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B-36 Peacemaker Group Build

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  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by B-36Andy on Friday, May 27, 2016 7:47 PM

Thanks Reasoned, for the reply and pix of your bird!

I have a couple of questions----Did you use MM non buffing metalic colors? Also what did you use for a clear coat over the silver? I would like to try your technique for a finish. Are the rattle cans the same paint as the bottled stuff? I would like to airbrush.

Testors silver in the rattle can made a nice silver when it was decanted and applied in the airbrush

I have used Alclad---it goes on fairly easy but has horrible fumes and spray. You need a charoal mask and all skin covered. The first time I used it, it made me sick and high as a kite!

Great job on the bird and Spit! I'm now trying to fit the wings to the fusalage---yikes!!!

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Thursday, May 26, 2016 9:21 PM

Andy, fascinating story on your close-up childhood encounters with the B-36. As far as finish goes, I haven't mastered Alclad yet but those who have get an excellent finish with it.  I used MM metalizers (aluminum, magnesium, etc.,) from rattle cans on my build because it’s easy to shoot, they hold up well after sealing and that's what I was used to. I've attached a picture which shows the various color variations.

 

Note: 1/72 scale Spit for size comparison.

 

Below: B-36's final resting place...my son's BR ceiling.

 

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by B-36Andy on Thursday, May 26, 2016 8:45 PM

Well----this build is talking far more time than I thought!!! Surprise On 30 hours now. Many more to go!!!!

More on the "Buzz Job". This video and story are on page 3 of our build. In October 1954, when I was 7, I was recovering from polio and at home in bed. One day I heard a B-36 take off from the AFB that was 3 miles away. I always liked the sound but didn't pay much attention. But it kept getting louder and louder! Within seconds the roar was shaking the bed, floor, pictures were falling off the walls, and the floor was vibrating. The window blinds were jumping up and down in my bedroom window. I thought "this guy is coming right down my street and is not just above the houses but between the houses, Wow!!!!!"(Of course impossible) I jumped out of bed, ran through the living room and out the front door in my jammies, so excited about the buzz job but so scared I would meet the monster nose to nose in the front yard!

I ran clear to the middle of the street and looked all around. By then the engines were beginning to fade and it was though nothing had happened. I'd missed it!! Really mad at myself and so disappointed. It was hot from the afternoon sun and dead calm, and not a soul or car was in the street. I thought "Where are these people!!!!! They just missed the show of the century and nobody cares!!!!!!!(Actually the houses were full of young moms raising baby boomers and could have cared less---Probably upset at the racket that lasted for 10 seconds)

This has been one of my great regrets of childhood---the other was losing Rickenbacker's autograph. But, about 3 years ago, I found 8mm film of the Buzz Job while surfing for B-36 stuff---the pilots wives had known before hand and filmed it!!!!!!!!!! So I did get to see it after all!!!Smile

In the film, it is interesting to note it was dead calm that afternoon, but the small trees, bushes are being blown by the monsters prop wash. The plane passed down the street next to mine. (I found the houses and street by looking at Google maps street view and matching to the film.)

Mom was upset the monster knocked pictures off the walls and broke dishes from the display rack----and really upset that I'd run outside at a dead run. But I didn't care---I had at least heard the monster and my dad who worked at Convair thought it was veeeery swell! He knew that the CO at the field thought it was a nice touch!!!!

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by B-36Andy on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:00 PM

I'm taking the easy way out with this kit. I'm only filling the leading edge seam and my friend hand painted the canopies----not so hot up close but just fine from about 8 feet where the monster will hang. So far about 20 hours into the build------where can I get some atomic weapons for the Peacemaker?? As it was never called that!!

Actually I have 4 of these kits when Hob Lob put them on sale years ago. The next is about half finished and even has a masked canopy! HaHa! I want to build the plane that is in the You Tube "B-36 Buzz Job"---"Convair B-36 makes a low pass over a Ft Worth neighborhood".

This plane will hang on my ceiling!! What finish should I use? I have sprayed Alclad once before and it seems OK. Any thoughts from you guys?

Also could ya'll check the buzz numbers on that beast, from that You Tube vid? I think I know what it is but I need to see if my eyes actually see what you see----???

thanks so much for the encouragement and help!

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by B-36Andy on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 6:42 PM

Thanks guys!

My interest in B-36s goes back to whan I was a kid. My second plastic model was the Revell B-36 and I built it during my second grade year. Living 3 miles from the end of the runway, you could always hear the monsters taking off. My Dad worked at Convair so it was a treat to go there to pick him up. The road went right next to the air base's fence where they were all lined up---dozens of them being worked on. As a 7 year old they were huge. The tail reached a full five stories from the ground.

Some of you were watching Strategic Air Command and skipped the June Allison parts---you need to watch the "romantic" part where Stewart is holding June in there meager officers qurters and a B-36 flies over. The window blinds vibrate and jump up and down----Ive seen this as a kid when they flew over!!

  • Member since
    November 2013
Posted by Teutonic222 on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 7:07 PM

Welcome to the forum Andy. You have now joined the rest of us lunatics that decided to take on the B-36 model. The end result is worth it -- quite a presence when hanging up.

I've been missing from this forum for quite a long time while a very slow house move has been taking place. My B-36 is 90-95% complete, but currently stored until it makes the trip to Florida, gets hung up in my office, and I add all the finishing (delicate) touches.

Everyone here is very helpful, so reach out if you have questions.

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 2:07 PM
Good luck Andy, there is nothing "quick" about the B-36...except frustration.

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by B-36Andy on Thursday, May 19, 2016 11:53 PM

Hi guys!

I'm new to this forum and am building a Monogram B-36 for our 50s style barber shop here in Texas. There was a big blank spot on the ceiling above the customer waiting area and it absolutely needs a 50s era SAC bomber to finish the period effect of the shop.

I am doing a quick build, (well relatively quick for a 3' plastic model) and so far no glitches. Since it will be ceiling queen I am not detailing the cockpit or bombadier area.
 I will send pics soon.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 8:02 PM

Thanks, Bockscar!

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Ontario, Canada
Posted by Bockscar on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 7:04 PM

jeaton01

You're doing a nice job, Derek, that cockpit looks great.

 

John, I neglected to mention what a fantastic job you did on your B-36.

Great pictures, really show the quality of your work.Yes

  • Member since
    November 2012
Posted by buffjock on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 12:25 AM

Teutonic,

 When masking NMF I use damp newspaper. It sticks nicely and leaves no marks like tape does. Its worked for me for years. And is reuseable, just re wet it...

 

Majer KongCowboy

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Riverton, Wyoming
Posted by Andrew Magoo on Thursday, February 4, 2016 1:32 AM

Hi Roger, I haven't gotten past the tail section yet! The fuselage is glued together and the tail piece is one swep wing section. I think I have a solutrion but I have to get down to print shop. This has certainly been a challenge with the eye sight problem and trying to convert an already built kit. I do think I will get it done and it will look ok when done. I hope to have my computer fixed next month as it will be much easier to post pics and do the forum without bothering the wife for her computer. I will keep you and the foreum updated on a regular basis. Good modeling to all, Andrew Magoo 

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Monday, January 18, 2016 2:50 PM

Hi Andrew,

Good to hear from you again and also good to hear that your eye surgery turned out for you. Did you ever get the YB-60 model completed? If so, I would like to see photos of your finished project. Either here or via my personal email address of rstgney@hotmail.com. And yes, I am familiar with computer crashes as I had the same experienece once and lost a lot of data with no back up.

Best regards,

Roger

 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Riverton, Wyoming
Posted by Andrew Magoo on Friday, January 15, 2016 3:59 AM

Hi Roger, Sorry for not saying in touch. My computer totally died, won't do anything but a black sceen with a blinking hyphon. I also went pretty much blind for a while, vison went to 20.95. I had surgury in both eyes, again, and I'm now down to 20/25 in my left eye and 20/40 in my right eye. Hang in there it's been a rough year for me. I would have contacted you through your personal email address but my computer is where that address resides. Untill later, Andrew Magoo

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Thursday, November 26, 2015 7:48 PM

Hi Derek,

It has been awhile since your post and I was wondering if you added the 20-mm turrets to your model. If so, did everything fit OK without having to do any modifications. Was it easy enough to cut the turret area and just drop the kit in. Anything I should know before trying to add them to my model? I haven't purchased a kit yet but am thinking about it if it is easy enough to incorporate.

Thanks,

Roger

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:37 PM

You're doing a nice job, Derek, that cockpit looks great.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Central Texas
Posted by viking73 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 7:25 PM

Hi Guys,

Well I've been watching this thread with interest for several years now.  It's been sort of quiet since John posted photos of his excellent build!  Nice job sir.  Where are you lajntx?!  Are you still out there I hope?!  Let us know...

At any rate, I have a 1997 issue of the Monogram kit in the stash that I picked up on eBay for a song about 3 or 4 years ago.  I had no place to put it back when this thread started so it stayed in depths of the stash.  This year however I moved into a new, larger house and I think a B-36 hanging from the ceiling of my man cave is just what I need.  So about a week ago, I decided to go for it!

Let me tell you that I have been hoarding B-36 decals for several years.  I have several of the Warbird common markings sheets plus their sheet # 002.  I have an old Scale Master sheet and also the old Microscale sheet #72-272.  After some thought, and armed with I think just about every B-36 book out there, I have decided to model RB-36F s/n 49-2703 from Microscale sheet #72-272.  I think the checkered tail will be good looking.  I have found a single picture of this plane in two of my reference books.  It's flying but missing her rudder!  Does anyone know if there are any other photos of this plane anywhere?

I know I am in for a bit of conversion work.  This a/c had the single tail radome and also one flight engineer station.  Those items should be fairly easy to produce.

I'll post some photos of my progess so far in a bit.

-Derek

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:39 PM

Roger:

I severely appreciate your kind offer, however it would require a hemostatically sealed container with framistan shock absorption and my normal supplier on Titan is on the wrong side of the sun at the moment.

Regards,

John

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:23 PM

John,

Your completed model looks really great. I actually prefer the Configuration II aircraft as they retained all of the 20-mm cannons when they added the anti thermal paint. That is the same way I am building mine as well. I originally thought that the white paint was only used on the feather weights, but it appears that some of the RB-H models also had it, although it seems that all of the RB-E models were feather weighted.

I have the perfect place where you can keep your model until you can get your display case built. Just find a large box and send it to me for safe storage as I am always glad to help with situations like this when I can.

Cheers,

Roger  

  • Member since
    November 2013
Posted by Teutonic222 on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 7:02 PM

Nice work, John. I gave up on trying to mask a soft edge on the anti-thermal paint without destroying the NMF. You pulled it off well. I'm jealous.

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 3:30 PM

Well, well John fantastic job on her! Yes  Having built one myself (and it will be ONLY one Wink) I can say with some authority that you did a great job on the wing roots, walkway strips, seams and the finish variations.  I also can see where you used 2 bottles of white too, that is A LOT of white you had to do.  Although this huge kit doesn't have as many parts as many of today's higher detailed 1/48 or even 1/72 kits, the sheer amount of plastic and NMF can really magnify any warts.  Again, congratulations on a real quality build.

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 2:53 PM

Well, it appears to be done.  I haven't repaired the tail cannons, that will wait until the new display case I am building is done.  Not too sure where I will keep it until then.

 http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/b36/1b36/0421b36.jpg

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Saturday, June 13, 2015 9:23 PM

I have been working on my RB-36H pretty steady for the last month, but you all know how it goes.  Hour after hour, but really not much to talk about or show.  I was unhappy with the loss of detail from lowering the wing on the fuselage, and in the end I got comfortable with rescribing the wing and tail group, top and bottom.  I used a JLC saw and a dental tool, and various straight edges.  There are a few goofs but I'm much happier with the result.  I painted the magnesium areas with Floquil old silver and the aluminum areas with Alclad Polished Aluminum, then rubbed in SNJ aluminum powder very soon after spraying.  I found that I got the best coverage with the least paint by using about 15 pounds pressure and back about 4 to 6 inches with both paints, it dried just right.  I put on the antiflash white, that took almost two bottles of Model Master Flat White and a roll of paper towels.  I did a loose mask so there is a soft edge demarcation.  It only took a day and a half of pretty constant work to mask and paint the cockpit and nose transparencies.  Another area that has taken some work is the nose cannon.  I think my fuselages were a bit warped right in that area and the fit to the lower transparency was poor.  Also, in order to make the nose cannon rotate there is a loose fit there that I was not happy with so there was a bit of Aves Epoxysculpt added.  Several attempts actually, but it is not too bad now.  I should have kept at it a little more but it will be OK.  Really.  As you can see I still have to install the nose cannon, the first one went away somewhere and the new one is from a second kit and has been re-sculpted some.  It and the tail cannon barrels will be the last things added after decalling, which near as I can tell is next.  Before that I think I will respray the aluminum area around the camera section, it is not as bright as I would like, though I want the contrast between the bare aluminum and painted magnesium to muted since the airplanes only had the antiflash white the last few years of service.

I took some quick pictures where it is now.  It's going to take some work to come up with a large enough photo setup.  Maybe I should take it down to Travis AFB for some pictures, it's just down the road.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Monday, June 1, 2015 9:19 PM

Hi Tuet,

I forgot to mention that I have already tried that method to improve the viewing angle. It seems to increase the diameter of the lit cable tip but doesn't seem to improve the viewing angle very much at all. But maybe that will be the best I can do. I've also tried fusing two cables together at the tips but it doesn't do much for the viewing angle either. I will look at the attached link to see if it has a method I haven't tried yet.

Thanks for your suggestion and fast reply,

Roger

  • Member since
    November 2013
Posted by Teutonic222 on Monday, June 1, 2015 8:43 PM

Hello Roger,

I have a solution for your fiber optic lights. I have never used fiber optics, but I know it is easy to flare the ends so the light appears more like a regular light. All it takes is holding the tip near a heat source. Model railroaders do this a lot. Check out this link: thefiberopticstore.com/.../Train-Misc.htm

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Monday, June 1, 2015 8:34 PM

Hi Tuet,

Thanks for the info. I should have known that with all the detail that you have in your model that you would have included the emergency rescue markings as well. I just can't see them in the photos because there isn't enough contrast present even after enlarging them. But glad that you have added them already.

I can see how you are doing your lights and it should replicate the original ones quite well. My problem will be a little different in that I will have the depth of the LEDs to contend with. They are the flat-top ones so they will have less depth than the rounded ones. I will probable try to craft a curved backing behind the LEDs to look more like headlights while hiding the LED wires. I think I can use the wires themselves to mount to the front of fuselage holes. Oh well, something to play with.

What has me currently stopped in my construction is that I am using fiber optic cable to bring navigation lights to the wing tips. I have the green and red lights flashing just fine but the viewing angle of the fiber optic cable is very narrow such that you can only see them when looking straight at the end of the cable. I will have to resolve this before putting the wings together. Maybe I will have to try a different approach altogether but I haven't given up yet. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Roger  

  • Member since
    November 2013
Posted by Teutonic222 on Monday, June 1, 2015 1:40 PM

Hello Roger:

Thank you very much. Believe me, there are plenty of flaws. I'm just trying to overlook them. The Cut Here For Emergency Rescue markings are there, they are just difficult to see in the photo. You can just see one of them on the port side near the U.S. and on the starboard side just forward of the rear observation blister. The red call out against the silver finish doesn't stand out dramatically.

I haven't installed the landing lights yet, but I'm using M.V. Products P/N 29 (0.1015"/2.6 mm) clear lenses. Easy to find at a good model railroad hobby store. I drilled out the location of the fuselage landing lights and glued a back-up piece of styrene sheet. For the lights, I placed each lens face down on some tape and applied multiple drops of Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker to build up more of a headlight-style shell. I'm sure Elmer's white glue would work too. I then painted the backs of the lenses sliver. I plan to cut a small strip of photoetched brass from some leftover scrap and glue it to the lens and then glue the strip/tab into the hole in the fuselage in order to make the landing lights look like they are extended for landing.

That's one of the items I plan to do once I'm moved in to the office. I'm afraid it might break off during transit.

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by rstigney on Monday, June 1, 2015 11:48 AM

Tuet,

Your pics of your model are nothing short of perfection and it is just unbelievable the amount of detail that you were able to incorporate. Excellent job. I did notice that your side views did not contain any emergency rescue markings. I have no idea if 2827 had them or not but I came across some info that showed the addition as part of the "High Altitude Camouflage" paint scheme. It shows them being located directly in front of the lower aft blisters, painted red with the words "Cut Here For Emergency Rescue". It might add a nice additional detail if applicable. Let me know if interested and I can send you the info.

I also have a question for you regarding your fuselage landing lights. What are you using for them and their mounting? I have flat top LEDS that I will be using but haven't decided on how to mount them yet.

Roger    

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