Jump to content

1/48th Boeing B-52H Stratofortress


tomprobert

Recommended Posts

Building all that structure to support the undercarriage looks like a major challenge, which you've pulled off nicely.

Now if you were to hang the model as seems traditional with B-52s, it needn't remain hidden when it's complete.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/2/2019 at 4:59 AM, Chek said:

Building all that structure to support the undercarriage looks like a major challenge, which you've pulled off nicely.

Now if you were to hang the model as seems traditional with B-52s, it needn't remain hidden when it's complete.

 

If he did that he'd be minus a section of ceiling from all of the weight. lol

 

Fantastic progress on this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/3/2019 at 8:57 PM, Out2gtcha said:

I guess its only possibly easier than trying to hang or display a 1/32nd BuFF

We have a 1/32nd Buff down at our SAC museum down the road from me a bit, and it has about a  5'.7'" wingspan. 

 

Sweet Jesus! Is that a kit or a scratch-build? I want one!

 

On to my small (by comparison) project...

 

 

I've been making the most of my Easter holidays and have done some more work to the fuselage of the BUFF...

 

I've cut out the area for the kit's transparencies and have added the kit-supplied flightdeck flooring - there'll be plenty of detail to add here but this will all come later when the main construction is done:

 

46635906505_7721207c1d_z.jpgIMG_0894 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also continued to add the numerous vents, intakes and grilles on the forward fuselage:

 

40585372983_1848a8b089_z.jpgIMG_0895 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

46635905905_a69cd16dfa_z.jpgIMG_0896 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also make and attached the wing spars to the fuselage structure:

 

46635907045_66da0f3ede_z.jpgIMG_0900 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The wings will slide over these spars when the fuselage is joined:

 

40585373263_e47ea2e433_z.jpgIMG_0893 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I had a quick test-fit of the wings - I'm going to need a larger table...

 

32608966257_998c5690de_z.jpgIMG_0887 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Nearly time to join the fuselage halves - lots of tabs to add to the fuselage halves to aid with gluing and I should be good to go!

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Chek said:

Tom, you need to add a profile to that nose before joining the halves.  What you've got there is much too stubby, more like an early B-52B nose radome shape.

It really should be more like the right hand profile below.

 

47499351422_fa55fa449f_o.jpg

Indeed, Check. The nose radome is moulded incorrectly for a later G to H model and I plan on totallly redoing it. I’m going to slice the whole lot off and make my own I think, and the pictures above are priceless so many thanks!

 

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/3/2019 at 2:57 PM, Out2gtcha said:

I guess its only possibly easier than trying to hang or display a 1/32nd BuFF

 

B52H%20002.jpg

 

 

We have a 1/32nd Buff down at our SAC museum down the road from me a bit, and it has about a  5'.7'" wingspan. 

 

WOW!!! That thing is a BEAST!!! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, tomprobert said:

 

I had a quick test-fit of the wings - I'm going to need a larger table...

 

32608966257_998c5690de_z.jpgIMG_0887 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Nearly time to join the fuselage halves - lots of tabs to add to the fuselage halves to aid with gluing and I should be good to go!

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

 

You've got no kick coming with this one Tom. This plane is pretty dang huge.  Good progress.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The fuselage is now joined - lots of tabs were added along the mating surfaces and on the whole, I've got a pretty good join. Considering the size of the parts, they matched well. As this picture shows, there'll still be quite a bit of filler needed (par for the course with these sorts of kits) but nothing of real concern:

 

47519419662_d78b6ed8ba_z.jpgIMG_0906 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The H-model tail turret has also been added to the rear fuselage:

 

40606334283_b04e9f8b94_z.jpgIMG_0907 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also lined the openings for the undercarriage bays so they are more representative of the real aircraft:

 

47519419462_99981b69a0_z.jpgIMG_0908 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

40606333423_7a03e1e774_z.jpgIMG_0909 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

47519419152_9fc4bbe8dc_z.jpgIMG_0910 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

So now it's out with the filler...

 

Until next time,

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been having a play withe the nose radome, which is more pointed on the later G and H models. This kit's nose is more like that seen on the A to early G model, so some surgery has been needed.

 

I did consider slicing the entire nose off, but it actually worked better using the kit's nose as a starting point, and adding the basic shape of the extension using plastic card. The plans Sanger give were useful in doing this, and it didn't take long to replicate a more H-like radome shape:

 

32665813557_6ab45d8426_z.jpgIMG_0916 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

40641754553_f25d4b105d_z.jpgIMG_0915 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The gaps were then filled with Milliput and when dry, sanded to shape. When the plastic card formers begin to appear, you know you're close:

 

32665816697_97d7ff38e2_z.jpgDSC_0102 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

However, there is a problem, as I think the lower nose area (circled below) is incorrectly shaped and is too bulbous - it's almost as if the kit's nose is like a hamster with its cheeks full. However, there'd need to be some serious surgery to sort this - the kind of surgery that I'm not unwilling to take as I do plan to have this model finished sometime this century...

 

32665812657_8f6abd0684_z.jpgNose by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've had a bit of a play with the camera fairings on the chin, and the look of the nose is improved with these in place. Note the canopy has not been trimmed to the correct shape as of yet, hence it sits too high at the moment:

 

40641751383_4c63cc8b21_z.jpgIMG_0951 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

40641753863_dbf79185ff_z.jpgIMG_0949 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

There's still some jamming pods and sensors to add to this area, and then I'll have a look at how it looks under some primer.

 

Until next time, 

 

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what the fairing on top of the main radome is Tom, but the Barksdale B-52Hs at Fairford last month no longer had them.

The shot of 60-0024 is an example, but the rest of the detachment were the same. Picking a specific airframe and/or era for antenna/fairing combinations would

likely be the best way to go.

 

The Fighter Control website is an excellent source for aircraft visiting the UK, this article being but one example.

But there are many more from previous visits over the years which a forum search will reveal, many including close ups such as that below.

That skin could do with a good slathering of Nivea cream.

ojzVP_6W7OmvBTZLe9ZDf6YBaUsWPB7fPNBZJvHM

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great stuff, Chek - many thanks for the heads up on the radome. I hadn’t realised that the ALT-28 jammer been removed - I know the BUFFs are currently going through an upgrade programme and wonder if the jammer beneath the hump is now obsolete. I did plan to do Memphis Belle IV as I saw her at one of the last Mildenhall airshows so will have a trawl through my pictures but I imagine it would still been fitted back then. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had a bit of a marathon sanding and filling session over the last couple of days. As usual with these sorts of projects, I've used my trusty P38 automotive filler as it covers large areas well, dries quickly, and is very easy to sand. The only problem is, it creates an awful lot of dust, so to avoid getting on the wrong side of the good lady wife, the kitchen sink is the best place to tackle such tasks:

 

33753936678_b27713ee36_z.jpgIMG_0962 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I'm really pleased with how the main landing gear bays are shaping up:

 

33753937208_f6df663ab3_z.jpgDSC_0121 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The left side bays have been blended in nicely after their move forward:

 

33753939118_f437ff5bf5_z.jpgDSC_0113 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also made and added the ALQ-117 pods on either side of the nose:

 

46715650275_188735ac96_z.jpgDSC_0114 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

33753938008_ca51baf278_z.jpgDSC_0117 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The tail turret has taken a lot of blending, and the panel detail will all need to be replaced here:

 

46715649185_38946232bb_z.jpgDSC_0119 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

So here we are now - underside:

 

33753935698_ef27071177_z.jpgDSC_0111 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

And the upper side:

 

33753936138_a3d7e5ef74_z.jpgDSC_0110 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

There's still a fair few blemishes to sort, and I also need to do a full re-scribe, but I think I might tackle the fin next and ensuring a strong join.

 

Until next time,

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...