P-61 wip... Finished!!!

fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

P-61 wip... Finished!!!

Posted by fermis on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 11:33 AM

Been working on this one for a GB, thought I'd share with ya'll what I'm doing with her.

This is Revells boxing of the classic 1/48 kit. I'm sure most all of you are familliar with this one. I have stolen an engine/cowl from an old build to graft onto the new one, so that both sides will be the same(closed cowl flaps). I'm gonna finish her in OD/grey dress, I've seen enough of black evening gowns!!!

First off, the pit.

I added some GNDN wiring and whatnot, and oxygen hoses from a 24 gauge guitar string, scratched the ?tank and extinguisher on the rear pit bulkhead, and scratched the framework on the seats with wire(back 2) and stretched sprue for the pilot seat. All is hand painted with clear glue inst faces on the IP and R/O bulkhead. Scratched rudder pedals as well.

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Seatbelt are foil from a "Crystal Lite" mix tub lid.

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It had been long enough since my last go at this one, that I had forgoten how bad some of the fits are!!!

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Some styrene widges and CA to fill her up.

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All better! Replaced some rivets with dabs of CA.

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My first attempt at a rescribe went arye, so I CA'ed all the lines and sanded it back to smooth and tried a second time, much, much better. In fact, it was going so well, I decided to break out the rivet gun(needle in pin vice) and rivet her.....one by one!!! Using drawings from Ospreys "P-61 units of WW2" as a guide for riveting. The only problem I got is, the drawings show rivet detail on fuse and booms, but nothing for the wings, so I guess I'll just have wing it(NYUK, NYUK, NYUK!!!)

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And here's the old one before she went on the chopping block!!!

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And the deed has been done

(insert TAPS here!!!)

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And lastly, the engines before getting closed in. Added ignition wires.

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Reply

krow113

Member since
October 2009
From: SURREY ,B.C.

Posted by krow113 on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 11:56 AM

Excellent work so far. May I ask why re-do an already decent work ?

Thank you ,Krow113

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fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 12:11 PM

krow113

Excellent work so far. May I ask why re-do an already decent work ?

My skills are much better than when I did the last one, the old one looks akin to a turd next to my recent stuff!

Plus, I needed some parts off the old one!

Reply

Spike190

Member since
March 2009
From: Wirral. UK

Posted by Spike190 on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 2:05 PM

Looking good, I like your rescribe and rivet work it looks very nice.

Cheers...

Mike Toast

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rjkplasticmod

Member since
February 2003
From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State

Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 2:15 PM

Excellent work on the interior. Keep us posted as you progress.

Regards, Rick

RICK

At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...

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mucker

Member since
July 2004
From: Northern KY

Posted by mucker on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 2:19 PM

fermis

krow113:

Excellent work so far. May I ask why re-do an already decent work ?

My skills are much better than when I did the last one, the old one looks akin to a turd next to my recent stuff!

Plus, I needed some parts off the old one!

Hahaha! Good answer! I was going to ask the same question...

Looks like you're off to a good re-start. P-61's are darn cool looking in my opinion.

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Gigatron

Member since
January 2007

Posted by Gigatron on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 3:29 PM

Great job, Fermis!

That rescribing job is turning out fantastic.

-Fred

GIF animations generator gifup.com

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Lancair IV

Member since
June 2005
From: Novi, Mi

Posted by Lancair IV on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 3:48 PM

Outstanding Fermis. Keep posting pictures. Your work inspires me. Bow Down

Cheers

Rob Byrnes

Novi, Mi

Reply

blunce

Member since
March 2003
From: Tacoma, WA

Posted by blunce on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 4:14 AM

You may be interested to know that Zotz decals is coming out with two or three new sheets of decals for the 1/48 Widow (thanks to ME!). I know Eli is planning to have both black and OD versions as well. Have a look here for more info http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=200589

Great work BTW, Some impressive detail painting in the cockpit. A shame you sent the old build to the guillotine, it looked pretty dang nice!

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tempestjohnny

Member since
November 2003
From: Naples, FL

Posted by tempestjohnny on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 5:54 AM

Awesome.

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fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 4:55 PM

Thanks alot everybody!!!

Bunce, I was thinking about those or maybe some Pyn-ups, but that is kinda out of my focus right now. I'll see when I get closer to that point. May just use an extra Pyn-up that I already have. I'm not a stickler for historical accuraccy or spending more money on this. Really stretching out the $10 I have into it!!!!!

Reply

troublemaker66

Member since
July 2007
From: Southern New Jersey

Posted by troublemaker66 on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 6:17 PM

Geesh dude! How `bout I mail ya my IP with a portrait of Andrew Jackson...work your magic...mail my IP back minus the portrait!! OR let me borrow your eyeballs and I swear I`ll send `em back the second I`m done! Awesome work my friend!!....Len

Len Pytlewski

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fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 9:16 PM

troublemaker66

Geesh dude! How `bout I mail ya my IP with a portrait of Andrew Jackson...work your magic...mail my IP back minus the portrait!! OR let me borrow your eyeballs and I swear I`ll send `em back the second I`m done! Awesome work my friend!!....Len

Hells Yeah!!!!!!!

Pits are my absolute favorite part of every build, and IPs are my favorite part of the pit, for a portrait of Jackson, send a couple IPs!!!!!

Reply

fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 12:46 PM

This rescribe and rivet job has made progress very slow(doubt that I,ll do that again!!!) Anyway, finally after thousands of pokes, one by one I got all the rivets on there......care to count em???!!!!! Now, I'm waiting on an order to come in so I can replace the mesh screens on the bottom of the booms and in the wing intakes.

I prefer the flaps up look on this one, adds a bit of bulk and toughness to it. Had to add a bit of styrene to the flaps to fill in the gaps.

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I removed the molded on cowling to make dealing with the gap easier. I cut a disc of styrene to make up the difference.

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The gap on the other side will be easy enough to take care of.

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So, just gotta do a light sanding over everything to knock down the scribing ridges and get my screens in place and I can start assembling.

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FastEagle1

Member since
December 2009
From: Fort Worth, Texas

Posted by FastEagle1 on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 6:38 PM

Awesome work, Fermis.

I can't single out any one thing that rises above the others - it's all great!

Really nice job!!

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RadMax8

Member since
February 2005
From: Cleveland, OH

Posted by RadMax8 on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 9:50 PM

Hey Fermis, looks great so far. I'll be keeping an keen eye on this one. I've got three of these bad boys waiting in the wings. I love this plane more than any other. You're certainly doing this one justice.

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Wabashwheels

Member since
November 2008
From: Crawfordsville, Indiana

Posted by Wabashwheels on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 10:16 AM

Fermis, It's a shame that the cockpit cant be on the outside of the aircraft. That is some beautiful work. Rick

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jetmodeler

Member since
October 2009
From: South Carolina

Posted by jetmodeler on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:56 PM

Nice job so far on the cockpit. I just bought the same kit. I have a question. Should there be any curves in the flight deck?

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Hans von Hammer

Member since
June 2008
From: Iowa

Posted by Hans von Hammer on Friday, March 12, 2010 6:38 AM

I see you cut out the molded-in louvers for the intakes..

I did the same thing on mine.. Adding the individual replacements from strip styrene is a great touch and goes a long way towards improving this area...

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fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Friday, March 12, 2010 11:15 AM

Thanks guys!!!

RADMAX- 3???? Man, I get a headache just thinking about attempting another ONE. I'll be back with another in ten years.....maybe!!!!

JETMOD- not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean a bow in the floor, front to back???? If so, I'd so no.

HANS- Ya, I did the same thing.

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the Baron

Member since
September 2006
From: Bethlehem PA

Posted by the Baron on Friday, March 12, 2010 11:47 AM

Wow! Excellent job, can't wait to see more!

I like you're rescribing job, it was worth the effort.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

Reply

RadMax8

Member since
February 2005
From: Cleveland, OH

Posted by RadMax8 on Friday, March 12, 2010 2:33 PM

Fermis, there's a reason they're still in the stash LOL!!! One of these days I'll crack one out. I managed to find the Aeromaster decal sheets for the P-61 (Black and OD/NG) so I've got plenty of options!

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model geek

Member since
January 2009
From: Algonquin, IL

Posted by model geek on Sunday, March 14, 2010 8:20 PM

Fermis,

Superb job thus far on this kit!!! I'm build the same kit. A friend of my 12 year old son and his dad started and then gave up on building this kit. They gave it to me to finish and I plan to return it them when it's complete.

It is definitely a putty queen and my results don't come close to what I've seen so far on your build.

Look forward to seeing the finished pics.

Tom

Reply

fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Sunday, March 14, 2010 11:12 PM

Much thanks again gentlemen!!! Toast

Replaced the detail on the forward bottom of the boom with some mesh from Eduard.

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Gaps in the boom/wing joint were filled with strips of styrene and stretched sprue and sanded smooth....PITA!!!!!

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Replaced the louvers in the intakes, completely forgot that I was going to do the ductwork in there before closing the wings....BOOOOO, too late now.

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And then came the canopy....what a nightmare!!!!! I've built 3 of these in the past, not one of them comes even close to the crap that this one is!!!! I shimmed all the way around the forward canopy to get it close to lining up with the fuse top. Shimmed all around the top(openning portion), there was at least a 1/16 gap all the way around that.

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The rear canopy took some shims as well.

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After all the shims, some grinding with a dremel, it fits as though it was meant to be.

Still got more sanding and polishing.....obviously. This is what I got for 10 hours of just canopy work.

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Reply

Spike190

Member since
March 2009
From: Wirral. UK

Posted by Spike190 on Monday, March 15, 2010 8:02 AM

Great work here Fermis, I really like how you've gone at those clear parts, no fear!! I'm enjoying watching.

Cheers...

Mike Toast

Reply

fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Monday, March 15, 2010 9:41 PM

Man!!!! I have built entire models, box to shelf, in less time than I've spent on this *&^%^ canopy!!!

After all that sanding, the final polish revealed tons of crap stuck to the inside of the canopy Bang Head

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So, I had do remove the boarding ladders, the front was easy enough. But the rear was a major PITA, that one was CAed in place all the way around, which probably actually made it easier than if I had cemented it.

I was able to get an angled dental tool with some poster-tac in there and clean out almost all the crap. The rear had a big ol finger print on the inside, so I used a q-tip dipped in widex to take care of that.

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fermis

Member since
January 2009
From: hamburg michigan

Posted by fermis on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 10:09 AM

agentg

What did you polish it with?

G

Toothpaste and then a squirt of Metallizer Sealer.

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the Baron

Member since
September 2006
From: Bethlehem PA

Posted by the Baron on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 11:19 AM

Well, your polishing work paid off, the canopies look great!

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

Reply

waikong

Member since
December 2002
From: NYC, USA

Posted by waikong on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 11:39 AM

This is looking great! All that detail and the amount of work you are putting in it is quite an inspiration - I have this kit too but i put it down everytime I pick it up.

My website: http://waihobbies.wkhc.net