New Build Sperry A-1A Top Turret Dome

[hang the expense]

New pics should be up soon.Right Bill? Bill? Oh Bill...

[DryMartini]

Geez, Hang... Some of us have day jobs, ya know???

Yes, there is an update. Check this out:

Coming together. How Hang has any time to deal with this outlaw stuff is beyond me.


You can see how he is using the original shell to fit the parts together.


And another view...


Shaping one of the bows. This one goes in two directions. What a trick!


Showing the routing that has been done on the edges:


A new bow about to be shaped after a little machining:


And here Hang is stepping the joint to lap the interlocking part:

[hang the expense]

More pics tonight.

[DryMartini]

And here they are!

Pieces that join together to form the back of the turret dome.


Original vs. new


Both left and right bows pinned and ready for welding.


Fitting the bows to the ring plate.


The fit is right and tight. Fire up the welder!

[hang the expense]

So far its been pretty straight forward.the front half will be a challenge though.I am looking forward to tackling it.

[DryMartini]

Well, HTE wanted an update and I had not had time to do it - until now!
Look at the progress being made. Better than a fiberglass replica, I'd say.

Jimmying the front pieces up. Come on! We can get it to fit! Use another clamp.


Looking better...


Yeah. That about does it!


Ah! One of Tom's minions. Actually, he's Tom's best guy. And check out that shirt. A chip off the 'ole block, I'd say.


Things align well.


Making sure things are dress-right-dress, as Tom likes to say.


Let's get ready to weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeld!


Going to need some grinding action, I'd say.


A wonderful update. Thanks, Tom! Sorry it took so long top post.

[hang the expense]

I was running the grinder,or was it running me, till 1am.I have both the fronts sections ready and will get on the aft portion tomorrow morning.Dave is making the molds for the glass which should be done sometime next week.This thing looks very close to the original.Now I just need to rough it up a bit to make it look cast.The originals are anything but pretty.

[RodSchneider]

Gee, it's starting to look a bit like an upper turret shell
(Very nice work!)

[OldBillB17F]

This is a work of art. Well done.

[hang the expense]

Thanks you guys.

[DryMartini]

When it rains, it falls.
Here are a few more pictures of the ground dome.
Still a ways to go, but it is suitably impressive
to the casual observer as to the repercussions
of this endeavor.

In other words, IT ROCKS!!!!


The other side

[JohnDell]

Wow! That is indeed very impressive! I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Is it correct that there were three versions of the top turret for the B-17?

[hang the expense]

Yes, indeed.This one had the improved top dome plexiglass(I guess for more head room.Its a separate casting that bolts on to the existing low dome turret.The real Memphis belle had one like this when she was a gunnery trainer.

[clovis97]

Wow!!! Nice work!!!

And to think, I was pretty proud of myself when I fixed a bent tool box last week, LOL.

I am very impressed by your work!!!

[OldBillB17F]

Any new progress?