B-36 Peacemaker Group Build

I have started creating some of the drawings that can be used for making additional super detail decals using inkjet printable decal sheets. I'll post drawings as work progresses. I used Wachsmuth's bomb bay cable lowering hole information and template (pg 55 and 67) to create both an open (black dots) and closed (gray dots with black outlines) to simulate the holes. I also added nacelle and flap numbers and the anti-ice dump holes on the top of the vertical stabilizer (there is one set of four ducts on each side; I show three so there is an extra). The Monogram model has them molded into the horizontal stabs, but not the vertical. I figured a decal was the better way to show it than trying to modify the plastic.

I have another question regarding landing gear bay colors. Initially comments and indications were that they were chromate green. Then I heard OD green. Looking at the photo below (from the Virtual Tour section of the Cybermodeler site for the B-36) it looks chromate green with an OD ladder. Was this correct, or is this the result of restoration painting (correctly done or incorrectly done)? As I noted in a previous post to this site, the interior photos also looking overly blue, which I attributed to computer monitors usually having a distinct blue cast. I would think, as was commented in this post to one of my previous questions, that OD would be correct. However, after reexamining the virtual tour photos, there are other area clearly painted OD green. Thus, I continue to be stumped.

I also wanted to comment on the landing gear photo (the one in the museum painted white). I believe they installed the positioning jack upside down. Looking at every other photo of B-36 landing gear, the positioning jack (the small cylinder above the oleo), the rod in pointing down and the cylinder is on the top. The museum landing gear has these positions reversed.

Here is my latest, corrected drawing of the main landing gear in "landed" and "in flight" views. I'm not sure how correct it is. I'd appreciate anyone with some knowledge or better dimensions to let me know.

I'm having a little confusion with the following oleo issue.

1. All photos of the B-36J at Pima show the oleo rod fully retracted into the cylinder.
2. All photos of the white-painted museum landing gear show the oleo rod fully retracted into the cylinder.
3. All photos in Wachsmuth's book on pg 48 show the oleo rod extended.

My interpretation is that in item 3, above, the landing gear is under maintenance and the fixed link is not attached (look at lower right-hand photo). Thus, the oleo rod can extend because the equalizer is now free from the fixed link.

My interpretation from item 2, above, is that although this photo would show a landing gear under load (similar to in-flight and deployed), the shear weight of the unit is pushing on the oleo rod which is not under pressure because it is not connected to the hydraulics and is probably empty of fluid. The result is that the resulting droop angle in the photo is probably a little bit more than would occur in flight.

I think item 1, above, is a correct view when landed.

Teutonic222

I have another question regarding landing gear bay colors. Initially comments and indications were that they were chromate green. Then I heard OD green. Looking at the photo below (from the Virtual Tour section of the Cybermodeler site for the B-36) it looks chromate green with an OD ladder. Was this correct, or is this the result of restoration painting (correctly done or incorrectly done)? As I noted in a previous post to this site, the interior photos also looking overly blue, which I attributed to computer monitors usually having a distinct blue cast. I would think, as was commented in this post to one of my previous questions, that OD would be correct. However, after reexamining the virtual tour photos, there are other area clearly painted OD green. Thus, I continue to be stumped.

I`ll stay out of the landing gear debate and go with whatever you deem reasonable unless I hear differently from my B-36 sources ( if I hear back from them )

As to the coloring if the interior, and such, I have no first hand knowledge. However, when the local team here was restoring the last B-36 in FTW, they also had been working on the cockpit and such before it was trucked to PIMA. Knowing what I know about the team members.... and their sticklerness for it being right....If they painted it that way...then I`m  99.999999999999999...........% certain then that was the color it was when it was in service, and would be willing to wage my own money against  any bets that it wasnt.

I agree that the loads need to be equal on touchdown, Teutonic, however I do not understand how that is possible unless the beam that the fore and aft wheels are attached to pivots at its center at the bottom of the main strut.  If the aft half of the strut were fixed and the forward part moves then the load on the forward part is always going to be determined by the force of whatever mechanism is forcing it down.

I wish we could find the section of the maintenance manual that concerns the landing gear.

And as you know, an expert is someone from out of town with a briefcase.

Hello John:

I agree with you completely (including your comment about the "expert." I am confident the beam that attaches the axles does pivot in the middle. Or maybe better said, I think it is two beams, one for the front axle and one for the rear axle, and they both pivot about the landing gear strut. This is, at least, the way I envision the landing gear design. The other possibility would be one beam with both axles attached, but still pivoting about the strut. Either way should work and distribute the load.

Regards,

lajntx, thanks for the firsthand knowledge on the restoration team members. I buy your assessment of their attention to detail completely. Zinc chromate green it is and a plethora of other greens for the cockpit interior. At least it makes for a slightly less drab model cockpit. Good thing too because I had purchased a bottle of Polly S Signal Green for that bluish green color for seat and some of the other metal parts.

I'm probably driving everyone nuts regarding the landing gear. I somehow doubt I'm going to find the original design engineer for that part, so I'll be moving forward with a best guess.

I can't remember if I've posted a link to the page I have on the B-36 before, there are some interior photos of the Castle B-36 there:

http://www.yolo.net/~jeaton/Propplanes/b-36/b-36.htm

Teutonic222

lajntx, thanks for the firsthand knowledge on the restoration team members. I buy your assessment of their attention to detail completely. Zinc chromate green it is and a plethora of other greens for the cockpit interior. At least it makes for a slightly less drab model cockpit. Good thing too because I had purchased a bottle of Polly S Signal Green for that bluish green color for seat and some of the other metal parts.

I'm probably driving everyone nuts regarding the landing gear. I somehow doubt I'm going to find the original design engineer for that part, so I'll be moving forward with a best guess.

2 things:

1. As for the coloring of the interior. Dont forget that the Featherweight J`s had the white painted outer canopy to help keep it cool during the hot Texas Summers at Biggs AFB. I`m wondering myself if the interiors of the later model J`s didnt have a slightly different color for temperature reasons, because it does seem like when I`ve seen pictures of the older ones there was ALOT more of that chromite green.

2. Arent you associated with GD in some way? Or have/had a working relationship with them in the past? I`m willing to bet you could probably call the company`s historian/archival dept and get copies of those engineering diagrams

Hello lajntx. I didn't forget about the white painted canopy, but thanks for the reminder. I was wondering if the interior colors changed for what I'll call ergonomic reasons. Locomotive cabs, old steamers and modern diesel electrics, have interior cab colors similar to what is shown in my photo (slightly bluish green). I think it is easier on the eyes than OD green. I don't know of any reason why landing gear bays would be any color other than Zinc Chromate green. It's just a protective coating for aluminum. There is a good write up on zinc chromate here: www.colorserver.net/.../history-zinc-chromate.htm

Yes, I worked for a major aerospace and defense subcontractor. I was working on the leading edge flight control system for the F-16 as well as some GD/FW projects that will remain nameless. I didn't realize they had a company historian. I'll see if I can track him or her down. At the time, I would drive past the B-36 parked on the side of the entrance road and marvel at it. I also used to marvel at the quality of the BBQ at the joint near the entrance to GD/FW. Don't know if it's still there, but they had great pulled pork. I swear the wood cords stacked up along the back of the building was what held the building up. The parking lot looked like the Ho Chi Minh trail -- all cratered. I used to also have dinner with one of the GD/FW flight control engineers at the Black-eyed Pea in Fort Worth.

Egads, who would have thought this model would have turned into this level of research and detail?

John, thanks for the link to the Castle B-36 photos. I hope they made some money selling those gauges. I don't know if you saw any of my earlier posts, but I'm trying to identify all of the special placards and notices that are on the exterior of the aircraft. Most of those are not included in the Monogram model decal sheet. More of them are in the German Revell kit. lajntx is sending me that sheet so I can duplicate them. Ultimately I'm trying to create inkjet printable versions. If you have any photos that show some of those missing notices, post away.

I was flipping through channels on the cable box and found "Strategic Command"...or something like that...with Jimmy Stewart flying a B36. Lots of take-offs and landings and some good shots of the gear right before touchdown. Lots of interior shots too, may be worth a look.

Hey troublemaker. Strategic Air Command was put on order a couple of weeks ago. My DVD copy should be arriving soon.

Teutonic222

Hey troublemaker. Strategic Air Command was put on order a couple of weeks ago. My DVD copy should be arriving soon.

Teutonic222

Hello lajntx. I didn't forget about the white painted canopy, but thanks for the reminder. I was wondering if the interior colors changed for what I'll call ergonomic reasons. Locomotive cabs, old steamers and modern diesel electrics, have interior cab colors similar to what is shown in my photo (slightly bluish green). I think it is easier on the eyes than OD green. I don't know of any reason why landing gear bays would be any color other than Zinc Chromate green. It's just a protective coating for aluminum. There is a good write up on zinc chromate here: www.colorserver.net/.../history-zinc-chromate.htm

Yes, I worked for a major aerospace and defense subcontractor. I was working on the leading edge flight control system for the F-16 as well as some GD/FW projects that will remain nameless. I didn't realize they had a company historian. I'll see if I can track him or her down. At the time, I would drive past the B-36 parked on the side of the entrance road and marvel at it. I also used to marvel at the quality of the BBQ at the joint near the entrance to GD/FW. Don't know if it's still there, but they had great pulled pork. I swear the wood cords stacked up along the back of the building was what held the building up. The parking lot looked like the Ho Chi Minh trail -- all cratered. I used to also have dinner with one of the GD/FW flight control engineers at the Black-eyed Pea in Fort Worth.

Egads, who would have thought this model would have turned into this level of research and detail?

Nothing new to report on my end on my build. With my painting area confined to a back porch work bench... Wet wintery weather has shuttered my operations the last few days.

Something you might consider in your research is getting a low cost CD/DVD copy off ebay of a B-36 flight manual to get more info on that gear. An original book set goes for $1000++

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xb-36+flight+manual&_nkw=b-36+flight+manual&_sacat=0&_from=R40

My travels this past weekend made it convenient to stop by the Castle Air Museum and I did a photo essay on their RB-36H with a pretty heavy emphasis on the landing gear.  The pictures are all on my website on the B-36 page:

http://www.yolo.net/~jeaton/Propplanes/b-36/b-36.htm

I still haven't quite figured out how the brake lines run, but there is enough detail on the gear itself to see how it all works.

Hello John,

Wow! Thanks a lot for the landing gear photos. Now I can spend the next two years super detailing them -- NOT. I did plan to add brake lines and some other details. This helps a lot. This type of support is what a group build is all about. Much appreciated.

The ducts at the bottom rear of the fuselage that you couldn't identify are chaff dispensers. They were part of the production B-36Fs and onwards and retrofitted to all other variants.

Have you or any of the group tried carving treads into the tires? Any best way. Most of the B-36 tires seem to be the standard rain tires (i.e. just straight grooves cut around the circumference).

Do you or any of the group know if the B-36 had static wicks?

Last question for John: when you were down there taking the landing gear photos, did you clean off the cobwebs too? :)

lajntx. Crew members and landing gear received, but boy were they upset. The first thing I heard when they popped out of their capsule was that they were pilots, not astronauts. They knew how to actually fly an aircraft and didn't appreciate being cooped up in a pod for days. They are all out drinking and carousing now. MPs will probably be called in a few hours to break up the fights. Thanks for sending.

Thanks for the ID on the chaff dispensers, Toot.  The spider webs are still intact, sorry. 

I rescanned the period picture of the landing gear, it is from a 40's National Geographic.  It is the best shot I have found of a an operational main gear.  I noticed the wheels are a different style from the kit and the Castle airplane.  Here it is, it clearly shows the extended oleo piston.  The gear doors are not installed and detail is shown well in the gear bay. 

What, you aren't going to replicate every detail of the gear?

jeaton01

 I noticed the wheels are a different style from the kit and the Castle airplane.  Here it is, it clearly shows the extended oleo piston.  The gear doors are not installed and detail is shown well in the gear bay. 

If memory serves me right that picture is one of the first production B-36A`s with the "new" roller skate type that was used for internal "non classified" purposes to illustrate the difference between that and the old tri-cycle to Convair and DoD personell. It must have been passed on to NG when they did a story.

You are correct that there were two types of this gear. This is discussed briefly in the Wachsmuth book on p.48. The type illustrated was used on every B-36 up to 44-92098, delivered in August 1950 ( The first 100 ordered by th US Army Air Corps in 1944 to help the project meet allocation criteria for funding ) , and the late design which is portrayed in the kit was on every B-36 starting with 49-2647, also delivered in Aug 1950, until the production ended with 52-2827.

If you look at the two free online books on the resources at the begining of this GB you can see the differences on the early and late B-36`s

jeaton01

My travels this past weekend made it convenient to stop by the Castle Air Museum and I did a photo essay on their RB-36H with a pretty heavy emphasis on the landing gear.  The pictures are all on my website on the B-36 page:

http://www.yolo.net/~jeaton/Propplanes/b-36/b-36.htm

Excellent pics jeaton, very interesting and helpful, thank you for posting.

So, if during flight the landing gear doesn't fully extend does this poor guy get to crawl out onto the strut and kick it down? :) I'm seeing visions of Slim Pickens riding the missile in Dr. Strangelove.

It'd take a heck of a kick!

Initials plans for the upcoming holidays include a trip to the National Museum of the USAF (85% sure it will happen). Does anybody need any particular photos when I'm there (if I'm there)?

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.

Pictures of the B-36 nose and tail cannon would be great.

yes please any photos ofNam era Phantoms or of any gun ships like PUFF TH MAGIC DRAGON from the movie The Green Berets

Will do. It looks like the trip is on 100%.

Will do. Nose and tail cannon it is. I have a good-sized telephoto lens so I should be able to get some decent close ups.

Click2Detail is now offering the B-36 Featherweight III window plugs for $16.99 (set of 4). They are 3D printed in clear plastic, so no extra transparency is needed for the small rectangular windows. I trying to coax a family member to get a set for me from Santa Claus (along with the closed bomb bay doors).

Maybe Chris will do the wheels down (drooped) during approach landing gear too, although that one is a bit more of a stretch due to complexity.

Just ordered five packs of MV Products blue lenses for the formation lights. The guy at the hobby store looked at me when I asked for five sets of blue. He said "we don't ever get that request."  Trying to get as much super detailing product, research, and product details set before unleashing the Xacto knife, sandpaper and filler on this kit.