Granger Davis

Thanks guys!  Like I said, I got the idea from a Youtube video by Doogs so I can't take credit for the idea but I adapted it to fit my needs.
I still haven't gotten all of my aftermarket stuff yet so I can't go full bore into the cockpit just yet.  However, here is a small detail that I've worked up...

 
 
These are small pulleys for the rudder cables that lead from the rudder pedals to the rear of the cockpit.  They were fashioned from punched circles of sheet brass and plastic.  My initial idea is to use elastic thread to maintain taut and straight lines but I'll have to work on that thought later.

 
 
Playing with a mock-up of a potential replacement for the exhaust waste gates.  Getting the right size of tubing and the actual thickness of the brass tube are potential issues.

 
 
Earlier, I worked out the view from the mid-fuselage intercooler openings.  But there are a couple more small openings that need to be addressed.  One is the area in front of the exhaust waste gates seen in the photo above. Mostly covered by the oil cooler vents but the ducting is included in the kit as part of the extensive ducting network, which I am planning on leaving out.

 
 
So I sawed off the needed bits, which will block any potential view into the fuselage from this area.

 
 
The supercharger outlet on the bottom fuselage seems tucked away enough to not worry about the view here.

 
 
Moving on to the engine... Since there is a magnet installed onto the intake pipe ring, I put one into the rear engine assembly as well. If all goes as planned, the engine will be removable and I thought it'd be worthwhile to have the rear engine available to snap on when the engine is detached.



 
 
The engine components have been have been assemble and ready for paint.

 
 
Silver for the engine cylinders, mounting frames and firewall... dark grey for the gear reduction housing and rear engine assembly... black for the pushrods, input and exhaust ducts and duraluminum (a metal shade with a hint of yellow) for the ignition ring harness.

 
 
After the base paints have been applied, I detailed by hand-painting the various components.



 
 
Because the recessed lines of the cylinders were not very defined and had difficulty holding a pastel wash, I left the pastel wash essentially unwiped after application.

 
 
Here are the engine components after the detail painting.  The input and exhaust ducts were painted Alclad Steel over the base black.  The exhaust ducts were highlighted with Alclad Manifold Exhaust. The ignition wiring was painted a light brown color. I changed my mind about the color of the mounting frames and firewall and painted them zinc yellow chromate instead.

 
 
Assembly of the engine could now begin by gluing together the front and rear engine cylinder banks, sandwiching the black baffle plate between.  The pushrods were glued onto the ends next.  The input pipes are keyed so they only go on one way. The exhaust ducts are not keyed so it is easy to install them in the wrong orientation.  So the gear reduction housing was put into place temporarily to help guide the correct placement of the exhaust pipes. The exit ends of the exhausts need to line up at the bottom of the engine.

 
 
The last step and most time-consuming task of the build so far was mounting the wired ignition ring to the gear reduction housing and then terminating the ignition wires to their respective cylinders. More than a couple of wires became detached during this process but eventually I got it done. Note the little Pratt & Whitney logo... luckily I had a few left over from the F4U build!

 
 
Here is a preliminary look at the engine after the wiring work was completed.  

 

It is overwhelming!  I went probably 15-20 years back when Dad was still with us and able to do these things. He was a USAF veteran of 28 years.  Two of his stories that stood out….
 
The C-124 on display.  When we came up on it, it was like Dad met an old friend.  He spent many hours on THAT airplane on display.  Stood there telling us stories of trips on particular C-124.
 
The MIG they call Yeagers MIG, the one the NK defector flew over to South Korea.  Dad was responsible for crating it up, loading it on a transport and bringing it back to Dayton for evaluations.  He was a Loadmaster. 

The dihedral on the top of the wing is actually 0.85 degrees. The "level" difference between the highest points of the outer and middle sections of the wing is 0.53 mm (or 0.02086614 inches) in scale 1/32. Because of the wing geometry, the wing angles change depending on the viewing direction. 
HTH 
Radu 

 

Looks outstanding! And for those that don't want to look it up, the A-20K is essentially the same as the A-20J, with the difference being the engines. The A-20G and J used an R-2600-23, while the K used an R-2600-29. Both the J and the K had a bomber nose, rather than the gun nose here.
 
Another neat part about the A-20, which harkens to us modelers, is the plane was build very modularly like our model airplanes. Not modular like a B-17 or B-29... the fuselage was build in two halves with much of the internal structure, then joined together, just like our models.
 
- Dennis S.
   Mount Juliet, TN USA

Can't give up. That's how the terrorists win.
 
- Dennis S.
   Mount Juliet, TN USA

Model posted under 'Ready for inspection'

Okay, finally getting back to working on this one. Hopefully I'll be able to make progress on it. Quinta cockpit decals.
 

Hmm...here's a thought. How about a "Skill Set" group build. Choose any subject you want, but in your build log you have to show , In Detail, how you achieved something. Like say, chipping, flawless seam fillng, crystal clear canopy, REALLY good panel lines or perfect riveting. Or an ultra smooth paint finish, or masking and painting markings. You get the idea. Only show in detail how you did one thing, otherwise the build logs would be 3 miles long and take forever. Regards, Pete in RI

Thanks, Granger. I'm really hoping to force some time at the bench with this one over the next few days, so with any luck there'll be another update early next week. Famous last words!
 
Kev

Your Mustang really looks good! I was really hopeful that I could complete mine before the end of August, but like you, it’s just been so busy with work and everything. I may have worked 30 minutes on it this whole summer. 
I love how you did the red and yellow checkers!

Looking back to 1935, it would have been hard not to have liked one of these:
 

Interesting Kevin. I'd default to an Me 410 as a hedge. They would do that kit justice.

I'd really like HK to produce a 1/32 B-26 Marauder before anyone else tries to. And they're welcome to do a Halifax, too. They would be served well to downsize their B-25 series to 1/48, too.
 
- Dennis S.
   Mount Juliet, TN

A little update to let you guys know I'm trudging along! I finally got the radiator assembly finished and I've dry-fitted the fuselage halves. I've also bought some Draw Decal P-51 markings, staying with the 353rd Fighter Group, but giving me another option. Baby Duck is one of my favorite color schemes, and since I met Vlado Lenoch a couple of times, I thought it would be a nice way to honor his memory as well. Hope you enjoy!

OK, let's see if we can get these pics on here! Test....






 

You will not belive this.  I lived next  to Dick Rossi when I was a kid in Fallbrook,California.  He was a great great person!  He'd just retired from Flying Tigers Airlines and was growing avocados.  

I'd certainly like both, to go along with the A6M2.

It’s now 5 minutes after “shortly”, and not far off “in a little while” - I want t now

My condolences to Judy and my prayers go out to Jerry's family

Hey Maru! Unfortunately no updates yet as I've been transitioning from nighttime agency nurse to daytime nurse management at the facility I've been working at. If all goes well I'll start having a little bit of free time to work on her soon!

Thank you Martin!  I appreciate the kind words!  And the Wayne's World reference!  Party on!
 
 
 
Thank you so much!

Oh my goodness, the only word I can say is wow! Stunningly beautiful sir!

Oh my goodness, the only word I can say is wow! Stunningly beautiful sir!

A little update to let you guys know I'm trudging along! I finally got the radiator assembly finished and I've dry-fitted the fuselage halves. I've also bought some Draw Decal P-51 markings, staying with the 353rd Fighter Group, but giving me another option. Baby Duck is one of my favorite color schemes, and since I met Vlado Lenoch a couple of times, I thought it would be a nice way to honor his memory as well. Hope you enjoy!

A little update to let you guys know I'm trudging along! I finally got the radiator assembly finished and I've dry-fitted the fuselage halves. I've also bought some Draw Decal P-51 markings, staying with the 353rd Fighter Group, but giving me another option. Baby Duck is one of my favorite color schemes, and since I met Vlado Lenoch a couple of times, I thought it would be a nice way to honor his memory as well. Hope you enjoy!