1/48 Monogram B-17G Flying Fortress

vetteman42

Next Rob will figure out a way to have exhaust coming from those stacks

Amazing work Rob

Believe me.  I tired.  Smoke generators are too big to fit in the wing and even if they did, they get too hot.  (like the ones used on model railroads)  and they provide continuous smoke.  I only need a puff at start up.  I started looking at those fancy battery powered cigarettes, but I would have to the computer chips reprogrammed and they are already buried in the wings and fuselage.

Cheers

Rob,

Been out of the loop for a good minute .... and WOW! It's really nice to come bakc to something like this. Thank you for posting this thread up ..... it definately inspires me to finish up my Fort when I get back home.

Lookin' great .... keep up the good work!

Lancair IV

It took awhile, and 3 attempts, but I finally have an exhaust ring that looks acceptable.  A little paint and weathering this week, and the engine will be complete.  I'll leave the tube going to the turbo long until I install it onto the airframe.

Cheers

Just Wow!  I am guessing that's copper and/or brass wire and tubing that's been soldered up and painted, but could you please explain in detail how you created that?  Thank you.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

CrashTestDummy

Lancair IV:

It took awhile, and 3 attempts, but I finally have an exhaust ring that looks acceptable.  A little paint and weathering this week, and the engine will be complete.  I'll leave the tube going to the turbo long until I install it onto the airframe.

Cheers

 

Just Wow!  I am guessing that's copper and/or brass wire and tubing that's been soldered up and painted, but could you please explain in detail how you created that?  Thank you.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Hi Gene,

    Ya.  It's all brass soldered and filed, then primed with Tamiya primer.  I made a jig out of wood.  I drilled 9 holes at a 15 degree angle to the main tube.  These 9 holes were spaced every 40 degrees and about 7/8 dia.  The length of the pipes are long right now and will be trimmed to fit the cylinders after I make and install the fixed cowl.  The jig held the cylinder tubes in place, while I soldered the ring to them.  How's that?  Clear as mud! 

Speaking of Fix Cowl.  I picked up the mold on the way home tonight.  Should be able to try my vacuum molder tomorrow.

Cheers

Adventures in Vacuum Molding.

       I did the first pull and learned a lot.  The plastic was not close to being hot enough.  On the second pull I let the plastic get warm enough to sag about an inch in the holding fixture.  I placed it on the mold, my wife threw the vacuum switch and bingo bango, we have a fixed cowl.  I did use a heat gun to help get the plastic into the tight areas. 

Cheers

Lancair IV

Adventures in Vacuum Molding.

       I did the first pull and learned a lot.  The plastic was not close to being hot enough.  On the second pull I let the plastic get warm enough to sag about an inch in the holding fixture.  I placed it on the mold, my wife threw the vacuum switch and bingo bango, we have a fixed cowl.  I did use a heat gun to help get the plastic into the tight areas. 

Cheers

Hi Len,

   You got it.  Sheet Styrene.  Worked really well.  I made the frame from 1/2" X 1/2" strips.  I secured the plastic to the frame with metal binder clips.

Cheers

Just to be clear...the frame opening is wide enough to allow the plastic to make contact with the vac-box after heating? ( I`m an electrician...not a carpenter..lol) I think I can see that on your earlier post, just want to be sure. Do you use your stove top for heating?

Len

Hi Len,

    Yes.  The frame is just wide enough to go over the box.  The legs are just short enough to allow the top for the frame to be about 1/16" below the vacuum face.  I used the oven set at 400 degrees and the it only took about 3 minutes for the plastic to sag.

Cheers

Lancair IV

Hi Len,

    Yes.  The frame is just wide enough to go over the box.  The legs are just short enough to allow the top for the frame to be about 1/16" below the vacuum face.  I used the oven set at 400 degrees and the it only took about 3 minutes for the plastic to sag.

Cheers

 

Len

Not at all Len.  Not at all.

Here's the fixed Cowl all trimmed and almost ready for detailing.

Cheers

Very nice vac set up, Rob .... I was wanting to do something similar as a side project when I went home on leave. Shouldn't be too hard to build up in a day....

If you dont' mind me asking ... what type of vaccum do you use? Household or shop-vac?

Things are looking great! Can't wait for more updates....

Thanks.

I used a Rigid, 6 gallon, 2.5 hp shop vac.

Lancair IV

Thanks.

I used a Rigid, 6 gallon, 2.5 hp shop vac.

 

Len

Great ... thanks, Rob. While I don't have the same one, I know I've got one of similiar capacity.

Lancair IV

 

CrashTestDummy:

 

 

Lancair IV:

It took awhile, and 3 attempts, but I finally have an exhaust ring that looks acceptable.  A little paint and weathering this week, and the engine will be complete.  I'll leave the tube going to the turbo long until I install it onto the airframe

 

 

Just Wow!  I am guessing that's copper and/or brass wire and tubing that's been soldered up and painted, but could you please explain in detail how you created that?  Thank you.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

 

Hi Gene,

    Ya.  It's all brass soldered and filed, then primed with Tamiya primer.  I made a jig out of wood.  I drilled 9 holes at a 15 degree angle to the main tube.  These 9 holes were spaced every 40 degrees and about 7/8 dia.  The length of the pipes are long right now and will be trimmed to fit the cylinders after I make and install the fixed cowl.  The jig held the cylinder tubes in place, while I soldered the ring to them.  How's that?  Clear as mud! 

<SNIP>

Speaking of Fix Cowl.  I picked up the mold on the way home tonight.  Should be able to try my vacuum molder tomorrow.

<SNIP>

Cheers

That helps a LOT.  Thank you very much.  Your scratch-building work is really nice, and descriptions very helpful.  Thank you.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Well.....  What can I say.  The 3rd attempt at the exhaust ring was not the last.  I just couldn't get it to fit right.  This time, (5th or 6th time) I made it right on the engine.  When everything fit right, I cut it off so I could finish off the fillets and clamps.  Firewall is ready for hoses and wiring.

Thanks for looking.  Happy Thanksgiving.....

Exhaust system is painted.

Exhaust Ring and Fixed Cowl mounted to engine

Thanks for looking

Daaaaaaamn dude!!!

That's great work, Rob .... really great work. I'm sure that it's covered in previous pages, but what engines are you using???

Looking forward to more ....

modelchasm

That's great work, Rob .... really great work. I'm sure that it's covered in previous pages, but what engines are you using???

Looking forward to more ....

Thanks guys.  I'm using Vector engines.

Plumbing and Motor Mount installed

Cheers

Hey lanc, not sure if you've seen this.

http://home.comcast.net/~szee1a/Al_overcast/Al_overcast.html

Happy new Year all.  I can not believe how long it is taking me to do this airplane.  Last year at this time, I was working on the engines and props.  Today, I'm applying rivets to the fuselage.  I do see some light at the end of the tunnel and a goal.  February 4 is the IPMS Mid-Michigan contest.  I'm going to try like hell to get her done for that.  What do ya think Fermis?  You going?

Happy New Year.  Stay safe and have fun tonight.

Vary cool good thinking with the styrene 

?action=view¤t=B 17GRevell114.jpg

this is the picture out of the B-17G flying fortress walk around bye squadron signal 

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z323/P-47DD/?action=view&current=B-17GRevell116.jpg 

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z323/P-47DD/?action=view&current=B-17GRevell115.jpg

Yes i did buy 2 of the Revell B-17G only because i know when ever you open up a Revell box you never know what you will find haha

?action=view¤t=B 17GRevell114.jpg

Those rivet decals really are working well for you!  The B-17 was not the smoothest of aircraft, but it was one of the sturdiest.  I saw some test shot photos a number of months ago of a 1/32 scale B-17 model  (nope not out yet by anyone) and it was just like this!  All rivets all over!

Oh and they were actual photos of a kit assembled from the mold test shot!  Can't wait for that one! ($$$ though I bet)