Dennis7423

I think modifying one would be easiest, as the overall dimensions are pretty much the same. To boot, I have an extra I'd be happy to send your way. Drop me a PM and I'll get it in the mail to you. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Greg, don't shelve this yet! Looks like we might be able to collectively find everything you need. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Did the YB-40 have a retractable ball turret? The one in the photo sure is tucked up into the belly pretty far. It doesn't appear to be a remote turret, either. I also noticed that the tail gunner's position seems to have some additional armor, or improved field of vision going on. Pretty neat stuff! - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

A very, very small update today, and a request for some further information from the experts. I started by chopping out the cockpit floor where the pilot's pedestal was located. I will lower it, and work on some details underneath it that would be visible from the nose before placing it back into place. Cut, insert plastic card, superglue the bejeezes out of the joins, sand, and voila. Good enough for the folks at home. This is essentially step one towards correcting the cockpit area: 73071521_638880206518523_1822513833835495424_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr Step two will begin shortly, and that entails correcting the pilot's seat. It's positioned wrong on the pedestal, and the seat bottom is far too long. I have glued the two base pieces together so that I can begin the surgery process: 72917119_701178707031621_7925287475231064064_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr Other cockpit modifications will include correcting the angle of the instrument panel support, wiring, piping, and ribbing on the fuselage halves to hide the wing attachment points. I also purchased a really nice resin RAF parachute from True Details, which I will modify to more accurately represent the ones used by bomber crews. I'll then cast some copies, and put them in their appropriate homes inside the fuselage. 74417322_689998301485772_3716218318265253888_n by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr Work continues slowly on the fuselage, and much faster on the wings. I am in the process of getting the outer nacelles attached to the wings, and hope to have that completed next week. I'm also going to try (very carefully) to drill out the main canopy where the starboard blister will attach, so its actually hollow inside rather than just plastered to the outside of the canopy. Wish me luck. Folks here have pointed out that Phantom likely had the starboard blister, so I will add it to my build. I've been able to deduce from photographs of Phantom that she had natural metal internals for her nose turret. Would the entire nose turret have natural metal internals, or just some pieces? I haven't been able to find many reference photos of the turret internals, let alone photos showing early war ones that weren't painted jet black. Does anyone have any photos they would be willing to share? Additionally, would the upper and tail turret also have natural metal internals like the nose turret? Those I have absolutely no reference photos of, especially of Phantom. Thanks for tuning in folks! As always, comments and critiques are welcome. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

You would essentially need both B-17 kits, as she has the stinger tail and unstaggered waist are only available (currently) in the E/F kit. You would need a Martin top turret for the radio compartment, too, which isn't currently available. The top turret in the Hobby Boss B-24 is kind of a Martin, however :-) So, if you cobble together parts from three $200+ kits, plus some scratch building, you could most certainly build a YB-40! And I, for one, think you should do it. - Dennis S. . Thornton, CO USA

All- Since I have completed my HK 1/32 B-17G, it's time to get cracking on another project. My brother and I were contracted two years ago to build some large scale kits for a flight museum that will open in Salt Lake City, Utah in a few years. I figure, why not get started on another kit! The plan for the museum display is to show, in large-scale, the bombing campaign in Europe using heavy bombers, their escorts, and their opposition. We have completed a B-17E so far, with a B-17F, B-17G, B-24D, B-24J, and Lancaster planned for the heavies. The hope is to make them more or less as accurate as possible, to help share the story of the bombing campaign against Germany. The museum has given us pretty free reign as far as what specific aircraft we model, as long as it was operational in the European campaign. I chose to get started with the HK Models 1/32 Lancaster. After having so much fun building their B-17G, I wanted to get cracking on another one of their excellent kits. So, in steps Lancaster Mk.I EE139, "Phantom of the Ruhr". Originally assigned to 100 Squadron on May 31st, 1943, she went on to fly 121 missions, including 15 trips to Berlin. I plan to model her during her early years, where she wore fuselage codes HW-R. She was later assigned to 550 Squadron, and bore fuselage codes BQ-B. a3425306814_10 by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr While I don't have any in-progress shots yet, I have started on a few small modifications to the kit (chopped up the cockpit floor). Here's what I can glean from photos so far, and I would love any input anyone can provide for this particular airframe: She was an early Mk.I, without side blisters to her canopy. Additionally, from photographs, it appears that she has aluminum interiors to her front turret, aluminum landing gear legs, and aluminum hubs to her wheels. All signs point to her being a very early Mk.I. PhantomofTheRuhrBefore100thOperation by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr img012 by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr 24336d1142014385-lanc-phantomoftheruhr_144 by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr 08741b6a17bc6f1e690930dc43d2f8c5 by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr Here's a few questions I have for the boffins: 1. What type of bomb sight would she have? I have a feeling she has an early SABS (Stabilized Automatic Bomb Sight) because she is such an early bird, but I am not sure, and its not entirely clear in the photos. 2. Would she have her fuselage windows painted over on the sides? (EDIT: It looks like in the last photo I posted, that she does indeed her her windows. I hadn't noticed that before). Hoping you all follow along on what will surely be a long journey once again. Thanks for tuning in! - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

I ended up using a spare one from the HK B-17E/F kit, and converted the frames on it to capture the proper covered perspex of the late-model G's. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

What you're seeing here is a fuel tank modification in place of where the upper turret would normally be. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Thanks Zactoman for your observations. We'll certainly see what we get! I'm curious, what do you glean from the original image on Page 1? The fuselage there seems much more appropriate than what we were shown a few weeks ago. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Fortunately I already got my refund from the seller. They can enjoy the negative feedback. Already got a new one on order! - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

I wanted to go away from E-Bay this time... that's where I ordered my original one, and I received a stuffed animal key chain instead with a typed note that asked me to "please accept this gift instead and please be patient. It is taking time to customize your order." - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Completely agree. To boot, Quickboost already has corrected Invader cowlings in 1/48 scale... increase the dimensions to 1/32, recast, and voila. Problem solved. The nose, especially a glass nose, we may have to live with. The gun nose is a different story, fortunately. Here's to hoping that the gun nose variants (assuming we'll get both configurations) will have internals. The new ICM 1/48 one does not. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Recommendations on where to purchase one of these beasties? I got scammed on Facebook on the one I previously ordered (got a refund fortunately), but I don't have my B-24D now. Would like to pick one up. - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

While I haven't seen one fly, both my parents, who were in the Air Force and stationed in Myrtle Beach during Vietnam, speak often about seeing Voodoo's fly around all the time. Additionally, my mother was a Sergeant in the purchasing department, and was responsible for purchase orders to McDonnell Douglas for F-101's in the 1970's. She spoke very highly of them, and as a result, I have always liked them! If someone released on in 1/32, I would buy it without a second thought. So there, at least one of them will be sold :-p - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA

Thanks for the kind feedback everyone! She went to her first show last weekend, and placed 1st place in her category (multi-engined, 1/48 and larger). I also got a request to possibly put her into a museum/restoration shop in Colorado that specializes in WWII restorations, which is really exciting! We'll see if it all works out. Now, where did I put that HK Lancaster Mk.I... - Dennis S. Thornton, CO USA