1/48 Monogram B-17G Flying Fortress

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 ....

Daaaaaaamn dude!!!

Exhaust Ring and Fixed Cowl mounted to engine

Thanks for looking

Exhaust system is painted.

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.....

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

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

Lancair IV

Thanks.

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

 

Len

Thanks.

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

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....

Not at all Len.  Not at all.

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

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

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

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,

   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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Amazing work Rob

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

Lancair , inverting the polarity of energy the fortress could be really an outstanding fan too

perfect work on the engines structure

Hi folks.

Well, I have been offline for quite some time due to a move, but I finally got my system working again (why is it that even the shortest distance move will almost always mess up a computer?).  I don't have accessto 99% of my kit stash and about 85% of my paints and supplies, so I am going to jump in and do one of my B17-G Monogram kits.  They don't require a lot of oddball paint colors and I can do them in their non painted silver scheme.  It's going to be strictly OOB.  I'm going to have to substitute a couple of colors like Medium Green instead of Zinc Chromate Green, but I think I can get it to come out looking fairly good with what I have.  Now I just have to find my glue...

Rich

   for more

If you decide to make a set of those engine mounts, let me know, I would love a set of those.

Man that motor mount is a work of art and very good eyes Rob

I always get a little excited when i see you post in this thread.