80 Years of the Mighty 8th GB

Bish

According to scalmates there were 2. One by Blackbird Models and the other by Paragon. But both are quite old and you would struggle to find them. Paragon no longer exists and the Blackbird one is out of stock on their site. I'd like to do a BQ-7 conversion but its never been done so might have to scratch one.

I see your point on the availability of a YB-40 conversion. That is unfortunate. Probably for the best right now though, there's lot's of work to do before another project...

A BQ-7 would be super cool!

I totally forgot about two gorgeous Revell 1/72 F and G Forts in my other closet. Maybe I will get to those soon.

Got the pit completed.  I used the kit decals and placards but were not enough so I dug into my spares for anything looking close to what the pony used. The wood floors were painted black and would show some foot traffic From use. I simulated this effect by dry brushing dark brown on the worn areas.

I wired up the radio battery.

The pit sides after paint and decals.

I used some Verlinden 1/32 seat belt buckles and wine foil to make the seat belts 

Used The kit decals for the instrument faces then added clear parts cement for the glass.

Nice work PJ. Looking reall good!

That looks great PJ 

Thanks gents!

That looks absolutely amazing!

fearlessfarless

That looks absolutely amazing!

 

Thanks!

PJ,

<takes notes> 

Gary

Thats impressive work there PJ, lovely detail.

After seeing the work y'all are doing, I hesitate to even post a photo etch IP 

I also added brake lines to the landing gear. That nearly turned into a disaster 

I guess this is how you learn new things...

fearlessfarless

 

 

 

After seeing the work y'all are doing, I hesitate to even post a photo etch IP 

I also added brake lines to the landing gear. That nearly turned into a disaster 

I guess this is how you learn new things...

 

 

 

Looks great, both IP and gears.  

Nothing to worry about there fealess, thats some lovely work.

The F-82 is all primered with MM gray enamel primer. As I wait for the primer to cure for a few days I pulled this Tamiya P-47D out of the closet. cbaltrin suggested a "Razorback" Thunderbolt would be a good follow-up to the Twin Mustang. I ordered decals to build the Thunderbolt as a 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron airplane. I should have the decals in about a week.

That'll be great! I look forward to seeing it.
P-47 is da bomb!!!

I've always been partial to the Thunderbolt. I like its enormousness!

Anyone know where I can get this resin set? Loon Models lo48219.

fotofrank

I've always been partial to the Thunderbolt. I like its enormousness!

 

Whenever I dream of tearing through the wild blue yonder, I think it likely that the only aircraft I might fit in would be the P-47 

If you casually look at the clear Revell parts they appear to be ok but, look closely at the front windscreen panel and is not flat but looks like a clear puddle. The canopy sides distort in a wave pattern. 

Here is a perfect demonstration 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A664rUqiW7I

So the same company that makes the resin tail makes a great replacement canopy and windscreen. Looks like I will be ordering it since my clear parts are VERY distorted.

Also some caution during joining the fuselage halves. I like to dry fit parts to test the waters before using glue and the pit side frames, front and rear bulkheads MUST be sanded thinner to allow the fuselage to close. I read about this issue in a review and sure enough I experienced the same problem. Some sanding with a coarse sanding stick fixed the gap issue.

fotofrank

I've always been partial to the Thunderbolt. I like its enormousness!

Anyone know where I can get this resin set? Loon Models lo48219.

 

I've not been able to find it and i can't access the Loon website for some reason.

I'll add that to the roster frank, that will be somthing different if you can find the conversion.

My kit and decal set came today.  Except I just found out the decals are a two part set, and I ordered part 2.  I should have also ordered part 1 and of coarse, its out of stock. LOL  No biggie, it was the nose art I needed and got.

OK gang, when I last left you, my Lightning was masked up and awaiting its booms. Since my last installment, I was able to get the booms attached and cleaned up. The fit wasn't terrible but there was a bit of filling and sanding needed to smooth things out. After I got the assemblies together and cleaned up, I went back and replaced lost rivets and panel lines.

Then I sprayed some Alclad gray microfiller. This helped fill in those tiny sanding gouges and made those spots that needed more love a little more visible.

Then I got busy with the primary painting. Here it is with its primary coat. I'm still going to go back and distress the paint a bit more.

Now that the big parts are assembled and painted, I'm going to turn my attention to the fiddly bits. As it stands now, I'm pretty happy with where I'm at with the Lightning. I think the worst is over. Should be downhill from here.

Of course, feel free to share you comments, questions, and criticisms.

Thanks for looking. Stay tuned for more!

Cheers,

-O

oortiz10

Of course, feel free to share you comments, questions, and criticisms.

Criticisms? Are you kidding?

That is one sweet paint job! 

Scott, look forward to seeing you start that.

O, lovely paint job, i do like how the OD came out.

Talk me off the ledge fellas...

I'm already nervous about NM finish...

Somehow i missed these spots during fitting, construction, sanding, and priming, NOW these sink marks showed up. I have no idea how I overlooked them. 

Anyway, just venting a little, I'm gonna try and sand this mess down to an acceptable level and repaint.

UPDATED this post instead of creating another one...

Whew, repaint was successful, aluminum all wrapped. Letting the gloss coat dry until at least tomorrow... 

Hey gang, I'm posting in the hopes of getting a little feedback. This is the first time I've done this amount of chipping on a build. I'd appreciate a little constructive criticism. Whathca think? I'm going for a used but not abused look. Is the chipping convincing? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance, 

-O

oortiz10

Hey gang, I'm posting in the hopes of getting a little feedback. This is the first time I've done this amount of chipping on a build. I'd appreciate a little constructive criticism. Whathca think? I'm going for a used but not abused look. Is the chipping convincing? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance, 

-O

I like your "used not abused" approach. From the references I can find, your wear pattern is right on. Looking good!

fearless, those very fine lacquer paints do show up every minor detail, i can take a lot of work to get the surface right. But its looking good and should not take to much to clean those up.

oortiz10

Hey gang, I'm posting in the hopes of getting a little feedback. This is the first time I've done this amount of chipping on a build. I'd appreciate a little constructive criticism. Whathca think? I'm going for a used but not abused look. Is the chipping convincing? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance, 

-O

 

I don't know about the wear areas on that type, but it looks to me as though where you have put them looks about right. I am not a fan of chipping myself, but if it matches real life photo's, then who is to argue.

Finally got a response from Revell about the canopy and windscreen issue and replacements will be sent free of charge. The massage said it will take up to 6 weeks for the parts to arrive so hopefully these will have no distortion.

And some progress done with the pony. Got the fuselage closed up after sanding down the thickness of the pit side frames and both bulkheads otherwise the fuse halves will have a slight gap.  

I drilled out the carburator intake panels

Working on the main gear wells now.

plasticjunkie

I drilled out the carburator intake panels

Wowzers! That reminds me of the old saying, "It’s not fun work, but at least it’s tedious." Gonna look great!