M-5 Bomb Trailer

[Second Air Force]

I started a project today that I've wanted to work on for many years. As many of you know, Monogram/Revell include a bomb trailer in each 1/48 B-17 kit. The parts are a good starting point to work from, but much can be done to make the trailer more accurate. Here's a photo of a pair of trailers servicing Develish Snooks in India:

M-5 Bomb Trailer

It so happens that I have one of these trailers at my home that we're restoring. Here is a photo of our trailer. We are missing some parts such as the fuse/fin box that goes on the front and the rails that held the bombs on the trailer, but it is otherwise just as it was issued in WWII. I've got a restoration thread here if you're interested: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=25585&hilit=bomb+trailer

M-5 Bomb Trailer

In this photo you can see the principal parts of the 1/48 trailer. I've removed the rail moldings on the deck, the hitch and front suspension support, the rear axle pieces and the fuse box. The new rear axle, hitch, front suspension mount and box are in white or aluminum color. The rear wheels are pretty accurate right out of the box and the front wheels can be used with some work. I did open up the holes on the rear wheels so you can see the brake drums through them as on the real thing:

M-5 Bomb Trailer

And a view of the scratchbuilt box and hitch/suspension, including the new leaf spring made from styrene strips, with the "stock" trailer for comparison.

M-5 Bomb Trailer

This is a nice break from working on the Y1B-17 model, and it doesn't take up nearly as much room on the desk!

Scott

[draken35]

I like your project, it's really an excellent idea!

[Sall]

Very interesting project...Something totally different.
Keep us posted.

[No.1]

This is missing bits in our modeling- great idea mate!

[Second Air Force]

Even better than the bomb trailer in the B-17 kit is the Cletrac aircraft tug in the B-24! The Cletrac is actually pretty nicely detailed but still needs some detailing. I may rob one of those out of a Liberator kit and add it to this thread later.

Scott

[Second Air Force]

I hacked together the leaf springs for the rear axle late last night.

M-5 Bomb Trailer

This is proving to be fun to build. It's the first model I've built that I could walk outside to see the 1/1 version for reference!

[No.1]

It going fast and smooth and I enjoy that it is full scratch work from basic plastic material

[Second Air Force]

The front axle support was the next project on the little trailer. This was made from pieces of a B-29 main landing gear scissor link, aluminum tubing, and brass wire for the coil springs. After it was assembled the entire trailer was mocked-up on the desk in order to check for the correct attitude, and it came out just about as it should. Measuring the 1/1 trailer paid dividends when I laid out the parts on the model. After the front suspension was constructed I finished the hitch assembly with more parts from the spares drawer and some .020 safety wire for bracing on the hitch tube.

M-5 Bomb Trailer

[No.1]

Look like real thing

[draken35]

Well done!

[Sall]

Will this be painted as trailer 1 / 1 whose picture you posted, or?
For now,looks perfect,as Srecko says,like a real trailer.

[Second Air Force]

The plan for paint is a simple olive drab scheme with Second Air Force (heavy bombardment training in the continental U.S.) markings from McCook Army Air Field in western Nebraska. The full sized trailer that we're restoring will eventually become part of the small McCook AAF museum that we're members of.

[Second Air Force]

I stayed home today because of a snowstorm, so some work got done on the trailer. I could have painted the thing if it wasn't so cold in the shop! The first photo shows the "brake drum" inside the wheel half and the opened holes in the outside half. When it is assembled you'll be able to see the drum through the holes.

M-5 Bomb Trailer

It's ready for paint in this photo. There will be a few little detail parts to add and I still need the material for the rails that go on the bed.

M-5 Bomb Trailer

S

[No.1]

Nice progress thanks to the snow in your area

[Sall]