Ken:

Very unique looking bird, really looks great!

Dom

Bockscar

Ken:

Very unique looking bird, really looks great!

Dom

You know, I just now actually thought about it.  This was supposed to be the "trainer" for the F-102.  But with the fundamentally different shape in the front, it had to make a difference in how it handled, especially at Mach speed.  The air intakes are completely in a different place.  I wonder how much like a normal F-102 this bird really flew?  Ken, I know you worked on these, do you happen to know?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Bockscar

Ken:

Very unique looking bird, really looks great!

Dom

You know, I just now actually thought about it.  This was supposed to be the "trainer" for the F-102.  But with the fundamentally different shape in the front, it had to make a difference in how it handled, especially at Mach speed.  The air intakes are completely in a different place.  I wonder how much like a normal F-102 this bird really flew?  Ken, I know you worked on these, do you happen to know?

Ken

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined.

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

I'm detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Striker8241

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined. 

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

 

Am detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Hi Russ,

Very nice work!      Very impressive!

So what time frame is this B-52D?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined. 

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

 

Am detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Hi Russ,

Very nice work!      Very impressive!

So what time frame is this B-52D?

Ken

Thanks, Ken! 

Not really sure about the time frame, bud. A lot depends on how successful I am with spray painting. I think maybe I will have the wells and cells painted and the fuselage closed by the end of this month and, hopefully, will have the plane itself finished within 60 days thereafter. External details like the ECM antenna farm and the bomb bay with 2 additional bomb clips could push that out some.

Also, the diorama will take at least a month as I plan to build a revetment around the aircraft and that will take some doing, plus I plan to add a glass cover.

Then I'll need to add a room onto my house to display the darn thing!

Russ

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined. 

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

 

Am detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Hi Russ,

Very nice work!      Very impressive!

So what time frame is this B-52D?

Ken

Thanks, Ken! 

Not really sure about the time frame, bud. A lot depends on how successful I am with spray painting. I think maybe I will have the wells and cells painted and the fuselage closed by the end of this month and, hopefully, will have the plane itself finished within 60 days thereafter. External details like the ECM antenna farm and the bomb bay with 2 additional bomb clips could push that out some.

Also, the diorama will take at least a month as I plan to build a revetment around the aircraft and that will take some doing, plus I plan to add a glass cover.

Then I'll need to add a room onto my house to display the darn thing!

Russ

Hi Russ,

I apologize, I didn't phrase my question correctly.  What I meant was, what time period was your B-52D in operation that you are modeling?  Vietnam?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined. 

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

 

Am detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Hi Russ,

Very nice work!      Very impressive!

So what time frame is this B-52D?

Ken

Thanks, Ken! 

Not really sure about the time frame, bud. A lot depends on how successful I am with spray painting. I think maybe I will have the wells and cells painted and the fuselage closed by the end of this month and, hopefully, will have the plane itself finished within 60 days thereafter. External details like the ECM antenna farm and the bomb bay with 2 additional bomb clips could push that out some.

Also, the diorama will take at least a month as I plan to build a revetment around the aircraft and that will take some doing, plus I plan to add a glass cover.

Then I'll need to add a room onto my house to display the darn thing!

Russ

Hi Russ,

I apologize, I didn't phrase my question correctly.  What I meant was, what time period was your B-52D in operation that you are modeling?  Vietnam?

Ken

Ahem ... oops... . Definitely Viet Nam period. I was in Okinawa in 1968 supporting the Arc Light campaign. So yeah, Viet Nam, late 60s.

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Hi All,

Well, some progress today. I finally have the cockpit installed - preliminarily - but it finally fits (see below). I'm only going to add the upper deck detail behind the cockpit because you can see it from the two top windows. Will also add small lights inside as I plan to have a night scene for my diorama.

I added the chaff ports back in the 47 section, which were totally left off - they weren't even outlined. 

I also added the missing lower ram air intake port on the right side of the fuselage.

 

Am detailing the guts of the gun turret (cover removed) - will post when the paint dries (I hate painting... )

Cheers,

Russ 

Hi Russ,

Very nice work!      Very impressive!

So what time frame is this B-52D?

Ken

Thanks, Ken! 

Not really sure about the time frame, bud. A lot depends on how successful I am with spray painting. I think maybe I will have the wells and cells painted and the fuselage closed by the end of this month and, hopefully, will have the plane itself finished within 60 days thereafter. External details like the ECM antenna farm and the bomb bay with 2 additional bomb clips could push that out some.

Also, the diorama will take at least a month as I plan to build a revetment around the aircraft and that will take some doing, plus I plan to add a glass cover.

Then I'll need to add a room onto my house to display the darn thing!

Russ

Hi Russ,

I apologize, I didn't phrase my question correctly.  What I meant was, what time period was your B-52D in operation that you are modeling?  Vietnam?

Ken

 

Ahem ... oops... . Definitely Viet Nam period. I was in Okinawa in 1968 supporting the Arc Light campaign. So yeah, Viet Nam, late 60s.

 

Russ

Wow Russ that is great!  Now I have a front row seat of how to build my B-52D!!      I hope you don't mind that I am going to take very close notes of your build!

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Wow Russ that is great!  Now I have a front row seat of how to build my B-52D!!      I hope you don't mind that I am going to take very close notes of your build!

Ken

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Wow Russ that is great!  Now I have a front row seat of how to build my B-52D!!      I hope you don't mind that I am going to take very close notes of your build!

Ken

 

Ahh, well, thanks Ken, you flatter me. I'm no expert on these birds. Remember, I was focused on the ECM systems, which were extensive in this aircraft. But if I can provide any information or help otherwise, I'll be glad to do so. Certainly, I can provide background information about what was going on with and around these planes.

 

Russ

Well Russ, from what you have already done so far, you know a lot more than I would be able to dig up.  By the way, were you stationed at Kadena AFB at Okinawa?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Wow Russ that is great!  Now I have a front row seat of how to build my B-52D!!      I hope you don't mind that I am going to take very close notes of your build!

Ken

 

Ahh, well, thanks Ken, you flatter me. I'm no expert on these birds. Remember, I was focused on the ECM systems, which were extensive in this aircraft. But if I can provide any information or help otherwise, I'll be glad to do so. Certainly, I can provide background information about what was going on with and around these planes.

 

Russ

Well Russ, from what you have already done so far, you know a lot more than I would be able to dig up.  By the way, were you stationed at Kadena AFB at Okinawa?

Ken

Here's a couple of pics of the cockpit,

no-where near detailed enough for a diorama,

the bird was going to be flying just below the ceiling

for the rest of my days....skitta's might see it....

Can't remember if I cut a cabin bulkhead or not.....it's not here...(edited: I checked, and it appears I missed an opportunity to cut the cabin bulkhead.....gotta ripp'er open and do a bulkhead transplant....not)

I tried to paint aviator's shades on the starboard pilot.....

The soft light gray plastic let a tiny bit of light through, so I painted the innards with carbon black.

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Wow Russ that is great!  Now I have a front row seat of how to build my B-52D!!      I hope you don't mind that I am going to take very close notes of your build!

Ken

 

Ahh, well, thanks Ken, you flatter me. I'm no expert on these birds. Remember, I was focused on the ECM systems, which were extensive in this aircraft. But if I can provide any information or help otherwise, I'll be glad to do so. Certainly, I can provide background information about what was going on with and around these planes.

 

Russ

Well Russ, from what you have already done so far, you know a lot more than I would be able to dig up.  By the way, were you stationed at Kadena AFB at Okinawa?

Ken

 

No, not stationed there - only there on a 6-month rotation from Clinton-Sherman AFB, Oklahoma, from April to September, 1968. BTW, do you remember the East-West Gift Shop in Koza? Loved to waunder through the 7 floors of that place. I remember you could see the beaches on both sides of the island from the upper floors. Wonder if it's still there. You can see a picture of the shop at http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_worm_turns/66135317/.

 

Russ

Unfortunately I was just between the ages of 5 and 7 during the years of 1962 to 1965.  What I do remember is being able to walk down from the house where we lived to the beach and look for different wildlife.  The beach was not a swimming beach, that was on the other side of the island from where we lived.  We had an Army Base directly across the highway from where we lived.  (I think it was Army.)

Ken

Bockscar

Here's a couple of pics of the cockpit,

no-where near detailed enough for a diorama,

the bird was going to be flying just below the ceiling

for the rest of my days....skitta's might see it....

Can't remember if I cut a cabin bulkhead or not.....it's not here...(edited: I checked, and it appears I missed an opportunity to cut the cabin bulkhead.....gotta ripp'er open and do a bulkhead transplant....not)

I tried to paint aviator's shades on the starboard pilot.....

The soft light gray plastic let a tiny bit of light through, so I painted the innards with carbon black.

Hi Dom,

I believe you also engineered a nice spar system to strengthen the wings didn't you?

Ken

Bockscar

Here's a couple of pics of the cockpit,

no-where near detailed enough for a diorama,

the bird was going to be flying just below the ceiling

for the rest of my days....skitta's might see it....

Nice paint job on the pilots, Dom. How did you get the console decals so clear? My decals were crappy so I substitued pictures of the consoles. Don't look near as good as yours.

BTW, I'd like to read about your spar system...

Thanks,

Russ

Its Bockscar. He got the instrument panel so clear by giving it a dirty look, it then proceeded to paint itself.

Scorpiomikey

Its Bockscar. He got the instrument panel so clear by giving it a dirty look, it then proceeded to paint itself.

LMAO!

Thanks for helping me brag Ken.....like I need encouragement....

I learned that the designers of the B-52 gave it special wings, I'm not sure if any other aircraft before or since had their features.

Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong here, the plane was pretty much controlled by a spoiler system.

The craft could take off and land and while doing so, it was very hard to notice any pitch. I think the designers wanted all the wheels to pretty much hit or take off at the same time. I swear i saw a film of early take-offs, and it appears as if it is rising then the nose tilts down as it goes up.....

Again, I think i heard it said that the wing tips could cut an up-down arc of about 27', and the flexibility of those wings was designed on purpose. I have no idea how they did it.

But after seeing a few films of those big wings under heavy G's, I decided to cut aluminum spars to give my bird an approximate look, so staring just outside the inner engines, the wings curve up.

What I used as a guage for maximum upward bend was a film sequence i used to see on the MC.

From the sides, as the bird made a gentle role, the wingtips would meet at the top fuselage line.

I spent hours dry fitting and carefully bending the wings until the bird could lie on its back with both wingtips touching the table beside it.

Here are the innards in process:

The main spar:

Setting up main spar with wing spars:

Adding a few reinforcements:

Threw in a pic of the filling and sanding:

The curve looks gentle from the back

Looks more aggressive from the front, notches on the flaps help trick the eye:

It'll look less noticeable once the engines are mounted.

Wow, that B-52 is gonna be huge!!!

And I like the spar system, I've had a much smaller B-17 pop right down the middle fuselage seam twice before!

Striker8241

Scorpiomikey

Its Bockscar. He got the instrument panel so clear by giving it a dirty look, it then proceeded to paint itself.

 

LMAO!

I used the decals supplied and put a tiny bit of clear-coat over top. Probably just lucky they stuck.

Gamera

Wow, that B-52 is gonna be huge!!!

And I like the spar system, I've had a much smaller B-17 pop right down the middle fuselage seam twice before!

I glued the fuselgae together around the center spar, then glued the wings onto the spar, so the fuselage is locked together:

jimbot58

Nice work on that TF, the last time I saw it it was still in pieces. Still haven't gotten around to reviewing old posts to see what else you all have done.

I finished the cockpit for the A-7:

The photo came out an odd color as I left the camera in "auto" mode and it adjusts sometimes to odd exposures.

Installed it and began mating the halves together. I actually finished that and I am now working on filling, sanding, scraping, etc. those seams, but don't have a current photo.

I need to get some photos in here for the F-105 when I can. It's been a monster of a build so far, but I'll try to tell it's tale a briefly as I can, if possible:

When I began the kit, I was unhappy with the decals for the cockpit. They were too large and did not fit the kit parts. I looked and found some PE parts and decided to go that route. In the mean time, I decided to redo the cockpit tube, and dropped it into some Pollyscale/Testors Easy lift-off. I then forgot about it and after a few days, it had pretty much melted! I ended up scratch building a new cockpit tub, using what was left of the old one as a guide. It took many hours of cutting, filing, and carefull fitting to make one that was passable but, in the end, I thought it looked better that the original kit part! Sorry no photo blog for it, I wish I had!

Then there was the control sticks: when I went to strip down the tub, I had removed them to a safe place...problem was is that I never figured out where I put them. I stole a set from a Monogram kit I had. Problem then was is that the carpet monster got one of them. I then tried to scratch a new one, but it was too tiny for me. I ended up taking some from helicopter kit I never finished and modified them a bit for the plane. They aren't correct but they will have to do at this point.

When I started the PE parts, I ended up loosing a couple of pieces, and even cut one incorrectly from its fret, ruining it. I ended up buying another set.

I wanted to open the cockpit, but the Trumpeter made no provision for this. The hinge part was actually molded into the fuselage, so I had to attach some tabs to the canopies and notch out the fuselage where they will he mounted.

The F-105 tale will continue later, but I have to go as the eyelids are beginning to droop....

Jim:

Speaking of control panels;

did you dry brush those, they were raised resin details? -They look raised from where I am.

Great work on the straps and buckles!

SOM Ken,

You know, my experience with the TF was almost 50 years ago!  (That kinda dates me, I guess.)    My most vivid memory of the TF was the time I snagged a ride in 54048 at Ellsworth AFB.  Anyway, the TF was a combat capable ship that had the same armament as the F-102.  Because of its bulky configuration, its performance was somewhat less than that of the F-102.  I think both ships had the same P&W J57 engine, but while the F-102 was supposedly capable of Mach 1.25 at altitude, the TF-102, I believe, was limited to about Mach .97.  As I remember, the pilot had to nose down slightly to show me Mach 1 at about 40,000 ft.  That experience is the main reason I wanted to build this model.

Buzz

jimbot58

I finished the cockpit for the A-7:

Installed it and began mating the halves together. I actually finished that and I am now working on filling, sanding, scraping, etc. those seams, but don't have a current photo.

Jim, I had a chance to work on some A-7s at Nellis back in 72-73. Some of them had an interesting modification that was undergoing testing at the time (Nellis is one of the primary air test centers in the US). It was a moving map navigation system called the projected map display system (PMDS) that featured a display mounted between the pilot's legs (like they had lots of room in that cockpit anyway). It was a pedestal with a display on top. In those days, there were no computers so it was a mechanical system that used microfich. The aircraft was represented by a symbol in the center of the map display and the maps moved in the background in response to inputs from the inertial nav system. As the plane left one map's area of coverage, the system would automatically switch to the next map in the grid.

I felt sorry for any pilot that had to fly this configuration because they hardly had any room to move or stretch their legs.

Russ

Bockscar

Thanks for helping me brag Ken.....like I need encouragement....

I learned that the designers of the B-52 gave it special wings, I'm not sure if any other aircraft before or since had their features.

Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong here, the plane was pretty much controlled by a spoiler system.

The craft could take off and land and while doing so, it was very hard to notice any pitch. I think the designers wanted all the wheels to pretty much hit or take off at the same time. I swear i saw a film of early take-offs, and it appears as if it is rising then the nose tilts down as it goes up.....

Again, I think i heard it said that the wing tips could cut an up-down arc of about 27', and the flexibility of those wings was designed on purpose. I have no idea how they did it.

Cool, Dom! Looks very real. I almost had a chance to go on a mission to monitor one of our systems, but the plane got cancelled at the last minute . Would have had a chance to see the wings in action.

Russ

Below is a picture from an actual aircraft and my model of the B-52D gun turret with the right-side cover removed for maintenance. I remember watching the MMS troops working on these guns. They would be up to their elbows in oil and grease in the blazing hot sun. Those guys had the hardest job of all, even worse than ECM, and we worked really hard. A lot of MMS troops eventually deleloped liver or kidny problems or cancer from working with the gun grease remover. No other shop had more to do or worked harder than MMS.

Cheers,

Russ

kbuzz01

SOM Ken,

You know, my experience with the TF was almost 50 years ago!  (That kinda dates me, I guess.)    My most vivid memory of the TF was the time I snagged a ride in 54048 at Ellsworth AFB.  Anyway, the TF was a combat capable ship that had the same armament as the F-102.  Because of its bulky configuration, its performance was somewhat less than that of the F-102.  I think both ships had the same P&W J57 engine, but while the F-102 was supposedly capable of Mach 1.25 at altitude, the TF-102, I believe, was limited to about Mach .97.  As I remember, the pilot had to nose down slightly to show me Mach 1 at about 40,000 ft.  That experience is the main reason I wanted to build this model.

Buzz

Hi Buzz,

Thank you for taking the time to give that detailed description.  I did not realize that the TF-102 was combat capable!  I bet that was some ride!

SoMM

Striker8241

Below is an actual picture and my model of the B-52D gun turret with the right cover removed for maintenance. I remember watching the MMS troops working on these guns. They would be up to their elbows in oil and grease in the blazing hot sun. Those guys had the hardest job of all, even worse than ECM, and we worked really hard. A lot of MMS troops eventually deleloped liver or kidny problems or cancer from working with the gun grease remover. No other shop had more to do or worked harder than MMS.

Russ

Wow Russ, great work representing the maintenance on the gun turret!        They look identical! 

SoMM (the other Ken)

Striker8241

Below is an actual picture and my model of the B-52D gun turret with the right cover removed for maintenance. I remember watching the MMS troops working on these guns. They would be up to their elbows in oil and grease in the blazing hot sun. Those guys had the hardest job of all, even worse than ECM, and we worked really hard. A lot of MMS troops eventually deleloped liver or kidny problems or cancer from working with the gun grease remover. No other shop had more to do or worked harder than MMS.

Russ

I'm totally guessing here....but the oil and grease needed to keep the gun turret moving were probably not your regular corner garage type.

The guns would most likely have been used at altitude, and some lubricant company probably came up with fluid and greases that were liquid film, i.e. didn't have a huge viscosity curve plotted against temperature. Simply put: that special oil and grease didn't freeze until -40 degrees....not so great for mitosis though.....

I have no idea what gunk that would be, but it's no surprise so many guys ended up with a short tour of the planet....sad....

That aside, that gun detail is looking very good, don't get any of that grease on your sandwhiches!

I'm assuming you scratched the actual innards for the guns, right?

-Dom