SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

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

247588 views
1059 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 12:53 PM

Hi, All,

Below is the first of three B-4 maintenance stands I'm building for the maintenance scenarios in my diorama. This one is in the fully retracted position and will be positioned at the 47 Section hatch. The other's will be at various heights and will be positioned at the chin radome and the display engine. I also plan to build a B-5 stand for the turret maintenance scenario.

The second picture shows what a real B-4 stand looks like. These stands were really rugged and used everywhere, and are still in use today. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a B-4 stand somewhere that has been in service since before the B-52s rolled off the assembly line Big Smile.

Cheers, and have a Happy Holiday!

Russ

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Sunday, December 23, 2012 12:55 PM

Some more stunning work. I wasn't even aware of those blast curtains. I am guessing they were to protect the crew when dropping nuclear weapons. Where they still fitted to the aircraft in Vietnam?

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 1:09 PM

Thanks, Bish. Yes, the curtains were used to shield against nuclear flash and were still installed even in Viet Nam. Remember, this was still the cold war era and the B-52s were really on loan to the SEA theater, so they had to maintain what nuclear capability they still had.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Sunday, December 23, 2012 1:18 PM

Makes sense. Thanks for all the info. This is going to come in very useful at some point in the future. A really great build to follow.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Ontario, Canada
Posted by Bockscar on Sunday, December 23, 2012 1:25 PM

Russ:

Great work, you sure you don't want to "kit" those and sell them....lol....

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 1:36 PM

Lol!  Thanks, Dom!  Interesting thought but that sounds too much like work - and I'm retired Big Smile

Russ

 

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 3:14 PM

Bish

Makes sense. Thanks for all the info. This is going to come in very useful at some point in the future. A really great build to follow.

My pleasure, Bish. And thanks for the good words.

 

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Ontario, Canada
Posted by Bockscar on Sunday, December 23, 2012 7:19 PM

Well Russ, I sure am disappointed man.

We was' hopin' you would just keep going,

and build a huge multi-scale AFB so we-all could populate it

with all kinds of BUFF's, Thuds, F-111's....lol....

I guess we'll just have to look at your incredible work.....Stick out tongue

and wonder what might have been.....WhistlingToast

Dom

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 7:53 PM

Ahh no my friend, the wife would never forgive me lol Big Smile. But thanks for the good words!

Russ

 

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Guam
Posted by sub revolution on Monday, December 24, 2012 7:08 AM

Hmmmm... That does give an idea though...

If you are really feeling froggy, you could build a giant display with several aircraft of this caliber and donate to a museum. I bet the AF museum in Dayton, or the former SAC museum in Omaha, etc would LOVE something like this!

NEW SIG

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Monday, December 24, 2012 9:16 AM

Lol, I don't know if I'd ever feel that froggy, sub. I'm already having to build the base for this one in the garage because it won't fit through the door of my house! Big Smile.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Monday, December 24, 2012 10:20 AM

Thats one reason i never got to finish my first BUFF, no where to put the Dio. I did see one years ago where the guy could split the board in half so he could take it to shows and stuff. As soon as i get some room, i am going to get mine done as well. But really glad i didn't do it years ago or i would have missed these great ideas.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Monday, December 24, 2012 12:59 PM

Well, I took the plunge and did the first stage painting of the fuselage. Since I like to have my tires flattened, I didn't glue the wheels on. I built up the axels with super glue then sanded them so the wheels fit snuggly but still rotate. That way, I can be sure all of the tires are "flat" on the surface Big Smile.

Cheers,

Russ

Tags: B-52

 

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Lafayette, Indiana
Posted by Son Of Medicine Man on Monday, December 24, 2012 3:14 PM

Nice work once again Russ!  You are to the point now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I can't wait to see this when you put it all together!

Ken

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Monday, December 24, 2012 4:03 PM

Thanks, Ken! I'm as anxious as you are Big Smile.

Russ

 

Inserted 9/12/19

Adding the Drag Chute Tray

The B-52's massive wings were so far forward and had so much lift that the plane could not reduce landing speed by flaring like most aircraft. A drag chute was needed to slow it down enough so the brakes could be used without burning them up. The drag chute on the D-model was stored in a compartment in the bottom of the tail section, just forward of the gun turret, as show below. The drag chute tray was almost always extended while the aircraft was being turned around for it's next mission.

 

Determine how you are going to install the tray in the fuselage as this will determine the total height of the side and end panels. The simplest way is to glue one or more strips cross-wise up inside the fuselage and attach the tray to them.

1)      The drag chute tray door is already outlined on the model. Correct any distortions in the outline and cut out the door.

2)      The cut out door is 2 mm thick, which is too thick for the tray door so you will need to use it as a template and make a new door out of 0.5 mm thick sheet stock.

3)      Once the new door is cut out, bend it slightly to conform to the curvature of the bottom of the fuselage.

4)      Determine the length of the side and end panels so that the sharp angle in the front of the side panels will be about even with the door opening when the tray is installed, then cut out the side and end panels according to the dimensions below.

5)      Glue the end panel to the inside edges of the side panels.

6)      Glue the assembled panels to the inside of the tray door according to the dimensions shown above.

7)      Paint the side and end panels and the inside of the tray door green zinc chromate or olive drab.

8)      Glue the assembled tray up inside the fuselage.

9)      Construct the actuator arm from 0.5 mm/.020" plastic rod (Plastruct #90720) or equivalent as shown in the photo below. NOTE: The total length of the actuator arm will depend on the height of your side and end panels. The arm had a half-moon shaped kink in it near the door opening. Glue the long end of the arm to the door outside the side panel and the other end to the edge of the door opening.

10)      There was also a placard on the right side panel which probably contained safety instructions. You can replicate it as I did with a thin piece of paper cut 3 mm x 4 mm.

11)      Construct the actuator arm from 0.5 mm/.020" plastic rod (Plastruct #90720) or equivalent as shown in the photo below. NOTE: The total length of the actuator arm will depend on the height of your side and end panels. The arm had a half-moon shaped kink in it near the door opening. Glue the long end of the arm to the door outside the side panel and the other to the edge of the door opening.

12)      There was also a placard on the right side panel which probably contained safety instructions. You can replicate it as I did with a thin piece of paper cut 3 mm x 4 mm.

12)      Paint the outside of the chute compartment door to match the underside of the aircraft. The finished chute tray is shown below.

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Maine
Posted by wynder on Monday, December 24, 2012 6:36 PM

Russ,

When I was a volunteer at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ, I took pictures of their B-52D 'Lone Star Lady' without her under-nose radome (it was removed for repairs). Could you use the pictures? The radar dish was removed, but the surrounding structures and details are still there. How can I forward them onto you if you want them?

-Beau

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Monday, December 24, 2012 6:54 PM

Hi, Beau. That would be great! Please post them here if you can - I'm sure others would be interested in them too.

Many thanks!

Russ

 

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 6:26 PM

Hi, All,

Hope you're all having a great Christmas Day. I know I should be letting model building alone today but... I just had to finish this B-4 maintenance stand. So here it is Big Smile.

Cheers,

Russ

 

 

Tags: 1/72 , maintenance , stand , B-4

 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 6:40 PM

Hello! Ain't that a fiddly detail! Great work on this project and keep up this excellent work! Have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 7:01 PM

Thanks, Pawel! Big Smile

Russ

 

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 7:27 PM

Wynder (Beau) was kind enough to send me some shots of the nav radar antenna compartment on a B-52D at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ (Thanks, Beau!). Two of these are shown below. There are three units shown in the upper left corner of the compartment that I need to add. These could be power supplies or possibly radar transmitters.The bulkhead insulation is another challenge but I don't know yet if I want to tackle that.

I've also added the one photo I found that shows the nav radar antenna installed.

Cheers,

Russ


 

Tags: B-52 , nav , radome

 

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Ontario, Canada
Posted by Bockscar on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 9:31 PM

Striker8241

Hi, All,

Hope you're all having a great Christmas Day. I know I should be letting model building alone today but... I just had to finish this B-4 maintenance stand. So here it is Big Smile.

Cheers,

Russ

Wow russ:

You never fail to amaze!!!

fab maintenance cribs, i love the flooring!!!

Paint is going on very nicely!

is that guy with his hands up you???...lol

Really fantastic work, Russ!!!

Dom

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Lafayette, Indiana
Posted by Son Of Medicine Man on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 10:12 PM

Wow Russ, incredible detail!  Great scratch building!  Yes  Yes 

Ken

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 6:10 AM

Thanks for the good words, Guys!  It came out better than I thought it would Big Smile.

Russ

 

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Rowland Heights, California
Posted by Duke Maddog on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 12:09 PM

Wow! I'd love to know how you made that maintenance stand! I'd love to have several of those myself!

Way to go guy!

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 6:39 PM

Thanks, Duke!  The hardest part was getting useful measurements for each part but it would take too much space here to describe how I did it. I will try to put together some instructions with measurements that I can email to you later on, after I've finished the other two stands. This first one was a prototype - the last two should be a lot easier to document. BTW, they look fairly big in the photos but they are actually very small and delicate when you're handling them. Be sure you have a good pair of glasses! Big Smile

Russ

 

  • Member since
    December 2012
Posted by pampa on Thursday, December 27, 2012 9:48 PM

Once again, amazing work. I was wondering if you would share the type of paint you are using for the fuselage and the method for applying.  I find myself checking in every few days just to see what is new. Thanks so much.

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Friday, December 28, 2012 7:26 AM

Hello, Pampa, and thanks for the good words! Big Smile  

I'm really embarassed to tell you about the paint - it's from a spray can available at most hardware stores Embarrassed. It's Krylon Fusion gloss black and it's designed to bond to plastic. Actually, it covers really well and provides a hard finish once it's dried thoroughly. It costs about $6 for a 12oz can and there is a pretty good range of colors available.

Cheers,

Russ

 

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Sunday, December 30, 2012 8:13 PM

Hi, All,

Quick update - I finished the second B-4 stand with the platform raised about 3 feet. I decided to open the gunner's access hatch so this stand will go under it.

BTW, the handrails on these stands were designed to fit into sockets on the platform and could be removed to position the stand closer to the aircraft. I modeled this particular stand as an older version; later versions had 3-4" plates welded between the rail sockets. This helped prevent a technician accidentally knocking a part or tool, or even a whole toolbox, off the stand and possibly onto someone's head.

 

Inserted 7/21/19.

If you would like to build one of these B-4 stands, I have written a manual on how to do it. Please send me a Personal Message (PM) by clicking on my avatar and then clicking on the "Personal Message" button. I'll send you the manual in pdf format. NOTE: Any email addresses in the manual are no longer valid so please PM me for any inquiries.

Cheers,

Russ

  

 

Tags: maintenance , stand , B-4

 

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Lafayette, Indiana
Posted by Son Of Medicine Man on Sunday, December 30, 2012 8:41 PM

Hi Russ,

Nice work once again.  Those stands look so realistic!

Btw, I just watched a re-run of "Mail Call" that highlighted the B-52.  They had some really great shots of the BUFF.

Ken

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.