Some people have privately sent me some pics so I think I'm in pretty good shape now in regard to references.
The doors are not specific to manufacturer. In regard to the variants, the doors throughout the big-tail series (E, F, & G) are all pretty much the same. The only real change comes in the rear radio door: the earlier versions having four hinges rather than three and the late-Gs also having a screen window installed.
I've also gathered materials on the door's markings - you might be shocked on how many stickers each door had!
In terms of hardware, I have two door latches, two front latch plates, one rear latch plate, and one correct door handle (the one closer to the camera).
The serial numbers for the door latch assemblies are as follows:
Door Latch: 54B
Door Handle: 380B
Front Latch Plate: 15-7372-23
Rear Latch Plate: 15-7372-22
Spindle: 51-144-1
Keeper: 1-20555-1
I do not have any of the hinges. Their serial numbers are:
Hinge - Door Half: 1-18266-2
Hinge - Bulkhead Half: 1-18266-1
Hinge Pine: 1-18266-3
Obviously, I need enough of all this to do three doors (three latch assemblies, nine hinges). I am also to build the crawl-way door which leads to the tail gunner's position. Here is the one in
Memphis Belle:
This rare piece will be kind of unusual. I have nothing from it whatsoever. Here are its numbers:
Door Hinge Assembly: 1-18814
Slide Latch Plates: 1-19045, 1-19046, 1-9047
Slide Latch Knobs: F21 1/2
I almost had someone donate the airplane's Sierra Manufacturing chemical toilet, but before he came through he found an interested buyer who gave him more for it. Oh well.
I am also still working on the Cramer posture chairs. There is a groove in the seat plate that is proving difficult to replicate and we are waiting on a special bit to cut it with.
I spoke to an old employee from Cramer who wrote me detailed instructions on how to replicate the seat's cushion. Unfortunately, through my research I have come to find that a lot of people are mistaken on these chairs:
The B-29 clearly used three-legged Cramer chairs, with OD fabric upholstery and metal seat plates, mounted on black plunger-release frames. It seems that the B-17 used a different chair altogether.
I cannot find any reference showing a three-leg chair in a B-17. The wooden plates are consistent with older Cramer chairs and what photos I have all show vinyl covered chairs.
I cannot confirm the color on these as no-one seems to have an unaltered example anymore. Therefore, I am leaning toward this color:
I DO know that
Lucky Thirteen would have had three four-legged Cramer chairs installed, with the bombardier's seat having a fold-down top a la the photo above from Deport41.
We have chair frames for a B-17G navigator (the swivel type) and a three-leg chair. Obviously, we could use a four-leg frame and a backrest to use as a model. If I had a backrest, it would be nice to also have a nice reference pic of the back portion so I could order the proper buttons that hold the vinyl in place.
Lastly, we are looking to set up Ray as an organization, using the name "Hangar Thirteen." He isn't registered yet, but my wife has made him a nice logo for when the time comes.
Anyways, that's where I am at. If anybody can help with missing parts and references, I'm open.
-G
http://www.gblume.com