MARTIN A3 TURRET

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Does anyone know where I can get information on the Martin A3 turret for a B-24? I have some pics from books & B24 Best Web, but I can’t find any detail info on how the guns were mounted, what the sight was like, and what the rest of the upper and lower parts of the turret were like.

Thanks in advance

Jim

2

Have you checked on the web for people who have posted photos of the B24 that’s be going around the country giving rides? I’m working on a B-17 project and was able to find many many interior photos of the top turret for the B-17.

3

I just did a quick yahoo search (images not sites) and two drawings of the top turret came up along with photos of the CAF restoration. Looks like they were all at users.rlc.net

4

If that’s the Martin top turret, I have some stuff I can scan in, most likely some time tomorrow… unless someone else beats me to it.

It’s from the “Gunner’s Information File” Air Forces Manual #20, May 1944

5

Jim,

I sent you a PM. I have some manuals on the Martin turrets.

Pat

6

I guess I’m being too picky, but I like to do detail work. When I look down into the turret I want to see more than the gun molding and two pieces of the trunnion assy. I found a few drawings and pics but they were mostly side views and were of little help.

Jim

7

Email is on the way.

8

I’m no expert on the turrets, but I had a chance to fly in the Collings Foundation B-24 a couple of years ago. On account of volunteering to turn the props, I rode in the radio op seat for takeoff, which put me right in front of the turret. I’d be able to tell you an hours worth of experiences from an half hour flight- highly recommended, worth the money. here’s the two shots I took.

I’ve got a couple each of the nose and tail and ventral turrets, plus the cockpit which has an “upgraded” IP.

Speaking of -24’s a friend who’s his friend tells me Lefty Gardner is failing. Great guy.

9

Hope this helps:








10

Pat, Fitter and Bondoman and everyone-Thanks loads. With everything you sent I can now satisfy my insane desire to build something no one but me will be able to see. Seriously-I do appreciate the help. FYI-I’m building a 1/48 B-24D that my father was a nose-gunner on. Years ago Monogram sold a 1/48 kit of a B-24D called Moby Dick, well that was my Fathers plane and I managed to get the decal sheet. I pretty much rebuilt the cockpit and nose areas based on the info in the Air Museum Journal: Liberator Lore Vol 1, plus pics from various books.

Again Thanks

Jim

11

Glad to help Jim.

12

Here’s a couple-three more:

Nose turret:

Tail turret:

Cheers, Bondo

13

Finally back to the forum-thanks for the pics Bondo. I got a digital camara for xmas and will take some pics of the work in progress on the turret. I have most of the major components, that I can identify, done. I have the ammo cans, seat, and some of the controls, which may be visible, to do yet. I discarded the “dual .50cal” molding and substituted the more detailed guns used at the aft fuselage gunnery stations. Except for the guns and controls I plan on painting everything under the “glass” chromate green. I’ll post the pics when everything is painted.

Jim