Very old REVELL B52 WIP

That's right.

GMorrison

Correct For Alabama Angel.

original Leper Colony? Come on Carlos, you know this 

 

Why that was the Air Execs ship in 12 O’Clock High

Phew... you scared me. Nearly kicked me out of my cold med coma! That was funny though. That is something that I would have said! Lol. 

Keep having fun with it Mark. That's what it's all about. The rest will follow.

No problem sir.  That is exactly how the message was received.  The model is a BIG TIME OPPORTUNITY for me to get up to speed because of the extra work involved.  Like they say, (whoever they are) "Smooth seas don't make for skillful sailors."  

I am having fun because I am doing all this extra work and learning as I go.  I am also amused at the mistakes I am making and "chalking it up" as my mom says.  It is a bit of a comedy of errors at times as I think "What did I just do?", but as long as it doesn't devolve into a tragedy of errors I should be ok.  

Thank you for your support.  It does mean a lot.

mmthrax

It did not escape me that after the word "opportunity", the words "big time" were in all caps.  It's OK.  I'm having fun.

Oh........................ MAN! I didn't mean it that way. I just mean that the older kits are often made to some very questionable standards. Heck--even many newer kits too. A person has to work really hard to make them into something nicer than what they gave you. I worked on a few older kits and man... I spent most of my time trying to fix the stupid defects. My point then was this. Overcoming those defects is what really hones a persons skills... BIG TIME.  It puts you on the fast track. Get it! Got it? Good!  

Thanks guys for commenting on my build and mentoring the project.  I also enjoy the contributions regarding paint schemes, history, and the plane in general.  I find it fascinating that the B-52 has made an impression upon almost everyone in some way.  

Keep those posts coming!

Best regards to all.

Mark

Bakster

Hey Mark.. I found ya. You can not be in better hands than with this group. Fantastic people, and modelers. There has been some excellent advice already. 

You picked a tough model for sure. But, like already said, it is an opportunity to grow, BIG TIME. I love your enthusiasm. It is refreshing. I'd probably be poking my eyes out by now over some of this stuff.

Keep it up! I'll be watching this cool plane come together. 

Bakster

 

Hey Bakster, 

Thanks for following along. 

I am glad that the guys have helped me.  I have received some great information. 

I think the model saw me coming a mile away and said "HIM, I'll get that guy!"  It did not escape me that after the word "opportunity", the words "big time" were in all caps.  It's OK.  I'm having fun.

Mark

Correct For Alabama Angel.

original Leper Colony? Come on Carlos, you know this 

The SIOP and SEA B-52s used the same topside colors. The main difference was the bottom color, and the vertical tail. On the SIOP scheme, it was in the upper surface colors, while the SEA B-52s had that area in black. Also the demarcation line between the upper and lower colors was in different locations: low for SIOP and high for SEA.

There were two camouflage schemes following the initial natural metal over white; the SIOP (single integrated operating plan) three color camo on top with white undersides, used by SAC for nuclear alert, and the modified South East Asia  three color camo on top but with black undersides used by the D models that carried out most of the conventional bomb raids over Vietnam. I don’t have the references handy,  but I believe the SIOP and SEA schemes used different colors from each other for the top camo.

The current gray camo was only used on the the short tail G and H models.

I read the book over fifty years ago, but I recall it was named Alabama Angel. 

I did the Academy 1/72 B52 for my son-in-law for christmas last year the instruction showed 4 paint schems. One was 3 color combo the one I did then was one bottom half of air craft painted black top half battle ship gray and then 2 all gray schems.     ACESES5              

Major Kong’s aircraft was the second one in a movie to be named “Leper Colony”.

Which was the first?

Bonus question- what was the name of the B-52 in the book?

Strangelove trivia, yippee !

GMorrison

I had that one way back- consolation prize for spending the weekend with grandparents, from a favorite uncle.

i like the idea of SAC silver over white- General Turgidson approves.

 

 

Silver over White has a purity of essence...

I had that one way back- consolation prize for spending the weekend with grandparents, from a favorite uncle.

i like the idea of SAC silver over white- General Turgidson approves.

Hey Mark.. I found ya. You can not be in better hands than with this group. Fantastic people, and modelers. There has been some excellent advice already. 

You picked a tough model for sure. But, like already said, it is an opportunity to grow, BIG TIME. I love your enthusiasm. It is refreshing. I'd probably be poking my eyes out by now over some of this stuff.

Keep it up! I'll be watching this cool plane come together. 

Bakster

GMorrison

A suggestion. Mask the seams as closely as you can to the crack before you putty. Just putting it on in a freehand way creates all kinds of unneeded extra work, and it's leading to a lot of collateral damage.

 

Bill

 

Thanks Bill for the suggestion.  I will take that to heart.  I can see how that would be a big help.  "Collateral damage".  Yikes.  Don't need any of that.  I appreciate the constructive comment.  I am sure the new method will yield great dividends.  

Jay Jay

I may be wrong but it appears that you are using a too course grade of sandpaper to start. I can see some really deep scratches in your model that may be hard to get out and cause you more unecessary work.  Have you tried using files for this operation ?  I've found that files take down the flaws pretty quick and don't leave terrible scratch marks or gouges in the plastic. Of course sandpaper is the only way sometimes and you have to take care not to use  too aggressive of a grade.

 

No Jay Jay, you are exactly right.  I need some needle files.  I have been using the tiny sanding sticks from Alpha Abrasives.  I started with the roughest one I had, (100) and I worked my way to 320.  I noticed the gouges left behind from previous labor ops.  Mental note:  Don't do that again.  I will for sure change my methods in future.  

Thanks for the view and the comment.  

Thanks for the view and comment Carlos.  I do appreciate any comments and constructive critiques.  I didn't even notice that till I uploaded the pics.  You are right.  I need to do that.  In future, I will try not to get it there in the first place.  

No aftermarket for this baby. It's a box scale, about 1:175.

A suggestion. Mask the seams as closely as you can to the crack before you putty. Just putting it on in a freehand way creates all kinds of unneeded extra work, and it's leading to a lot of collateral damage.

Bill

I may be wrong but it appears that you are using a too course grade of sandpaper to start. I can see some really deep scratches in your model that may be hard to get out and cause you more unecessary work.  Have you tried using files for this operation ?  I've found that files take down the flaws pretty quick and don't leave terrible scratch marks or gouges in the plastic. Of course sandpaper is the only way sometimes and you have to take care not to use  too aggressive of a grade.

You might want to take a needle or similar object to clean the putty out of the panel lines on the stabilizers.

This was really fun here.  Keyda81 suggested using Perfect Plastic Putty, so I decided to give it a go.  Thanks Keyda.  I watched the instructional video and it seemed pretty cool.  I ordered the syringe kit too.  It comes with three tiny needles.  I picked the right size, then gave it a squirt right in the gap.  A barely moistened Q-tip was used to run across the top of the seams.  Almost too easy.  I am a fan for sure.  The large smear you see on the right rear stabilizer was me wiping up some moisture.  The white showed up when the bulk of the moisture disappeared.  An even less moist Q-tip got rid of that.

The other side was just as easy.  

The residue on the fuselage was easily wiped off with my dry fingertip.  So far I am a big fan of PPP.  I will use a knife edged piece of sandpaper to try to finesse it, but it almost looks as if it would pass as is.

I will keep you posted.  Thanks for looking.

Another engine pod.  Looks OK.  Ready for spray primer.

Fuselage needs some attention. 

I used the same liquid primer.....

and it turned out OK too.

The rest of the topside looks OK.

Top of the fuel tank.  Needs work.

For this I used Tamiya liquid surface primer, to see what it would do.

Turned out OK.  I think it is ready for spray primer now.

This is the underside of the engine pod.  It is also better than before, but could still improve some.  

Here is something that caught my eye.  Can you see the tiny nubs? 

I wondered what the deal was, then I saw this picture.  This is what I think is the same model as mine, only a very old one from the 50's.  Can you see where it says United States Air Force?  Very interesting.  

A little massaging and the nubs are gone.

Hello all.  Some more progress.

I have been sanding away at these engines.  They look a little better.  They feel much smoother.  I am trying to get the smoothest feel I can get before applying primer.  Then I will start the process all over.  

This is pretty crude.  I tried to improve the appearance.

This is the result.

It is marginally better, but I think I will go at it again.

That’s the best attitude; “I’m having fun”!  If you’re not having fun, this nor any Hobby is not the Hobby for you.  You’ll do well as you’re moving in the right direction.  There’s  a fantastic support group here for you to assist you in anyway!

Your friend, Toshi

Hey thanks Keyda81.  I'll check into that right now.  Need to save those braincells.  Don't want to get loopy on putty fumes.  I appreciate the tip.