Patrick HMD Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) According to what I have read here, only certain block numbers received these at the factory. Were these also installed as a field modification on others? If so, then I guess it would be a toss up as to which ones had the gun, and which ones didn't. I may be getting ahead of myself thinking maybe they were not installed in the field. I like the idea of the extra gun. Gives the AC a meaner look. I'd like to do mine with the gun, but I'm not sure. I'm also thinking if the extra gun first appeared with the "F" model, or if there is any record or pictures of the "E" model sporting the 50. TIA Best regards Patrick Edited January 17, 2017 by Patrick HMD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Not sure what aircraft is even being described here...............B-17 Im guessing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick HMD Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Not sure what aircraft is even being described here...............B-17 Im guessing? Yes, its mentioned in the sub topic. I duded up the title a bit Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggernut Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) Below is the radio room gun installation on B-17E, My Gal Sal. This was a common .50 installation until they introduced what I call the "Hula Hoop" design. This installation was common in the B-17F as well. I believe the hula hoop design (below) replaced this installation but exactly when that was I do not know. Here's the Hula Hoop design. You can see the mount includes a hoop where the gun traversed. The hoop was mounted on two slides that allowed the gun to be pushed to the rear and rotated through it's azimuth. This was used on the 17F and the 17G until replaced by any one of a number of different enclosed gun installations. EDIT: The hula hoop gun mount, again according to the B-17G IPB was installed in B-17G s/n's 42-31032 (B-17G-1-BO) thru 42-97131 (B-17G-40-BO). NOTE: s/n 42-31032 is the very first B-17G. Below is, what appears to me to be, the last radio room gun installation installed in the B-17G. You'll notice the reflecting gunsight, a characteristic of late production B-17G's. After this installation, I believe the radio room gun was deleted. I have no serial number information at this time as my references are packed away. I haven't dug into the blueprints yet so if someone doesn't provide that in short order, I'll eventually get that information. EDIT: According to the B-17G IPB, the gun installation below was installed in B-17G s/n's 43-38274 (B-17G-85-BO) thru 43-39205 (B-17G-105-BO). Hope this helps. NOTE 01-18-2017: The Boeing IPB does not appear to address those aircraft manufactured by Lockheed-Vega or Douglas. Likewise, the blueprints I have access to, do not address those aircraft manufactured by Lockheed-Vega or Douglas either. Consequently, the radio room gun installations (related fittings and components) may be somewhat different than what's pictured here. Edited January 18, 2017 by Juggernut dutik, Swatto, Patrick HMD and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick HMD Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 Oh, it helps a lot. Thanks Juggernut for being so through with your info. It about sez it all. It certainly cleared up a lot of things rattling around in my brain. Dam good info there. I'm going to install one, and not worry about it. I am leaning towards the "E". Best regards Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggernut Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Oh, it helps a lot. Thanks Juggernut for being so through with your info. It about sez it all. It certainly cleared up a lot of things rattling around in my brain. Dam good info there. I'm going to install one, and not worry about it. I am leaning towards the "E". Best regards Patrick Then you'll want the one that resembles that installed in My Gal Sal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Hi, If you are making an early-mid production B-17G the situation is probably a little bit different. Such planes got a machine gun pintle in the window installed at the Cheyenne modification center. Please have a look at that thread from that post: http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=64220&p=854674 Hth Thierry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggernut Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) That is only one of the enclosed radio room gun positions, there are others as well. The early B-17G's had the open radio room gun like the later F models (hula hoop design). I don't know exactly when the enclosed radio room modification started but I haven't seen many photos of early 17G's with an enclosed radio room gun installation. Maybe Karl has some specifics on that. The only info I have is when the gun installation was changed on the production line. Edited January 18, 2017 by Juggernut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 The only info I have is when the gun installation was changed on the production line. Same for me. I am not sure the correspondance between the serial numbers or even the production blocks and the Cheyenne changes is still existing somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now