The 144 Group Build - Complete, pics pg 1

Update on the beast.
There are a couple of nasty spots in the fuse. There is a panel that goes in the lower rear where the loading ramp would be if the cargo bay is closed up and it has some nasty gaps around it. Also, the nose is to narrow for the fuse and there are gaps there too. Along the underside there is a panel that runs from the main gear to the nose gear, nasty gaps here too. Problem is all but this last panel are supposed to be panels or doors that move so there are supposed to be panel lines there. I can't just putty them up and sand them out because there needs to be a panel line there.

It's going to be a PITA but I have to somehow reduce the gaps without actually removing them. I thought about filling them and then rescribing but I've never had any luck scribing lines through puttied areas. What to do?
If anyone is going to tackle this beast make a note, on my kit the nose is to narrow for the fuse so there is a nasty step there. The nose halves need to have about .010 added to the center join to bring things in line.

No pics tonight as everything looks the same but for some putty stripes. While that sits I'll tackle the engines.

Deeve,

If the Rev/Germany B-2 is the same kit as the Hobby Craft kit, I recommend building it with the gear down and the doors open.  I'm building mine with the gear up and doors closed and there is a lot of sanding to get it looking close to right.  If you're going to go inflight, I recommend getting one of those bags of Evergreen plastic odds and ends as it helps fill up the bays so you can close the doors (there's a lot of sprue in the kit to use as well).  You'll also need to fashion a wall inside the fuselage behind the intakes and exhausts as you can see all the way through.  Other than that it builds fairly easily.

HK,

The Beast is looking good.  If it's as big as you say, I may have to hold off on building it as I don't have that much space.

Have another model to add to the list of possibles as I got the Minicraft Boeing 314 Clipper kit last night at a club Christmas party.  Looks like a pretty nice kit. 

Lewbud

Thanks for the tip. I will definitely be keeping that in mind when I start it up.

I plan to build it wheels down so no worries there. I have only ever done one wheels up kit and that was an Academy 1/72 Wildcat for the War in the Pacific GB.

I'm going to bump this by posting a link for 1/144 cockpits.  Some of you probably already know about them, but here's a link to Matador out of the UK.  I've got another I'll add when I find a distributor.

Wish I'd known about Matador when I built the AC-130.  Anyone know someone who does 1/144 pilots?

Welsh make metal sitting ones. Ozmods makes resin ones.  Either would work.  Standing ones from Ozmods and Preiser both.  Ground crew from Preiser too. Anyone interested in PE tools and workstands? Resin oil drums?  I'm here for for info.  My contribution to the group build.

Thanks for the infor cassi, looking at the matador for some of the kits im planning on

Andrew

In that case, you might be interested in the PE WW2 Japanese seats Brengun makes, among other things.  Pretty new place.  I've only found it recently and it seems Paypal only.  If they can get the word out, it seems they have promise.

Another update.
I've been working on the engines for the last few days. Been under the weather for a few days and progress is slow but those engines and nacelles are taking up way more time than I thought they would.
They are all together now and the insides are painted and masked off. Primer has been applied to the nacelles and they are waiting on paint. I plan to paint them off the wings and install them later, easier to paint them off that big beast and simple to install afterward. Test fitting confirms they fit well.
Next time at the bench I'll get teh wings on and putty the trenches left behind.

Which markings is she going to be in? The kit has five and there are aftermarket ones.  I just imagine working in the wheel bay.  I peeked inside (and probably took pics  of) the one they displayed at Dayton a couple years back.  It was something else.

It will be the box top version, over all white with humanitairian aid markings.
The gear bay isn't bad at all actually. Clean up on the gear is a PITA but it's really straight forward. Only looks complicated.

Cassi,

You would happen to know of a US carrier for Welsh or Ozmods would you?  Thanks for the info.

HK,

Got any pics yet?

lewbud,

No new pics yet. I was so distracted by fixing the fit issues with the nacelles I forgot to take inprogress pics. The rest of the airframe looks like the pic above but instead of white it's mostly primer with streaks of filler work. I'm on the third round of seam work presently. Once I'm satisfied with the seam work and things are primered and sanded I'll take another pic or two.

I have a AC-130H and a B-47 I recently picked up. I think I'll be starting with the AC-130 and see where it goes from there.

Let me do a little more digging, I'm pretty sure neither have one.  Pacific Front carries Ozmods ship models.  Roll Models carry some stuff, but neither seem to have the conversion packs which the pilots are lumped with..  I'm not aware of any US carrier of any part of Welsh. Hannants naturally carries some in Britain.  For some reason, either they didn't look for one or they can't find one.

Count me in with a F-4 Phantom.

Are we allowed more than one kit for the build? If so,I would like to add the Sweet 1/144 A6M2 Zero along with the aforementioned Otaki/Arii F-102 kit. Many thanks and cheers....Douglas

More than one kit is certainly allowed.  I think Konigwolf is doing six or seven.  As my grandmother used to say when serving pork loin for dinner, "take two they're small."

Please sign me up, Andrew.  

    I will be entering a 1971 Revell 747-100, which will be built after N7470, the first 747 to fly.      It will be a MID (Mirror Image Display) build and be posed just after lift-off above the speed-blurred runway surface.

   I've already cut the flap positions on the wing and scratchbuilding the flaps, because I didn't know about this GB until Cassie invited me.      

   Thanks,

   Frank

I'm a shameless promoter.  If I didn't have so much other stuff started, I'd be tempted to join in myself.

Sorry for the lack of updates people, family and christmas does get in the way of real life hobbies sometimes.

hkshooter, the beast is looking good , nice progress, sorry to hear about the conumdrum its started to present.

For the rest of us 14 and a bit days till offiicial kick off. Cassibill 1- at last count I think I'm down for 11 builds and 2 C'on join the build you know you want to LOL.

While out looking at christmas pressies the missus keeps pushing me to get a stealth fighter, so I did (1/144 scale revell, I just didnt tell her . She also doesnt know shes going to build it . I have to help her with her scrapbooking (including setting up and cleaning the airbrush), I figure she can be involved in my hobby.

Andrew

Just because I have 36 (actually one is Minicraft's thunderbirds set of 6 f-16s so I guess there are 41) 1/144 kits in stash, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Just because my mom has encouraged me to join a time or three, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Just because my subconscious brought to my attention the fact that TECHNICALLY the Minicraft P-47D bubbletop is one in my "started" pile since I cut the rudder off to offset it and that's it, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Just because I KNOW that Santa bought tools for my stocking, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join. 

Just because I bought the foil for the P-47's NMF, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join. 

Just because I happened to get a 1/48 plan book that included the P-47 last week, doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Just because the back of my mind is applying a tarmac to a 4"x4" wood base that is stashed under my , doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

I will resist.

I will resist.

I will resist.

I will resist.

I will resist.

Bump!  I'm resisting.

You know you want to

Still need to think of a badge???

Here's the beast in paint. The tape is to protect edges that get abused while I maneuver the beast around the bench, bumping it into just about everything in the process. Paint has been touched up, repainted, touched up some more, repainted.... you get the picture. 
For anyone thinking of using Press and Seal food wrap for a masking media, don't do it. Trust me.

Nice looking beast hkshooter.  It's just like the one at Dayton.  Never thought of masking the tips that way.  Good to know.

We all know this is how you'll be at some point! Wounded and crazy!

Just because I dug the 'bolt out of underdesk storage at my sister's and brought it home over break, it doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Just because I did some digging on the "Amy Lou", it doesn't mean I'm tempted to join.

Resistance is futile!

Cassi,

We have cookies, come join us!

HK,

The beast is looking great!

Sounds like a good 1st group build. Something small to hide the mistakes! LOL. Looking at a Helo (MH-60) maybe something else. Will update. Great group build idea.

Travis

OK shooter.

My curiousity has the better of me now. Why should we resist the urge to use press'n'seal as masking media! I have thought of trying this myself!