Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Don Just to let you know i haven't forgotten about you guys. During my time away from the bench, most of my time on here regarding GB's has been on my own which is now up and running. I am back to camp on Thurs and as i will have alot of free time i am expecting alot of progress on both kits.

Hey, no problem Bish.  You said earlier that there would be a short break away from the bench.  Will be good to see further progress on the 1101.

How come it's the little things that take so much time?  This update shows a few of the final steps to complete the Bone.  Not that there are no obstacles left (see below).  The main thing that I've recently accomplished is to paint, weather and install the bomb bay doors, which pretty much completes the payload compartments;

I've also added some of the defensive ops antennae.  Curiously, the Eduard PE set provides the antennae for the rear of the aircraft;

but not the forward antenae.  So I made them from Evergreen sheet plastic;

The Eduard set also includes the antennae located behind the flare dispensers;

I also didn't like the how the Eduard set portrayed the upper steps of the crew ladder.  Seemed to be just too thin relative the the lower steps on the kit supplied part.  So I cut and replaced the upper steps with brass rod;

Lastly, I removed the masks and found that I have a litle work to do with the clear parts.  There was a slight step between the canopy windows and the fuselage which will require smoothing.  Some delicate sanding since there are a few decals very close by.  Still working to smooth that area;

but you can see the "nose" art of aircraft 85-084;  Hard Rain.  And a glimpse of Commander's arm.  Remember way back?  There are figures in the Comander's and co-pilot's seats.

Now the obstacle: The PE set provides the six pitot tubes that are located on the nose.  Six small circular bases and six very small sensors.  Small PE parts are usually a recipe for disaster for me and this was no exception.  Five of the circular bases went on just fine; the sixth went "ping!!" when I tried to pick it up with tweezers and was lost to the carpet monster.    OK, no sweat since I had recently purchased one of my own Holiday gifts; a punch & die set.  Just punch out a plastic disc and continue.   But the sensors are even smaller, and a long, long, long, long story short... I lost two of those before even installing a  single one successfully.    So now I'm thinking about how I can replace them with plastic parts. 

That's it for now...  Let's see how everyone else is progressing.

Don

Very nice work there Don. Good luck with those missing sensors. The punch and die set is a nice tool to have, which one did you get?

I've done a little painting on the cockpit and got the seats together. No pics to post right now. Exams are next week  so I've been very busy with school but hope to make progress over the holidays.

Tony

Looking very nice Don. Whats that load on the external pylon. Did that come with the kit.

Don, nice work on the bay doors.  The look great.    Nice job on the crew door too

Tough break on the PE parts.  I gotta make the nose sensors out of sheet plastic.  I planned on using the kit provided parts as templates.  I also have to make the forward defensice avionic sensors and the sensors aft of the flare dispensers too.  I planned on using .010 sheet for the sensors on the nose and upper fuselage and .020 for the DAS on the belly by the wheel bay.  In your opinion, would that look right?

As for my build I got the bay doors primed last  night and I plan on painting them white this evening.  I planned on getting the upper fuselage repainted last night too but all this snow we have been getting makes for a loooooong ride home at midnight......when the plows are already asleep I think. 

Here are a few pics of the belly of the plane with the corrected camo colors

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Wingman_kz

Very nice work there Don. Good luck with those missing sensors. The punch and die set is a nice tool to have, which one did you get?

I've done a little painting on the cockpit and got the seats together. No pics to post right now. Exams are next week  so I've been very busy with school but hope to make progress over the holidays.

Tony

Tony, I just went with the Micro-Mark set. Wasn't quite ready to splurge the big bucks for the Waldron set.  We'll see how this works. Good luck with the exams.

Bish:  The external pylon carries the sniper advanced targeting pod

http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080606-047.pdf

It was not a kit part, but aftermarket produced by shawn hull resin parts

http://www.shull24.com/

Don

I rather like that. Pity they don't do 1/72nd, but then i think it wouldn't go with my B-1 as i think all the markings are pre 06.

macattack80

... I also have to make the forward defensice avionic sensors and the sensors aft of the flare dispensers too.  I planned on using .010 sheet for the sensors on the nose and upper fuselage and .020 for the DAS on the belly by the wheel bay.  In your opinion, would that look right?

Nice progress on the camo, Kevin.  And I'm jealous that your wings still swing    My reference photos show that the lower DAS are thicker with rounded edges, so 0.02 stock would be appropriate I think.  But thinner stock would also work and in fact, mine are 0.01 plastic, simply to be more consistent with the thickness of the PE parts that I used. 

We got our first snow of the season over the weekend and haven't seen temps close to the freezing mark since then.  But nothing to compare with you "Lake Effects" guys in the Buffalo-Rochester area.

Don

Bish

I rather like that. Pity they don't do 1/72nd, but then i think it wouldn't go with my B-1 as i think all the markings are pre 06.

Yes, sniper pods are a recent acquisition on the Bone.  Not sure if I recall seeing a sniper pod in 1/72 but Shawn Hull does only 1/48 stuff.  Might be worth a search because it may not be that difficult to find markings for post 2007 B-1 aircraft in 1/72.  TwoBobs makes the same sheet that I have in 1/48 in the smaller scale and that sheet has several options for more recent aircraft. 

Don

pordoi

Nice progress on the camo, Kevin.  And I'm jealous that your wings still swing    My reference photos show that the lower DAS are thicker with rounded edges, so 0.02 stock would be appropriate I think.  But thinner stock would also work and in fact, mine are 0.01 plastic, simply to be more consistent with the thickness of the PE parts that I used. 

We got our first snow of the season over the weekend and haven't seen temps close to the freezing mark since then.  But nothing to compare with you "Lake Effects" guys in the Buffalo-Rochester area.

 

Thanks for the kind words and advice.  I think I will go with .02 for the DAS and .01 for the other sensors.

Once it starts snowing here it doesn't stop until April.   Just gotta put on your winter driving face and drive everywhere at like 30mph. 

Bish, have a look here:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev3/2001-2100/rev2068-Sniper-XR-Pod-Bradley/00.shtm

Not the correct B1 pylon but might be close enough.

Don

Those punches look good to me Don. Is the cover/clear plate fixed in place or can you lift it and set it on whatever you're punching? Just curious, can't tell from the photo on their site. Thanks for the well wishes, I think I'll be ok. One exam will be simple, two are take home, it's the electrical that will be toughest.

Kevin, I hadn't noticed that you're in Buffalo, you folks have been hit pretty hard over the last few days. I'm hoping we don't have as much snow as we did last year. It sure was tough trying to keep the basement warm enough to work in.   Your B-1 is really coming together. I haven't said much but I've been checking in. Nice recovery on the camo. Well done.

Tony

Wingman_kz

Those punches look good to me Don. Is the cover/clear plate fixed in place or can you lift it and set it on whatever you're punching?

Well I'll let you know when it arrives  .  Actually, the top clear plate appears to be removable; the medium is placed between the clear plate and a stainless plate below.

Wingman_kz

Kevin, .... Your B-1 is really coming together. I haven't said much but I've been checking in. Nice recovery on the camo. Well done.

I'll echo that again.  It's been neat to see the three Bones take shape in this GB because each is quite different.  Aggieman started off with an in flight earlier Bone in desert camo; Kevin doing a cold war era Bone in SAC tri-color camo and carrying a nuclear payload; and mine being a modern Bone in gunship gray with optical targeting technology and a smart bomb payload.  Kind of an abbrevaited history of the development of the B1 shown in 1/48 scale. 

Don

Wingman_kz

Kevin, I hadn't noticed that you're in Buffalo, you folks have been hit pretty hard over the last few days. I'm hoping we don't have as much snow as we did last year. It sure was tough trying to keep the basement warm enough to work in.   Your B-1 is really coming together. I haven't said much but I've been checking in. Nice recovery on the camo. Well done.

Tony

We wouldn't have it any other way here in B-lo.  We are used to a lot of snow but 42 inches of snow in a day is a bit much.  My basement is usually warm because I have some heat vents around here and there.   

Thanks for the comments on my build.  At times I wish I went with the overall Gunship Gray, but I love the look of a jet with a more colorful camo scheme.  This Strategic Camo looks pretty slick IMHO.  A little goof with the paint but nothing another hour or 2 of painting wont fix. 

 Update:  I wanted to finish the fix last night but more snow and wind made for another long and tiresome drive home.  My eyes were ready to shut when I got home.  But I did paint the inside of the gear doors white, which was a Rustoleum for plastics rattle can.  A few quick passes of paint and I was off to bed.

pordoi

It's been neat to see the three Bones take shape in this GB because each is quite different. 

 

Don

 

Don, thanks for that link. I will check my decals. I like the ones that come with the kit, so don't think i will get another set to fit the pylon, but if the ones i have are in the right period, i will deffo consider it.

pordoi

Wingman_kz:

Those punches look good to me Don. Is the cover/clear plate fixed in place or can you lift it and set it on whatever you're punching?

 

Well I'll let you know when it arrives  .  Actually, the top clear plate appears to be removable; the medium is placed between the clear plate and a stainless plate below.

 

Wingman_kz:

Kevin, .... Your B-1 is really coming together. I haven't said much but I've been checking in. Nice recovery on the camo. Well done.

 

 

I'll echo that again.  It's been neat to see the three Bones take shape in this GB because each is quite different.  Aggieman started off with an in flight earlier Bone in desert camo; Kevin doing a cold war era Bone in SAC tri-color camo and carrying a nuclear payload; and mine being a modern Bone in gunship gray with optical targeting technology and a smart bomb payload.  Kind of an abbrevaited history of the development of the B1 shown in 1/48 scale. 

 

Don

 

OK Don, I'm curious and hope that plate will lift up or off. Would make it easier to hold whatever you're punching in place.

And a big Heck Yeh! on the three Bones. There's still one setting on the shelf at the shop across town and I look at it every time I go in but just can't bring myself to tackle it.

Tony

Finally, back behind the bench. The 1101 now has a coat of black paint. Pics to follow after the weekend.

Bish

Finally, back behind the bench. The 1101 now has a coat of black paint. Pics to follow after the weekend.

Great!  Pending progress on the 1101.  Good to hear that you've got some bench time again, Bish.

Also, to give the thread a little bump, here are two pics of the bone with the white markings around the cockpit glass.  Always thought that these markings gave the Bone a kind of nasty, macho, don't f*** with me image.  I thought that I would first try to outline the windows using a white permanent ink marker.  That worked OK, but was a bit uneven, so I touched up with both gunship gray and Tamiya flat white.  Looking really close, the finish is still a bit rough but I think it will do.  However, the photos show that I do have to buff the clear parts a bit. 

Next up is the crew ladder, complete with the DSO climbing to enter the aircraft.  Film at 11...

Don

I don't know why but i really like the look of B-1's with the white around the glass and the white re fuelling markings.

One thing i don't like about Alclad is the polishing. Its just taken me two hours just to do the wings. I can't wait to do a B-17 with this. I was also able to get the MiG cockpit finished while i was letting the 1101 dry.

Don, you are inching your way closer to finishing that thing.  Nice job.  I was trying to figure out a way to get the outlines on the windows.  I was going to try an paint them on but I don't  have the steadiest hand.  Especially after some coffee.  Maybe I will down a beer to two to relax......that might have some bad consequences with painting too.......hmmmmm

Bish, glad to hear you were able to get some time in at the bench.

I got the camo repainted hopefully for the last time.  I have to paint the exhaust cans and the engine intakes again but that shouldn't take too long.

Bish

One thing i don't like about Alclad is the polishing. Its just taken me two hours just to do the wings. I can't wait to do a B-17 with this.

Then I'm sure you're thinking hard about acquiring  that new 1/32 B-17G to do in NMF, aren't you 

Don

macattack80

I was going to try an paint them on but I don't  have the steadiest hand.  Especially after some coffee.  Maybe I will down a beer to two to relax......that might have some bad consequences with painting too.......hmmmmm

You're right on that.  Sometimes my detail painting looks more like a seismograph than a straight line.  And it's the eyesight for close in work that's beginning to go.  I need one of those magnifiers...    Aah! That's better...

Don

Don

ye, not a bad idea, i am sure i can spare the 6 months to paint it.

Got the 1101 coated in Alclad. had a bit of a scare as a couple of areas bubbled up.  I rubbed down and re coated and it did it again. But third time round it seems to be ok. I was thinking i might have to mottel the tail and extended the anti glare panel to under the cokpit.

Also got the MiG cockpit finished and the fuselage together. Will get some pics up when i get a decent enough connection.

Bish

Got the 1101 coated in Alclad. had a bit of a scare as a couple of areas bubbled up.  I rubbed down and re coated and it did it again. But third time round it seems to be ok. I was thinking i might have to mottel the tail and extended the anti glare panel to under the cokpit.

Also got the MiG cockpit finished and the fuselage together. Will get some pics up when i get a decent enough connection.

Hey, a little challenge makes modeling interesting. Sounds like you have overcome the problem.  And really looking forward to teh MiG.  A bit of a disapointment that we couldn't have more of the Soviet swing wings represented in this GB.

I was thinking of doing a second build of a Soviet swing winger but decided that the B-1B was a big enough job by itself.  Maybe I'll join your 8th ADF GB with a vintage Monogram P-51D in Bluenose Bodney garb.  A kit that has only 40+ parts sounds pretty nice right now.

Don

ye, would of been nice to see more Soviet builds. The only other Soviet swing wing i have is the MiG 27, o and an Esci backfire, but i will be trying to sell that on E-bay.

Will be happy to see you on the Mighty 8th. Doogs was going to do a Bodney bird but has changed it. And i would love to see one built as i will be doing 3 at some point in the future.

Ok I finally got a pic of the correct camo on the upper fuselage.

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I hope to get a gloss coat on this evening after work.  I was going to do that last night but after another long drive home I wasn't up for it.

Well, as promised, heres some pics. Been working on both kits last few days. I will make seperate posts to avoid confusion, my own if no one elses.

First, the 1101. Got the first coat of alclad doen on Sun, and as i mentoned i had a couple of problems with parts of it bubbling up. I had thought that was sorted.

Yesterday i rubbed down some of the panels to get a little variation. Today, i maksed some areas and sprayed several different Alclad shades as well as the red nose and tail band. For some reason i now got two more areas bubbling. This hadn't bubbeled last time and its Alclad on Alclad, so not sure whats going on.

So tomorrow i am going to rub down those areas. Then on thurs, i will mask them and re paint, useing different shades again. I will also mask the area in front of the cockmpit and do the anti glare panel. I may well mottle the tail in the same colour.

This NMF finish isn't perfect, but its a hell of a lot better than my first go with Alclad. Think i will need to practice on another small kit before i tackle one of my big ones.

Now onto the MiG

macattack80

Ok I finally got a pic of the correct camo on the upper fuselage.

I hope to get a gloss coat on this evening after work.  I was going to do that last night but after another long drive home I wasn't up for it.

There you go!  SAC camo looks great.  Getting the decals on will really change the look of the model.  For me, once that step was completed I really began to see the finish line.  That and getting the landing gear installed.  Keep up the good work.  You're getting close to completion.

Don

This is the kit i am doing. Its an old hasegawa kit, i have had it about 15 years. Has raised panel lines and a bear as bones cockpit.

This is how far i had got on sat. I am guessing that the Italeri kit, the one the PE is meant for, is bigger than this kit. The IP had to be trimmed and the seat is way to far forward, no pilot would get in there.

 After a bit of trimming i managed to squeeze the front fuselage together.

 Ready to attach to the rear section. That had been built a few weeks back.

Then it was just a case of adding the PE on the outside. Again, the PE for rear wheel wells had to be trimmed and a few bits left out. But this is where it stands now. Just about ready to get the undersides painted.

 B-1 is looking great mac. I really like that colour scheme, you have done a greta job on it.