richdlc Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Rich, I truly dont know what to say. I cant imagine how you stay so focused and execute everything with such detail and accuracy. Kudos to you Bud...it doesnt get any better. Best Geoff thanks Geoff - coming from a modeller as skilled as you that's a real compliment! Amazing work Rich. I've just bought this set myself... now you've made me have to rethink my whole approach. I don't suppose there's any chance you you recording a video of how you work/adhere the pewter? I think it would be fascinating! where do you get the pewter sheet from? many thanks! Hi - working with metal isn't as daunting as you might think. Recently, there has been a real interest in skinning models with real metal. One of our own members, Peter Castle (who owns the Airscale instrument panel decals / etched detail sets company) has been scratch building a 1/24 Tigercat and has helpfully provided a handy tutorial, here: http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=56522&p=683956 this will tell you all you need to know, and if not I am happy to help. The first thing to do though is get all the necessary tools. And I get the pewter from sylmasta http://www.sylmasta.com it is very expensive. For large, flat areas you might be better off using thin lithographic plate x4 ! Hubert thanks Hubert, glad you like! Edited January 8, 2016 by richdlc dpastern 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Rock solid, Rich. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGB Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hello, That work is just Fantastic!! ! Cheers Boris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Great work, Rich!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richdlc Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 **UPDATE 12/02/16** Hi - it's been quite a while since my last update, and quite a lot has happened. First of all, I finished off the forward gunaccess panels / IP coaming assembly. In these two images you can see the old SBD-3 style coaming with telescopic gunsight, and the newer style applicable to the SBD-5. Many of my reference pics are of restored machines, so I can't be 100% sure if I've modified mine correctly. However, the general consensus seemed to be to cut it down, and fill in any holes. The basic shape is now there for further detailing. It was necessary to do this before attaching to the fuselage. Oh yes - and I radically thinned down the leading edge: as in other areas of this kit, it was way too thick. Because I'd forced the fuselage halves together in certain areas, I had to widen the IP coaming at the rear, and add quite a lot of plastic scrap and filler once it was in place. This view shows the bottom of the part - at front are the bun troughs for the forward fifties. These can be partly seen through the open engine access panels, so I added a few details with riveted pewter, and plastic. On the right, the butts of the forward fifties which protrude into the cockpit. Minimal detailing was required as not much of them can be seen. The part could then be attached permanently: Next up - skinning! I've now covered 80% of the fuselage with pewter panels. One of the major downsides to this kit is the fact that every single rivet is recessed - an unforgivable error in this scale as the exact opposite is the case on the real aircraft. I knew right from the start that I would have to skin the aircraft in metal. I did try and follow Peter (Castle from Airscale's) example as seen on his Tigercat build, and use litho plate. However, after a few experiments I reached the conclusion that it isn't for me - at least not on curved areas. It just isn't malleable, or forgiving enough for my tastes.That's not to say I wouldn't use it on large, flat areas like the wings - but for now I am using up my stash of pewter. Enough talking - here are some pics: Rdrunner and Rainer Hoffmann 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richdlc Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 You may have noticed this detail: These small sliding doors were added to late model Dauntlesses that had been fitted with twin 0.50 cal rear guns. The kit, representing an earlier model, does not have these. To add them required chopping a section out of the fuselage on either side, and then scratching the doors and their rails from petwer. Here you can see one sie done. The topmost rails will attach to the bottom of the gun storage tunnel's doors: You can see on this image the modified cooling slot openings characteristic of the SBD-5 (the earlier models of Dauntless had shorter, fatter ones). I'll add the mealwork for these later. Finally for this update, here's a photo of the giant 1/18 etched dive flap set that I had especially made at huge expense…at bottom right is the 1/32 version for size comparison: and again, little and large versions: But that's a story for another time! Final image - a quick test fit. Starting to look like a real plane now! Regards Rich Rdrunner, BiggTim, TaffyMan and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Rich Simply amazing work and the PE set ... what dedication to detail Keep 'em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Colvin Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Those look fantastic...... I kinda wish there were seatbelt buckles....dive brake actuators... and vented barrels for the rear 50s/30....your build looks sharp!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Just unbelievable ! Great job.......Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggTim Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Very cool! The natural wavy texture of the metal looks remarkably like the real skin of a well-worn plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richdlc Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 Rich Simply amazing work and the PE set ... what dedication to detail Keep 'em coming Peter thanks peter. my wallet took a hit, but it's the only real way to do it in my opinion... Those look fantastic...... I kinda wish there were seatbelt buckles....dive brake actuators... and vented barrels for the rear 50s/30....your build looks sharp!!! thanks Rob - Ive already scratch built the rear twin 0.50 cals and used brass barrels: Just unbelievable ! Great job.......Harv many thanks Harv!! Very cool! The natural wavy texture of the metal looks remarkably like the real skin of a well-worn plane. Thanks Tim. That's the beauty of working with thin metal, although it can be overdone. Pewter is very soft, and I think I've gone a little overboard in places - but under a coat of paint the effect will diminish somewhat. It's not entirely appropriate over the whole airframe so I must be careful. Rdrunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Great. Just great. Superb effort. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainer Hoffmann Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 More matal mania, yeah! Great work, Rich. May I ask where you got the pewter from? I bought some from a dental supply shop, it's 99,8% pure, but hellishly expensive. I could as well use gold... I would be very interested in a cheaper source fpor that stuff. Cheers Rainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaninaustria Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Amazing work mate!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 (edited) Looks great!!!! "**UPDATE 12/02/16**" lol - I looked at that and thought it was an update I hadn't seen since December 2nd - 12/2/16; **UPDATE 12/02/16** or as we put it, 02/12/16 Edited February 12, 2016 by Out2gtcha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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