Completed 10/27/17 Monogram P-61 Black Widow

Making good progress. I have several of these in my stash, all pre 1980 with some still sealed. I plan to make a mold of the main gears before I start so that I can cast metal gears since one side is quite weak and tends to snap on these. I know there is an after market gear, but funding is an issue plus I have some old jewelry metal that's begging to be turned into something useful. Looking forward to your finished model.

Hunter

 

 

Toshi

 

 

Hunter

Hello Toshi,

Man oh man its looks awesome....you did a great job so far with your PE! I'm not surprised. What color green did you apply to the pit?

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much Hunter!  These seatbelts were a chore to use.  I wouldn’t recomend them.  They are made of some type of layered paper and they tend to split when bent.  

 

Personally, I would prefer Eduard PE.  But I managed to get them done.  The color I used is Model Master Green Zinc Chromate #4852.  Thank you for the inquiry as well as the support.

Toshi

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear they were difficult to work with. I wonder if you applied a very small amount of water to them if they would bind easier. Either way it looks fantastic!

 

 

Toshi

MrStecks

Nice job on the belts there Toshi.  And the whole pit is coming along nicely.  I get really frustrated with PE, but especially with the seat belts.  I know there are options out there and one of these days I'll have to try some.

Cheers, Mark

 

Some of these products out there are very realistic.  You can also start by using Tamiya tape.  Many members use this technique as well although I have yet to try it.  I still prefer PE belts no matter how much of a PITA it is.  lol!  Thank you for your support and visit!

Toshi

AT6

Making good progress. I have several of these in my stash, all pre 1980 with some still sealed. I plan to make a mold of the main gears before I start so that I can cast metal gears since one side is quite weak and tends to snap on these. I know there is an after market gear, but funding is an issue plus I have some old jewelry metal that's begging to be turned into something useful. Looking forward to your finished model.

 

Maybe if it’s possible, do a tutorial WIP for forum members.  I’m intrigued!  Thank you AT6, your support and read and reply is greatly appreciated.

Toshi

Here is a set of photos in regards to the www.HGWMODELS.cz #148533 seatbelts.  It took me all day to thread the belts for all three seats.

Toshi

As promised, I will add a side by side comparison of the AM parts compared to the OOB items.  I’ll even assemble the OOB parts to show the differences.  I hope you enjoy the photos.  As a note: the AM turret is non-functional as oppose to the OOB turret.  Also the AM turret has a lowered stance.

Toshi

Pre-prep

 Setting up the PE

 Getting ready to paint

PE Lamp

 PE Lamp painted

 Completed and painted bulkheads

 Bulkhead installed

Toshi, very nice work on the cockpit. I love detailing cockpits, and it's nice that this plane at least has enough glass to show some of that great work of yours

bstarr3

Toshi, very nice work on the cockpit. I love detailing cockpits, and it's nice that this plane at least has enough glass to show some of that great work of yours

 

Toshi

Here is the Quickboost QB 48 643 P-61A Black Widow Guns Turret 1/48 Scale assembled.

The OOB guns turret

Painted by hand the front tricycle landing gear bay with the old school square bottle of Testors Yellow Zinc Chromate #1184.

Forum Members, do you remember painting building and painting your kits with the Testors square bottles?  I just had to have one, especially the enamel paint.  lol!

Toshi

This time around, I didn’t CA the front tricycle landing gear.  It’s fully functional and ready to go.  Just like Monogram designed this some forty plus years ago.    This way I can’t do the stupid thing and glue it on with CA backwards!  lol!  

Toshi

She's comeing along nicely , Toshi!

About half of my paint supply is Testor's square bottle's

I do have a question. The interior is a green zinc Chromate or some like color ( Tamaya interior green) Are the wheel wells suppose to be the same color or are they Zinc Chromate Yellow like you have?

I have always built  the P-61 with Zinc Cromate Green in the wheel wells.

Have I been doing it wrong all these year's? ( Why didn't someone smack me?)

Toshi-  Have been away a few days.  Nice progress and work on the pit, guns and wheel well.  The belts seem to have been a chore, but you did a beautiful job with them.

As usual, you find a way to make something dificult and tedious look fantastic when in place.

littletimmy

She's comeing along nicely , Toshi!

About half of my paint supply is Testor's square bottle's

I do have a question. The interior is a green zinc Chromate or some like color ( Tamaya interior green) Are the wheel wells suppose to be the same color or are they Zinc Chromate Yellow like you have?

I have always built  the P-61 with Zinc Cromate Green in the wheel wells.

Have I been doing it wrong all these year's? ( Why didn't someone smack me?)

 

As for the question in regards to the Green Zinc Chromate or Yellow Zinc Chromte, I decided to follow Bill Plunk’s build.  October issue of FSM.  His is a GWH 1/48 P-61, he paints his with Green Zinc Chromate interior while the wheel wells are Yellow Zinc Chromate.  I thought it looked cool plus I just wanted to follow his build as an example.  

I don’t think you were wrong at all.  I’ve read and seen various Zinc Chromate (Green and Yellow) used on WWII aircraft.  All it was was a anti-corrosion protection measure.  The Corsair had even a Salmon pink rear interior Chromate type of paint in it.

The two examples I’ve seen was a Corsair pulled out of one of the Great Lakes and Tamiya’s 1/32 Corsair build book.  Again, I’m just following and using as my example, Bill Plunk‘s Black Widow build. 

Toshi

goldhammer

Toshi-  Have been away a few days.  Nice progress and work on the pit, guns and wheel well.  The belts seem to have been a chore, but you did a beautiful job with them.

As usual, you find a way to make something dificult and tedious look fantastic when in place.

 

The guns were knew to me.  I’ve never utilized the Quickboost gun turret before.  I did the wheel wells with a different Zinc Chromate color then the interior as I’m following as an example Bill Plunk’s GWH 1/48 P-61 Black Widow in the October issue of FSM.  So far, everything has been hand painted, I have yet to use the AB.  I’m using the AB when painting the exterior of the Black Widow.  

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read and reply on my Black Widow thread.  I so enjoy our conversations as well as the read and reply!

Toshi

Cockpit left side instrument panel.

Toshi

Here is the left side of the cockpit all done.  Now it’s the right side of the cockpit to complete then I’ll almost be ready to join the fueselauge together.

Toshi

Hey Toshi.  I have a few of those in my stash so I was really interested when you started this kit.  As always, I look forward to seeing your posts!

Toshi, the cockpit is spectacular!  Super job!  Your attention to detail is awesome!

Eagle90

Hey Toshi.  I have a few of those in my stash so I was really interested when you started this kit.  As always, I look forward to seeing your posts!

Toshi, the cockpit is spectacular!  Super job!  Your attention to detail is awesome!

 

 

 

You’ve got quite the collection sir.  I want to thank you for your interest in the start of my P-61 build.  I greatly appreciate it.  Also thank you for following my posts.

Your kind words about my cockpit and attention to detail is very humbling.  I learned these things from Forum members like you.

Toshi

Looking good so far!  I have yet to try any of the aftermarket add-ons, though I've got a few waiting for me.

Dave

hi toshi man you are really moving along on this 1. there is someone here in the states I can't remember there site but there rebuilding a p-61 that crashed on and island in 44/45 . they most of it together now and all there interior parts  are painter in yellow chromate and cockpits are green chromate. its a easy site to find and they have posted all the pics from the beginning. lots of info.

jerry

shamoo

Looking good so far!  I have yet to try any of the aftermarket add-ons, though I've got a few waiting for me.

Dave

 

Toshi

blackdog62

hi toshi man you are really moving along on this 1. there is someone here in the states I can't remember there site but there rebuilding a p-61 that crashed on and island in 44/45 . they most of it together now and all there interior parts  are painter in yellow chromate and cockpits are green chromate. its a easy site to find and they have posted all the pics from the beginning. lots of info.

jerry

 

 

Thank you for everything!  I saw the site.  It is very informational.  Isn’t it incredible in how they can take a crashed Black Widow from an island jungle forest and bring it back to the states to rebuild it!  I’m amazed.

Toshi

 Here is the complete left fueselage of the Black Widow.  If you noticed, I went with the OOB Gun Turret instead of the Quickboost Gun Turret.  In my humble opinion, DO NOT BY THE QUICKBOOST GUN TURRET!  The AM Gun Turret not only does not fit, it looks completely historically and visually incorrect.  Now it’s some adjusting to make the right side fueselage assembly glue together.  Please view the photo below.

Toshi

Here is the two halves of the fueselauge assembled together.

Toshi

speaking of there b-24 I wished k picked 1 up because it looks like it's not being molded anymore?

The cockpit, seat and belts look awesome, Toshi. Can't wait to see you finish this kit.

blackdog62

speaking of there b-24 I wished k picked 1 up because it looks like it's not being molded anymore?