The Official 1942 70th Anniversary Group Build

stikpusher

Nine, I built that kit over 10 years ago. It is really beauty. The only place it really needs any help is in the cockpit, and True Details does make one for this kit. Although I see that you are well past that point.  What era/area of operations markings are you planning to put on this build?

Nine, I built that kit over 10 years ago. It is really beauty. The only place it really needs any help is in the cockpit, and True Details does make one for this kit. Although I see that you are well past that point.  What era/area of operations markings are you planning to put on this build?

Ordie, I should have the wood grain washed and and warhead painted on the Mk.XIII during my days off this week, if life co operates.

I have been nickle and diming little things on the TBD before work this week: cleaning up seams and sink marks at the wing root on the bottom side, prepping the flaps for installation, a bit of shimming to fill a gap on the rear portion of the wing fold. Removing corrugations from the wing bomb rack panels, because none should be there... Just a few more small details to hit and possibly major paint work on my days off. If not, it will be ready by next week.

Hey all,

I've been working on and off on the Nate,
It's a pretty out of the box build on this one.
The hasegawa kit is actually a 40year old kit from another company called 'Mania'.

Though, it's detail level is quite high, keeping in mind the age of this kit.
Everything fits quite well except for the lower wing part into the fuselage, but it is doable and when given a bit of attention and painted it can be dealt with.

Anyway, Here are the pictures.
the instrument panel, Detail was added using dry-brushing.

with regards, Ninetalis.

Stik - Both the triangular braces and orange crate fins are great scratched "touches".  Can't wait to see the finished torpedo, all washed down and everthing (you know how I like things that go boom, lol!).

Glue dry and seams cleaned up- check

Torpedo body painted Humbrol Brass and "orange crate" with Humbrol Oak

once the Brass dried overnite I can mask off an paint the warhead Light Gray

Thank you sirs! Well I now have the upper wings glued on and that trapped the outer folding portions in place. Once the glue dries and the seams are cleaned up I will post some photos.

fine retouch!

Nice touch, Stik.  Coming along very well.

Some final work on my TBD tonite, before calling it quits at the bench for the evening here.

First up, I sanded smooth the putty work from earlier

Then I did a bit of scratch build detailing on the outer wing portions. If you look at this photo, there are four triangular braces between the two hinges on the upper interior portion of the outer wing panel that are not molded in the kit

 Based off of some reference photos in books that I have here, I was able to guesstimate their size. Using some strip styrene, I court four triangular braces for each wing, drilled out a lightening hole in each with my pin vise, enlarged each hole a tad with a twirled x-acto knife tip, and using my book reference photos, glued each on in the proper position.

Then placed them on the build for a test fitting and these photos

Left upper wing shim added- check

Putty applied to sink marks in both upper wings- check

Not much to update for today. My biggest progress was sanding down the shim that I have been working on for the upper right wing where it meets the fuselage.

I put it in place for this photo but am not quite yet ready to glue it together.

And the as yet un-shimmed left wing in place, but also not yet glued, showing the much thinner gap needing to be taken care of.

stikpusher

Thank you sir. I am looking forward to seeing the pits on your 1/48 F-4Bs ;-)

You shall, you shall ...

Thank you sir. I am looking forward to seeing the pits on your 1/48 F-4Bs ;-)

Looking good, there, Stik.  Nice pits ...

Yes, the middle position was for a bombardier when it was flown as a level bomber.

Nice!  I didn't realize the Devastator had a three-man crew.

Tonite's pic updates of progress:

First up, the instrument panel ready for installation

Then I glued the lower inner wing half to the fuselage. I added a small shim to one side of the leading edge to cure a slight gap on the lower forward fuselage by forcing it together.

Then I installed the IP. I don't ever recall that part being such a challenge any of the times I build this as a kid, but then again it was all built in a single session back then. The stick was in the way today so for the next time I build this kit I will either have to leave the stick out to ease the process and install that later on, of install the IP earlier when the fuselage is first closed up.

Nathan, I am trying to decide as to what degree of accuracy I am am going to try to replicate those cables... like you did with some stretched sprue?, a bit more precise and use thread with its braided texture looking more like the real thing in minaiture??, or do I get obsessive and spin some very fine wire to replicate the loop ends and duplicate the cable braiding???.... with whatever hooks goe thru the loop eyes????!!!  oh to be 10 years old again and not care...

Ordie and Sub,  I am already trying to figure out how to tell this great story just right... not too long winded, but full of great details.

stikpusher

I have had fun improving the Mk.XIII here. I am still trying to figure out how to do the cables that hold the sucker in place in the cradle until release.

Stik, I used stretched sprue superglued in place-seemed to wrap around the torpedo well enough. Nice job again!

Yes, a good story is a must!

stikpusher

Yes indeed... When I finish this build and tell the story like you did for Swede Vestaja's SBD, I will recount the TBD and Mk.XIII's finest moment in 1942...

I can't wait ... you know how I love a good story ... .

Yes indeed... When I finish this build and tell the story like you did for Swede Vestaja's SBD, I will recount the TBD and Mk.XIII's finest moment in 1942...

I have had fun improving the Mk.XIII here. I am still trying to figure out how to do the cables that hold the sucker in place in the cradle until release.

Ah, yes, the infamous 'early version' Mk-13, not to be confused with the also infamous 'late version(s)', lol!  They were OK, when (if, actually) they detonated ... Nice job on the fins, btw - I can see the grain of the wood.

Thanks again guys. Here is today's first update. Something you an appreciate Ordie- The Mk.XIII Torpedo was modified shortly before WWII with an "orange crate" set of wood fins added around the original fins to help stabilize it during the aerial drop.The kit comes with the Mk.XIII in it's original form. Later during the war, a metal ring fin would be fitted at the factory to serve the same purpose as the wooden "crate". A simple scratch build. First some measuring, then cutting, and then I dragged a razor saw held width-wise along what would be the length of the outer surfaces to add a wood grain texture. The glue then together and fitted to the kit's Mk.XIII. I won't glue them on until the "Torp" is all painted.

sub revolution

Looks good stik!!

(aka ditto)

Looks good stik!!

Thank you Nathan. I was just out at the bench test fitting the canopy (among doing other things). I am not sure yet which way I will go there. After test fitting I am kind of leaning towrds closed over the gunner's station and open for the pilot's, but then I have to fill those two holes on the top deck where the gunners canopies go. This kit is still a beauty to my eyes, and I built a bunch when they were new back in the day. I still have another to do in my stash and want to go all out with the twin mount .30s,  Archer raised rivets and all. I know that I could dress up the cockpit a lot too on my own, or even get the Eduard set.

Nice TBD Stik! That old monogram kit sure has a lot of detail for its age. When I build mine I used eduards PE set and Archer raised rives. Made the build twice as challenging but still turned out great. Your kits on the road to being a real stunner. So, Canopy open or closed?

Thank you again for the kind words CMK.

Inventive technique to take care of the panels.  Very creative.  It's all coming together nicely.