1/72 B-52D with Big Belly Mod, Operation Arc Light

Hi, All,

I've been applying decals since I built my first model back in the 50s. Now I'm trying to do learn to do it correctly. A lot of articles on decaling recommend using a Q-tip to move a decal from its backing to the model. However, I found the tip can leave behind very fine hairs and also it tends to wick up the water I'm using to float the decal. I went looking for a substitute.

The solution I found was to take a new wooden pencil and cut the eraser into a chisel point, as shown below. That worked pretty well. The eraser is soft enough not to damage the decal and it doesn't soak up water.

I'd be happy to know any other methods you guys use,

Cheers,

Russ

YW, Ken!  I'm just full of it...information I mean .

Russ

Striker8241

Thanks, Pawel!  That red line indicates where someone can walk safely without damaging the panels. It's only on one side because the vertical stabilizer could only be laid over on the right side to allow the bomber to be moved into a hangar.

Very cool information Russ!  I did not know that either!  Thank you for that bit of knowledge!   

Ken

My pleasure, Pawel. Thanks for stopping by.

Russ

I thank you, Russ - a very interesting info, I'm glad I asked! Best regards

Paweł

Thanks, Pawel!  That red line indicates where someone can walk safely without damaging the panels. It's only on one side because the vertical stabilizer could only be laid over on the right side to allow the bomber to be moved into a hangar.

Below is a picture of the tail being laid over.

Ain't that a beauty, Russ! It's really something special. I have a question though - what is that red line on the horizontal stabilizer? Good luck with your project, have a nice day

Paweł

Wow Russ, hard to believe you are in the home stretch with this monster project!  Can't wait to see it finished!

Ken

Thanks, Dom!

Russ:

She is looking beautiful in her new shoes and skirt!

Man, proud to take her to the dance!

Dom

Hi, All,

Well, 56-0612 is getting on down the line. She's got new shoes and her skirts are back on. I've also added the forward hatch and the 47 section hatch. The turret is installed and the ECM horns are back on. The only things left are some coms antennas and some pitot tubes. I'll wait until the wings are fitted to put them on.

Working on finishing the wings now.

Cheers,

Russ

Lol! That's funny! That's exactly the way I feel, Ken!  

Thanks for the humor

Russ

Hi, All,

After a long and agonizing learning curve, I've managed to get my decals on the fuselage (see pictures below).

I discovered that the insignias for the fuselage that came with the kit are too large. The kit insignia are 10mm H x19mm W but I confirmed from several pictures that they should be about 6.5 mm H x 8 mm W. I had to reduce the size and make some new ones in Photoshop. That resulted in my using all homemade decals on the fuselage. There were some issues and they did not come out very professionally but I will leave them as is for now. Maybe down the road when I get more proficient, I can replace them.

Anyway, 56-612 lives! .

Russ

Striker8241

Hi, All,

Sometime back, Dom asked me how I planned to transport the diorama safely. My tentative plan for the aircraft is to leave off attaching the wings and transport it in three pieces, then reassemble it at the destination. I would pack the individual pieces in a box using foam cutouts. Still thinking about this though...

As for the ground equipment, my first objective is to find a safe way to attach them to the base so I only have to move the two halves. Barring that, I've made some transport boxes using foam inserts, as shown below. These also protect the pieces while I'm working on other things, and keeps them from collecting dust.

Cheers,

Russ

 

Cool idea Russ!  Thank you for sharing that!

Ken

Hi, All,

Sometime back, Dom asked me how I planned to transport the diorama safely. My tentative plan for the aircraft is to leave off attaching the wings and transport it in three pieces, then reassemble it at the destination. I would pack the individual pieces in a box using foam cutouts. Still thinking about this though...

As for the ground equipment, my first objective is to find a safe way to attach them to the base so I only have to move the two halves. Barring that, I've made some transport boxes using foam inserts, as shown below. These also protect the pieces while I'm working on other things, and keeps them from collecting dust.

Cheers,

Russ

Hi, All,

I decided to add an NF-2 light cart to my diorama. These carts provided bright light for nighttime maintenance. There was usually at least one cart stationed in each revetment; often there were two. They were basically a metal shell with a small gasoline engine that drove a generator. The generator powered the lights and also outlets on the end panel where you could plug in test equipment or a soldering iron.

Because the engine and generator took up only about a third of the interior, there was plenty of room to climb in on a cold day and warm up your frozen body. You had to keep the doors open though because of the danger of carbon monoxide.

The model is from the Hasegawa US Aerospace Ground Equipment set. I didn't try to do a lot of detailing. I did correct the brackets that hold the lights as they were too thick and shaped wrong. I also ground out the solid plastic that represented the lenses and made some clear plastic lenses. I also added the exhaust pipe (lower right corner of the picture) that wasn't modeled.

Cheers,

Russ

Von_L

 

 

~  Spent a little quality time in the ol' G-model, many years ago.

 

Von,

Was that as a crew member or technician?

Russ

Von_L

(First time post for the FSM forum here)  This build is absolutely fantastic! I've done a couple of 72 scale BUFFs and am now inspired to do some ore detailed ones in the future; -D, -G, -H. Spent a little quality time in the ol' G-model, many years ago.

Might anybody have a close-up photos (or tech order drawings) that show the details of the B-52D drag chute door when open? Spoiler wells on top of the wings?

 

Hi, Von,

Thanks for the good words. The only clear picture of the drag chute door I have is below. Also, there is a photo of the early B-52 spoiler well, but not a very good one. I've seen some shots of the G and H wells on the net.

Sorry for the late reply - for some reason, your post didn't show up until this morning - weird.

Thanks for stopping by,

Russ

On a different note, I took my first foray into making my own decals today, and it worked out pretty well. It's going to take some practice but I'm getting the hang of things. My first project was the refueling guide marks located on the top of the crew cabin, as shown in the picture below. Now I'm working on the aircraft numbers for the nose and tail.

Cheers,

Russ

(First time post for the FSM forum here)  This build is absolutely fantastic! I've done a couple of 72 scale BUFFs and am now inspired to do some ore detailed ones in the future; -D, -G, -H. Spent a little quality time in the ol' G-model, many years ago.

Might anybody have a close-up photos (or tech order drawings) that show the details of the B-52D drag chute door when open? Spoiler wells on top of the wings?

Lol! This is getting better by the minute!   Go, Jim, Go!

Russ

I always asked the point guard if their recruiter had shown them the picture of the Airmen guarding the F-16s at Homestead AFB before they signed up.  They always scowled at me.

I won't do snow.  At least I don't think I'll do snow.  Although, it would make the tarmac easier to construct.

I've thought about a weapons load also.  I'll have to hone my scratch building skills some befoe I try it.  A 4 pack of B-28s and a rotary launcher full of SRAMS would be cool.  Heck, if I go that far, I'll mount ACMs on the wings.  

Dang it!  Now I'm gonna think about that for the rest of the day!

Cool! Can't wait to see it happening!  

Is your dio going to be in winter time? With mounds of drifting snow? And some security policemen freezing their butts off? Boy, I remember those days...

Hey, as for winning, I have the advantage of a lot more time, being retired. Mine won't be any better than yours, it'll just have a lot more junk on it  .

Maybe after I recover from building this dio - say in a few years - I might do a nuclear bomb loading scenario on the flightline, with a weapons convoy and the works, couple of Hound Dogs.... That was always an interesting thing to watch.

Russ

Striker8241

Thanks, Jim!  

An alert pad???  Great!!   When will you start?

Russ

I'll start this summer sometime.  It will be just one stub.  I might start with 1/144 scale and use that to work out the 1/72 scale version.  Since I have what I need to make my airplane, 61-0025 Shack Rabbit, I might be forced to put her on Sortie 2 at K. I. Sawyer AFB in 1991.  My plane, my sortie.  It's gonna be some work.  Just so you know, you win!  I'll never have the patience to build what you have built. 

We'll have to see what comes of it.

Thanks, Ken!  I appreciate the good words .

Russ

Russ, how many times can I say it?  Outstanding work!  Great detail!  Awesome job!     

Ken

I've finished painting and weathering the wings with the exception of the no step lines.

Below is a picture of the left wing. I also added taxi lights and locking bars to the inboard outrigger gear doors.

Cheers,

Russ

Thanks, Jim!  

An alert pad???  Great!!   When will you start?

Russ