Mighty 8th GB 1-Nov-2010 - 31-Oct-2011

jbrady

I'm going to answer my own question about stencils... not many. I don't really see the need to add something that has to be viewed with a magnifier to identify. Hell I needed a magnifier just to tell if some of them were right side up.

IMO it depends on the aircraft, scheme, quality of the stencils, etc. 

They usually work best when they contrast with the main color - so black stencils over light gray, white over dark green, etc. Black over OD seem to get lost in the mix, and with those I usually focus on those stencils that'll provide some visual interest (usually about half of them).

Also, anything around the cowl and canopy, since those are typically the focal points of any aircraft.

I'm working on an Academy P-38F right now that has a ridiculously daunting stencil sheet. But it's still a cakewalk next to putting 300 or so "NO STEP" stencils on an F-15...

I'm going to answer my own question about stencils... not many. I don't really see the need to add something that has to be viewed with a magnifier to identify. Hell I needed a magnifier just to tell if some of them were right side up.

Thanks red, i was just trying to explain that in PM, but a pic paints a thousand words.

Hook, as i mentioned in the PM, the area in the upper red circle, i just straightened it out and then filed out the notch. And you can see there what i meant by the antenna and the bulgded window, both of which come with the kit and are easy to fit.

Thanks for the photos RedRaider, the S fairing behind the turret should be easy enough to fabricate and as for the aiming window, the Hasegawa kit has a clear plastic nose, so some masking and styrene should take care of that.

Welcome home Hookdriver.  For your B-24,I found a couple things.  First off, there is only 2 major differences (their small though) differences from the J model to the H model, and both of these halve to do with the nose.  The H model had the "Ford nose" which is just a difference in the fairing behind the nose gun turret.  The other difference is the bombardier's aiming window.  I'm sure there were some other difference between the two models, but these are the only visible ones I could find.  Plus, like Bish said, it may have the enclosed waist position.

I found a decal profile that i have below that illustrates these differences quite clearly.  I know it's only a decal profile, but I have confirmed this with various pictures around the internet.

The red circles show the difference in the fairing behind the nose turret, and the orange circles show the difference in the bombardier's aiming window.....hope this helps you ( the H model is the bottom one)

Its not to difficult. For my conversion it was all around the front area. If yours has the enclosed waiste position, you may have to add that, might didn't. I will sort some photos out for you. You won't need to buy anything, but some polishing cloths would be handy.

I would love to get some decals for a Hardwick aircrfat. I want to build aircraft from all the airfields in Norfolk, and that is one i haven'g got yet. And it will have to be a B-24.

I'd love the details of your conversion. I'm looking at having the decals for the 329 93rd group custom made, and I'm also looking at just hand painting them.

Welcome home Hook. I just finished a hase B-24J that i converted into an H. Its not that much work. Which decals are you useing. My build is on the IMS IV GB but if you want i can send you more details of the conversion.

Evening Gents, I just returned from from Afghanistan and have internet again. I just ordered the Hasagawa 1:72 B-24J so hopefully in about a week it will get here to Germany. The B-24 that I am modeling mine after was an H model but due to a lack of conversions or quality conversions I should say, I'm just going to use the J model. This will be my first build using a natural finish so I'm a little nervous about that, guess I'll be spending some time reading through the natural finish GB. All the builds so far look great, can't wait to get involved!

That's looking really nice, jbrady.  It's turning out very well.  As for the "all HELL" marking, FSM has had articles about people printing up their own.  I haven't tried it.  Maybe the decal forum on this site has some helpful information.  On the purely complaining front, it's always hypertensive when all the markings are not included on the sheet. 

To stencil or not to stencil. Any thought on how many stencils to add on a 1/48 scale model...

I've also got to figure out how to get "all HELL" in script on the right side of the nose... it's not included on the AEROMASTER set I bought.

Ye, now that you mention it i haven't seen any either.

All the kits i have built the last 2 and a half years have been for GB's. I have just bounced from one to the other and havn't finished any Dioramas. I really need to stop joining GB's till i have cleared the back logg, but theres always another one pops up that i just can't resist.

Bish

Would love to see that in the weathering build. Really looking forward to seeing one of those Eduard 109's get built, i am leaning towards their E-4 kit.

I'd love to see ANY Eduards get built. Seems to be a lot of respect for them on the forums, at least their newer kits, but outside of my Yak-3, don't think I've seen another get built up on here since I joined.

I'm also contemplating tackling my Eduard Hellcat next, instead of the Corsair. Need to put a dent in some of these GB commitments, and a lot of the weathering elements will still apply.

Cockpits are an area that i haven't given a great detail of attention to. Being 72nd, you can get away with doing a bit less. But i am deffo going to put a bit more into them.

Would love to see that in the weathering build. Really looking forward to seeing one of those Eduard 109's get built, i am leaning towards their E-4 kit.

Bish

That cockpit is very very nice.

The Ostfront GB might be worth looking into. I know they had Ju 87R4's on the Eastern Front. Failing that, a North African or Med GB might be an idea for the future.

Thanks man! Cockpits are one area where I think I've been improving my skills a little with each build. This one's definitely my favorite so far, though I don't think I'll be able to keep the streak going with the Academy P-38 that's also on the bench. The detail's just not there...

As for Ostfront, I've already got a second La-5 and Zvezda's Bf-109F-2 (which looks like a honey of a kit) on the roster. Think I'm going to be doing the E-7 for my Weathering GB for sure, though. 

That cockpit is very very nice.

The Ostfront GB might be worth looking into. I know they had Ju 87R4's on the Eastern Front. Failing that, a North African or Med GB might be an idea for the future.

Cockpit's done...

Bish

 

DoogsATX:

 

 

Also received my Eduard 109E-7 Trop today courtesy of UPS. I think I might have just fallen in love with 1/32 scale, and I haven't done more than glance at the sprues. Must...fight...urge...to...start...

 

 

Anyway you can think of fitting that into an 8th AAF GB.

Don't think I could fit it into any of my GBs, actually. 8th AAF, NMF, Alleycat are flat out. Ostfront? Don't think they took a lot of E-Trops to Russia...

hmmm, a 109E-7 with USAAF markings on it?

DoogsATX

 

Also received my Eduard 109E-7 Trop today courtesy of UPS. I think I might have just fallen in love with 1/32 scale, and I haven't done more than glance at the sprues. Must...fight...urge...to...start...

Anyway you can think of fitting that into an 8th AAF GB.

Update! Picked up some 3/32" styrene tubing over lunch today. Should be perfect for my needs. 

Also received my Eduard 109E-7 Trop today courtesy of UPS. I think I might have just fallen in love with 1/32 scale, and I haven't done more than glance at the sprues. Must...fight...urge...to...start...

Wabashwheels

Doogs, back to the P47.  I started on the Tamiya Razorback a while back and am moving along at a slow steady pace.  I've thrown a couple things at you and have a couple more thoughts plus a bit of an update on where I'm at.

First, look closely at the parts E5 and E8.

They both appear to be covers for the forward cockpit above the instrument panel. 

They attach to the windscreen and fit in the V in the forward cockpit.

  The instructions call for E8 and I do not find E5 as even being an option.  E5 creates more of a hood over the panel and seems to have a square hole for the gunsight to fit through.  I'll probably go through some cockpit photos to see which one might be more appropriate.  What do you make of it?  That being said, you might use the part that you don't use on the Tamiya P47, on the Monogram P47 where you had the gap in front of the IP.

So...I actually looked up from the cockpit last night, skipped ahead in the instructions, and realized there is no equivalent of E8 or E5 with the bubbletop. At least, not that I could find. Seems the windscreen just goes over the IP and the empty space behind it. Which matches the photos in my P-47 book, hinting at a nest of cables hiding behind the IP. 

Glad I figured all this out before I started gluing the cockpit together!

Now...question time. I'm planning to depict the wiring behind the IP, probably with monofilament thread. I want to run all of the cables out of the cockpit by drilling a hole or two in the firewall. But I'm trying to figure out a good way to attach cables to the back of the IP without them breaking off under mild handling (getting fed through the firewall holes, IP installed).

Since the IP's already painted and detailed, I'd really like to avoid drilling. I'm thinking maybe some styrene tubing? Need holes or something of some kind for the lines to grab to. I'm just not sure styrene rod comes that small...

DoogsATX

First pics of the cockpit!

Overall, I'm ridiculously impressed with this kit so far. The cockpit is extremely well done. The IP decal is phenomenal. I've never had much luck with IP decals before, but this one's so good I don't see the need for an Eduard set. This pic is the decal still curing. I can't wait to see it once I've flattened the panel and added Future to the gauges to simulate glass!

Speaking of which, the Eduard placard set is pretty sweet in its own right. Love that it includes the throttle quadrant. If the levers look a bit silly, it's because several of them have CA beads that I'll be painting tomorrow.

There's also the Ultracast seat. This one has the belts molded on - definitely harder to paint than using Tamiya tape, but I think once the wash goes on it'll help pick out the contours and improve the look.

Looks like I may have to give in and buy those Ultracast seats.....

Bish, thanks.  Yes, there is a part that goes in the slot on E5.  It's a clear piece that sets in front of the gunsight.  I think it is a bullet proof shield.  I don't think it's part of the gunsight.  The painted up cockpit is nearly all out of the box. I did use Eduard stuff in a couple spots, but the kit panels are resin aftermarket quality.  I'm with Doogs on the IP.  I had an Eduard panel to use, but I thought I'd try the  Tamiya instruments decal on a lark.  It came out remarkably well, so the Eduard panel will get used elsewhere.  Rick

Doogs I know what you mean about the curve on the blue noses. I have given thought to my 3, and i won't even be doing those for a couple of years.

Washbashwheels Is there an item that is not used but looks like it will fit into that hole on E5. I love that cockpit. That box on the left looks like it could be the real thing, those red knobs really stand out. re they from the kit and painted or are they AM.

Doogs, back to the P47.  I started on the Tamiya Razorback a while back and am moving along at a slow steady pace.  I've thrown a couple things at you and have a couple more thoughts plus a bit of an update on where I'm at.

First, look closely at the parts E5 and E8.

They both appear to be covers for the forward cockpit above the instrument panel. 

They attach to the windscreen and fit in the V in the forward cockpit.

  The instructions call for E8 and I do not find E5 as even being an option.  E5 creates more of a hood over the panel and seems to have a square hole for the gunsight to fit through.  I'll probably go through some cockpit photos to see which one might be more appropriate.  What do you make of it?  That being said, you might use the part that you don't use on the Tamiya P47, on the Monogram P47 where you had the gap in front of the IP.

Tamiya's P47 series provides a wealth of spare parts. The D and M version each provide 4 sets of propellers and sets of nicely detailed underwing stores.  The M version also contains a complete cockpit except for the seat and back wall.  It looks like a fit for a D version. 

Well, I've pushed ahead on "Donnie Boy".  I preshaded panel lines (with a Sharpie) and painted the cowl band and stripes on the tail.  Actually, I've got the painting pretty well done, But I'll show that with the completed photos.

jbrady

I' impressed with your cockpit. The next P-47 I do will include the Eduard placards and the seat. I wish I could have gotten the IP decal to work on the one I'm doing now. It disintegrated under Micro Set.

Thanks, man! The way it's coming along, I can't wait to see it after the details are painted and everything's washed. 

I'm kinda shocked to hear about your IP decal disintegrating under Micro Set. Maybe you mean Micro Sol? Mine was actually nice and tough. I had a bit of it fold under itself and managed to extricate it using Micro Set and a small, stiff brush. After it settled a bit, I hit it with Solvaset to finish it off.

After those terrible Monogram decals, it was a nice change of pace!

Bish

While i would love to see Petite, go with the Hun Hunter. I like doing build's that are related to somthing else i have done. I even do them as several Dioramas all on one board, thats what i am eventually doing with my 3 Blue Nose's. To see his first and second Hun Hunters would be greta.

I'm kinda leaning that way. Love both planes and I'm fascinated with both pilots. My favorite story involving Henry Brown was the aftermath of a strafing run after an escort mission. The rest of his flight headed for home, and he headed toward a flight of 109s, mistaking them for P-51s. By the time he realized his mistake, he was too close, and out of ammo, he lined up in formation with them. They didn't notice until they did, and then he got caught in a dogfight, out of ammo, and ended up forcing all four 109s out of a Lufberry and sent them running for home.

That and, strangely, I think Hun Hunter will be easier to mask (that curve on the blue noses still freaks me out). And it'd be an excuse to play with Ultracast's tail conversion:

I' impressed with your cockpit. The next P-47 I do will include the Eduard placards and the seat. I wish I could have gotten the IP decal to work on the one I'm doing now. It disintegrated under Micro Set.

While i would love to see Petite, go with the Hun Hunter. I like doing build's that are related to somthing else i have done. I even do them as several Dioramas all on one board, thats what i am eventually doing with my 3 Blue Nose's. To see his first and second Hun Hunters would be greta.