The Officially Shameless PBY/Halloween '09 GB

Division 6 wrote:

Something I just noticed missing on both 1/72 and 1/48 models is the openings on the bottom in the rear tail section for the 2 tubes (markers?) Eric...

Eric,

I have found out what these tubes are according to my sources they are parachute flare adapters. Parachute flares are used to illunimate large areas.

Here are some tech manual pages that were provided to me.

hth.

Cheers,

Thom

Thanks for those refs Thom! Interesting stuff!

Coolness.

Thanks for the scans and info.

Haven't done any work the last few days after I tryed some painting.

Didn't like it so I gave the parts an EZ Off bath that removed most of it.

Gotta get some more primer and than break out the AB.

Eric... 

Bosun bondo pointed out elsewhere that it is Friday!  Time for some Torpedo juice and good times.

Glad to see someone else is finally working on this GB.

Looks like JetsPhotos has some new PBY pix up.

Edit. 

Most are the silver NL and 3 tone NZ birds but there are a few I've never seen before including a BM Spanish and a few Super Cat's. 

Airliners has new pix as well. 

Eric... 

Well my figures just showed up as did the Albatos DIII to go with one of my PBY's (it's tiny).

Sadly it doesn't have a pilot.

I think I have one I can modify for it though.

Eric... 

OMG what did that crazy person do??? Here's the pics of the Supercat after last nights little incident with the razor saw, and yes they get to drinkin' and they get to makin' music...

So off came the fabric rudder, and the foredeck and turret ring. I'm still searching for information on the horizontal stabs and the flaps/ ailerons.

The new rudder is a big slab affair. What's interesting is the thickness of it at the hinge line. maybe about 9". So I had planned to make the new rudder out of a piece of thick styrene, but it's going to have to be an airfoil that will take a build up.

The foredeck had to go. I tried to keep the frame across under the windscreen, but on the original a/c its a spray deflector kind of deal, while on the Supercat the deck goes back into it level.

The next big challenge is converting the R1830's to R2600's.

I just checked some pix I have including large versions of the tiny ones you posted.

You are going to have to modify the hoizontals as well, they are the type than go all the way around the end.

In fact most of the fire bombers appear to be that type.

And I thought I was crazy with my interiors.

Got the ribbing done in my second plane today and worked on the rear decking that will go in the gunners section. 

Eric... 

The BVD has arisen momentarily from a deep, moving meditation! (Moving being the operative term!)

Billy Bondoman has bitten off a large task! More guts than me, buddy! Keep at it! (BTW....grab that new guy NH from another GB and get him to join here!) (Shameless promotion!)....'tis my job.

 Not sure I understand the wraparound aspect of the horizontal stabes Eric.

As all you misfits know The Hallowed BVD has been moving his workbench to a new locality and has had mini-roadblocks.....as seem to be his lot. He is 90% in one house and 10% in this one!.....and still negotiating about radioman Barney and gunner Cubbie being transferred to the new CentCom!

Took in a bit of torp juice last night as Friday was dedicated to the move.....tempered by the misfortune of our Aussie pals with those horrible fires. Remember a prayer for them!

The model comes with the bottom type stab's where the super cat fire bomber needs to be modified to the top version.

Eric... 

Some more pix of the tail.

 Eric...

Thanks so much for the info, 6. Mine is the 53 there. The 85 and the 115 are definitely PBY-6's. Mine is a -5a. It's real hard to tell, but in the one pic there the elevator looks a little deflected downward, the older style. I guess I'm just going to have to watch the movie again and see what I can tell.

Any and all info is very welcome. The next project is enlarging the nacelles for the R2600's. I really would like to find a plan view to use as a pattern for the added sheet metal. From what I can discern, the bottom of the nacelle stays constant; the diameter of the cowling increases by about 10", and therefore the centerline of the crankshaft shifts up about 5". I have a donor B-25 that I found onsale cheap- the cowlings look right and scale out that way.

I am starting on the rudder, using the sideview that came with the decals as a pattern.

This might help with the tail.

Easier to see the details in white.

Eric... 

I take it that the stab's are linked and are always at the same level together.

Something I need to know before I put the flaps back on my bird.

Eric... 

Hey all,

so I'm pretty close to starting on the gear wells for the Revell 1/48 kit and I know there's been some back and forth here about the pros and cons of following the kit directions and assembling the landing gear as part of the gear housing before the fuselage halves are shut up tight.  So is there a general consensus?  For painting it seems to be it would be best to leave this assembly till later in the build, but I can't remember if folks ran into any particular problems in going that route. Anyone care to recap?

Much appreciated

Personally, on this kit I built the LG parts using the wells as a template. I white glued the struts in the well with white glue before attaching the wells to the fuse and built the assembly from there.

Then I moistened the white glue with a wet Q-Tip and detached the LG's from the wells. I then painted the LG assemblies as separate units, then went on to glue in the wells and closing the fuse. Very simple to me.

Someone else here went by the kit directions and masked the LG in the wells then painted the wells and they came out fine.

No consensus yet.....just these two examples that I know of.

Ahoy Aircrew! The beloved BVD has been busy with eeeeevrything but building!

Mike: I realize you have moved on to other assemblies, but with the LG, once I loosened the white glue from the wells 3 of the 4 attach points were still lined up perfectly and the last needed just a slight prod from a knife-tip to pop into place for final gluing.

With the wells as a template, I built them slowly using solvent glue and when sure the piece was well-seated and aligned properly I whacked the joint with some CA.

But as I have said.....whatever you're comfortable with!

I need some TJ......lousy week!

Well Aircrew..........The BVD is making the final cut today!

All that is left at this old addy are the clothes on my back, bottle of TJ, a couple boxes and of course, this PC!

Always the last to go, huh?

I may be on later tonight.....we shall see!

BVD-

Glad to hear that the move is finished today!  Hope the new pad is shaping up to be as good as you had hoped.  Let us know whe you are all moved in!

LT - Your Still Moving ? Or is it Your Moving your Still

I actually got brave enough to join the fuse halves. Although I spent a lot of time shaping the front turrent to fit properly. It is a squadron Vacu-form as I wanted one without a gun hole for the C/G version. 

While at PepBoys auto Parts yesterday I saw something that may be of intrest to some of you with the larger planes.

It's a ribbon with small LEDs on it similar to the ones here but with a black casing.

They come in diffirent lengths and colors (white, blue and red)

Now the ones at the store are already rigged up with a battery and switch so you can see what it looks like, so modding it for a model should be a no brainer.

So my thought on this little item is to run a strip on the ceiling of the fusalage to light the interior. 

Something to think about if you want to light you models.

Eric... 

I noticed the formation lights are missing on both scales.

One on the top of the main wing on each side (p/s) near the floats and one over the bubble area.

There are also the nav lights one the tail fin (white) and front tips of the main wings next to the floats. (Red Port - Green Starboard (Blue lense), these are present on the 1/48.

I'm guessing the white lights are what's listed as Anchor lights.

The tail one is in diffirent positions depending on the plane.

Some on the actual fin, some on the spar below it and some on the top.

Edit, found some more pix.

Eric... 

Sean that is looking great so far!!! Like Aaron said, That is a nice looking bomber as well!!!! We're sorry but, three big yellow cowls sticjs out like a sore thumb and enquiring minds want to know, What the flippin is that thing?????

Eric, nice tip, will look for something similar her in oz!!!!

Well since it's been so quiet lately I thought I'd post some updates.

More work done on bulkheads and hatches.

Some of the desks  and bunks are made. 

Added rings on the corners of the pontoons.

Worked on some of the flooring for the back blister area done.

Did up the PE parts for one of the cockpits.

Installed the wheel wells with PE parts.

Installed exaust pipes and fuel dump tubes. 

Did some work on the figures (lost 2 hands already ) 

Am in the process of removing the flaps on the engine cowls so they will be fared out a bit.

Think that's it for now.

I need to find some light grey primer, everywhere I've been to so far is out of grey.

Eric...