B-25 winter project - turret

astixjr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:53 pm

Jon,
That's a great looking project. It appears that all the big pieces are there. Heck, you've even got a pair of ammo boxes and the seat looks like it's intact also. PM me your UPS address and I'll try to get you some copies of the two manuals I've got. They will not be the best copies but they might help. Are there any -25s in the area with a Martin for you to look at? I've got some images of the local CAF's Martin installation if it will help.

JBrawner · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:11 pm

im hoping jack and can send of the one he helped with. but ill take any i can get right now. the only other B-25 i can go look at is at CFM and i doubt that it is a martin or that they would let me climb up in it to look at it closer, heck(no the filter didnt change it) id be scared to go inside for fear of messing something up. we just didnt like the numbers on the compression check so we are changing them before the planes leaves for some pilot training and airshow season. im just looking forward to going on the maintenance flight .... its been 8 months since ive been up in the air of anything(it was a 172 to boot) and almost 9 months since ive been up in the 25.

oh yea pm sent... thanks again for the help

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:38 am

I think I have a couple of Pictures of a Martin Turret from a museum if you'd like to have them

Dan K · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:55 am

Now, all he has to do is wave the magic wand and... *poof*...

http://www.cafwi.org/caf_thumb/pv_08.jpg

Jon, if it's any comfort to you, this Martin was in MUCH worse original shape than your baby...and it only took me three years to get looking like this! After being a static display for many years, I believe this example is finally gonna' get some air time in a flier. Keep the faith.

JBrawner · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:51 am

at this point ill take whateve i can get pictture wise to help me out. i can show the owner of the plane picture and see if this is exactly how he wants things to look. ok now for the 20 min drive to the hangar, get to launch and recover the B17 today and finish the B25 jugs.... maybe ill post some pictures of "chuckie" flying later tonight, maybe even a video.... you never know with me

Hal B · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:02 pm

Ewwww! Jugs from a radial

Looks like a lot of plain old dirty work to me. Been there and done that...

Mike Berry · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:47 pm

Jon,

Is that a RAF/Air Ministry type call lamp and two switches (black Bakelite) just below the ammunition feed on the turret you're restoring?

Regards,

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:23 pm

Bad news on the picture front. I took about 6 rolls of the whole process but all the pictures are with the contents of our former hanger in 3-4 semi trailers. The stuff hasen't seen daylight in 3 years. Lots of good B-25, 2600 and T-6 stuff in there :shock:

JBrawner · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:50 pm

thanks for looking jack... i appreciate the effort.
mike - not sure but next time im out at the museum ill get a close up and post it for you

havent ahd a chance this week to get out there, no one was there to open the hangar up to me and second i started school this week and have been busy studying woods(oh boy)and correct repairing of wood for use in aircraft

JBrawner · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:41 am

ok now that it seems to be running smoothly here ill post some of the work the past week on the turret.

all that powder came out of the control box... so i had to have some fun with it, yes i was by myself and bored

a little armor plating

... alot of armor plating

oh thanks to traffic on the way to the hangar... i was stuck working on the turret instead of doing this for 3 hrs......

Mike Berry · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:52 am

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the photos.

I'm not very familiar with Martin turrets, but could this be a RAF mod? The electrical components above the controls are definitely Air Ministry types. The call light, two terminal blocks with an intercom plug were standard in most British type turrets.

Interesting!

JBrawner · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:35 pm

if you need an even closer view of that mike im probably goign to be bringing both sets of controls home so i can work on clening them up on inside, the one going back in is great looking but the switches and handles dont move freely. we would rather have htem move so they are less likely to be forced to moved and therefore broken in the attempt. should i look for anything in particular on it for you?

Mike Berry · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:59 am

Hi Jon,

Those pictures are fine. If you look closely on each component you can probably make out the Crown & A.M. (Air Ministry) markings. Most electrical components like these start with the designation 5C.

Good luck on your rebuild and keep us posted with updates.

Cheers,

peter · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:24 pm

Thanks for the updates on the turrett project! The air ministry parts would lead me to believe that this turrett could quite possibly be from a lancaster?

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B-25 winter project - turret

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