builds is a great idea. Finding space to build a big 1/72 BUFF is also a great idea, unless you already have it handy.

Rich and I are starting a BUFF build and just organizing stuff right now, so no rush to commit.

Best,

Dom

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

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

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

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 is a picture of the results.

Cheers,

Russ

Thanks, Duke! I appreciate the good words

Russ

Rich, awesome info there; it wasn't too wordy at all. I learned something today. Nice job on the extenders. They do look very accurate and equal in quality.

Dom, sounds good. I'll try to keep my eyes peeled for that.

Bockscar

I'll keep you posted. We were thinking of giving Russ some breathing space, and spring is here in three weeks, so we'll work on the feeler a bit more and keep you posted.

Dom

I think Rich is warming to the idea.

Breathing space?? I live in Florida - plenty of space here .  

Thanks, Dom  

Those are actually red safety streamers that are attached to plugs made to fit in the chaff ports (the streamers look black because they're in the shade). The plugs were designed to keep out rain and dirt from the dispensers. They would be removed before takeoff, like anything else with a red streamer.

Not many folks had the plugs so you will often see aluminum foil taped over the ports. The foil didn't need to be removed before flight like the plugs - the chaff packages just went right through it.

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, All,

The first image below shows an MJ-1 ("jammer")  taking a 750 lb bomb off the bomb truck. There were usually two jammers working together to load bombs. While one held a bomb to be attached to a pylon, the other was picking up a bomb from the bomb truck.

Photo by David Buris

Note that there are two extenders - one short and the other long - bolted together and attached to the load table. These extenders were necessary in order to lift a bomb high enough to reach the pylon attachments on the B-52, and also to load bombs directly onto the clips in the bomb bay or at the munitions facility. The second image shows the two extender assemblies I built for my jammers. Unfortunately, I can't assemble my jammers yet until I'm certain what height the jammer tables will need to be in the diorama.

 Later, as an ECM tech on fighter aircraft, I was required to become proficient in using the jammer as we often had to load and download ECM pods.

If you look closely at the bomb in the first picture, you'll see a wire running from the nose to the tail. This is an arming safety wire. These wires were threaded through the propellers of the fuses to prevent them from turning until the bombs were dropped. There was a fuse in the nose of the bomb and one near the tail fins - you can just see the one in the picture on top of the tail fin. The fuses were designed to arm themselves after the propellers spun a set number of revolutions. When the bombs dropped, the safety wires were pulled out and the propellers turned until the bombs armed.

Ya'll excuse me if I got a bit too wordy here.

Cheers,

Russ 

Nice to know what we are looking at. Those black cables hanging behind the guy with his shoe up, is that some kind of saety or arming divice as well, and are those the chaff dispensers?

Dom

Duke Maddog

Bockscar

Duke Maddog

Thanks Gamera! I appreciate the compliments on my larger aircraft. Yes, I have quite a sizable 'navy' numbering approximately 370+ ships and over 625 small scale armor models, in addition to another 300 or so smaller aircraft that are sitting on shelves.

Buffirn, those were some awesome vids! I'd never seen B-52's take off before; that was a real treat! Thanks for posting those links!

Duke:

Just about the most impressive number of built kits I've ever heard of, anywhere.

Where'd you find the time?

I need a new house.

Dom

Thanks Dom! I find the time wherever I can. Frankly, I need a new house as well!

Striker8241

Lol! Thanks, Dom  However, there's no need for it to be my badge. If you come up with a badge  like that, that would be totally awesome! It would sure come in handy if there's a B-52 group build someday.

Russ

Now I'd join that. I have a couple more of these big birds to build; one I was hoping to do in natural metal finish. Of course, mine won't be nearly as good as this spectacular BUFF.

I've got a G by AMT, but was thinking to go smaller. I was hoping to try for one of the re-issued Revell kits

from the 50's, that's about all the room I have right now. I'ld love to follow in Russ' footsteps, but those are big shoes to fill right now, ahem.

There are a couple of the B-52.X-15 combos out there right now, and I've always loved that theme.

It's definitely one to hang from the ceiling, so maybe I could do that.

I'll keep you posted. We were thinking of giving Russ some breathing space, and spring is here in three weeks, so we'll work on the feeler a bit more and keep you posted.

Dom

I think Rich is warming to the idea.

Hi, Ken,

Thanks for the good words! Those extenders got built because I'm painting the top of the fuselage and the wings are done for the moment so I don't really have anything to work on .

Russ

Great work there once again Russ!      They look identical to me.

Ken

Striker8241

Nice, Dom! If you can, post some pictures of how you are doing this. I'd like to see those scribers.

Russ

http://www.micromark.com/diamond-tip-scriber,6472.html

I got both items. I'll do the work on the weekend, and send the photos.

Dom

Hi, All,

The first image below shows an MJ-1 ("jammer")  taking a 750 lb bomb off the bomb truck. There were usually two jammers working together to load bombs. While one held a bomb to be attached to a pylon, the other was picking up a bomb from the bomb truck.

Photo by David Buris

Note that there are two extenders - one short and the other long - bolted together and attached to the load table. These extenders were necessary in order to lift a bomb high enough to reach the pylon attachments on the B-52, and also to load bombs directly onto the clips in the bomb bay or at the munitions facility.

The second image shows the two extender assemblies I built for my jammers. Unfortunately, I can't assemble my jammers yet until I'm certain what height the jammer tables will need to be in the diorama.

 Later, as an ECM tech on fighter aircraft, I was required to become proficient in using the jammer as we often had to load and download ECM pods.

If you look closely at the bomb in the first picture, you'll see a wire running from the nose to the tail. This is an arming safety wire. These wires were threaded through the propellers of the fuses to prevent them from turning until the bombs were dropped. There was a fuse in the nose of the bomb and one near the tail fins - you can just see the one in the picture on top of the tail fin. The fuses were designed to arm themselves after the propellers spun a set number of revolutions. When the bombs dropped, the safety wires were pulled out and the propellers turned until the bombs armed.

Ya'll excuse me if I got a bit too wordy here.

Cheers,

Russ 

Bockscar

Duke Maddog

Thanks Gamera! I appreciate the compliments on my larger aircraft. Yes, I have quite a sizable 'navy' numbering approximately 370+ ships and over 625 small scale armor models, in addition to another 300 or so smaller aircraft that are sitting on shelves.

Buffirn, those were some awesome vids! I'd never seen B-52's take off before; that was a real treat! Thanks for posting those links!

Duke:

Just about the most impressive number of built kits I've ever heard of, anywhere.

Where'd you find the time?

I need a new house.

Dom

Thanks Dom! I find the time wherever I can. Frankly, I need a new house as well!

Striker8241

Lol! Thanks, Dom  However, there's no need for it to be my badge. If you come up with a badge  like that, that would be totally awesome! It would sure come in handy if there's a B-52 group build someday.

Russ

Now I'd join that. I have a couple more of these big birds to build; one I was hoping to do in natural metal finish. Of course, mine won't be nearly as good as this spectacular BUFF.

Nice, Dom! If you can, post some pictures of how you are doing this. I'd like to see those scribers.

Russ

Late Breaking news;

The scribers arrived. The diamond one is light plastic, and

you almost cannot see the tiny industrial diamond embedded

in the point.

The tungsten carbide scratcher is different; a solid stainless

steel body, and a TC point on it that, if projected at the right

velocity, could penetrate a Tiger Tank's front glacis. Yikes,

sharp as a needle, if you drop it, it'll nail your foot to the floor!...lol

I am now in the glass cutting business.

Dom

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

Lol! Thanks, Dom  However, there's no need for it to be my badge. If you come up with a badge  like that, that would be totally awesome! It would sure come in handy if there's a B-52 group build someday.

Russ

stikpusher

That looks superb! The stressed skin effect is fabulous!

 

Thanks, Stikpusher!

Duke Maddog

I think that is a brilliant idea! I do hope you can make it work. I want to see pics when it is ready.

Thanks, Duke!  I'll sure do that.

Russ

Russ:

I think you do deserve your own badge for this build, of course you'll be the only guy on the threads

to display it....lol

If you have any ideas, let me know, we might be able to klooge something up. Maybe something like a big crow carrying a clip of those crater eggs.

Dom

Duke Maddog

Thanks Gamera! I appreciate the compliments on my larger aircraft. Yes, I have quite a sizable 'navy' numbering approximately 370+ ships and over 625 small scale armor models, in addition to another 300 or so smaller aircraft that are sitting on shelves.

Buffirn, those were some awesome vids! I'd never seen B-52's take off before; that was a real treat! Thanks for posting those links!

Just about the most impressive number of built kits I've ever heard of, anywhere.

Where'd you find the time?

I need a new house.

Dom

Buffirn

Here are some goof MITO videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxmorJtq_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq6Hpxyrhyo

 

Turn up the sound and enjoy!

Jim

In the first one, you can really see the low pressure generated by the wings - humid day.

This weekend I'm going to time those Crows myself.....lol

Thanks Jim, great videos.

Dom

Striker8241

 

 

That looks superb! The stressed skin effect is fabulous!