philo426

Do not bother with pre made masks.just burnish the tape on and carefully cut the tape with a new #11exacto blade.

 

Toshi

GMorrison

Toshi, don't rely on the masks to work. Really burnish them down all around with a toothpick.

Then a nice touch would be to first paint green chromate, then the olive drab.

 

Toshi

Do not bother with pre made masks.just burnish the tape on and carefully cut the tape with a new #11exacto blade.

Toshi, don't rely on the masks to work. Really burnish them down all around with a toothpick.

Then a nice touch would be to first paint green chromate, then the olive drab.

To my fellow forum members,

If you look carefully, the first photo depicts two sets of canopy masks.  One was from the actual kit, the other mask was from Eduard.  Why do I need two sets?

Well, interesting as it is, here's a tip for those of you considering purchasing the GWH Widow kit.  Some of the GWH canopy masks do not fit.  Luckily, this kit included a Eduard AM canopy mask.  In order to successfully mask the canopies, I had to utilize some of the Eduard sets.

As you can see below, look at how many were replaced.  Continuing on, there's still four more PE sets to assemble.  There's still a lot more to do, this will be really fun.  I'll ensure to post every step I take with this kit.  Once again, thank you forum members in advance in taking your time out during your busy schedule and visiting my threads!

Toshi

P.S.  Notice how well GWH packs their products.  The Perspex nose cone has its own bubble type container to protect it from damage and or scratch.  I still don't no what color I'm painting the P-61.  Black or O/D?  LOL!

I have here the fuselage of the Widow.  All seams have been cleaned and are ready to prime.

Toshi

philo426

Looking good!that kit sure has a lot of detail!

 

Toshi

Once again in real time, I have here to share with you all, the right fueselauge rear interior.  Although extremely difficult for me, I'm having a blast with the added PE!  Thank you forum members in advance.

Toshi

UKguyInUSA

Cracking job so far in that pit, Toshi, looks like a very nice kit!

 

Keep having fun!

Cheers,

Martin

 

Toshi

Cracking job so far in that pit, Toshi, looks like a very nice kit!

Keep having fun!

Cheers,

Martin

What you see here is the left side fueselage rear interior filled with PE.  In a way, I'm doing this (Building and posting) in real time.  It would be pretty neat if I could stream a live video of this build.  That's real time.  Thank you forum members in advance.

Toshi

Gamera

Wow, that's a lot of aftermarket stuff there. Good luck, I know you're do a great job on her. 

 

Toshi

Wow, that's a lot of aftermarket stuff there. Good luck, I know you're do a great job on her. 

I could not resist to post this, I just had to.  It's my first official scratch build.  It's not perfect but...  I thought I could never do this, I'm so excited!

Toshi

This is the rear interior entry/exit hatch.  It depicts a ladder.  At least that was my goal.

Timdude

I have not been following this thread that closely but in answer to the frosted appearance of the fiberglass nose one must remember that A, fiberglass was relatively new at that time ( would have been space age had we been in space yet) and B, most of these aircraft were in the South Pacific and the intense sun beating down on them would make short work of fiberglass. Also if a particular air craft flew through a rain storm the water could have stripped the paint right off. Not saying this is what happened but just throwing out ideas.

Tim

 

Toshi

I have not been following this thread that closely but in answer to the frosted appearance of the fiberglass nose one must remember that A, fiberglass was relatively new at that time ( would have been space age had we been in space yet) and B, most of these aircraft were in the South Pacific and the intense sun beating down on them would make short work of fiberglass. Also if a particular air craft flew through a rain storm the water could have stripped the paint right off. Not saying this is what happened but just throwing out ideas.

Tim

The Hobbyist

 

 

Toshi

 

 

The Hobbyist

 

 

GMorrison

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

 

 

 

 

 

To me the nose on the P-61s that are confused with clear-nosed versions look to me as if they are 'frosted' plexiglass...I've read that they were made of fiberglass but I'm no Black Widow expert (although I am an expert in most everything else).  I would think that fiberglass is totally opaque and I've seen some Widows w tan nose covers...could there have been two versions of the nose in production?  I'm not proposing that any were 'clear' but it is obvious that some noses were semi-translucent and some were totally opaque...crazed plexiglass AND fiberglass...???

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much in helping and enlightening me on this build.  I truly appreciate your assistance in this matter.  I just don't know if I want to AB the P-61 black or O/D?  LOL!

 

Toshi

 

 

 

 

You are very welcome.  You are one of the good guys that take feedback in the spirit it's intended...there's a guy in 'Ships' that seems to NOT be able to take feedback so well and he's attempting to troll me in there...

 

 

Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

This is how bad my short term memory is.  I don't remember purchasing and building this kit.  I also forgot that this kit had the Big Ed PE.  So the interior photos at the beginning of this thread has no PE.  When I realized I was missing the PE, I had to tear apart the whole build and add the PE in.  Wow, what a huge mistake I made!

I'm a lucky man, I have all forum members helping me with each build.  With that, I was sent to get a MRI today to see why my issues continue in this fashion.  I'm hoping that everything is ok, I can only wait and see.

Now on to my P-61 of which I'm so excited about, I have some photos of this evenings build below, this is one hard and difficult PE kit.  I still don't know if I want to do the Widow the traditional black? Or O/D?  LOL!  I know this much, this is not your typical Toshi four day build!  LOL!

Toshi

dirkpitt77

 

 

GMorrison

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where were you eight years ago when I was building my '61?  LOL!  (probably right here in these forums, as was I  LOL   )

I bow to your larger wealth of knowledge.  

But I still like the clear nose! 

 

Toshi--your build is looking great so far! Nice job!

 

--Chris

 

Toshi

The Hobbyist

 

 

GMorrison

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

 

 

 

 

 

To me the nose on the P-61s that are confused with clear-nosed versions look to me as if they are 'frosted' plexiglass...I've read that they were made of fiberglass but I'm no Black Widow expert (although I am an expert in most everything else).  I would think that fiberglass is totally opaque and I've seen some Widows w tan nose covers...could there have been two versions of the nose in production?  I'm not proposing that any were 'clear' but it is obvious that some noses were semi-translucent and some were totally opaque...crazed plexiglass AND fiberglass...???

 

 

Toshi

GMorrison

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

 

 

I even went to Hobby Lobby and purchased extra bottles of black and O/D.  I know this much, This PE is difficult at best.  With that being said, it's going to take some time to assemble the P-61.  Which means I have some time before I lay down the first coat.  

I want to thank you so much for always helping me with my builds.  Your resources are endless.  Thank you sir!

Toshi

GMorrison

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

 

 

Where were you eight years ago when I was building my '61?  LOL!  (probably right here in these forums, as was I  LOL   )

I bow to your larger wealth of knowledge.  

But I still like the clear nose! 

Toshi--your build is looking great so far! Nice job!

--Chris

Toshi- it's your model so of course you can do whatever you want.

There were no "clear nosed" operational P-61s, according to my references. And I've got quite a bit. That a/c was what my father in law flew and maintained, so I've got his pictures, and a bunch of books I gave him that came back to me when he passed away.

DP's picture is of a prototype, a test aircraft. I'm not in alignment with his interpretation of the caption, but either way this wasn't something that was one way stateside and painted later. The aircraft were painted overall in the factory.

The other pictures from Hobbs are as I described- backlit by the setting sun, the fiberglass is translucent enough to just make out the shape of the radar.

BrandonK

Wow, that instrument panel is amazing. Nice work my man.

BK

 

Toshi

dirkpitt77

 

 

GMorrison

Second, there's no such thing as a glass nose, and I have no idea where GWH got the idea. There was a fiberglass nose, but thats a different animal. It was painted, either o/d or black. Some of the photos of the prototypes with the sun behind them make it look translucent, but it wasn't. I'm pretty sure the 25502 had a black nose, on an o/d aircraft, but that could easily change.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I could find it. I have a reference book on the P-61 I bought when I built the Revell kit a few years ago. I could swear there was at least one pic of a P-61 with a sort of frosted plexiglass nose. Or maybe it was heavily weathered so as to appear fogged and crazed. In any case, the radar unit inside was fairly visible still. Maybe we've seen the same picture.

Edit: Here it is---

http://www.skylighters.org/photos/pow07092001.html

 

That article says it WAS clear when it was still stateside, then painted over for security purposes when it went into combat. Is that what you meant, GMorrison (sorry, I forgot your first name) I'm guessing GWH probably saw this picture. It's the only pic of a transparent nose I can find online.

If you wanted to model a bird that hadn't seen combat yet, you could still do the transparent nose. I think it's kinda cool. 

Not trying to be argumentative. Just adding to the commentary. 

 

--Chris

 

I'm still wanting to AB the Widow black, that's how it's portrayed in most people's mind.  Anyway, I still have time.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

Yes.

Wow, that instrument panel is amazing. Nice work my man.

BK

That's a picture of a YP-61 test plane 41-18881. That nose was never a production item.

The fiberglass nose unpainted was off-white. You can't see into it, but if its backlit you can make out the outline of the radar.

Bill

GMorrison

Second, there's no such thing as a glass nose, and I have no idea where GWH got the idea. There was a fiberglass nose, but thats a different animal. It was painted, either o/d or black. Some of the photos of the prototypes with the sun behind them make it look translucent, but it wasn't. I'm pretty sure the 25502 had a black nose, on an o/d aircraft, but that could easily change.

 

I wish I could find it. I have a reference book on the P-61 I bought when I built the Revell kit a few years ago. I could swear there was at least one pic of a P-61 with a sort of frosted plexiglass nose. Or maybe it was heavily weathered so as to appear fogged and crazed. In any case, the radar unit inside was fairly visible still. Maybe we've seen the same picture.

Edit: Here it is---

http://www.skylighters.org/photos/pow07092001.html

That article says it WAS clear when it was still stateside, then painted over for security purposes when it went into combat. Is that what you meant, GMorrison (sorry, I forgot your first name) I'm guessing GWH probably saw this picture. It's the only pic of a transparent nose I can find online.

If you wanted to model a bird that hadn't seen combat yet, you could still do the transparent nose. I think it's kinda cool. 

Not trying to be argumentative. Just adding to the commentary. 

--Chris