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

Bish,

Just started the D, don't know if I'll get the B done.  Haven't really felt like building for a while, but got the bug when I woke up this morning.  Wings are glued together, nothing pic worthy yet.

Thanks OWL, i have added that to the front.

That might help explain it Scorpio, but even then its quick work. But you wouldn't know it.

lewbud, the GB official ends on Tues. I am leaving it running till the end of Nov for any builds to be finished before i do a round up. maybe just stick to the D and leave the B for another build. I know what you mean, i get like that now and again. Oddly i find it happens when i have been away for a few month, when you would think i would be iching to get back to the desk. I got like that a bit on my 17 and had to force myself at one point. But once things started to come together, i really got back into it.

. . .and I hope to be finished before the end of November.

Thought I'd post some progress photos of "Our Gal Sal," 100th Bomb Group, based at THORPE ABBOTTS 9 Jun 1943 to 11 Dec 1945.

Photos of the plane are rare, other than the nose, but one I did find seemed to show an enclosed waist gun position, which consisted of a three-piece window, and a canted, bulged position for the guns.  These are fortunately offered by Squadron, for both the Hasegawa and Academy/Airfix B-17's.  In this case, I used the Hasegawa items on the Airfix kit.  Photos show they were attached on the outside of the fuselage (wonder what that did to the drag effect?).  I painted the interior color around the edge of the kit windows first, in case anything shows from the outside.  I applied superglue to attach them to the top and bottom, and I will fill gaps on the sides with diluted white glue.

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Since the top turret and ball turrets have to be trapped by the fuselage, I painted them up before I close said fuselage.  Masking all the little windows in the ball is always tricky.  For the center, circular window, I used a paper punch to cut out the circle, then sliced a radius from the center to the cirucumference, and applied it around the frame.  For the square-er windows, I outlined with thin strips of masking tape, then filled in the centers with MicroMask.  The unmasked ball is there as a reference for trimming the masks, since I couldn't find the panel lines after I put on the masking tape.

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After I had all the fuselage windows installed, I added the horizontal stabilizers.  I started doing this after I had a stabilizer come loose, years ago, from trying to glue it on after the fuselage was closed up.  First, I slather on tube glue in the mounting slot, put a few dots of tube glue on the mating surfaces of both fuselage and stabilizer, then attach.  After the tube glue sets a little and grips, then I baptize the whole conglomeration with liquid glue.  Once it cures, the stabilizers are not going to drop off.  From the inside, it's not pretty--but it works.

I use a cheap dime-store protractor to set the stabilizers at the right angle.  Most of the time it works, so long as the fuselage/tail isn't warped.  If it doesn't work, then the stabilzers sort of resemble the ears on my dog.

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Here's the view of the cockpit from the pilot's side.  I used figures collected from various kits, cut the head off and transplanted heads from Airfix's air force personnel set (the soft plastic kind).

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The cockpit from the co-pilot's side.  On this figure, I also cut off the arms and replaced them with arms from the aforementioned Airfix personnel set.  He's supposed to be holding the wheel, but the arm came out too long--now he's grabbing onto the control column.  His other hand was supposed to be working the throttles.  I have a little touch up to do, since some of the paint flaked off his arm while I was struggling to get him into his seat.  Paint does not stick well to that soft Airfix figure plastic.

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Airfix included a nice instrument panel decal with plenty of gauges and dials--better than some after-market decals I've used.

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 Hopefully progress will go well, and I'll get this finished up by the time our grace period ends.

Another Norfolk B-17, that gets my attention. Did those markings come with the kit or are they Am. I have a colour plate of that aircraft in one of the osprey B-17 books i have, if that will be of any use.

Bish, I didn't know Thorpe Abbotts was in Norfolk.  I think the name sounds kind of neat.  The decals are after-market, from PYN-Up, copyrighted 2004.  Second plane on the sheet is "Double Trouble," an "F" model, for which I have no kit at the present time.

Yes, please do; if you can post the plate, that might help.  I've collected a photos off the net, but they only show the starboard nose and art.  There is one black and white, from port stern that shows the length of the plane.

Thanks. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing Our Gal Sal, a great plane from the 100th Bomb Group / 351st Bomb Squadron.  My father-in-law flew one mission on her as tail gunner (he's my profile pic), but flew most of them on EP-D, The Latest Rumor. After a lot of research and collecting lots of AM parts, I've finally started my build of her,sorry Bish, too late for this GB, so I'll post under the B-17 GB forum. If you go to www.100thbg.com you can find plenty of pics of EP-E "Our Gal Sal", look under the 351st tab

Snetterton, Thorpe Abbots and Deopham Green were the 3 B-17 bases in Norfolk. I have a set of AM markings for a 100th BG aircraft, but currently haveing no joy with one from Deopham. The colour plate is of the right side, i get have to take a pic of it, as i have no scanner here, and will try and get it on tomorrow.

maharrin, wow, thanks for posting. I will deffinatly check out your build. The 100th BG markings i have is also an aircraft from the 351st. EP-F Super Rabbit.

If you get your 17 finished while this Gb is still running, please feel free to post a couple of pics on here if you wish. All 8th AAF are welcome here.

maharrin, that's impressive.  It's rare to find someone with a personal connection to a specific aircraft that is capable of being modeled.  I'll check over in the B-17 GB to see how your project is coming, and also look into the website.  Thanks for the resources.

And thanks, Bish, for your efforts.  I'm currently gluing and sanding the wings and fuselage, always a labor-intensive proposition.  Hope to finish that part this week.

Bish,

Instead of the B, I going to close out the lot on the Academy D's in my stash.  Getting a little assembly line started (don't know if 2 aircraft count as an assembly line).  While the Academy B/C is the bee's knees, their D is almost not worth the money.The Tamiya is superior in just about every way.  The only thing the Academy has going for it, is the dropped flaps.  Don't know if it will be Hurry Home Honey or Arkansas Traveller of the 357th.

Check, i checked out that 100th site, and they have the same colour plate view of our gal as i ahve in the osprey book. I assume you will be able to save it. If you still want me to send you the one i have, let me know. But i compared them and they are the same.

Look forward to seeing some pics.

lewbud. No worries. Interesting what you say about the Academy B. I have been after a 72nd P-51B kit but not sure which one to go for. Nice to here it getting a thumbs up.

As of now, the GB is officially closed. I will wait a month to allow any kits under way to be finished off, then i will do a GB rounded up. We should be all done by then.

If i have this right, lewbud, Helo, checkmateking and i think bobbaily are currently building. If i have missed anyone out please let me now.

OK, Bish, I'll take it from the website, and save you some trouble.  Thanks for pointing it out.

I have the Super Rabbit decal sheet, using that as the base for the group markings, then customizing decals for The Latest Rumor.  She was an impressive ship, flew 126 missions over 17 months in the 8th AF, a lot of history, markings and wear and tear that I can hopefully capture accurately.  Here she is below, with my father-in-law, Jack Ford, as her tail gunner top row far left.

Well will deffinatly be keeping an eye on that build.

Thiught i better bump this up from page 3 so those still building don't think i have forgotten about it.

Hey all-

Here are the finished (at least I'm calling it finished) P-51D.  Again, it's the 1/48 Monogram kit-not a bad kit.  Next time I'll know what areas to focus a bit more time and attention.

Bish-again, thanks for hosting a great GB.  Look forward to building with you folks again.

Cheers

Very fine looking Mustang, Bob.  Nice going on the NMF.

Lovely looking build bob. And its been a pleasure to see some amazing models in this GB.

I will do a round up thread in the aircraqft forum next weekend. Any that get finished after that will be added as and when.

Thanks for hosting this group build, Bish.  It's been fun--plus clearing out the backlog on kits.  Don't know when I'd have gotten to the Fortresses, if I hadn't been motivated by this.

It's pretty obvious I won't be finished with "Our Gal Sal" by the end of the build, but I'll keep at her.  Have made some progress.

I mentioned earlier that the entire sprue with the Boeing-installed tail turrent pieces was missing (guns and backing plate).  Fortunately, the clear fuselage sides of the turret where there, so I improvised.

I glued some plastic card stock in the back, then stuffed the opening with tissue.  Once I had that poked into reasonable shape, I soaked it with thin superglue.  After it dried, I drilled out two holes for the machine gun barrels (which were in the kit, intended for the Cheyenne turret).  I've never drilled kleenex before.

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I painted the clear parts with a dark green to represent the interior colour, and everything is about ready to put neutral gray (grey?) on the undersurfaces, hopefully before the weekend is out.

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I think by the time it's painted with OD, and maybe given a wash of something, it will look acceptable.

Thanks again for the GB!

That rear gun position has turned out very nice indeed check. never though of coating tissue in super glue. Nice job.

Its been a pleasure haveing you on board, and even though the GB is officially over, but i don't think anyone will complain if it keeps going with the on going builds.

My appoligies Bish , for not finishing my 1/72 P-51D "Old Crow"

I haven't been well the past week or so and I don't think I'll finish before the end of the November .

Thank's for having me on board and hosting the GB , all the finished models on page 1 are awesome .

All the best .

               John .

Sorry to hear youv'e not been well Helo. hope its nothing to serious and youyr feeling better. As for the P-512, feel free to carry on posting pics on here, even after the end of Nov. I am sure Checkmate will like the company. I will just add them to the round up as and when.

Bish

Sorry to hear youv'e not been well Helo. hope its nothing to serious and youyr feeling better. As for the P-512, feel free to carry on posting pics on here, even after the end of Nov. I am sure Checkmate will like the company. I will just add them to the round up as and when.

Yeah, it'll be mighty lonely being "tail-end Charlie."  Stick around, Helo.

I finally got around to re-airbrushing the top and underside of the wings on my P-51D , where I removed the botched wing decal white strip .

I'll try decalling again first thing tomorrow .

                    John .

Nice to see your still at it Helo. Looking forward to some pics.

Finally, before the end of the year, I managed to finish this project, "Our Gal Sal," a B-17G from the 100th Bomb Group.

First, a little history of the station.

Thorpe Abbotts

The airfield was originally constructed during 1942 and early 1943 as a satellite base for RAF Horsham.  As the US 8^th AAF arrived in Britain, both were turned over to the Americans, and Thorpe Abbotts, Station 139,  became home to the 100^th Bomb Group and all its squadrons:  349, 350, 351 (“Sal’s” squadron) and 418.  The group arrived on 9 June, 1943 and remained there until December, 1945, when the base was returned to the RAF, and used until April 1956.  From 15 June, 1942 till 10 April, 1945, the 100^th Bomb Group flew 306 missions from there.

Interestingly, for those with a paranormal inclination, shortly after bombing missions commenced to Berlin, group personnel began reporting the presence of an apparition, dressed in full flight gear, who could pass through walls. Some of the airmen began taking carbines to bed with them for protection against “Eddie the Ghost.”  Eventually, the base commander issued orders forbidding conversations about “Eddie,” under penalty of court martial.  Infrequent sightings of “Eddie” are said to continue  to this day.

Currently, Thorpe Abbotts Station 139 has been largely returned to agricultural usage.  The tower survives and houses a museum to the “Bloody 100^th.”

Thorpe Abbotts is the name of a nearby village, located in the county of Norfolk.

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The 100th Bomb Group flew its first mission on 25 June, 1943 and its last on 20 April, 1945.  The group racked up 306 missions in total during the war--of which "Our Gal Sal" participated in 235.

Her original crew was led by 2nd Lt. Robert J. Schoens.  Lt. Schoens completed 24 missions with "Sal."

By the time of "Sal's" sixtieth mission, she her crew was commanded by 2nd Lt. Ronald Cumming.  The markings on my "Sal" model show her having completed mission 60, according to the decal sheet information.  This mission, Villacoublay airfield,  took place on 11 August, 1944.

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"Sal's" 61st mission, when she might have been displaying her 60 mission symbols, was on 14 August, 1944, to Ludwigshaven.  Her crew was then commanded by 2nd Lt. Donald N. Ellison. 

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To keep from overloading one post with pictures, I'll continue with another one.  Thanks for looking.

First is an overhead photo.  I used an elderly bottle of Floquil military paint, ANA 613, for the OD, and PYN-up decals for markings.  The OD turned out quite a bit darker than I wanted.

I ran a dark, dark brown pinwash into the panel lines, and applied engine exhaust stains with pastels I obtained from my artistic daughter.  I pounded them to powder with a hammer, and applied with a cheap brush.

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The underside was also Floquil neutral gray, with Model Master neutral gray on the control surfaces.  I don't know if these faded so much, since photos aren't so easy to find but it provides some contrast.

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Once again, I'll start another posting to prevent picture overload.

The rest of the photos will be just a circuit around the model, from port aft.

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I used Floquil medium green on the vertical stabilizer, since photos often show this in a different color than the rest of the plane--plus it adds some interest.  Somewhere I read that this was because that part was subcontracted.

Noteworthy also is the placement of the aircraft letter "E," which is offset toward the rudder.

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A somewhat fuzzy photo of the real "Sal" from port aft led me to think that she was equipped with the enclosed, three-window waist positions, so I used Squadron's vacu-formed part here.  Also interesting is the placement of the fuselage aircraft letter "E," since it is located in a different position on the starboard side.

Below are two views of the port nose.  "Sal" carried her artwork on the starboard side, unlike many Fortresses.  From other photos, this seems to have been typical of the 100th Bomb Group.

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Once again, I'll do a separate posting to prevent this one from becoming too long and cumbersome.

"Sal's" artwork was a little unusual since it was painted on canvas and glued to the plane, rather than being directly applied to the fuselage.  I wonder how it didn't blow off in the slipstream?

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The view from starboard aft shows the location of the "E" on this side.  I stumbled on this in a photo of right waist gunner Sgt. Willian Wright, posed outside his gun position.  While further back on the port side, on the starboard side it was located between the crew entry door and the waist window.

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The last photos are two close-ups of the nose area.

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The PYN-up decals went on without a bit of trouble--something I don't often have happen.  They are really excellent decals.  I used white decal stock, colored with a silver permanent marker, and used them to frame the metal around the windows.  "Sal" apparently had some battle damage here.

Some sources also claim that "Sal" had NMF engine cowlings on all four engines.  I couldn't verify that from photos available on the web, so I painted them all OD.  De-icer boots were supposed to be worn, so I used Floquil RR paint--grimy black or weathered black, I don't remember now.  The decal instructions also said that "Sal's" de-icer on the vertical stabilizer was worn off--so I painted that way, but did not find any photo evidence to support it in the one picture I located showing the tail area.

"Our Gal Sal" was apparently named after a similarly nomenclatured film starring Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature.  You can see a clip here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j7YMTMMV6g .  The movie has not apparently made it to DVD yet.

That's it. 

Bish, thanks for making this group build available.  It has been a lot of fun, and now I have three more completed Fortresses in the collection.  You've always been a gracious and attentive host.

Lovely job you have done on this. One thing i didn't add to mine was the exhaust staining, as i couldn't find any pics of it. I wasn't sure if it would stain underneath given the angle of the exhausts. Seeing yours gives me a good idea of where it should go. I like what you have done with the control services as well. Overall, a great job.

And love the history as well. I have seen the sign's for the 100th museum, its about 30 mins from where i live. It is on my to visit list, maybe take a drive out next summer.

I seem to have missed this off the front page, which kit is this again. And another question, how was the squadron window to add. I have the academy 17G with AM marking for an NMF 100th BG aircraft, Rabbit run i think its called. I need to add waiste windows to that as well, and i think they are the same ones you ahve added. Need to check the decal sheet next week.

Thanks for all the effort check, and everyone else. I will add the 17 to the front oage once i get the kit details. And sorry for not getting round to a build review. I will do one tomorrow to wrap up the year.