THE CHEM NEWS
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Rohm & Haas Plexiglas is pictured on these pages being formed into a nose section for the new Martin B-26 bomber at the company's Bris tol, Penna., plant. Above. Formed halves of the bomber nose are ce mented together with acrylic resin, the same resin of which the Plexiglas sheets are originally made. Here a workman is trimming the edges of a bombardier's door and the gun-mount hole so that the necessary hardware can be bolted in position, just as the Plexiglas nose will be bolted into place on the finished plane. Below. Polishing and buffing are the final steps in the production of the bomber noses. Here a workman goes over them with cloths and power buffers while in the background a number of finished pieces are awaiting shipment.
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Left. The nose actually instaUed o n the Martin B-26. Plexiglas e n closures are used for the tail gunner's enclosure, tail empennage, rear gunner's turret, navigator's Hatch, four side windows—at all points where the five-man crew m u s t have clear vision of surrounding skies. Left below. When the Plexiglas cools it retains the shape of the form. Great care must be taken since a slight speck or distortion in the material would affect the aim of the gunners who must sight through it. By having several forms available, the same forming crew can clamp a new sheet in position while the last sheet cools. Above. The rear gunner's turret c a n be revolved mechanically to train multiple machine guns at planes attacking from t h e rear. Resembling the dome of an astronomical observatory, the enclosure is designed to permit the swinging of the g u n s like observatory telescopes i n any direction. Below. The formed sheet is trimmed to the exact specifications of the plane manufacturer. Unlike glass, Plexiglas can be sawed, drilled, and threaded w i t h ordinary tools. It will withstand a hard, direct blow without breaking, but is not bulletproof.
