Here's one for all you turret freaks out there.

[astixjr]

I don't see very many Sperry upper turret parts. If I had to guess, i'd say the Sperry upper is more rare than the Sperry ball turret. This dome appears to be a transitional type, a rare part of a rare turret. I've only ever seen a Type 1 and a Type 6, I've only seen this type in the manual. This stuff belongs to a collector in Europe who saved it from a junk yard in the 70s or 80s.

[17f]

I`ve got space inside if he`s tired of keeping it outside...

[peter]

Wow, look how pristine the glass is!!!!

[astixjr]

A few more shots. These bits just barely escaped being loaded on a ship for China. The collector was a University student at the time he found these pieces and there was a limit to what he could afford to save. How often do we all see rare airplanes and parts that were saved by some crazy person who thought they might be cool to keep around the garage?

*I have not figured out what model Sperry upper turret the barrel or "cylinder" is from. The two parts were likely not together when he found them and may not be a technical "match". Still, I'm sure they will fit together to make a nice Sperry upper.

[cooper9411]

I'm sure we can come up with the funds to bring it inside!

[Steve Nelson]

Definitely a B-17 turret dome. This is the only period pic I could find in a quick Google image search (from the EAA website.) There are a few minor differences, but it looks to be basically the same. The navigator's astrodome on the aircraft would make it either a late F or early G.



What an awseome find!

SN

[astixjr]

Great photo Steve! I've never seen that image before. Here are some images of Sperry domes that were at the old Emerson junk pile in St. Louis. The first is an image of a Type 1 and the next two are Type 6s, all owned by Taigh Ramey now. I think the one I posted at the start of this thread is earlier than the one in Steve's image but I'd need the book to figure out if that's right and to figure out what number they are, 3, 4, or 5.

[Django]

Neat. I've never seen one with the raised section like that. Are there any surviving B-17s that have that turret?

[astixjr]

Thank you for the pic Steve, answers which aircraft exactly! astixjr, you mention that Sperry upper turret parts are hard to find, but I suppose its the same or more so for the pedestal that the top turret operator stands on?

Yes, the pedestal is also very hard to find. I've never seen one "loose", for sale, in a collection, or even all banged up from a crash. From a restoration point of view, one of the problems with the Sperry upper is that by the time you get to what you could call the 4th model of the turret, just about nothing on it fits onto the three models before it.

[ballturret]

Hi Albert
Just to let you guys know , the turret is now inside and safe ,allthough the machine gun mounts are incorrect for this turret (they are for the later high dome model) ,i have made new lower side mount brackets , this then anables the guns to elevate fully.
As and when if ever the correct MG mounts turn i will then swop them over , until then its going to have a respray , perspex polished and mounted on a stand.....colin

[gary1954]

with the digs going on over there at old airfields, you never know what could be unearthed, maybe the parts will turn up.
I imagine the IWM would love to have that for some reason or other.....then there is the Desert Rat.
This is definitely one of those things that follows the old sayings of "ya know stranger things have happened" and "ya never know".

great find

[17f]

with the digs going on over there at old airfields, you never know what could be unearthed, maybe the parts will turn up.
I imagine the IWM would love to have that for some reason or other.....then there is the Desert Rat.
This is definitely one of those things that follows the old sayings of "ya know stranger things have happened" and "ya never know".

The top turret dome on Champaign Lady was found under a back porch a few towns away. The lady who bought the house and was cleaning it up thought it was an old TV set. Luckily, her next door neighbor knew...

[hang the expense]

I don't see very many Sperry upper turret parts. If I had to guess, i'd say the Sperry upper is more rare than the Sperry ball turret. This dome appears to be a transitional type, a rare part of a rare turret. I've only ever seen a Type 1 and a Type 6, I've only seen this type in the manual. This stuff belongs to a collector in Europe who saved it from a junk yard in the 70s or 80s.

I have ,in my care, one of the same turrets which is mid production F model.That one is missing the sheet metal form that blends the horse collar to the rest of the turret.I will see about getting a pic of it posted.Great pictures guys and thanks for posting these.

[ballturret]

I think the chances of ever completing this turret restoration is going to be slim ,so i have decided to try and fabricate as much as i can............can any of you guys help?
I am looking for the following measurements.....the height of the rotary base from the cockpit floor and the diameter , the diameter of the vertical tubular support stands , the length of the upper V shape casting thats accepts the vertical tubing and the overall height from the cockpit floor to the lowest point of the underside of the turret main body?

With these few measurements i think theres a pretty good chance that i could fabricate the lower section............only time will tell?. colin

[gary1954]

how many full blown examples of a complete turret system for the B-17 are out in the world?
I recall there is one for a B-17 here in the States but it is not installed due to I think weight, and ease in and around the flight deck?

any complete ones in museums?

has anyone ever fabricated a pedestal for one?

Buler......Buler.....