fightersweep Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 (edited) I have a stash of 1/32 kits for a long term project which will be the first proper warbird airshow that I went to, the 1983 Great Warbirds Air Display at West Malling. The HK kit will be the centre piece much as Sally B was at that show. So that means I'll have to build the kit as she was in her "Ginger Rogers/Sally B" phase. Just hope I can master making my own decals by then! Regards; Steve Edited September 5, 2016 by fightersweep Iain and Phartycr0c 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 That will be one hell of a diorama!! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoasman Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Any further info on how you did the starboard waist position? I would like to do the same thing! Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Can't wait to see more on her my friend !.....Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 We have a section of B-17G rear fuselage (including gunner entry door) at the museum and although the interior is NMF, the stringers and bulkheads aren't, these are darkish green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Cheers Cees! Have seen photos somewhere of 'G's on one of the production lines with painted stringers - can't find it now... Plenty of others in just plain metal. Just depends on which plant/block number I presume. Hi Leo, I wanted to preserve the shape of the original opening so that port and starboard matched perfectly - so carefully cut out the starboard opening allowing an extra 3mm (ish) all round. Cutting was done carefully using a fresh scalpel blade. Resulting opening was cleaned up and squared off with a flat file. Once removed I took some 40 thou styrene sheet - taped it around a spray can lid - and poured boiling water on it to impart a curved surface. This was then offered up to the opening and carefully trimmed until it was a nice, tight, fit. Bottom edge glued first (Cyanoacrylate) and then pushed into the opening further up once the bottom edge had gone off, and bonded using Revell Contacta Professional cement. Cut out window frame had its edges cleaned up and the new opening carefully marked out. Note that I wasn't careful enough as I mistakenly lined up the internal stringers - before realising I had to raise the opening - hence the styrene filler section at the base. As the frame had a tendency to bow in at the sides I placed the relevant kit window in situ when fitting to ensure the shape was preserved. After 24 hours the surfaces were dressed off with sanding sticks - no filler at all. Pretty straightforward in the end - but did take a few hours work. Need to reinstate internal formers and stringers now, as well as some exterior rivetting. Iain leoasman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) Cheers Tom! Also believe internal doors were often removed completely? Iain I think in some cases, yes. Battle damage, ease of movement around the aircraft, etc, etc. However, I imagine the Radio Operator and those in the rear fuselage would have had a bit to say if the interior doors behind the bomb bay were removed... a 180+mph, -60 degree slip stream blasting into the fuselage when the bomb doors opened can't have been all that welcome! Edit - just thought when it comes to the main gear bays, these too were unpainted - another area you regularly see wrongfully depicted in models as 'Interior Green'. The main gear legs on camouflaged aircraft were usually neutral grey from the factory, whereas the natural metal birds had NMF gear legs too, so Bit O'Lace would have aluminium legs. Edited September 6, 2016 by tomprobert Iain and Phartycr0c 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Thanks Tom - useful info! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormer Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Wow, just wow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 Quite a haul for the money! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted October 8, 2016 Author Share Posted October 8, 2016 OK - progress has been made - wings and tailplane built - just working on interior at present. Photos tomorrow - but *really* enjoying this one - really is a good kit - and listening to Glenn Miller whilst building is really helping the mood! I was put off building this after all the debate when the kit was released - it's not without it's quirks - but it's very buildable - and great therapy! Also have a new (to me) metallic finish that I really like as it's a lot more forgiving than Alclad (for me anyway) - AK's Xtreme Metal. Just had a box of that turn up - so more than enough for 'Bit O'Lace' Now - do I really go for it for a Telford finish... Iain Jeff and monthebiff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Iain. Some other books for reference, Combat Profile B17G Roger Freeman , Ian Allan published B17 Flying Fortress H P Wilmott. Mighty Eight Roger Freeman The first one is very good, did the Monogram 17 probably 30 years ago, so collected them then...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Iain. Glad you are making progress and enjoying the Fortress and makir Progress sound. Looking forward to the next round of update photos Keep "em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 OK - bit of an update... These are the AK Xtreme Metal paints - really like them - and probably my weapon of choice for final finish: Whilst I crack on with detailing and tweaks I've also been assembling and prepping some of the other components ready for final airframe assembly - here the tailplane, elevators, rudder and ailerons: Wasn't happy with the curve/blending of the starboard waist gun position - so some aerosol filler primer, superglue and sanding and we're here - panel lines and rivets to be reinstated after fuselage assembled: Prepped inside and out - should have swopped sides - have added stringers behind fill panel - but these will be hidden by ammo boxes: I mentioned earlier that Bit O'Lace has the wingtip 'Tokyo Tank' vents - clearly seen in photos. Found a nice wartime image looking down on such an installation and came up with this - still needs central 'divider' adding from styrene sheet. Kit vents have been filled with casting resin: And wings have been assembled/prepped - all straightforward: Tail interior painted silver - not stressing over pin marks as I don't think you'll see them (yes - mia culpa - I am taking shortcuts with this build - focus will be on final finish): Back in a mo... Iain Uncarina, plane_mc and Azgaron 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Iain WOW Looking real good and AK Metallics are wonderful to use and the results are fantastic Keep 'em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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