The postman just brought me a late Christmas present today. It is the B-36 book titled, Magnesium Overcast, authored by Dennis R Jenkins. I have several other books on the B-36, but this is better than all the rest combined. If you pair this up with the B-36 Photo Scrapbook by Jenkins, Moore and Pyeatt, which is a collection of photos that didn’t make it into Magnesium Overcast, you have a very extensive and complete reference for this plane. There are sections on the XC-99, the YB-60, the NB-36, and the various parasites. I am absolutely drooling over this book. [:p] [:p] [:p] [:p] [:p] [:p] [alien]
Yes - it is something that you can keep on the coffee table, to keep dipping into ad infinitum - but then the subject is a rather remakable piece of kit, is it not???
Been looking for that very tome over here in Osaka, with no luck yet. I do have the Photo Scrapbook, which actually gave the bug to get the Magnesium Overcast book.
What’s it going for in your neck of the woods?
I’m going to bring this up every time there’s a B-36 thread: some day, before I die, I vow that I will find that old conversion kit that turns a Monogram B-36 into the even more mammoth XC-99 troop carrier, which could haul something like 400 sailers or Marines in relative comfort. The lone C-99 was taken over by the Navy after being rejected by the AF, and it flew for about ten years before being left derelict at Kelly AFB. I understand it is now undergoing restoration. Praise the Lord it wasn’t lost forever.
And does anyone remember the swept-wing jet powered version? Was a prototype ever actually built? I think, and correct me on this, but was this the YB-60, or was that the atomic powered plane (which, for the record, never actually flew from power supplied by the on board reactor, though it was started up in mid-flight at least once. It’s a fascinating story if you get a chance to read about that project. That god it was abandoned. Imagine the crash damage to people and the environment.)
TOM
Yup, I know the XC-99 and the proposed jet version of the XC-99, too: the Model 6…monsters.
That conversion kit must be a monster, too!
The YB-60 was the jet-powered bomber version prototype, and the NB-36H was the nuclear reactor test aircraft (but not powered in any way by the reactor). The ensuing X-6 was supposed to actually be powered by atomic energy, but a flyable prototype was never built.
So says “B-36 Photo Scrapbook!”
sharkskin There is a conversion kit of the C-99 yes it’s very big , a little bigger than the B-36 itself . It’s put out by Execufom, don’t know if it’s still around though. Basically it’s the fuselage. You can even make the single wheel version. The instruction sheets are good, so you can scribe, drill and what ever it takes to make the C-99. I’ve built one awhile ago, lots of work, but not that bad . Sand and test fit as you go. Good luck outdoorsman
Ive got both Magnesium Overcast and the warbird tech series for the B-36. Both are really good but if your going to get one get MO, its got everything the tech series does… literally!!
Anyway its an excellent excellent book. It provides a great deal of technical information on the B-36 as well as other variants and prototypes. I love that book. I really wish all aircraft books could be like this one. If you have any interest in the B-36 at all I would urge you to get this book as you will not be disappointed! I got mine from Amazon.com for around $21, it was listed as good shape, but the book I got is truly in excellent shape, almost mint! Theyre is only a very slight bend on the dust jacket, everything eles is perfect!
Inspired by MO and the recently acquired kit I have just purchased the “B36 In Detail and Scale” (by Wayne Wachsmuth) which although only 72pp has some excellent photos and 1/288 5 view drawings. Of particular interest is the section on kit reviews, a a guide to correcting the Monogram Kit (helpfully discussed on the other thread recently) and B/W photos of models of the XC99 conversion and YB60. Both rather nice. I can scan these possibly and email them to someone to put on the forum if required, not being set up yet for posting myself. The book has only arrived today and I have not had time for a more detailed read. What an amazing aircraft. What is also nice is that unlike some of the other “giants” this one actually made it into service. Where an i going to put a model with a wingspan of 38.3" - oh well could be worse the 1/48 model is nearly 5 feet span.
The Warbird Tech book is pretty good for those with less space.
The YB-60 was the eight jet engine, swept wing version of the B-36. There were two prototypes built from F model B-36s. The #1 bird made a number of flights, but #2 never got off the ground. The first flight of #1 was made 3 days before the first B-52 flight. When the B-52 was proven a much better airplane, the two YB-60s were scrapped at the Fort Worth factory.
The NB-36H was the Atomic Airplane. All flight power was provided by the normal 10 engines. The reactor was powered up several times to test the feasibility of Atomic power, but it was proved to be very impractical. The B-36 was the only thing big enough to carry the weight of all the lead shielding necessary for crew protection. Yes, if that thing had ever crashed, it would have been devastating to the environment.
The one and only XC-99 cargo version of the B-36 was operated for a few years by SAAMA, Sacramento Air Material Area and then retired to Kelly AFB, at San Antonio, Texas. This aircraft was recently dismantled and moved to the USAF Musuem at Dayton, Ohio, where it has started a multi-year restoration program. [alien]