Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Aggieman

I'm researching Bones in desert scheme since this is what I've planned to do my B-1 in.  All the photographic evidence I'm finding seems to be that B-1A's were painted in the desert scheme; I've yet to find a single photo of a B-1B in this scheme.  I've seen some B's in a two-tone scheme of what appears to be dark gray and dark green but for some reason I am really fixated on this desert scheme consisting of light gray underside, a tan, dark brown and dark green upper side.  Has anyone seen any B-1B's in such a scheme?

    I believe that the desert scheme was limited to 2 of the 4 Bone prototypes; these were B-1As.  But why let that stop you.  It is an interesting camo scheme and you could do a "what if" build.  Alternatively, in its role as a strategic bomber, B-1Bs were painted in a dark gray/olive drab with dark gray/gunship gray on the underside.  And this scheme would be consistent with the nuclear payload that is provided with the Revell kit.  About the time that the START negotiations eliminated the nuclear mission of the B-1, the aircraft were painted in their current gunship gray.

Don

Aggieman, you should go ahead with your desert camo scheme.  As pordoi said, it can be a "what if" build.  My build is gonna be kinda of a "what if" build too.  Its a "what if Revell molded the correct details" build.  If you are a glass is half full kind of guy, it would be a "what if the plane really looked like this" build.

I can't really say anything bad about Revellogram though.  No other company would even attempt molding the aircraft they do in this scale.  They make some of the best auto models on the market too.

I actually struggled with this, which surprised me to some extent.  I've never considered myself to be a modeler who must build all subjects totally accurate yet this seems to be what was driving me with the B-1B.  Nevertheless, I put in an order for desert scheme paint yesterday, so I'm going with the desert scheme after all.  I think it will look good and will certainly differentiate it from most B-1 builds we'll see.

Now as for the nose art ... I really don't like the decals included with the kit in this area.  And I've always wanted to do my own nose art dedicated to my wife.  I don't have artistic abilities with PC-based drawing programs, at least nothing that would come close to being passable, but I'm thinking of ... who was it, Bong?  The P-38 with the pilot's wife's photo on the nose?  Might do something like that.

Good choice Aggieman.  Now, we'll have some variety in the B-1 squadron.  I will be interested in your efforts to make custom decals; my first and only attempt at that was unsuccessful to say the least. 

We're approaching the start of Swing Wings; only 3 days left before the builds begin!

Don

I've done it a couple of times before - I built an AT-6 Texan as an NFL Houston Texans "warbird" complete with team logos and colors.  I also built my step-father a P3-B Orion featuring the squadron insignia of the squadron of which he was a part during Vietnam and surprised him with it - he still talks about how he feels about that surprise.  I don't expect to have any issues with the production of the custom decals but there is certainly potential in the design of the decals.

Aggieman

I've done it a couple of times before - I built an AT-6 Texan as an NFL Houston Texans "warbird" complete with team logos and colors.  I also built my step-father a P3-B Orion featuring the squadron insignia of the squadron of which he was a part during Vietnam and surprised him with it - he still talks about how he feels about that surprise.  I don't expect to have any issues with the production of the custom decals but there is certainly potential in the design of the decals.

Well then, I expect step-by-step guidance as you design and print your decals because I know there will be great interest from myself and the other participants.  Opens up so many possibilities.

Don

I'll put more detail on the process later, but high-level, I put an image in Powerpoint to manipulate it, print it to decal paper (either clear or white), and then coat it with a decal sealant made by Testor's prior to dipping in water.

Welcome to the Swing Wing Group Build!

Gentlemen,   Start your builds!!

Don

Finally! I can start that kit I have been stairing at for a month and a half! Pictures to come!

Travis/STFD637

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]Well.....here she is

Unboxed

The "huge" decal sheet.

I am going to start after work tonite......hopefully

macattack80

I am going to start after work tonite......hopefully

Hey Mac,  you have an earlier release of the kit than I do.  But inside the box, it's still the same.  I opened it up tonight, cut some of the larger parts from the sprues and took a general look at the rest of the parts.  First impression is that this kit will need lots ands lots of clean up.  Flash everywhere.  First try at dry fitting the fuselage parts suggests that assembling these parts this will be a challenge, consistent with other build blogs on this kit.  But what is most impressive is the sheer size of the kit.  I took a few shots of the B1B pieces next to a 1/48 P-47 that I built earlier this year. 

The main fuselage is in three separate assemblies:

To provide a point of reference, here are the same parts next to the Tamiya 1/48 P-47;

sitting on top:

The vertical stab is as big as the P-47..

... and the B-1 wings simply dwarf the Thunderbolt....

Have fun, Mac.  I'm sure that we'll be comparing notes as we progress.

Don

I took a good look at the parts after I took a few photos.  This will be a long but fun project.  I will let you know what hiccups I come across.  I am sure there will be many from what I have read about the kit.   I am going to attack the landing gear and bomb bays first as I hate landing gear.  It is more of a chore for me so I will do it while I am still gung ho.  If I wait until later in the build I will keep putting it off.  This kit is indeed enormous.  I might have to build a bigger workbench first. 

Well, I can't post any pics tonite because for some reason I can't get into my Photobucket account and their supposed emails aren't getting through to my Yahoo account. lol Didn't get much done 'cause I had to have something to do till this build started so I built a 1/72 RF-101C to get a little camo painting practice. Hoped to have it wrapped up by today but didn't quite make it. Tomorrow for sure. But I did snap a few pics of the Tornado box, sprues, decals and camo scheme. Got them all resized and everything, just can't upload them right now. Soon. I also snipped out the main sections of the kit and did a little clean-up. Not liking this black plastic much but it will be covered soon. Just always seems like black plastic has a different texture to it than grey or white and reacts differently to glues, paints and putties.

I'm looking forward to seeing these B1-Bs go together. I've eyeballed that big box several times at the LHS but their price isn't so good on that kit and I don't want to pay shipping on a box that big either. They sure do look interesting though. And probably quite a challenge too.

Well I officially started building last night.  You are right Don, there is a good amount of flash and mold lines to remove first.  I'm probably going to have to buy a few more sets of sanding sticks too.  I didn't get a whole lot done but from what I did do all I can say to the builders of this kit is to dry fit everything first.  Most usually do anyway.  I am impressed at the size of the landing gear. 

macattack80

..., there is a good amount of flash and mold lines to remove first.  I'm probably going to have to buy a few more sets of sanding sticks too.  I didn't get a whole lot done but from what I did do all I can say to the builders of this kit is to dry fit everything first. 

I got about 90 minutes at the bench tonight, which was spent prepping the forward landing gear bay.  Spent a good amount of time scratch building the hatch at the front of the bay from plastic card before I notifed that it was provided as a PE part in the Eduard set that I have.    Even had it marked in the instructions to "add PE".    Oh well; honing my scratch building skills for later when I tackle the bomb bays. 

Don

I'm off to a fast start with my first entry - the DML Tornado in tiny 144 scale.  No paint yet but I've assembled the airframe.  I'll paint this bird in a desert tan color of some sort, whatever I have handy since I didn't buy any paint specially for this build like I did for the B-1.

It's a tiny kit as should be evident in the photos.  Some of the parts are really really small, so small in fact that I don't think I can deal with them.  Having said that, I'm leaving the ordinance off, which I think will help with what I suspect would be a major tail-sitter (I did put 4 BB's in the nose section, all that I could fit, and think that will be sufficient to keep it on its tricycle gear).  I'll possibly get some paint on this thing later tonight and finish it up over the weekend, around my birthday (tomorrow) and my valedictorian son's graduation on Friday).

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Spent a good amount of time scratch building the hatch at the front of the bay from plastic card before I notifed that it was provided as a PE part in the Eduard set that I have.    Even had it marked in the instructions to "add PE".    Oh well; honing my scratch building skills for later when I tackle the bomb bays. 

Don

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Thats kinds sucks.  Oh well.   I guess it can be a warm up for later.  I wanted to get the Eduard PE sets for this kit but I just don't have the extra cash laying around right now.  I plan on building another one later on in my life so maybe I will soup up that one.  I am looking forward to seeing all your scratchbuilt parts for your build

I guess you are moving quite fast there aggie.  Thats the good thing about the 1/144 scale kits.  They go together pretty fast but like you said.....she's kinda little. 

Happy Birthday if I don't get a chance to get on the forum tomorrow and congrats to your son on his high ranking graduation.

Happy Birthday Aggieman and Congrats to your son! Mine will be graduating HS next Saturday.

Here's my pics from last nite, finally got Photobucket to co-operate though it appears they've made some changes. Hope they work. Didn't get much done tonite but did finish the VooDoo and get the bench cleaned off to get a fresh start with the Tornado. Let's see if this works...

Nothing exciting but I will get cracking on the pit tonite.

Tony

Aggieman

I'm off to a fast start with my first entry - the DML Tornado in tiny 144 scale. 

 

Hey, this GB just gets started and we have one entry almost completed!  I log off last night and two Tornados sweep into town..., a 1/144 and 1/72.

Nice work, Aggieman.  Now where did I put my glasses so that I can see that tiny thing.    Looking forward to seeing it with a coat of paint.  I'm always impressed by you guys that work in such small scales.  I'm all thumbs and have a tough enough time in 1/48.  Have a relaxing birthday and let me also chime in with congrats for your son's graduation.

Wingman_kz:

Black Thunder looks great, Tony.  Is that a ratcheting wing assembly that I see?  Will both wings swing in unison when this is completed?

Don

Holy Crap! Man, I just went through an update post, trying to figure out a way to use Photobuckets HTML generator to post all the picks at once, couldn't find a way to do it so made individual links, clicked on the post button and was taken to some bs page about ordering an FSM special book and now my whole post is gone 'cause I can't backspace to it.  I'm more than a little hot right now...

FSM, you need to get this site straightened out ASAP!

Whew, let's try again. Yes Don, the wings swing together. Also, the pylons each mount on a single post that inserts through the lower wing and is captured by a plastic snap lock inside the wing so you can rotate them to match the wing position. There is a crossbar for both the top and bottom fuse halves that will help capture the wings so hopefully it will be a little easier to glue the fuse than say, a Revell F-14. The elevators mount on posts and are joined by another crossbar so they're adjustable too.

I did wrap up taking some pics of the RF-101C tonite and they'll be posted in the AC section for anyone interested. Unless of course the site goes awry again. I did work on the office for the Tornado tonite and while it may not look like I got a lot done, well, I spent several hours on it, just not my strong point. I'm painting the seat parts separately, hope that works out. I plan on using decals for detail on the side and instrument panels so I'm doing a basecoat of paint for them. Hopefully they'll lay down with a little persuasion, they look pretty nice. I'll start with a couple of pics of the bench after I finished the Long Bird and with it straight again...

My kids will be here for the weekend so there won't be any more work done here till the first of the week. Y'all have a good weekend.

Tony

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]Well the build has begun. I started this one a little different from the way I normally build (cockpit and so on). I began by buidling some of the sub assemblies and the main fusilage and wings. The reason? As I started going through the kit I found that the usual decals that come for the cockpit controls and inst. panel do not exist in this kit. It was a real suprise since I built the f-111 kit made by AMT and it contained those decals and the Pit built up nice. So my answer is.......Resin to the resscue (Verlinden). Also with experience with the same kit I know there are some nights with putty and sand paper.

All the other builds are looking great. I am very jealous of Wingman's work area. Mine has been under construction for the better part of 2 years and there is still lsome debate between the wife and I. Now it is summer here in FLA. and that means a mix of painting in 90+ degree heat and construction at the kitchen table. Here are the pic.

 Work done so far. The tail is actually from another kit as the one that came in this box was severely warped.

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 More seams!

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 Seam line in the wing assembly. A little more evident than the left side.

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Tail boom. Nice seam on the rear.....gone now.

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Main landing gear assembly.

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I wish my workbench was that organized Wingman.  It looks ready for war.  the pit and seats looking good so far.

STDF637, the fusalage is coming along nicely.  Sucks that the tail fin was warped. 

I am working through some enormous seams in the same are of the B-1B that I am building.  They are  at least 1/8 of an inch wide.....so Don, get ready for that.  I used a lot of CA glue and putty.  I plan on finishing the seam filling tonite....on the wings. 

The landing gear is coming along.  Nothing wants to align right.   A little putty here and there and some Zap A Gap should make them look presentable.

Hey wingman, you didn't have to clean up your bench just for us.    Nice bench setup that you have.  I use some of those plastic organizer shelves myself, though I'll admit that my work area isn't quite as well organized.  Nice progress on the Tornado pit and seats. 

STFD637 and macattack80:  You guys are smokin' along.  I know that I'm a slow builder but you are making me look bad.    Well, that's one reason that the term of the GB is almost 11 months; it will give me time to complete my kit.    And besides, with two others doing the B-1B, I can let you find and resolve the difficult steps of the build before I get to them.    Mac, you're joking right?  1/8" seams??  I'd call that a fissure!  Post some pics; if you successfully deal with those, we gotta see it...  Though I'll find out for myself in due course.

Nice progress fellas, keep up the good work.

Don

pordoi

   Mac, you're joking right?  1/8" seams??  I'd call that a fissure!  Post some pics; if you successfully deal with those, we gotta see it...  Though I'll find out for myself in due course.

Nice progress fellas, keep up the good work.

 

Don

 

The seams were about that wide in a few spots, especially close to wing root.......do these aircraft with swing wings have wing roots?.....anyway...I thing it was due to a slight warpage of the upper halves of the wings.  It should fill in fine.  If you have a newer kit it may be better....I hope for your sake.

STFD637, the Raven is an interesting looking bird. Wish you well with the seam filling.

Same goes for you guys, macattack80 and pordoi, sounds like you have your work cut out. Almost makes me feel like I'm cheating. Of course, no matter how much dry fitting you do, everything seems to fit a little differently once the glue comes out so who knows what's gonna happen with this Tornado...

Thanks for the comments on the bench. And yeh, I did have to clean up a bit before starting another. Mostly getting all the paints put away though. My kids gave me that little desk for Christmas 6 or 7 years ago and it's served me well. It also gets used as an armourer's bench and reloading bench when needed. My apartment has a basement and that's where the bench is. Divorced and live alone so there's no one to answer to but myself and the landlord. But, outside of the paint booth, the rest of the basement is a disaster area. lol

Tony

Nice work coming along here.  Here is my completed Tornado.  Building in 144 may be difficult on the eyes and "fat" fingers but it does have the benefit of short build duration.

There you go;  Aggieman wins the prize for first completed swing wing build.  Congrats!   OK. OK, so the 1/144 kit had only four parts....    Just kiddin' Aggie.   What's next?? 

BTW, you have the first completed photo on page 1 of the GB.

Don