"The Dam Busters" - Movie aircraft. Finished pics & back story (at last!) pg 18.

[Gondor]

Got me thinking who the "Love interest" is 

Jayne Mansfield or Marilyn surely?

I thought they had big bit parts in the movie? 

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

I thought they had big bit parts in the movie? 

You're dicing with an entry in The Book there Alastair!

[Charlie_c67]

I thought they had big bit parts in the movie? 

You're dicing with an entry in The Book there Alastair!

By the great measurements of Sabrina! Surely not?

[NARSES2]

I thought they had big bit parts in the movie? 

You're dicing with an entry in The Book there Alastair!

By the great measurements of Sabrina! Surely not?

Now someone really is being parochial     

[zenrat]

So, having finally got the bomb cradle glued in straight and central, and having concocted a mount for the bomb spinning mechanism in the bomb bay, and having carefully painted the bomb bay and structural "keel" interior green, I am now cutting up the bomb bay doors to fit around the various protrusions in order to give a modicum of drag reduction.  Not much will be visible inside when i'm done but as we like to say...


...i'll know its there.

[Rick Lowe]

Not much will be visible inside when i'm done but as we like to say...


...i'll know its there.

And that's enough justification for anyone!   

[zenrat]

Were the bombs the USAAF dropped painted a different colour to those dropped by the RAF?

[Old Wombat]

Were the bombs the USAAF dropped painted a different colour to those dropped by the RAF?

Not always but, generally, yes.

USAAF & RAF attachment points for their bombs were somewhat different (althought he fittings could, I believe, be bodged to fit either way in a pinch).

British bombs tended to be either of two dark greens, while US bombs were generally USAAF olive drab.

[jcf]

Were the bombs the USAAF dropped painted a different colour to those dropped by the RAF?

From 11 March 1942, olive drab with yellow bands
indicating filler. 

AMATOL and TNT:
Single one inch solid yellow bands at nose and
tail plus a single 1/4 inch dotted band at CG.

Composition 'B':
Two one inch solid yellow bands at nose and tail. 

[jcf]

With the AN series bombs a single lug was added at the centre of gravity, on the opposite side of the bomb from the dual lugs used for US bomb release equipment, to fit the standard British release gear.

[zenrat]

Thank you.
Upkeeps were filled with Torpex.
I think i'll paint my Upkeep olive drab with yellow bands at each end.

[Old Wombat]

Torpex & Amatol were both, primarily, torpedo explosives, popular for their stability under rough treatment (like launching from torpedo tubes, hitting the water at high speed, etc.), which was probably why the Upkeeps used Torpex.

[zenrat]

Here is a peek inside the bomb bay.

B-17 Dam Busters WIP 23-04-2024 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Here are the cut down doors in place.  Much less to see now.

B-17 Dam Busters WIP 23-04-2024 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And finally, with the Upkeep in place one can see...

B-17 Dam Busters WIP 23-04-2024 03 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

...nothing!

Now that is done I can get on with PSR on those crap seams.

[PR19_Kit]

REALLY god engineering there Fred!           

[NARSES2]

REALLY god engineering there Fred!           

Indeed