Lockheed Hudson - Boulton Paul Turret Build

Friday 2 December 2011 by Jamie Croker. 1 comment
Collection, Conservation

The Boulton Paul Turret was the first of the major componemts to undergo restoration, with work commencing in late 2009 on a large pile of turret pieces.  Over an eight month period, the parts were individually treated, and the turret slowly took shape.  The frame is a complex assembly, with literally hundreds of small brackets, all rivited together to make up the cupola, or frame.

Aircrew gunner in the mid upper turret of Lockheed Hudson aircraft Aircrew gunner in the mid upper turret of Lockheed Hudson aircraft MEC0539

One of several piles of BP Turret components used to construct the turret

 

Components used in construction of Hudson BP Turret

Turret structure mid way through construction

Forward half of the cupola pinned together prior to assembly.

Rear cupola trial assembly

Rear cupola ready for paint

BP Turret assembled and painted, ready for the tansparencies to be fitted.

The transparencies were moulded over size, and each piece required trimming to fit.  The transparencies will not be fitted until after the turret has been lifted into the aircraft.  This is to avoid any possiblity of cracking the trancperencies from felxing of the cupola due to the weight of the turret assembly during the lift.

Transparency prior to being trimmed

Transparencies trimmed and pinned in position, awaiting final fitment.

Comments

Sun 15 Jan 2012
P. R. Stempel says:

I remember building an Airfix plastic model of the Lockheed Hudson as a schoolboy in the early 1960s and remember the Bolton Paul turret it sported. Seeing the photos of one now and anticipating it being on exhibit at the AWM is amazing. Thank you for preserving this historical artifact and the memory of all those who have gone before us, their contributions and their sacrifices.

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