Thanks, Cliff!  No, not retooling, bud - just correcting some minor errors. You know, in spite of the errors in this model, it's amazing just how much is accurate and fits together well. Considering the size of the kit and extent of the detailing, I think they did a good job.

You also have to take into consideration that this kit was designed during the Cold War, so access to accurate drawings and details was extremely limited due to security reasons.

Cheers,

Russ

She's looking great Russ! Gee you're having to retool the engines too? Wow!

Nothing earth-shaking, but you're certainly welcome, Ken

Russ

Thank you for that piece of information Russ!  Another tid bit filed away for when I build mine!

Ken

Here's a minor correction you may want to make. The exhaust fairings behind the engines are not shaped correctly on the model. They should taper to a sharp edge and blend with the trailing edge of the stantion, which should also be tapered at the back, as shown in the photo below. Also, the bottom of the fairing should be concave, not rounded. The ones on the model are rounded, almost oval.

This one has been corrected.

[ I decided to go ahead and put together the other engines but didn't like the effect of not seeing the engine exausts around the exhaust cones so I fabricated some fake exhausts. They don't look too bad I guess, but now I'm going to have to modify the display engine because its exaust nozzle is too small. Never noticed that until now.  

Russ

]

Thanks, Ken  I appreciate the good words!

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, All,

I finally got enough space cleared in my garage to test mount the wings (I used toothpicks in place of the outriggers to avoid possible damage). Either as a result of dumb luck or a gift of Providence, the droop I introduced turned out to be just right, although next time, I would make the cut just outboard of the first engine nacelle root. In any case, it doesn't look too shabby .

Cheers,

Russ

Not luck Russ, skill!!        Nice work, it looks like an eagle getting ready to take off!

Ken

Striker8241

Definitely hot there, Ken, and humid. Fans did help some but they usually only suceeded in moving the hot air around the room. We had a few air conditioning units on the flightline but not enough for every plane and those we did have were frequently out of service.

Russ

Yes, I remember the reason we had so many fans was so you could have one blowing directly on you in each part of the house.  And the houses were concrete block with concrete slab roofs (to withstand the typhoons).

Ken

Hi, All,

I finally got enough space cleared in my garage to test mount the wings (I used toothpicks in place of the outriggers to avoid possible damage). Either as a result of dumb luck or a gift of Providence, the droop I introduced turned out to be just right, although next time, I would make the cut just outboard of the first engine nacelle root. In any case, it doesn't look too shabby .

Cheers,

Russ

Definitely hot there, Ken, and humid. Fans did help some but they usually only suceeded in moving the hot air around the room. We had a few air conditioning units on the flightline but not enough for every plane and those we did have were frequently out of service.

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, All,

Since I started modelling the bomb clips for the B-52D, it's always bothered me that I couldn't remember ever seeing these clips or their trailers while I was on Okinawa. We had the D models, but I don't recall ever seeing the clips. We did have the bomb trucks and I can vividly remember being inside the 47 section and hearing the bombs "clank" as they were rolled down the bed of the truck.

Then I discovered the image below. It shows a jammer loading bombs directly into the bomb bay.  I suspect that was how the bombs were loaded on Okinawa. Apparently, we didn't have a hard stand and the MMS folks had to load the bombs onto the clip panels while they were installed in the plane. That had to be a living hell as those bomb bays really got hot during the day.

Cheers,

Russ

Wow, that would be a hot job!  Even though it was a long time ago I still remember how hot it was at Okinawa.  We didn't have air conditioning (it wasn't common place back then), just box fans.  We had them stuck in every window and doorway.

Ken

Hi, All,

Since I started modelling the bomb clips for the B-52D, it's always bothered me that I couldn't remember ever seeing these clips or their trailers while I was on Okinawa. We had the D models, but I don't recall ever seeing the clips. We did have the bomb trucks and I can vividly remember being inside the 47 section and hearing the bombs "clank" as they were rolled down the bed of the truck.

Then I discovered the image below. It shows a jammer loading bombs directly into the bomb bay.  I suspect that was how the bombs were loaded on Okinawa. Apparently, we didn't have a hard stand and the MMS folks had to load the bombs onto the clip panels while they were installed in the plane. That had to be a living hell as those bomb bays really got hot during the day.

Cheers,

Russ

WOW is good . Thanks, Wolfhammer1, and thanks for stopping by.

Cheers,

Russ

All I can say is WOW

Just a quick update. I have partially completed the new cradle. This one is a frame instead of a solid piece. I also added the guide pins that the bomb clip rests on. Below are pictures of the cradle and the clip mounted on it (the clip looks a bit distorted due to the small camera lens). I still have to add the lift brackets to complete the cradle.

Cheers,

Russ

Yeah Russ:

That's a big tarp that soldier is standing on, so it had to

be a transition appliance.

Very specialized, all right, Russ!

My aching back still can't get over those loads.

An associate of mine inspected 20,000 pound loads on Lancaster's,

"We knew we were going to die, but we knew we going to kill a city,,,,,, we lived"

Sick, huh?

I guess that is why I love "heavies"......they delivered a message"

Yeah, Russ, you have done enough, shear weight scale - wise.....

Those release mechanisms have me spooked pal......

Dom

Thanks, Dom!  

Yeah, I suspect those panels were titanium alloy considering the extreme weight and flexing that went on. As for the what the guy is standing on - I dunno. It looks like some kind of special tarp, maybe for some of their test equipment or loading gear. The bomb clip is being loaded at their hard stand so there was probably a lot of specialized equipment there.

Russ

Wow, Great photo Russ, a real keeper!

Aluminum frames, but heck, you can see how those frames groaned under

the weight of the iron bombs.

Were those 'toothbrush handles' the trigggers that dropped the bombs?

When I see those bombs so close up, I really appreciate the detail you worked

so hard to achieve.

Hey Russ, What's that mat all rolled up the Soldier is standing on?

-Dom

Thanks, Dom. The closeup below is from Frank O'Rear's collection and is the only one I have that shows the release mechanisms reasonably clearly. It looks like there's an electrical cable to a panel at each release position and that panel could house the solenoid.

The actuators would require a lot of current to activate considering the weight hanging on the latches, so the cables connecting the panels to the aircraft probably carried power in addition to the acctuating signals. There probably were power supplies within or just outside the bomb bay.

Russ

Photo courtesy of James O'Rear

Russ:

Looking at those bomb release harnesses,

were they mechanical, like a bike brake with an external actuator

or were those just electrical, activating a solenoid-type release?

Again, nice kit Russ.

I'm starting to get that Curtis Lemay tingling......lol......lol

Dom

Thanks, Ken! Yup, three of these and 24 bombs on the two pylons, for a total of 108. Since they usually flew in a cell of 3 aircraft, the ground would shake for a long, long time.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi Russ,

Great work once again man!  Very impressive!  Thank you for spending the time showning how you constructed that.

I still can't get over the magnitude of the amount of bombs that the B-52 could carry!  Wow, what a payload!  What was it, three of these clips and more on the wings?

Ken

Hi, All,

I dismantled my prototype bomb clip and rebuilt it. I corrected the shape of the panels and simplified them so they are easier to build, plus I left off the I-beam edging around the outside edges and the slot as it was out of scale anyway. I also added the chafing curtain between the right and center panels which I left off in the prototype.

In the original build, I had problems keeping the bombs straight when attaching them. I solved this by adding a 1 mm strip of plastic as a "hanger" (see pictures below). This also enabled me to mount the bombs so the fins are oriented correctly.

If you would like to build this bomb clip, PM me and I will send you my construction manual.

Cheers,

Russ

Lol! Funny you should say that, Jim - I was thinking of adding a model of the line supervisor's van to the diorama. And thanks for reminding me what the form number was for the writeups .

Russ

It is getting to the point where all you will need is a Maintenance Super and a 781

Thanks, Cliff!

Gee somehow I missed your update with the work stands Russ, wow, I don't think I'd have the patience to build even one of those - nice work!!!

Hi, All,

Since I don't have any window "glass" in my model, I need to protect the cockpit and gunner's compartment from dust. I tried clear food wrap but that won't stick without using tape and I didn't want to clean off tape residue. So I tried that Parafilm M masking film again - hoping I could get it to work. 

I finally figured out how to use it, but the instructions are a little misleading. The instructions show the film being stretched by hand and says it can be stretched to 4-5 times it's original size. That seems to be true - but not by stretching it in your hands! I discovered you need to stretch it a bit, preferrably starting from the center, then apply it to the model and continue stretching it from there. If you try to stretch it too far in your hands it will just tear.

Also, keep track of the tacky side - it's the one with the paper cover. Otherwise it might not stick and you're left wondering what the heck you're doing wrong . Below are pictures of my model with the film successfully applied.

Cheers,

Russ

Thanks, Ken!  Well, not that complete, but as complete as I have the patience to make it .

Russ

Wow Russ, not only a lot of detail, but complete detail.  When you are done with this diorama it will have every piece of equipment on the aircraft detailed and every piece of equipment used to work on the B-52 detailed.  Totally complete!

Ken