These are questions and our answers about science and history that have been asked of the Bradbury Science Museum's education staff.
Showing posts with label Fat Man. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fat Man. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2015
Why did Fat Man have dark paint markings?
You asked a terrific question about the black paint on Fat Man's protruding parts. Fat Man was delivered to Tinian Island in parts and assembled on the island. The implosion design had been tested in New Mexico, but had never been exposed to the kind of humidity it experienced in the Pacific. After assembly, but before loading it onto the bomber Bock's Car, all of Fat man's seams were sprayed with a sealer. I think it was asphaltum or something similar. Many of the protruding parts were bolted on, so their seams were included in the treatment.
Are the Little Boy and Fat Man models at the BSM full scale?
Our replicas are full scale. Actually around 2005 ago we replaced our original models with two even better replicas that are more accurate in representing the appearances of the two weapons. The two new versions, constructed of steel and fiber glass are actually ballasted with concrete to represent the actual weights of the original weapons. Not that we ever heft them.
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