BACK IN THE SPOTIGHT--THE BOMBER GROUP BUILD (Medium and Heavy bombers from all eras)

Bossman wrote:

Hey Man ! - good to hear from you too.  I took quite a break from posting for a while (~a year).  All the pics I posted of the nearly finished B-24 (back a few pages) had to get erased to make more room in my aol space for recent builds - so now all that you see in this thread are red x's.

I've been taking a break from modeling since January so I can finish my masters thesis and  handle my other course work (all while working full-time and having a one-year-old in the house!). Naturally, I'm not posting as much either.

Before I take some newer pics of the Liberator I'll have to do some maintenance on it.  Those prickly machine guns don't fare well in handling.  I don't really have a display spot for something that big - so it kindof gets shoved around.  If I ever do another 4 engined bomber It'll have to be 1/72 or smaller.

You could always hang it from the ceiling! 

If you want to see some of my more recent stuff theres a Dewoitine D.520 and a SB2C Helldiver that are on the first page or two of the A/C board at the moment.

I'll have to check those out. 

Has Lufbery Jr caught the modelling bug yet ?

Not yet! Right now I'm trying to keep him out of the modeling supplies.

Regards, 

Hey Man ! - good to hear from you too. 

I took quite a break from posting for a while (~a year).  All the pics I posted of the nearly finished B-24 (back a few pages) had to get erased to make more room in my aol space for recent builds - so now all that you see in this thread are red x's.

Before I take some newer pics of the Liberator I'll have to do some maintenance on it.  Those prickly machine guns don't fare well in handling.  I don't really have a display spot for something that big - so it kindof gets shoved around.  If I ever do another 4 engined bomber It'll have to be 1/72 or smaller.

If you want to see some of my more recent stuff theres a Dewoitine D.520 and a SB2C Helldiver that are on the first page or two of the A/C board at the moment.

Has Lufbery Jr caught the modelling bug yet ?

Chris,

It's  good to hear from you, and I'm glad you found your decals.

Have you posted pictures of your Liberator? If not, I'd love to see some.

Regards,

Over two years later.....

In my Jan 25, 2005 post I mentioned that I had turned my modelling area upside-down looking for the port wing insignia and the prop decals for my B-24 - with no luck.   I eventually wound up buying a second decal sheet at the local IPMS show just to finish the kit.   

I knew this would happen... I finally found the decals.  They were in an unmarked envelope in my computer desk in the kitchen.  I have no idea how they got there.

Somehow - I knew I'd find them when I least expected it.

Hope Y'all are doing well.

Chris

Hi all,

I've finaly posted the photos of my finished MB-2. Please click on the link and take a look. :)

The model didn't even place in the model show. It was put in the diorama category even though I specified that it was to compete in the aircraft category. Naturally it lost to actual dioramas.

Oh well.

Regards,

Allan,

Have you tried posting your questions in the aircraft forum? There are a lot of knowledgable folks that hang out there.

In any event, we look forward to seeing photos of your build.

Regards,

Being a long time fan of Barnes Wallace (yes, engineers can have fans), I decided to build the Tamiya Dambuster for this group build.

Needless to say, colour pictures of any of the Dambuster aircraft are non-existant, so getting the colours right is a challenge.  Looking through referance material for Lancasters is not much better. 

Does anybody know the colours for
    Interior cockpit walls (RAF Interiour Green seems to be the consensus)
    Cockpit Floors (Dark Ocean Grey)
    Instrument Panel (Black)
    Seats (Black with Red/Brown Leather cushions)
    Landing Gear (I've seen a split between all natural metal, all Black, and 50-50) I am going on the theory that early war was all natural, and late war was all black.

Thanks

Bossman wrote:

Drew, Did she make it to the show ?  How'd it go ? Chris

Yup, made it to the show, in a finished condition.

But, I'm not sure how the model placed yet. This show is at my local hobby chain, Hobby Town USA. When I showed up yesterday, the store owner was still judging entries.

We'll see tonight how I did (I hope, anyway).

Then when I get it home, I'll take some photos and post them -- hopfully this week.

Regards,

Drew,

Did she make it to the show ?  How'd it go ?

Chris

Thanks, guys.

looks good so far, cant wait for those closeups

Very cool Drew,

Looking forward to some closer-up pics.  From what I can sse - the base looks really nice too.

Chris

Here's a quick photo I took last night to show how far things have come:



It's not the best image, but I plan on taking better ones with my SLR and zoom lens soon.

Regards,

Good luck Drew.

Nothin' like a deadline to move things along ! 

Hi all,

A quick update: I created the grass runway base by using a cheap picture frame, some white glue, and some Woodland Scenics grass. It turned out looking pretty good!

I still have a little rigging left to do, and then I have to paint and mount the ground crew guy. Then it's all done!

There's a model show this weekend that I'd like to show the plane in. So Friday evening is my deadline.

Regards,

Hi all,

I did a little more work with the MB-2 last night. I finished drilling the holes for the alieron control wires and glued on the control horns. I sent one of the control horns to the carpet monster, but quickly made a replacement with stretched sprue. Tonight, I'll install the control wires, and then the plane is done.

After that, I'll paint the ground crew figure, and make the grass field base.

Regards,

Chris,

My oldest, actually my only, child is going to be 4 months old on Sunday.

Frankly, I get a little frustrated at times with how slowly I build. I guess there are three factors at work.

The first is that I'm in grad school part time, I work full time, I've been doing a number of short (2 week to a month) home renovation projects, I study aikido (a Japanese martial art -- more than a hobby ), and I'm a new dad. I keep telling myself that I'll work on my model in the evening, but by the time the evening rolls around, I often don't have the energy.

The second thing is that I keep building kits that requrie a fair amount of work. The 1/72 Monogram F-4J was my last project fit pretty well, but still needed some filling and sanding. The Martin MB-2 has been a really tough build.

Lastly, I'm trying a whole host of new techniques with each build. This obviously slows things down.

I'm not complaining, 'cause life is pretty good, but it would be nice to do a build that takes me no more than a month. I've got an 1/72 ESCI F-4C that should be a quick build. (Though I've said that about other kits before ).

Regards,

Drew,

I usually work on multiple projects at once - At the moment 3. (all 1/72)

A Matchbox Westland Wessex in an Aussie scheme - all folded up and ready for transport on a carrier.  All that's left on this one is to put the decals on the rotor blades.  The Academy F4F-3 Wildcat in a grey/white atlantic scheme which is 90% done.   These two kits are kinda old - and on the low detail end of the spectrum, but I've been having fun with some scratchbuilding detail (making up for no interior on the Wessex and correcting the gear doors and other stuff on the Wildcat).  The last project is an Academy F4U-1 Corsair.  A much more detailed (newer) kit.  I just started this one. 
One thing I like about little 1/72 fighters is that I can complete them relatively quickly (a couple months).  That B-24 was definitely the longest time I've ever put into a model - and it still needs a little tiny bit of detail work to call it "done".  At least it is to the point where I consider it "displayed".

Yesterday was my oldest son's 15th birthday - he mentioned a couple weeks ago that he would like to do a big kit like the 1/48 F-15 we did a while back.  COOL !   I love it when I can help play with my kids' birthday presents.  It kinda took me by surprise cuz I didn't think he liked it that much - anyway I got him the 1/48 Monogram F-14 - so now that's on the table too.

Chris

Bossman wrote:

Hey all ! Haven't been posting much lately - on this thread or any other.  Haven't even been online much in general for the last few months - doing a little more building - and more other stuff.  But when I am on line - I keep checking this thread to see Drew's finished product.  How's it goin man ! Chris

Chris! It's great to hear from you!

The build is going well, but slowly as always.

The Martin is on her landing gear, all the rigging is finished, and the propellers are on. I have to add the alieron control wires, paint the ground crew guy who'll be hand starting the prop, and I need to make the grassy runway the plane is on (using woodland scenics grass).

I'll probably have to make wheel chocks too.

My goal is to be done in time for the local Hobby Town USA's model contest in the beginning of next month. I'll have photos here too when she's done.

What are you working on now?

Regards,

Hey all !

Haven't been posting much lately - on this thread or any other.  Haven't even been online much in general for the last few months - doing a little more building - and more other stuff. 

But when I am on line - I keep checking this thread to see Drew's finished product.  How's it goin man !

Chris

ToaEro wrote:

Can i join with a B-52 in 1/72nd? all i realy need to do is finnish it up and paint and decal and....(the list goes ever on) Thanx

I don't see why not. This is sort of an unofficial group build anyway, but some of us have kept on as our projects have kept on.

Please post some photos and give us some details on your B-52!

Regards,

Can i join with a B-52 in 1/72nd? all i realy need to do is finnish it up and paint and decal and....(the list goes ever on)
Thanx

Thanks!

I'm pretty pleased with how things are turning out. This project has really stretched my skills.

The dio will be pretty simple, but the figures really add a lot of life to it. I'm extremely pleased with the Orion figures I bought. You can see them here:

http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/newplastic_folder/orion_1-72/dds72003.html

Regards,

Sounds like it will be a nice looking dio. I cant wait to see it finished

Hi all,

I'm still keeping going, abeit slowly (so what's new?).

I test fit the ground crew figure that I have who is posed so that he can hand start a propeller. He fits the plane nicesly, so I've started painting him for use in the diorama.

The diorama will be simple: just some static grass in a picture frame, but it should look pretty good (I hope so, anyway).

Regards,

Woo Hoo!

The Mb-2 is on her landing gear. I'm almost done.

Regards,

Bossman wrote:

I guess good stuff takes a while.

One hopes that it's good, Chris.

I took about six weeks off, but am back at it this week. I finished the wing rigging and just have to do the alieron control line rigging -- just four wires!

Then the landing gear, and the plane is finished.

Regards,

Wow,      I was just thinking - this GB was supposed to end a year ago !   I guess good stuff takes a while.

Happy New Year everybody  !  It's been fun seeing all these come together.

Chris

Lufbery:

also very belated congrats on the birth of ur son,  he's a cutie alrite !

& i'm still looking forward 2 seeing that bomber all rigged out...

got 2 get back 2 work on my b-17 one of these days, also !

everyone:

a very happy holiday 2 u & urs !

 

frosty