Bomber Tear - back in action

[prohandyman]

I have a customer wanting the newest build, but without the artwork. I had been playing around with a new idea for a tear. Some take off of a bomber nose art. Maybe painted olive drab green. Maybe install buck rivets. I just love nose art from WWII

[ai4kk]

That is very cool, my kids got a kick out of that idea. They say that one of their best memories was riding from Tallahassee to Gainesville in "Aluminum Overcast". They were volunteers while the B-17 was on display at the Tallahassee airport and the older son had his name drawn from a hat as one of the 6 volunteers selected to ride to their next stop. He gave his seat to his younger brother since he had already flown in a C-130 on a trip to Cape Canaveral and back. The bomber crewmembers were so touched they told him to come on out in case someone canceled, then found an empty jump seat for him.

Pics at http://photos.tallahasseecap.org/main.php?g2_itemId=269&g2_navId=x3184ec86

I wouldn't do it in drab (I actually saw a brand-new Nissan car tonight at a dealership painted up like an old Army Jeep), I'd consider leaving it in natural aluminum. Maybe add some invasion stripes or a roundel and star too. Bonnie and I were joking about building her a lightweight teardrop out of metal and decorating it like your idea, and decorate my offroad camper like a Jeep. We probably won't, but it's a way cool idea!

[Ageless]

I like it! But historically 'Air Force' didn't exist until after the war. I'd be partial to making the bombs as as centerline 'racing stripe'; nose to tail.

I worked for Boeing for nearly 36 years so aviation themes turn me on

[prohandyman]

historically 'Air Force' didn't exist until after the war.

That may be, but I took the script off a bomber pic, just altered the numbering.
A friend of mine does high quality air brush work, and is quoting me on the paint work. I am looking into the buck rivot process. I am sure it will take the most time to complete.

[prohandyman]

I think the rivots would add the right touch as in crdouger's original build

[prohandyman]

I may use a betty boop pic, or have my painter come up with one of his own. I don't want to insult or disgrace an original bomber or it's crew with their artwork on a lowly teardrop!

[starleen2]

I may use a betty boop pic, or have my painter come up with one of his own. I don't want to insult or disgrace an original bomber or it's crew with their artwork on a lowly teardrop!

It would be a tribute!

[Sparksalot]

That's a really neat idea.

I wish I'd thought of it. LOL

I been playing around with a new idea for a tear. Some take off of a bomber nose art. Maybe painted olive drab green. Maybe install buck rivets. I just love nose art from WWII

[S. Heisley]

That's a perfect idea!

[asianflava]

I came up with a similar "theme" but the wife quickly nixed it.

[Loader]

Very neat idea.

In fact, been playing around with a similar one for a little while. No so much the nose art, but a "tribute" if you will to military aircraft in general.

Been close to aircraft my entire adult life.

USAF, Retired (1982 - 2002)
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (2002 - present)

[Skammers]

I am using the nose art from my helicopter in Nam that I was able to send home that actually made it for the ongoing B-17 build.

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=22797

[doug hodder]

Dan...I think that is a great idea!!! I've used nose type/pin-up art on the transoms of boats that I've built, it makes a lot of people do a double take... Miss Daisy and Daisy Too. I've always wanted to do up a tear with my dads B-17 nose art on it. His plane was called the Bad Egg...had a duck sitting in 1/2 of an egg shell and shooting a .50 cal machine gun. Yeah...like that would go over well in Calif... Nose art is just the best! Doug

[prohandyman]

Really looking hard at the buck rivoting idea. Cool looks, but maybe difficult to pull off. Framing would have to be angle, steel or aluminum, so that rivots could be bucked. Maybe use aluminum drive nails or screws into a ply backer to simulate rivots.

[dovaka]

i think the rivets would definitely complete the look