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By: - 3rd July 2014 at 10:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Can't think where they'd fit on a B-17... The dome almost looks like it has a optically flat section for bomb aiming-but perhaps it's a bit small? Reminds me of the nose blister on a bomber Canberra.
By: - 3rd July 2014 at 11:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The dome is only about 20" in diameter (and 11" deep), so is indeed probably a bit small for bomb aiming. Canberra blister has previously been mooted, but the dome appears to be too small. The flat panel is also a part of the dome rather than being a framed insert as seems to be the case on the Canberra.
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By: - 4th July 2014 at 00:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
From another forum.. possibly B-26 Marauder astrodome and rear gunner panels??
By: - 4th July 2014 at 02:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
From another forum.. possibly B-26 Marauder astrodome and rear gunner panels??
Looks like a winner.
By: - 4th July 2014 at 08:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Can't be. They are not the same shape.
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By: - 4th July 2014 at 14:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hmm back to square one then..
By: - 4th July 2014 at 15:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the ideas so far, keep them coming! Other suggestions made to me include the idea that they may all be a part of a single glazed nose section (with the dome as the furthest point) and even that the dome section was made to house a search-light or something similar.
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By: - 4th July 2014 at 16:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Look closely along all the edges of the curved panels to see if there are any engraved numbers or anything that may help
By: - 4th July 2014 at 18:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Can't be. They are not the same shape.
Perhaps I am overdue for a trip to the optometrist, but what I'm seeing is a match.
Start with the last, two attached pics from the original post. If one rotates the panel in those pics 90 degrees counter-clockwise, plexi attachment "tabs" would now be located at top left and bottom left corners.
The plexi panel in the Marauder pics below have attachment tabs in those same locations. The plexi dome slides inside the duralumin skin as the guns rotate left and right.
I must be missing something terribly obvious. Sorry to be such a bother, but I thought we hit paydirt.
By: - 4th July 2014 at 18:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Concerning the navigator's dome, some Martin B-26 factory footage exists at about 9:23 of the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XjVpb3L8UE
As the dome is rotated in the video, one can make out a flatter section in the plexi, much like the example in the original poster's pics.
By: - 21st July 2014 at 14:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Peter and tbyguy, looks like you were both right. Those second two pictures and the video are both pretty convincing.
Thanks for everyone's help.
Posts: 28
By: Crosswind - 3rd July 2014 at 10:41 - Edited 2nd October 2019 at 11:40
Attached are photos of six perspex panels and a perspex dome with a flattened section. There are no identifying numbers and the only background to them is that the previous owner thought they might have come from a B-17. The ruler included in the photos for scale is 34" long. Can anyone help? Thanks!