Bruce_Crosby Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Hi Guys, I'm supposed to be building six FW-190D models but I got myself into a bit of a challenge with other modellers who are building the Jerry Rutman P-51B resin kit. Now I've already built the Revell D and rebuilt the Trumpeter B (as a C) and fancied another build but can't find the JR resin for love nor money and certainly didn't feel like another Trumpeter kit. So I decided to do a conversion of two Revell kits, the newer D with the spine of the old (read: ancient!) B. Here's how the fuselages line up. Not bad. Here's my proposed changes to the wings, new panel lines and shorter ammo boxes. Not exact yet, just fibre penned to guestimate what I need to do to it. Where to cut the old B fuselage. The B fuselage parts cut out and the marked up chop on the D Well, can't stop now else that's two kits ruined! All taped up to cement the spines to the fuselage halves. And what I've got at the moment. As you can see, it's a start but there is lots and lots of graft and elbow grease needed still. Regards, Bruce Crosby Trak-Tor, D.B. Andrus, LSP_Kevin and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Fantastic project, Bruce! A man after my own heart. Kev Bruce_Crosby and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Oh yes, great project Bruce, have both kits, and you're got me thinking... Bruce_Crosby 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_Crosby Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hi Guys, The Revell B that arrived and you can see above, all hacked to pieces, had one big fault: the artwork and instructions and decals are for a Birdcage style canopy but the kit actually comes with the Malcolm Hood only. The inside of the fuselage had a sticker saying Poland so I can only assume the Quality Control there isn't up to par! Naughty Revell! However, the kit has a nice modern decal sheet so all is not lost. So I went to eBay and got an original boxing of the B, making sure the vendor posted a picture of the transparent parts first. A big thank you to Graham at Rockerton Toys Limited for a really super service. I've also ordered another new Revell D so I will end up with two B/C conversions, one with the framed canopy, one with the Malcolm style. I had thought of building an old B from the box, re-engrave the panel lines, rebuild the interior, etc, but I think my conversion using a new D is going to be easier in the long run. My current build list runs like this: These two Mustangs, a couple of Tamiya Mosquitos (One for me, one for my mate Alan), six FW-190D kits and a couple of contract builds. Retirement is hard work! Regards, Bruce Crosby LSP_Kevin, Bill_S, Kagemusha and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kais Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 "Retirement is hard work!" Bruce, without being a complete arse here, it might be how you are doing the retirement thing! Bite big and chew like hell IS the definition of hard work. Chew on good sir. Off to find an old Revell B. Bruce_Crosby and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_Crosby Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hi Kais, It’s certainly fun! I haven’t done this much real modelling for a few years and totally enjoying it. I’ve got Dire Straits on the Amazon Alexa thingy machine, paint brush in my hand, what more could an old bloke like me ask for? Ah yes, I could ask for lunch! Time for a break then come back and contemplate what to do next on the list. And I hope you find the old Revell B. Yes, it’s ancient but the shape isn’t bad, so maybe you’ll join me here with a nice conversion. Regards, Bruce Crosby Out2gtcha and Kais 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Good show. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 nice work, this'll be fun to follow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Nice work Bruce! Man you really are a glutton for punishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_Crosby Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hi Guys, At the moment I’m working on another couple of modelling projects (some tank stuff) plus waiting for the second Revell D to arrive so I can work on both airframes together. So don’t expect any progress for a couple of days. Oh yes, I’d forgotten Focke Factory II as well! In the meantime, thanks for the encouragement, it’s very much appreciated. Might have to start the Tamiya and Zoukei-Mura D kits too! Regards, Bruce Crosby Kagemusha and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 (edited) Bruce, impressive conversion and well thought thru, as already mentioned by others, you got me thinking about the same thing, have a couple of old revell B stangs laying around.......... Edited August 29, 2018 by Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to1scale Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Awesome idea! Great way to take two cheap kits and make something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_Crosby Posted August 29, 2018 Author Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hi Guys, Replying to 1to1scale about cheap kits, it’s actually not that economical when I look at UK prices. Add the B and the D at UK prices and you get about £60, which is roughly the same as the Trumpeter kit, which is already a B. Except the interior is rubbish, the wings are knee deep in rivets and in reality they are filled and painted, the fuselage rivets could be used as a cheese grater, the nose is “off”, the etch is not useable, the decals are dire. So either way there’s a ton of work to do. I’m still planning how to get the B and D combo to work properly, as in just sitting there and playing with it, test fitting a bit here and a bit there, lots of Tamiya Tape, taking measurements, checking against drawings (all crap!) and trying to work out the most cost effective (read: cheapest) ways of doing things. One will definitely get the early seat from the Tamiya kit as it supplies both styles, I already used one in the Trumpeter kit, and the other will get, well, I don’t know yet. I might even have to dig out the Trumpeter one and hack lumps off it! Regards, Bruce Crosby Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce_Crosby Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 Hi Guys, The mail lady lady just delivered a couple of kits, the important one here being the Revell P-51D that’s going to be the sister model to the B/C shown here. The other kit is a 1/35 Takom Bergepanther A, which is a STUNNING kit! If these guys did 1/32 aircraft, I for one would be VERY happy. In the meantime I’ve added some panel lines to the first kit’s fuselage and started on the wing changes. First big job is to relocate the three underwing lamps, they are too far outboard. Then some panel line changes and the spent ammo ejection ports. It doesn’t sound like much but it actually is a big deal when you have fingers like sausages! Regards, Bruce Crosby Kagemusha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerhard Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Oh my word!!! Superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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