B-17 G 1:48 scale, 351st Bomb Group, 510th Squadron, AC# 43-37862, Fearless Fosdick

Now to continue.

I had to shorten the star and bar between the starboard waist gun and door. It was too long otherwise. First I figured out where the center would be, then I applied the decal and with a very sharp knife, cut a vertical line through the middle of the bars both sides. Then I took those ends and slid them inward so that the edges would line up against the door and waist gun position.

The Decals from the kit and extra general decal sheet worked just fine. My troubles came with the decals I had to make. There is a small G on the lower part of the vertical tail near the rudder. At first I couldn't get it to print properly. Always seemed too light. Then I figured out I had to print for High Gloss paper and it printed correctly. Next I needed something to fix the ink on the decal sheet. Hobby shops will sell you the decal sheets for your printer but not something to fix what you printed to the sheet. I ended up using hair spray first. After it dried, I put a coat or two of sprayed on acrylic floor polish. This seemed to work but it still caused some trouble. It all worked in the end but I still need to find a better way.

The name of the plane, "Fearless Fosdick", was printed using 11pt letter size. After looking at aircraft in the same unit that was active at the same time, I picked a font that looked the same as the other planes. As I mentioned earlier, they didn't have an artist but they did have either a sign painter or a calligrapher. All evidence points to the plane having only the name, no art. That made things easier at least for me.

Meanwhile, I built up and fitted the top turret.

I cut off the plastic ammo chutes and added the photo etch ones. I also added photo etched barrels. I touched up painted them later.

The tail gunners position. This was before I added the grass.

Please bear with me. I am not as good as most when it comes to the outside of the plane. I tried very hard to get the paint to work right. Cleaned the surfaces to remove all oil, wore gloves to keep finger prints off, Gave lots of time for paint to dry between coats. Still had problems. Mostly with the dissimilar plastics between the two halves. One was harder than the other. I was able to correct most of them later on but I still don't like how it came out.

Thanks all for your kind words about my work.

Here I have the name added and was attaching the longwave antenna. Painted on the four blue lights on the tail, the red and green for the respective wings, and the ident lights on the bottom. I also added brake lines.

At this point I started using acrylic washes to add contrast to all those nooks and crannies. This helped a lot.

When the base was done, I figured out where I wanted the plane to sit then added pins the each of the wheels made from a small paper clip.

Hopefully not too bad.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

The plane was delivered to the daughter of the pilot of this plane and modeled pilot and plane are reunited. I had to impress upon them that the plane is fragile. They are currently looking for someone to make a display case for the plane. Future plans are for the plane to be donated and sent to the 351st Bomb group organization... and yes, tears where shed as daughters finally got to see what her dad's plane looked like.

So now I will close this thread with a final photograph from the one direction that I had not included. Again, thanks for being patient with me.

This base I made for the plane out of plywood, terrain cotton type fiber with adhesive, dark wood stain, Jute, ground chalk powder, and model rail road grass.
The sequence took some time with minor complications. Biggest problem was the board wanted to keep warping. A heavy bag of cat little flattened that pup out.

Polebrook had some grassy areas. It was once a fighter base before it was handed over to the American Bomber command. Most airfields, as I understand it, had concrete circles that the bombers parked on but there were places where the bombers sat on grass. So I figured why not.
More to follow.

The plane is now completed.  Pictures to follow shortly.

So here is what I have done up till now.

I've added the photo etch barrels for the chin mount guns. The mount was a little off center but once it was attached, it brought the whole inner part into alignment and fit nicely. I then attached the forward glass nose cone.

Then I fitted the engines on, minus the propellers, so that the OD green anti-glare could be painted on. I also worked out and did the initial painting on the tail stripe. Unfortunately, I forgot a basic rule. I should have painted a white stripe first before painting red. The white paint would make the red stand out in the proper shade. I went back and redid this properly later.

So far the paint job came out well.

With the anti-glare done I started adding decals.

before I finally glued on the engines and props, I painted the disc behind the engine black. This was for the black guide vanes that guide air around the cylinders for cooling. It came out quite well. Once all engines were attached, it was time to work on the tail section.

It was about this time that I realized something the directions didn't mention. See if you can see the problem.

So here is the problem. The first tail cone would go on with no troubles at all but the second tail cone won't. In order to attach the second tail cone, a good section of the rear of the plane would have to be removed in order for that cone to fit properly. What to do.

So I cut off the kit sight and sanded the ends smooth. Then sanded from the back of the cone to make it fit properly.

Once I was sure of the fit, I scratch built the sight according the pictures I have seen and checked the fit of the greenhouse in the back. I noticed the gaps and used sprue to fill them and paint over.

Here I have the corrected red stripe and repaired greenhouse fit.

Finally. I added some tail markings. This is where I have stopped for now.

Thanks for following.

Thats looking fabulus. Your doing a great job.Your attention to detail is fantastic.

Great progress!

Thanks for waiting guys, and thanks for all the great support and kind comments. As of last night, I am at a point of 3 down and locked. Now just a little information to show how I got there.

To help hold up the plane and free my hands, I fitted but didn't clue the right wing. Those locking lugs make it nice and easy. I tried to see how the fit would be for the clear part, not perfect but doable. I used the clear half to help me glue the center windows in and there were a few of them, at least four for the moment. I used the clear as a rest on one side so that I could glue the other side. Once the glue dried, I could remove the clear side and the window would remain in place. This actually worked out pretty well... except with the dome window. That pup popped out again as I was doing final attachment of the two halves. Not to worry though, I can still just pop it in due to its unusual shape. Just a little trickier.

when I sprayed the aluminum over the clear area, I wanted a little overlap of center so that I could fix any fit issues if needed.

Here you can see the dome window on the clear side as it was easier at the time to do it this way. I also attached a gun on the port side. Because of the tight quarters in the nose, I figured it was easier to attach the belt now then work it into the tight spot after the halves were cemented.

I didn't have a regular sight for the port waist gun so I made one. That window glue comes in handy. First I made a circle of approximate size and glued it in shape. Attached it to the gun and trimmed. Then using smaller wire and AC glue, I was able to get the cross parts attached. Finally fitted the completed assembly into the port waist gun position.

Had to use gravity to hold the window over the pilot but it also shows the stuff under the pilot area better.

Getting the sides to fit over the entire length was a pain. I had to trim behind the locking lugs on the clear side wing to get it to fit due to the goodies inside. Manufacturer clearly intended for the wings to be attached before the halves were joined. Still doing some test fitting in other areas but I did finally get the halves together without the total destruction of the plane in the process. Final note, after the wheels were fitted on, the ball turret sat exactly were it was suppose to.

More pictures later. Thanks for following.

This is simply just dripping with details. Pure eye candy!!! 

Glad to see some progress on this one bud.

I can't wait to see!

Well I've taken pictures but am still getting them sized right and in proper sequence.   I did get the halves together, but slowly so that it each part adheres properly.  Sorry for the picture delay.  Not long now.

Misplaced a top window, the one above the radio room.  Fortunately the kit comes with side windows that I don't need so with a few carefully placed cuts and lots of sanding, I have a new window.  In the forward section, the left machinegun is having trouble fitting where it goes.  Keeps getting interference from other objects around it.   So, I did some shortening of a couple of items and now it looks like it fits right.   The upper gun fits fine but getting the ammo belt to run properly is also a challenge.   Pictures to follow later.

I'm still trying to decide is I want a map on the table or not.   Maybe TP by the can?  No, most likely not.  Working through fit issues will be challenging enough.  I'm nervous about fitting the two sides together.  Clear with solid half might cause fogging and I don't want that.   Anyway the first thing I need to do is clean the contact points.

Nice to see you back at it.

Thanks, I try hard.   I know it has taken awhile but I wanted to be sure what I did each time along with a little research.  This weekend, I'm going to try to finish enough to close up the sides and start fitting widows.  Need to see how each fits before it becomes permanent.

The detail work you are doing is just amazing. Your attention to detail is also amazing.Its looking great. 

I have been busy but in my spare time I was able to get more done. I put together the photo etch items and built two more chairs for the forward area.

then I started installing each item working from back to front. The usual stuff oxygen regulators, heating units, machinegun, ammo cans and belt, and one of the seats onto the ring where the bombardier sits. Took awhile but it came out ok.

I've added the ammo belt once the back stuff was in along with the controls for the chin-mounted guns. I also decided to make a lamp for the desk. I added the bomb-sight, and other bombing controls.

Looking over photos, I figured I would go ahead and make one similar to the one I made for a Black Widow build several years ago.

I first stretched sprue, then cut the smaller end on side. Then I heated a needle and pushed it into the small end so that it got stuck in the plastic. The plastic was then cut at a point that looked close to what I wanted for the bell of the lamp. Sanding helped to improve the shape before I withdrew the needle and glued in a piece of copper wire.

Once I had the general shape, I drilled a small hole in the table where I wanted to lamp to be attached and cut a reasonable sized disc from aluminum foil. I punched a hole in the center of the foil and pushed the wire through it.

Next I glued the wire into the desk to what I figured was a good length and snipped off the excess. To give the mount form, I used white glue normally used for gluing clear window parts. I also added glue to areas where joints would be. Painted it black after all the glue dried.

Here is what it looks like now. I only have a few levers to glue in before I can finally start closing this up.

I hope it looks ok, thanks for following.

Glad to see your progress. Oh you're getting so close! Will be exciting to see the wings go on.

Hello guys, miss me? I've had a lot going on and sometimes I just get tired. I have basically finished the center waist gunner position. Had to do some touchups here and there as this has been going on three years. I have started working on the forward section. Once that area is done I can finally, at long last, close the plane up for outside detail and finish build. You know I have worked on nothing else for this time and I miss doing simpler stuff. I may need to do something simple to get me going on again. Thanks guys for your support through this. It helps me keep going to the end.

Thanks for following

It's been very busy lately. My wife being Russian doesn't help with what is going on. She still has family and friends there. Anyway, here is what I've been able to accomplish since last I posted. I did a lot of work on the different machineguns. Just a couple of touchups with paint here and there but basically they are finished. I also chose the tail gunner's windows and finished the tail gunner's position for the most part. Almost finished the waist gunner area as well. Now for the pictures...

I still have the photo etched barrels and gunner sites to add.

Thanks for following.

Looking fantastic . Cant wait to see it finished.

Lots of great work here! Love all the little stuff it really adds to your build. your thoughts on the metal toilet seat are hilarious   I'm hoping the varnish issue gets sorted cause the wings sure were looking good. Congrats on the promo btw!

I also wanted to tell you that I did a fit check with the wings on the fuselage and tires on the legs.  I was afraid the ball might be hanging too low but after attaching everything I could see that everything was as it should be height wise.

I've tried to keep busy with this model but I got clobbered with a honey do list and the passing of my brother-in-law. I also had a varnish failure when I tried to protect one of the wings. Not happy with that but hopefully I can keep moving now. So what have I done. First I wanted to get the wings done. Mostly just so that I can say I did something different.

The devices behind the engines look like turbochargers to me but I'm not sure. Anyway I got these painted along with the deicing boots on the main wings and horizontal stabilizers. The biggest problem I had was with the aluminum/chrome paint for the skin. I would get a decent paint job on it then something would screw it up in a couple places. I would get it repaired and something else would go wrong... aggravation in the extreme. Finally I got it set and thought I would spray a simple clear varnish to set it and the stuff I was using was too cold and you can imagine the rest. I sanded out the worst of it and am going to attempt it again once the weather warms up a bit.

I also made the wing landing lights.

These I made by punching out discs from the foil of wine bottles. My wife helped by emptying the bottles after I opened them. The discs I formed into shallow cones over the round end of a paint brush. To set Then, I drilled a small hole where I wanted to disc to sit, kind of like a center mark / place holder. A drop of CA glue in the hole and drop the disc in. Came out nice as you can see. I attached the outer covers and found that there was a large gap over the right light. I filled in the gaps by soaking a .020" x .020" bit of styrene rod in liquid cement which softened it enough to mold into the imperfect gaps and dry solidly. This came out well after a touch of the sanding sponge. As you can see, it came out ok. Not shown are all the vents around the engine for cooling air intakes. I drilled them all out and cleaned them up with a knife.

My next focus was on the ammo boxes, small air tanks, and fiddly stuff.

I also added wood to the navigators table top at the front of the aircraft.

The ammo belt runs were made easier by cutting a .010" sleeve to wrap the sides around and still leave room for the ammo. It also made it easier to straighten the legs out and paint.

Finally here are many of the fiddly bits I worked on. Some brass catchers, bottle holders, oxygen regulation systems, and various boxes of control items.

That can in the upper left is suppose to be a sky toilet, Bog can, or whatever funny name you might like to call it. I added wood to these as well, not just to flesh it out but seriously who would want to sit on a metal toilet cover at -30 degrees? I would think you backside would be frozen to it. Can you imagine, "Hi mom, I got a purple heart because my backside got stuck on the can during a mission and they had to pry me off." I also made and beefed up the tail gunner's seat, upper center above the ammo boxes.

Thanks for following.

Really looking great!  Any updates?

I really wanted to finish this by Veteran's day but as usual I got hit with a honey do list... Oh and I got promoted in my job which called for more of my time to learn my new position. Fortunately I did get more done so my time wasn't totally shot. I am pushing to finish this, just won't be when I wanted.

So to start. Once I had finished printing the inside of the ball turret, I assembled what I had and found that the mechanism between the guns was too low. I needed to move it upward. I attached some styrene blocks on top of the guns before I cut off the mechanism between them. The blocks marked my attachment points for the remodeled mechanism.

Then I used styrene to build up the mechanism to look more like what I could recognize in photos.

I also added the brass shoots that guide the empty shells after firing. This you can see just below the gun and ammo drum. Actually fit really nice after it was made.

I didn't go overboard on the interior, just on only what was clearly visible. I left out the wiring. Painted the ball turret inside and out then fit it all together along with the ring I printed for it. So far so good.

Next... the ball turret mount. I wanted to get this finished at the very least. Here I ran into an interesting problem. How to get the turret mechanism to look right and work around what the kit designers did. I didn't want to reinvent the wheel so I compromised. I changed the supports to allow what I had printed, then use the old support with some slight modifications.

I made some cross support that I could attach the old top part too. I wanted to make sure the cross parts were even so I inverted to the ball to check that it looked level; then cut up the attaching snap-in part so it could still spin. I painted the side of the clear fuselage to cover some of this part. I kept checking measurements to make sure it sat right when it was mounted in. This took some time to get right.

When I was sure of the fit, I painted it up. Now the cross piece was a glaring problem so after checking the pictures I made the round piece square with some styrene to resemble the box that sits just above the ball turret. This was painted black and you can see it below. I filed part of the cross piece thinner and painted it a bit to disguise the error.

Finally I added the exterior ammo cans and oxygen tank. All together it came out ok. I still have some hoses and wiring to attach but it is enough for now.

I also spray painted the wings. Well I hope to get more done in the next coming weeks. Now I'm trying for the end of the year.

As always, thanks for following.

At this point, I have printed all that I can for the ball turret. What I will do now is walk you through the process I go through when I am developing and printing a part. In this case the seat.

The first thing I do is research as much as possible the subject I want to make. I try to determine, to the best of my ability, the size of the part I need. This is not the actual size on the real thing but the size of what I will need that will work. In the case of the seat, I looked at several photos and tried to determine how wide and how high it is. I did this by measuring the door width on the model and what would be visible through the window. Then I started creating it in FreeCAD on the XY plain.

When all dimensional variables are solved, the drawing turns green as you can see above. From here I extrude the drawing giving it a third dimension.

I chose a surface on the now 3d seat to now create the back of the seat. The curve was made to match the circumference of the inside of the ball. The process for making a curved back part was to start with a curve then extrude alone a curved path instead of a straight one.

The drawing for this path is perpendicular to the surface I'm drawing away from and is curved the match, again, the inner circumference of the ball... on the YZ plain.

The result of the two drawings looks like this. Now with the drawing fully defined and extruded, its time to turn this file into an STL file.

For this part you can't just save the file as is. You have to export it into an STL file so that the slicing software can interpret it.

The object must be fully highlighted as seen about before it can be saved as an STL file. Now I open a slicer program and figure out how best to situate the object in order for it to print properly.

Since there is nothing really fancy about this drawing I decide to print it as you see above and proceed to slice the object into something the printer can recognize.

The printer has its own slicing software so I had to convert what I had to what my particular printer would recognize. I also wanted to add the trunnions at the same time. The total time to print is just over an hour.

This is what it looks like after its been sliced. The file is then plugged into the printer and printing starts. Below is how it came out after it was cleaned up and set in the sun for a few hours to finish curing.

A test fit of the trunnions found that they fit well enough. Snug but not too tight. I'm still able to rotate the ball on the trunnions without too much interference.

I found that the seat was a little large. Still I can just sand it down to what I need.

I printed extra items just incase I break one or two. The parts are a little flimsy, and dare I say fiddly.

A couple of quick notes. I mentioned earlier about adding a special oil (PTFE) onto the film in the vat before adding the resin. I found that this same oil added to the surface of the print face helps to remove parts once printing is completed. Only like a drop spread over the entire plate surface... just a hint of oil. The light exposed resin still sticks but it seems easier for me to remove the part.

The other note is to remember that making a part to scale isn't always a good idea. Very thin resin parts are brittle.

I will be scratch building other fiddly bits inside the ball but for all intents and purposes the ball interior and immediate exterior is completed. I will need to scratch build the rest of the support system.

My goal is to try to finish this plane by 11 November. Not sure if I'll make it but I will try.

Thanks for following.

Just drew up the trunnions.

Thanks for following.

Not enough time for details but a picture is worth a thousand words...

Finished the manual hand crank. I know its not perfect but it seems to look ok. Now for the trunnions.