Kostucha Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 Yup!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 Does anyone have a picture or pictures of the large plexiglass window in the radio compartment (preferably the framing portion underneath)? Either the window on it's own or how and where it is positioned if the .50 is pulled out to be able to fire? Thanks in advance, Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) Mark, I'd pose this question over on WIX. Those guys/gals restore them and may have what you need. http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/ site seems to have crashed...keep an eye out on it Edited January 14, 2011 by Shawn M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 seems WIX images still work: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 look behind his head, seems the window goes there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 Shawn, This was one of the ref. pictures I was using for the framing going back. Great pic, however, as mentioned - where would the .50 be? There isn't a .50 mounted there, as there's no rail system, nor is it permanently fixed in place at the aft end of the opening. It's easy enough once on the ground to open it up and put it there to keep it out of the way, but if there was the sliding .50 mount (where the MG is mounted on the ring), there wouldn't be any place for it in that 'bin' Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 you're right, as I looked at them more i realized its the same space, one with and without gun...drat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 And thus, I am confused. Unsure. Not fully informed on the matter. Lacking the proper information. Lacking in reference. Missing the mark. That picture reminds me, I need to drill out the hole in the frame section at the end of the rail, and add a couple of small pieces. But, right now, I'm thinking that plexiglass window will be removed completely, and put up on the side of the diorama somewhere, it would seem with folks moving back and forth that it would only be in the way - either that, or it would be left mounted in, but then that takes away from the ability to see everything, something I'm not happy about, so I'm taking my artistic licence and tossing it on the table... the large plexiglass window that is. What is interesting about that ring (that the .50 is mounted on) is that it looks as though it's made of copper pipe! I'm sure it isn't... That picture you posted though of the gentleman in the picture has an interesting story as well. His farther was the RO in a B-17 in the Pacific. Father went down with his -17 when the guy pictured was either 6 months old, or his mother was 6 months along with him. This was the first time he stepped foot in a B-17 in 67 years. Great story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 i think thats the best solution accuracy wise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) Would you guys be interested in photos of the wings and nacelles taken from above? While flying with "Journey" I took a number of photos of the TOP of the wings and nacelles, a view most people don't get. I was interested in panel lines and such and thought they would be of interest to modelers such as ourselves. Here is a link (I hope) to the photobucket site. I will continue to add to it as I find more. http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/KPH...and%20Nacelles/ Edited January 15, 2011 by 100th BG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 Karl, that's EXCELLENT stuff! My question to you, if opening the large oval shaped panel on the nacelle that sits on the top portion, specifically on the No. 1 engine, what would one see looking in? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) Well, the main things are the oil tank, the supercharger oil tank, and the engine air filters along with their associated ducting. I don't think I ever took a photo in there, even though I was in there with great regularity checking the turbo oil. The air filters were long gone, which made climbing in there a little less of a challenge. Fortunately, I am not a big guy. There is a panel through the firewall so you can access the back of the engine (mags, generator, etc.) EDIT: Here are some diagrams from the Parts Manual showing some of what is in the outboard nacelle. First is the oil system for the engine with the tank on the outboard side of the nacelle: Next is the lubrication system for the supercharger with the tank in the upper inboard section of the nacelle: And next is the induction system showing the carb air filters and the intercooler. These items were no longer installed on "Sentimental Journey" and you can see that they occupied a lot of space: Edited January 15, 2011 by 100th BG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) Maybe I'll just keep it closed, hahaha. Edited January 15, 2011 by Kostucha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Here is a picture of #4 from above. The engine oil tank would be at the bottom of the picture and the supercharger tank would be at the upper left. Whattaya mean leave it closed!!!! C'mon.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Here are the Stations Diagrams for anyone interested: Not greatly legible, but should work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) Karl, those are awesome, I was hoping you'd post up the front end. Do you or anyone out there have good pictures from the inside as to what the updated cheek gun positions looked like (specifically the framing)? Thanks in advance, Mark. Edited January 16, 2011 by Kostucha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Well, this isn't exactly what you want, but it's a start. Here is the right cheek gun mount in "Sentimental Journey": Have to look through more pictures... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Thanks Karl. As you said - it's a start. It became very evident that there is no framing within these areas on either the kit part, or any of the AM sets. Given how open the area is, I can't just make believe that there was no framing there, and as all the glass is going to be fairly thin and transparent on this one, I'm thinking it'd be a good idea to put in the framing along with all the extra "guts" that go along with the .50 that pokes through it. I might cut the cheek sections out of the fuselage halves and scratch them, but most likely I'll be building in the appropriate framing within them. Honestly, I'm almost done the Starboard fuselage half - the framing that is... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) The cheek gun is made from a fairly substantial hunk of metal and the formers and stringers did attach to it. In these photos of the left side, you can see where the upper longeron carries onto is is attached to the cheek gun position. And this drawing of the right side, although too large for my scanner, shows where it is rivited to the formers and stringers. The circled area at the top shows how the rivits are marked. Do these help? Edited January 16, 2011 by 100th BG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 One more that might help: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Looking at the different colour, was the cheek gun pressing made from steel? All the ones I've seen close up have been painted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 They are an aluminum alloy, very stout. I suppose they were made with one of those huge drop hammer type machines and then heat treated, although that is just a guess on my part. Perhaps someone with more expertise in manufacturing processes can chime in here? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 :D No wonder Karl can build such great models - he uses REAL BLUE PRINTS ! p.s. Great Stuff Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 If only my talents matched the information I have available! Mark wanted to know what the area above the pilots looked like, so, in case anyone else is interested: You can see the fabric on the roof and, in this factory photo, there are curtains for the overhead windows. Don't know how long those lasted... There is also a checklist stuffed above the radio controls mounting plate. The instruments on the small panel are (L to R): clock, magnetic compass, and a de-icer pressure gauge. In other installations, this third one was a thermometer or a hydraulic pressure gauge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 and another from the IWM B-17G "Mary Alice" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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