1/32 Trumpeter P-40B..Going Dark

Allen sorry.  It should not affect them too bad.  With the interior section intact that should provide the strength needed.

Update inbound.

Joe

Well it has been going on a month since I last updated this thread.  As for quantity there is not a lot.  However there is some progress.  

There are frames in the wing.

Now they are not fixed permanently, they are spot glued in to make sure they fit right.  

There is also some progress on my renditions of the wing guns.

Like I said it does not look like much but it is progress.  I am much happier with the wing guns now.  

Next up will be a box for the guncarriage and the guns.  Need to find a bit more on the interior of the wing as there does appear to be a whole lot of empty there.

Till the next time, 

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Yummy!

Progress, is progress. It looks like your going for some nice detail on this one, I cant wait to see it all done up. I have this kit sitting in my watch list on eBay, so I'm keeping a close watch on this build.

Many many thanks for looking in.

Spiral the base kit is pretty good but does have some issues.  

Joe

That wing is pretty cool, but those guns are frikin' awesome!!

BK

Lovin what youve done so far with the wing, Joe!

Joe ,

I am amazed and fascinated with your scratch building skills. TY for posting this as it's very  inspirational to me. i'd like to try my hand at it someday. I mean , I've done a liitle scratch building but nothing on this scale.

You are all very kind.  Thank you.

Joe

Just a quick update.

Work continued on the wing.  Frames are now installed and the gun bay as well as the ammo box.  Tonight the stringers were installed.  

Next up will be the interior of the flaps.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

fightnjoe

 

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

 

Joe

I was hoping to find some mess on/around your bench to criticize, but looks like your OCD is stronger than mine!!!

 Very fine work good sir!

You do such great work. You inspire me to try similar things on my builds. This is pretty cool to watch.

BK

You are very kind, many thanks.  I am glad you find inspiration in my attempts.

Fermis actually not OCD, more of I did a video and had to clean up the bench a bit to be able to film it without knocking everything onto the floor.

Joe

Well it happened yet again.

Wing work volume 2.  

The ammo chute is redone, two frames are redone, and the stringers are now redone.  Seems every step forward is followed by two or ten steps back.

First was to strip out the offending parts.

Than with everything replaced.

I also had worked some on the flap interiors.

Now to move forward.  

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Joe, this project is really looking swell from here.  Keep up the great work, its going to be a great looking representation when finished and worth the effort.  Also, thanks for the resource of the Blender 3D model, I was looking for it a while back and somehow couldn't find it.

Scott

This build is amazing!

Toshi

Many thanks to both of you.

Now...

Bonus material time....

As I started out today I thought why not show what I was doing.  Just a small assembly but it is worth the time.

Today I began by cleaning up the bulkheads.  Remember those....

Well I began with punching out a hole, the largest my punch set has, and then using the dremel I worked the bulkheads out to where they looked more like they do in my drawings.  I then went in with 320 sandpaper and cleaned them up.

Once that was done I was able to start on the fuel cell.  Using bulkhead #7 as a reference I sketched out the form, that was cut out, cleaned up, and then used as a master to form 3 pieces of sheet styrene.  I then cut two pieces of tube styrene, size isnt important as long as it fits.  I glued the tube to the sheet and then put them all together.

I then used .010 sheet styrene and skinned the framework.  Also using the same bulkhead I fashioned a stand to keep the fuel cell in place.

Just that simple.  

Ok next will be to continue to work the interior, most likely starting with the tail and moving forward.  I do need to add detail to most of the bulkheads as well as the fuel cell.

I hope you enjoyed the bonus.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Watching you do this makes me think doing the full PE F6F would be a breeze. Your skills here are amazing.

BK

Joe,

Some really nice work going on here.  Glad you found the P-40 Blender file helpful. 

Gary

Coming along there Joe. =]

Many many thanks.

Joe

If you dont call this "perfectionism," well....

Im very impressed with your work on this bird.

Many many thanks.

Joe

Wow.  It really is amazing what can happen when we move past a stumbling block.

Just a bit of an update:

Work has commenced on the interior begining with the tail wheel assembly.  This does not represent 100% accuracy as I needed to make sure there was stability and strength as well.  

Before I go too far I really need to open up the access door on the fuselage.  For that first a template is made out of aluminium foil which is taped to an aluminium can, cut out, and cleaned up a bit.

Next is to drill out the door.  Let the drilling begin.

And drilled out.

Next will be to clean up the cut and then I can put in stringers and back plates.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Moving right along with the interior work.

First up was to clean up the access door and then attach a backing plate.

Once that was completed I moved on to putting the stringers in place.  These are .020 hex rod.  

With that done the part of the builds that I truly enjoy could begin.  The interior work.

First up was to prep bulkheads 8 and 9 for radio equipment.  I took some time and set up the racks to mimic what I have seen in pictures.

The next step of course was to actually build up the radio equipment.  Now indulge me on this.  

From left to right.  Radio boxes both recieving and transmitting, dynamotor and antenna switch box, junction box, and the reciever and transmitter.

Now with that ready, before I can add the wiring, I am going to need to do some painting I think.  I may just move on and continue the construction of interior assemblies.  Thinking on this.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

If I had a third thumb...it'd be up too!

Wow Joe!!! Your build is amazing!!! I will definitely be watching every second of this build. BRAVO Sir, BRAVO 

Fantastic work, I cant wait for some more.