Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:32 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:52 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:54 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:08 pm
tulsaboy wrote:Neat video, John. When your ball turret is finished, do you have any plans to install guns and follow their lead? Would make one heck of a fun gun-range toy.
kevin
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:13 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:16 pm
jpeters wrote:The main problem I have is trying to find those darn shell pieces which are virtually non-existant. Since they were made of aluminum alloy they were highly prized by the scrappers after the war. The shell parts I acquired from Ed Kaleta were pretty much beyond salvage except for a few items like the armored gunners seat. If anyone out there comes across any you know who to call!John
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:18 pm
mustangdriver wrote:Funny story is that when we were rebuilding the B-17 "909" at KBVI, the replica ball turret was smashed in the crash landing. I guy came up to us, and said that he had a turret if we needed it. I said that we did, and he said " I will be back in the morning." The next day he came back with an entire ball turret. a real one complete with the suspension and everything. He told us that his wife had been after him to get rid of it for years because it was sitting between the washer and dryer in their basement.
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:53 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:05 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:07 pm
FlyingFortB17 wrote:I think in order to make a ball turret shell, you need to know how to cast aluminum.....which really has nothing to do with what Gary has been doing. It would be nice if it were a simple sheetmetal structure, but I think the majority of the shell is cast aluminum.
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:08 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:08 pm
HELLDIVERS wrote:I think they are called English wheelsfrench wheels are found on Renaults
Thanks Mike
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:10 pm
jpeters wrote:Correct...the shell components are made of cast aluminum. It can be done and has been done before by at least one turret restorer. The problem you run into is the shrinkage factor with aluminum. It you have a recast turret shell and try to mix in other original parts they won't fit due to the shrinkage problem. There's also the problem of convincing a museum or somebody with a complete turret shell to disassemble it and have bucks made for a mold.John
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:36 pm
Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:47 pm