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

Off to the races!

Fit is decent. I can see that the wing roots are going to cause some grief. The cowl also doesn't really want to "lock down" onto the fuselage. But I'm sure some CA will fix that right up...

I know I've been planning to do this almost totally OOB, but have to admit, the blast tubes are horrendous. I've got a set of Master's turned brass tubes for my Tamiya Razorback, so I think may steal it's plastic tubes and replace. Not sure if I want to go through the hassle of correcting the horizon alignment yet or just stick with the kit's locations.

Also made a start on the office, spraying it with White Ensign Dark Dull Green (or Dull Dark Green, I can never remember which it is). The entire tub is one piece, and fits perfectly into the fuselage, but I think it's going to make detailing something of a pain. Still trying to work out how I'm going to install the lap belts...

DoogsATX don't you hang around, you get straight in there. Looking good.

Bish--You have it right.  I am building it for the bombardier/navigator.  His name is Jaqua.  I buit a C-47A for a friend of his who flew them over the "Hump" in '44-'45.  I found some good color shots of aircraft in theater and got a good match on the faded OD paint.  Marking up the C-47 was pretty easy as the crews did not have assigned aircraft but flew what was loaded and ready when their turn came around.  I just needed a tail number from his log book to model a theater aircraft he flew.  Jaqua saw the Dakota and sent me the info on "Bottoms Up".  The plane was natural metal and i have a photo showing the tail markings clearly. My quandry will be recreating the nose art.  Does anyone know an artist who can produce a reasonable replica that I can turn into a decal?

The part sprues were all nicely enclosed in plastic bags.  Looking at it more closely, it might have cracked when it came out of the molding machine, since the plastic feels a little on the thin side.  On the other hand, it might have happened during transit.  The box says "made in Korea," which probably then shipped to England, then on to Canada, where I got it through ebay; then over to the states. 

I sent off the little replacement coupon to Airfix this morning, so hopefully the wait won't be too long--otherwise I'll dig out another one from the stash.

It's good to see all the other starts now for this build. 

Sounds, good really hope you can pull this off. I wouldn't mind being able to make my own decals. I am sure somone here must be able to help, have you tried a post in the decalling forum

I almost thought about doing a diorama with the B-24 but then remembered how fun those 2 or so years were trying to piece together enough figures for a B-17 diorama

Thats the main reason i stick to 72nd aircraft, as all my builds are as Dio's. But even then, it isn't easy when doing US aircraft. The only figures are the Airfix set and a few resin sets.

The problem I had with figures is that with the sets in production now, manufacturers think a bomber crew consisted of only 4 people.  Teknics produced a 10 figure 1/48 set but went OOP when meteor productions went under a few years back.  I was finally able to track one on ebay this past summer and win it, but that was a very very hard find. 

Bish and redraider56:

maybe you are familiar with them already, but there is a Czech company (CMK) that makes 1/72 figures useful for aircraft dioramas; normally they are standing crew types.  Squadron sells them.  They are resin.  The faces are sometimes appalling, but the rest is usually pretty well done.  Still, as pointed out, they too come usually three to a set.

Preiser from Germany also makes some WWII aircrew, but they are scaled for HO size railroads, so are a little on the little side.

I have used Airfix (soft plastic) heads remounted on the bodies of hard plastic seated pilot figures, like Hasegawa, Airfix and others provide in their kits.  That way there's a variety of head gear.

If I can borrow my daughter's pricey camera again, I'll try posting some pictures, although you can barely make out the crew in the cabin of the Memphis Belle I posted earlier in this thread.

Just saw this build...Hope you don't mind me inserting myself.  I posted yesterday on the news of the new Revell B-17G.  I want to get one of these and build it for this group.  Looks like I have some time.  I want to model one from the 303rd Bomb Group.  I want to model one of their aircraft that flew on Mission 229 over Wiesbaden on 15 August 1944.  I have emotional and professional attachments to Molesworth and some of the areas that received the bombing in Wiesbaden (Lindsey Air Station).

checkmateking02

Bish and redraider56:

maybe you are familiar with them already, but there is a Czech company (CMK)

Yes I am aware of them and bought a set from them too ( I model 1/48) but again, like other companies, their "Bomber crew" set consisted of only 3 figures, not the 10 you need for a B-17 or B-24.  Any way, I was able to piece together a B-17 crew for outside the aircraft by using Revell kit figures, Teknics figures, CMK, figures, and Verlinden figures

checkmateking02 ye, i have a few of the 72nd CMK sets. but if, as red said, you want to do a full crew, its bloody awkward. Thats why for my current B-24, i am just doing a few crew members about to climb in, giving the impression some have already got on board.

hutchdh Your more than welcome. As the first post says, as well as a build, i am looking for a background on the unit and station. And for the guys like you, what your personal connection is, thats if you feel happy telling us all. So, that a 1/72nd Revell B-17G, 303rd BG, based at Molesworth.

No prob...will do...Once I get the kit and start the build, I will post all the details....I am looking forward to this one.

Bish,

Both kits will be the Academy 1/72 P-51B and D.  The Tamiya kit I have is too far along to consider.

Bish,   put me down for the fallowing.  Revell  1/48 B-26C-10-MO  "Wolf Pack II"  S/N 41-34856 call letters VT * X

323rd BG 453rd BS Earls Colne.  Pilot  Lt  Jerome F. St Peter.

Revell  1/48  B-24D (TBA)

Tamiya 1/48 P-51K-5-NT  S/N 44-11682 call letters WZ * I_   78th FG 84th FS  Duxford.  Pilot  Lt  Kenneth J. DeMaagd. 

It has been over 20 years since my last model so I hope I am not bitting off more than I can chew.  This will be the first time for me to use a airbrush, photo etch, scratch building,  and filling seams so wish me luck.

Little J Welcome aboard, and welcome back to the hobby. Glad to decided to re start with my first GB as a host. can you confirm your B-26 is from Earls Colne prior to Oct 16th 1943.

Edit: on second thoughts, it doesn't matter, we don't have a B-26, so lets assume its during the 5 months it was a part of the 8th at Earls.

And guess what i just realised. I haven't altered the GB badge, it stills says it ends in July, even though i extended it until next Nov. Seeing as i did that before the build started, i should really re-do the badge. I will get on that this weekend.

Bish,  My P-47 Razorback is going to be the Tamiya 1/48 D version.  I'm a Don Gentile fan.  So, I've rounded up a set of decals representing "Donnie Boy".  This is a follow up to his Eagle Squadron Spitfire that I built last winter.  I've managed to cut off the elevators and rudder, so that I can reposition them to add a little visual interest.  I've also finished the cockpit, and am "wiring" the engine.  I'll get a couple of pictures in to really kick this off.  Thanks. Rick. 

This is how I patched together my crew....Teknics (TEK), Verlinden (VER), kit figures, and CMK

BTW, none of them are done yet

Nice collection of flight and ground crew, redraider.  The lack of personnel for aircraft is always disappointing.  There doesn't seem to be a whole lot in any scale.

Been jumping back and forth between the Jug and the two Soviet planes. The cockpit's getting close to done, so I'll definitely be posting it up when it's time!

In the meantime...the Monogram's molded-on blast tubes suck.

I've got a set of Master tubes to go with my Tamiya Razorback, so I'm going to steal its plastic tubes (nowhere near as slick as Master's turned brass, but worlds ahead of Monogram's) and retrofit them.

The Tamiya uses staggered plastic blocks inside the wings to help with location. I'm planning to do something similar out of some Evergreen, but I also want to rig it up in such a way that I can just slide the tubes in near the end of the build (so they don't interfere with sanding and such). I'm thinking about using either brass or plastic tubing extending from the backing blocks up to the openings, all installed and locked in place to act as guides.

Here's hoping I don't ruin the plane!

I have been looking in on your Russian builds on the Ostfront GB and some great work you have there, i am sure this build will be just as good. Those gun tubes deffinatly need replaceing. You have one hell of a work rate when it comes to kits.

Bish

You have one hell of a work rate when it comes to kits.

And here I feel all slow and ponderous! Get about 2-3 hours a night of bench time. Don't ever feel like I get too much done unless it's happy fun airbrush time, but little steps add up I guess!

Speaking of little steps...the Jug's cockpit is painted and detailed. All that's left is some minor touch-ups (White Ensign enamels run away from adhesives...even CA. Not happy about that discovery.) and a brown wash to weather up the seatbelts a bit more, but it's basically done.

Everything in here is straight OOB save the Tamiya tape used for the seatbelts and one of the lap buckles. The concrete monster ate the kit one, so I grabbed one off a Waldron buckles set and painted it in Floquil Old Silver (love that stuff) to match the others.

Also didn't even see the mold seam on the control stick until I was processing the images. Oh well!

And a better view of the IP. 

Looking forward to trying to close up the fuselage soon. One curious thing about this kit is that the instrument hood doesn't actually cover the IP. Stupid 60's fit tolerances!

I've had a good week at the bench.  Outdoor stuff is slowing down and modeling time is going up.  I had mentioned that I had separated the elevators and rudder from the 1/48 Tamiya.  I carefully scored the cut lines with an Xacto blade.  The plastic is pretty thin here and did not take that many passes.  The rudder hinges had enough bulk to save, but the elevator hinges were too thin.  I cut them out and inserted sheet styrene and sanded to fit. 

With the fuselage closed up the tail appears to have a pretty decent fit with the dry fit.

Tamiya makes a very nice cockpit.  The detail does not really need much aftermarket stuff.  Tamiya provides a decal for the IP.  I was skeptical. but the dial faces laid down very nicely on the raised panel face.  I chose to stay with the kit panel instead of an Eduard PE panel.  I did use a seat harness set from an Eduard set.  I did not trust the kit decal for the harness.

I have become quite fond of "wiring up" the big radial engines.  Here's the front of the P47.

So, things have started out well.  I've closed up the fuselage and wings. I've got a few glue blems to clean up, and then may attach the wings

Doogs, there is an opening on the fuselage in front of the IP on the Tamiya kit also.  On this kit it appears that there is a small triangular "dashboard" that fills that space later in the construction.  It might be an easy fix with a scratchbuilt bit of styrene.     Rick

Wabashwheels

Doogs, there is an opening on the fuselage in front of the IP on the Tamiya kit also.  On this kit it appears that there is a small triangular "dashboard" that fills that space later in the construction.  It might be an easy fix with a scratchbuilt bit of styrene.     Rick

Thanks Rick - your pics aren't showing up, but I've got two Tamiyabolts in the stash so I think I may pull one out and see how they tackle things.

Not much progress today...had to go to a wedding in San Antonio and didn't get back til 11:30. Eyes are fried from the high beams and unlit Hill Country roads that comprised the drive back, so no bench time tonight!

Some really great work there guys. Both those cockpits look awsome. You have really kicked this off well, thank you.

Rick - the pics are showing up for me now (maybe Photobucket was down?) and I see what you're talking about with the Razorback IP hood. Yeah, the Monogram's not quite as thought out. The hood's already molded with the fuselage halves, it just doesn't cover the IP. That said, I trimmed down the back of the panel and once the fuselage is together I think I can probably just take it in place without things looking too ridiculous. Should be getting around to that later this evening.

I've also been hitting the bench hard today. Wife and kids are in Houston for my mother-in-laws birthday, so outside a few honey-dos I have all the free time I can handle.

Been poking away at the two Russian planes, but I also performed surgery on the Jug's blast tubes.

First thing was measuring distances. The kit's "tubes" extended out 9, 6, 3, and <1mm, and the Tamiya barrels are right around 15mm. God I love digital calipers!

Next I snipped off the kit tubes, taped the wings down tight, and drilled out the holes. Turns out my largest micro bit was too small for the Tamiya tubes, but my smallest regular bit - 1/16" - was too big. I needed 3/64. Went to Lowe's, where everything starts at 1/16, but I finally located a Dremel bit set. Overpriced, but it had what I needed. Back home, I drilled the holes out and everything fit beautifully.

Once that was done I opened the wings back up, measured and marked the distances inside the wings, and glued some snips of angle stock in place as barrel stops.

Double-checked to make sure the distances were right...

Then did a test run with the wings taped again. Sure enough, they slide right in until they hit the stops. I'll still have to do some minor alignment, but I'll certainly be able to install them after painting the rest of the aircraft. 

Apologies for all the pics and depth. This is some of the first significant surgery to a kit I've ever done so I'm a bit worked up about it!

Doogs:  that's a very innovative way to handle the problem.  Looks like your surgery will e successful and the patient will survive.

Great job on replacing the tubes Doogs

Thanks gents! I'm pretty happy with the way it came out myself!

Something else about playing with an old Monogram kit - it builds FAST! Earlier today I was messing with the cockpit, now I'm just about ready for filling and sanding!

The gaps at the wing roots are atrocious. I Tenaxed a strip of styrene along the edge to act as a shim. Worked like a charm.

The underside's a bit nasty, but I'm hoping to clean it up a bit as I go.

Lastly, here's the gap between the IP and the dash I was referring to. I'm going to just push it back and tack it down, but that's for another day...