1/72 B-52D "Big Belly" Racks

Hi, All,

I recently 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 "shackle" (see pictures). This also enabled me to mount the bombs so the fins are oriented correctly.

NOTE: For further updates on these bomb clips and transporters, please see my diorama thread at:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/19/t/149616.aspx

My sincere thanks to you, Andrew Magoo, for allowing me to use your thread so shamelessly . I wish you all the best!

Cheers,

Russ

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Russ,

That is the trouble with trying to find the right photograph to show what you need.  At least you did find it, good work!  Now that you found it, it does make since that it would follow the shape of the fuselage.

Ken

 

Thanks, Ken. Actually, the tapering is front to back, not side to side. Can't see what advantage that gave them unless it just saved on material costs or maybe weight. It could also be that the bomb lift trailer could only accomodate the size used for the cradle, so the clip panels had to be tapered to fit on the cradle.

 

Russ

I see that now that you point it out.  I agree that does seem odd and would not be something you would expect.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Russ,

That is the trouble with trying to find the right photograph to show what you need.  At least you did find it, good work!  Now that you found it, it does make since that it would follow the shape of the fuselage.

Ken

Striker8241

Hello, All,

I discovered that my design of the bomb clip panels was slightly off. The panels actually taper toward the bottom. This was easy to miss since the pictures I had to work with were mostly at an angle and the tapering was hard to see. The picture below (65675034400_002208_3.jpg from the Critical Past site (http://www.criticalpast.com/)) clearly shows the tapering of the panels. I will correct the dimensions in the next version of the assembly manual.

Cheers,

Russ

 

Hi Russ,

That is the trouble with trying to find the right photograph to show what you need.  At least you did find it, good work!  Now that you found it, it does make since that it would follow the shape of the fuselage.

Ken

Hello, All,

I discovered that my design of the bomb clip panels was slightly off. The front and back of the panels are slightly tapered toward the bottom. This was easy to miss since the pictures I had to work with were mostly at an angle and the tapering was hard to see. The picture below (65675034400_002208_3.jpg from the Critical Past site (http://www.criticalpast.com/)) clearly shows the tapering of the panels. I will correct the dimensions in the next version of the assembly manual.

Cheers,

Russ

yardbird78

Last summer I visited the SAC museum in Nebraska and took a bunch of pictures of the B model B-52 on display there.  This web address has most of those pictures of the landing gear, LG bays and bomb bay.  The B model is structurally mostly the same as the C,D, E & F models.  One major difference is this B model has the twin 20mm tail turret from the B-36.

Darwin

www.britmodeller.com/.../index.php

Many thanks for the link, Darwin. Those photos are excellent!

Russ

Last summer I visited the SAC museum in Nebraska and took a bunch of pictures of the B model B-52 on display there.  This web address has most of those pictures of the landing gear, LG bays and bomb bay.  The B model is structurally mostly the same as the C,D, E & F models.  One major difference is this B model has the twin 20mm tail turret from the B-36.

Darwin

www.britmodeller.com/.../index.php

Striker8241

Bish

Thanks for the updated version Russ.

You're welcome, Bish. Hope it's useful to you.

Russ

O don't worry, it will be. It might be a few years before i get round to building my B-52, but i will deffinatly be keeping this info on file.

Bockscar

Some shots for the Dayton BUFF:

Picture taken at aft, looking at forward bomb Bay, note the wheel well to the left, that's at the back.

A view of the fore bomb bay section:

Great pictures, Dom! Thanks!

Bockscar

Note the Air Force Museum has used a darker green, but I don't know shishka from bob on on the paint:

As I remember, the color of the anti-corrosion green paint varied throughout the plane, probably due to aging and to changes in color specifications over the years. The paint I used is lighter than olive drab (the color of my bombs) which is probably a good thing as the bomb clips should stand out better against the walls of the bomb bay.

Bockscar

Hmmmm....card stock.......suspicious, eh Russ?:

Lol yep

Bockscar

Also I think the upper doors were closed at the time I took these. The staff didn't like it when I jumped up and slapped the inside BB either....lol....

Some shots for the Dayton BUFF:

Picture taken at aft, looking at forward bomb Bay, note the wheel well to the left, that's at the back.

A view of the fore bomb bay section:

Note the Air Force Museum has used a darker green, but I don't know shishka from bob on on the paint:

Hmmmm....card stock.......suspicious, eh Russ?:

Also I think the upper doors were closed at the time I took these. The staff didn't like it when I jumped up and slapped the inside BB either....lol....

Bish

Thanks for the updated version Russ.

You're welcome, Bish. Hope it's useful to you.

Russ

Bockscar

Many thanks for the updated clip manual.

-Dom

Thanks for the updated version Russ.

Fantastic work Russ!

Many thanks for the updated clip manual.

I really appreciate your descriptions,

your technical drawings, the photos,

and your WIP pictures.

A highly valued contribution to my BUFF

file.

Some work to do:

I need a few more details, and to cut away the upper bomb bay doors:

Cutting away those uppers will make detailing a whole lot easier.

-Dom

It's an updated version. There's a table at the end of the document that indicates what was changed.

Is this the same as the one you sent me last month.

I have written a procedure on how to construct the bomb clip shown in this thread. If you would like a copy of the latest version, please PM me.

Russ

Ray Marotta

Hi Ken,

I was at Naha AFB 'mid 61 - late '64.  My Dad was Wing Line Chief of the 51st FIW (F-102s)

You go to Kubasaki?

Ray

Hi Ray,

Sorry for the late reply, I have been really busy at work.  I was only between the ages of 5 and 7 while we were at Kadena, so I do not know the names of places.  I do remember living close enough to the ocean that I could walk to it from our house.  Also, there was what I believe was an Army base directly across the highway that ran behind our house.

Ken

Hi Ken,

I was at Naha AFB 'mid 61 - late '64.  My Dad was Wing Line Chief of the 51st FIW (F-102s)

You go to Kubasaki?

Ray

You're welcome, Ken. Glad you enjoyed them.

Russ

Striker8241

Here are three links to the U-tapao Alumni Associations website munitions loading videos for the B-52D. They show the complete process from unloading the bombs from the ships to loading them on the clips, and then loading the clips on the plane.

Part 1 Ship to Shore:  www.youtube.com/watch

Part 2 Assembly and Clip Loading: www.youtube.com/watch

Part 3 Loading Clips on the Aircraft:  www.youtube.com/watch

Cheers,

Russ

Very cool Russ. I just watched all three.  Very interesting.  Thank you for sharing that with us!

Ken

Here are three links to the U-tapao Alumni Associations website munitions loading videos for the B-52D. They show the complete process from unloading the bombs from the ships to loading them on the clips, and then loading the clips on the plane.

Part 1 Ship to Shore:  www.youtube.com/watch

Part 2 Assembly and Clip Loading: www.youtube.com/watch

Part 3 Loading Clips on the Aircraft:  www.youtube.com/watch

Cheers,

Russ

Just had a quick flick through, will read it all later. But first impression, brilliant. Those photos of the real stuff look great and will be very useful. Been watching you build the clip and was woundering how they attached, now i know.

I think we may be seeing a few of these in the next few years, some great work. Thanks

E-Mail sent.

Hi, All,

I haven't been able to find a way to post my construction procedure here for the big belly bomb clip so if you'd like a copy, please PM me.

Russ

Bockscar

Hi Russ:

I have a a 1/72 B-52 hanging from my ceiling awaiting.

I built a bomb bay for it, and while it is far from perfect, I got

a couple of chances now to see the bomb bay in person

at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum.

Having put the bay in, the old Monogram parts don't work,

so I would be interested in putting in those clips you've designed.

 

Dom

Hi, Dom,

No problem, bud. I just finished an update and have asked Ken to convert it to a pdf for me. As soon as I have it, I'll be glad to send you a copy, or maybe I can post it here. Will investigate.

Russ

Hi Russ:

I have a a 1/72 B-52 hanging from my ceiling awaiting.

I built a bomb bay for it, and while it is far from perfect, I got

a couple of chances now to see the bomb bay in person

at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum.

Having put the bay in, the old Monogram parts don't work,

so I would be interested in putting in those clips you've designed.

Dom

Hello, Ken,

I have the document finished and will be happy to send you a copy if you can PM me and provide me an email address. It's in web format so you can view it with your web browser. Keep in mind that the instructions haven't been reviewed or verified yet so there are bound to be mistakes.

I don't remember seeing 105's or F4s except as transients while I was at Kadena. I believe they were all moved south to Naha AB. I later worked on both of those aircraft types in Thailand and back in the states at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Best regards,

Russ

Hi Striker,

I read through your posts and saw your pictures of the bomb clips you made.  Very impressive!  If you wouldn't mind, I would like to be added to your list when you get that document done.

My family was stationed at Kadena Okinawa from June 1962 through December 1964.  My Dad was a crew chief on the F-105D when we first arrived then shortly afterwards was switched over to the RF-101C.  The last 3 months we were there he was TDY in Vietnam at several bases, Tan Son Nhut,  Nha-Trang, and Da Nang.

Ken