Update on the Project

It’s been awhile since my last post so here’s an update.  I’ve completed 3 more models since the B-17 and really have no excuse or reason as to why I haven’t posted anything regarding them.  Here are some pictures for you to see, then we’ll talk.

This is a 1:72 scale B-29 used in the Pacific Theater of Operations to bomb the Japanese home islands.  The model was asked for and built for a Navy Veteran who was stationed in Washington as the Navy archivist.  Why he wanted a B-29 I don’t know, but what the Veteran wants, the Veteran gets!

 

To add more items to the display, I built this 1:32 scale P-51 painted in the colors of the 377th Fighter Squadron.

 

These pictures show a small portion of the display.  You’ll notice a Sherman tank on the table, I forgot to take pictures of that before I took it to the display.

This PBY was requested by a naval aircraft engineer.  He had nothing to do with the PBY, but this is the aircraft he asked for due to them being stationed at the same Florida navy base he was at.

This M-3 Stewart is another add on to the display to give the “tankers” their fair share of the well deserved glory.

The next build on the schedule will be the biggest model I’ve ever built.  It’s a 1:35 scale PT Boat very much like the one President Kennedy skippered.  Had I known how big the model was I would have opted for another scale.  There is a formula to determine the length of the model.  The real subject is 80 feet long so you multiply 80 feet by 12 (inches to a foot) and come up with 960.  Then divide that by the scale, in this case 35 and come up with a length of over 27 inches of model!   Yep, it’s a big one.  Because of the size and the incredible amount of detail to this kit, I will be posting a thread dedicated to the build.

 

B-17 Flying Fortress Complete!!!!

Easily the most ambitious project I’ve ever done, it was worth the time just to see the recipients face!

Here she is all dressed up and no place to go.  This is prior to gun turret installation, landing gear and decals.

Props and wheels painted and clear coated.

Top turret and chin turret.

The masking needed to maintain the see thrue portion of the model.  This alone took several days to complete.

And here she is, all done!  I’ll post a series of pictures following.  I’m very proud of this one!

Thank You for following!!!  Up next is a 1:72 scale B-29 then I’m taking a break from building so I can get myself in shape, gained a few pounds since this project.

B-17G Flying Fortress (pt 3)

I’ve had several days off from work and with less then great weather, was able to make good progress in the build.  Basically the interior is completed, has been dry fitted and awaits joining the two fuselage halves together.

This is the bombardier, navigator, cockpit and bomb bay area.

This is the bomb bay, radio operator and waist gun position.

This is the waist gun position after completion.  The wooden box to the left of the gun is where the .50 cal ammo was stored.  A flexible chute ran from the box to the gun that channeled the rounds into the gun chamber.  This gun is shown in the stowed position. The yellow object is the oxygen tank for the yet to be installed ball turret that hangs from the trunnion.

 

This provides a better view of the ball turret trunnion.

B-17G Flying Fortress (cont)

This build is really…well…difficult.  I may have bitten off more then I’m used to chewing with all the photo etched details and painting highlights.  Let’s just show some pictures with captions, that’ll be easier.

 

As I view these photos, I realize much of this may net be seen.  For instance, the bombardiers control panel as seen in photos # 1 & 5 is on the port side of the aircraft facing starboard.  The clear, see thrue portion will also be on the port side thus making the control panel visible only thrue the nose.  Beside the base green color, everything has been painted by hand and actually looks better to the naked eye then here.  There is a huge amount of photo etch not used and that’s because much of it will not be seen from any angle and the other reason being I’m on somewhat of a time constraint and need to move along.

And speaking of moving along, here’s the just completed radio room:

Are any of you wondering what this photo etched stuff is I keep talking about?  You see those black radio boxes and yellow air corps seat?  That’s photo etch.  It began life as  a flat piece of metal the thickness of 2 sheets on paper.  After cutting the part from the sprue, you need to fold it into the shape it’s meant to represent.

B-17G Flying Fortress

Well, this is what I hope will be the center piece to the Project.  It’s being built for 2 of the men in the group.  One was a flight engineer/ top turret gunner I’ll refer to as Mr B and the other was a co-pilot who will be named Mr C.  The model will carry the markings for the 381st Bomb Group of which Mr B was assigned being of the two men, Mr B has most of his faculties intact where as Mr C is sadly too far gone to realize much of anything.  The model will have sections on the port side of the fuselage that will be clear, enabling a view of the inside of the aircraft.  Extensive photo etch will be added to enhance the detail.  It will be by far my most ambitious build yet.

This is one of the Wright Cyclone engines before being enhanced with metalized silver paint.

And this is the engine after the enhancement

The wings gave me as much grief as I expected but I found with some patients and looking at the problem from a different angel, I made it work.

The top photo shows the “canyon” between the upper and lower engine nacelles.  Lots of cement and clamps and a rest over night took care of most of the problem, but further work was still required.

Here are all 4 engines and above them, their cowlings they will be fitted into.  The cowlings will be painted interior green chromate which was used as an anti corrosive agent on most aircraft interior areas.

And here they are as they will appear before any painting is done.

And as they will appear on the wing.  The portion of the engine nacelle facing the aircraft (in this case the area on the left) will be painted with an olive drab anti glare panel.  All aircraft that were left bare metal reflected the sun, so the anti glare panels were added to reduce and eliminate the reflection.  The light areas between the engines cylinders is the rear fire wall that will also be painted interior green chromate.

Literally hours were spent filling and sanding the upper and lower wing joint.  These may be the best wings I’ve ever done.  The different shades of grey is caused by paint brushed onto the seam to make and flaws stand out.  There are none.

Duece and a Half Update

I have photos of the model with the recipient.  The cargo (stowage) has been added.

 

Duece and A Half Completed!!

It’s been awhile since my last entry but with good reason.  First, we’ve been having one hell of a summer here in Michigan.  Temps in the 90′s and low 100′s are not conducive to building and painting plastic model kits.  It’s not so much the glue that’s effected by the heat but the acrylic paint.  When airbrushing acrylics, the temps and humidity tend to make the paint dry before it even hits the model.  I have drying retardant but that only does so much.  I also have a/c but that’s only adequate enough  to keep the house comfortable,  not to mention the amount of electricity that the house would use with fans, 2 a/c units, lights and an air compressor all going at the same time.  The heat also takes a toll on me.  While I’m not outside in the weather all day, I’m out in it enough to have it wear me down.  Unloading deliveries from my truck and pushing my delivery cart any distance runs me down.  By the time I get home I’m pretty trashed and don’t even go to the gym, if I’m too crapped out to workout, I’m too crapped out to build.

The most notable reason for the lack of updates has been my drive, or lack there of.  You see, the hero I built the Medics jeep for passed away.  I wish I could give names but as I said in my first posting, I’m obliged to confidentiality.  He was really a very nice man and one of my favorites in the group.  He was very generous, caring about his fellow man and a true inspiration to others who also wished to give of themselves. He had a neat sense of humor and whenever he was asked if there was anything he needed, he’d answer; “Yes, cash.”  He grew frail and weak so quickly.  His dialysis was stopped when cancer was found.  He spent only a very short time in hospice but I guess that’s a blessing as he passed away rather quickly.  Personally, the thing I’ll remember most is his eyes lighting up when he saw the model jeep.  Thirty nine straight hours of building and painting was more then worth it to see his smile and hear him say; “How about that! How about that!”  At least I have the knowing he got to see his tribute model before he left us.

I miss the ole guy.

Back to the subject at hand; the Deuce and a Half.  The only thing lacking is the driver figure and all the cargo that will festoon the cargo bed.  There will be fuel drums, ammo crates, gasoline jerry cans, bed rolls and maybe even some extra tank parts.  From what I’ve gathered, the Navy Sea Bees had ‘US NAVY’ stenciled on their vehicles later on in the war.  In the early stages, they just used hand me downs or what they could beg,borrow and steal from the Army.  All the same, I’m sure the recipient will like it.

Here’s some pictures.  Feel free to leave a comment!