B-17 Radio Room Pics Needed

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:51 am

Hi Guys!
This is a request which should be a simple one for some of our members- I need some detail pics of the aft walls(L&R) of the B-17 radio room. I am progressing to the second phase of building my WWII heavy aircraft radio display, and am basing the mounting of the tuning units & BC-375(and associated equipment) on the B-17... I have searched google, but haven't found exactly what I need, so I figured I'd ask here.

I am looking for pics with the tuning units, (in the CS-45 cases) in place, but also removed, so I can see how they were mounted to the wall. Also a detail photo of the BC-375(transmitter) mounting area- looks like a small table, as I need an idea of how it was constructed. A shot of the dynamotor mounting on the reverse of the wall would be appreciated, if possible.

I could also use pics of the junction boxes- both closed and open- for the liaison and command sets, as well as the interphone... I am trying to figure how to build them, as well.(I like a nice full-functioning display!)

Pics can be posted, or e-mailed(PM or regular e-mail- ng19delta<at>yahoo<dawt>com

Thanks for any help! I am hoping to have the materials together next month, or sooner, and to have it built up by January, with wiring, etc. in place by February, so I can have it operational for the airshow season in the NE early in the year.

THANKS! I know if any group can find pics, it is WIX!
Robbie

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:00 pm

Hi Robbie.
Are you talking about any current day images... or those from days of old?

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:15 pm

Bluedharma wrote:

Hi Robbie.
Are you talking about any current day images... or those from days of old?

Anything with detail helps! Thanks!
Robbie

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:29 pm

Mortmer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:13 pm

Ok, this may be a silly question but to the right of the radio desk and down there is a stencil that reads 'Spare Wing Flap'.

What's up with that?

Thanks.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:29 pm

Hand crank location for if hydraulics fail? Just a guess on my part

EXPERT OPINION PLEASE

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:55 pm

Not an expert here...
however...

I think???
from : Pilot's Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Quote:

1. HAND CRANKS.
Cranks for manual operation of landing gear, wing
flaps, and bomb bay doors, and for hand starting of
engines, are stowed on the aft.bulkhead of the radio
compartment. Crank extensions for use when operating
engine starters, bomb doors, and wing flaps are
stowed adjacent to the cranks.

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:01 pm

Robbie,I assume that you have access to B-17 manuals,but I'll post a few pages from a B-17F&G model pilot's manual.What we really need is the Erection and Maintenance manual.If nothing else,these pages tell which radios are which for the rest of us.

Mortmer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:28 pm

Bluedharma wrote:

Not an expert here...
however...

I think???
from : Pilot's Manual for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Quote:

1. HAND CRANKS.
Cranks for manual operation of landing gear, wing
flaps, and bomb bay doors, and for hand starting of
engines, are stowed on the aft.bulkhead of the radio
compartment. Crank extensions for use when operating
engine starters, bomb doors, and wing flaps are
stowed adjacent to the cranks.

Thanks for the answer, i still have a ton to learn. <G>

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:12 pm

Great Pics! Great Info! Thanks! I am getting a good idewa of what I needed to know. Thanks! I'd still like to see a color shot of the BC-375 transmitter "table" for a bit more detail.

Once I get this project together, I will post the pics here.

A Side Note- The one pic in the manual above shows the antenna insulator passing through the side of the fuselage that is the subject of another thread. Looks to be for the Liaison set judging by the location next to the big knife switch. This should be the one which switches betweek external antenna, which goes through the insulator out to the left horizontal stab, and the trailing wire antenna.

Thank You all again!
Robbie

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:40 pm

At the risk of overkill,here are some pages from a B-17E manual.One of these also shows the side antenna insulator with a knife switch labelled 514 on page 89.There looks to be a second side antenna input on the right side as well going into item 523 on page 90. The trailing antenna control with what appears to be a three digit counter above the control switch is labelled 561 on page 96.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:43 pm

For B-17's being restored today, where does one go to find this kind of radio room equipment?

b29flteng · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:56 pm

Holedigger wrote:

Hand crank location for if hydraulics fail? Just a guess on my part

EXPERT OPINION PLEASE

The only hydraulics on a B-17 are the wheel brakes as it is on the B-29. Everything else is electric, torque tube, or cable operated.

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:14 pm

Pat Carry wrote:

For B-17's being restored today, where does one go to find this kind of radio room equipment?

I just keep my eyes open- and also watch e-bay! I have all the radio equipment, save the trailing wire antenna. By the way, the three-digit counter mentioned in another posting is for that trailing wire antenna. They would trail out different lengths depending on the frequency required, and this counter told them how much they had out.

For anyone interested- i am getting ready to list many radio items on e-bay, although I may group them. Included will be a Navy set of ARC-5 radios(and racks, but not mounts), modulator(no dynamotor), a set of TU-X-B tuners for the BC-375, and some other various and sundries. All are in reasonable shape- though some of the TU boxes need a good cleaning. Also a few BC-221(x) of various versions, including a nice wooden case version tail numbered to a B-24.

Robbie

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:17 pm

It's true that the only hydraulic items on the B-17 were the brakes and the cowl flaps.Boeing was big on electrics.I can tell you from hard experience that it's sometimes necessaery to hand crank the landing gear on B-17s due to a bad microswitch,a broken wire or any sort of localized or major electrical failure.I believe that I hold the World Record for cranking up the right main gear on a B-17 a total of 12 times.It's a killer.

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B-17 Radio Room Pics Needed

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