Strategic Air Command GroupBulid

bondoman wrote:

Avila Beach is where you want to go. Barbara by the sea, and the restaurant out at the end of the pier. Theres a reason its called SLO town, but... there are the Poly Dollies.

Awwwwwwww, Avila!! But, that's not what I remember about Avila!!

We used to go to, what we called, "Streaker Beach"!!! I don't even know if it's still there. Scenery was GREAT!!!

B-47E progress pics.  Just a few more steps before she's done:

Well i'm back, and i'm smoked! It's been a long 3 days for me, and i am glad it's over with. Never did make it outside the confines of the post this time around. But i know there is always next time.

   Of course aside from flight duties, i need to maintain proficiency in the common tasks, and that was pretty much the focus of this weekend (i didn't even bring my flight uniforms). Alot of physical stuff, and it wore me out. I do have to tell you that some of us managed to score a deal though. We had a platoon of Rangers from a LRSD unit there. And in the spirit of "you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours" we manage to make it a little more interesting. For assisting them with their Physical Fitness Test grading, they agreed to let a select few of us rappel with them. Most of the other guys had never done it before, so it was quite interesting to watch about as much fun as actually doing it yourself! Quite a weekend, and i am looking forward to turning in early tonight! And i'm thinking tomorrow evening, i'll continue with my build! Is it so wrong that i had future builds on my mind during all the downtime?

   That's a great looking B-47E, Windhawk! Glad to see the progress of others as we progress! Forgive me for asking a really dumb question, but i'm having a hard time making out your color scheme (my computer sucks) Is that a grey/white scheme? Or is it NMF/white? It has a pretty metallic luster to it, but i've just never seen that scheme before

Thanks! And after a quick google search, i can see you are right! I just never knew they did that.

That's why i love the group builds here! Ya learn different things like that! That is interesting....

I've finished the color scheme on the B-47E.  Had some set backs
when painting the metalizer on the engine exhausts.  That lacquer
paint is a whole different animal, and my masking techniques failed
in many places.  It took me two days to finish fixing the places
where paint had bled through the tape seams.

Clear coat in the morning, decals tommorrow evening.  Almost done :)

I'm diggin it! I'm really diggin it!

Thanks for the good words, fellas.  I'm excited to do decals tonight.
That's gotta be my favorite part of building a model.  The thing really
starts to come alive when the decals go on.

I can't believe you've made TWELVE B-47s, rudi.  That's incredible!
The 1/72 kits looks awesome.  Someday... :)

Yeah, sadly only one survives to this day.  Aslo have built 6 B-52's of various manufacturer's and 9 B-36's, of which only one survives.  I have some in the stash though, and they will be built by my children, or grandchildren. I will probably build one more of each, and then give up the ghost on these great kits.  I have always had a soft spot in my Heart for SAC.  As I said before, I grew up and live in Council Bluffs Iowa, and it is only 10 or so miles from Offutt AFB.  Sac has a rich history in these parts.  I would recommend that you get the kit.  It retails for about 28.00 at Hobby town usa, and is a fun build. 

http://www.hsgalleries.com/gallery04/gb06/b4772as_1.htm

Here is a link to what can be done with the 1/72 Hasegawa kit.  It is a very good build.  Hope you enjoy it.

Yep! That is a beautiful build! I have to say that this is certainly a most unusual subject too, given the norms. Consider those of us that were not inside the SAC community, one usually does not even think of this particular aircraft when thinking of bombers. Usually a B-17, B-29, B-52 etc tends to come to mind. Maybe in my eyes thats what makes this aircraft so interesting.....

   Since reentering the modeling world several months ago, i have noticed that Hasegawa usually tends to be the more top of the line kits (and a price tag to go with). I'd love to break sprue on one soon. With money a little tight though, it'll be a little while before i add one to my stash. But thanks for the link! Sure set me to thinking about possible future builds in the next few years to come

Decals! 

Getting very close now.  Need the weathering layer, that's about it.
This biggest task that remains is to fabricate a decent base to mount
this thing on.

That's friggin awesome! She's certainly prettier than a homecoming queen! Looking forward to the next step!

Question: Those lines on the wings. Are they decals as well? Or is that a part of the paint?

Thanks, Fellas.
Hopefully my Grandfather will approve!  Unfortunately this gift
is already 6 days late.  Hope to ship on Friday.  I wanted to
make sure it was done right, if not on time.

That's pretty much what I had in mind for a stand, Rudi. 
I'm not going to put a brass plate on it though.  Good idea. 
Maybe next time.

DesertRat wrote:

Question: Those lines on the wings. Are they decals as well? Or is that a part of the paint?

Decals.  They sucked too! 
I needed lots of microsol to get those things to settle down, because
there is a web of transparent material between the lines.

IL2windhawk wrote:

Hopefully my Grandfather will approve!  Unfortunately this gift is already 6 days late.  Hope to ship on Friday.  I wanted to make sure it was done right, if not on time.

I'm sure he'll love it! Not just because it's done right, but the time invested carries an awful long way too! And especially the fact that it'll be arriving late, i'll betcha he sure wont be expecting it. Imagine his surprise! Let us know how it goes when he gets it?

Hey, has anyone seen Bill (Bondoman) lately? Haven't seen him on in a few days, and i'm starting to wonder....

Yeah, i know. And i usually see Bill on about that time (I don't sleep much these days). But he hasn't shown in awhile.

And painting icons? Now i'm really curious! I'll ask him when he gets back. I musta missed that post somewhere.

Drilled the hole for the stand.  Getting the drill angle right
so that the aircraft both banked, and was centered over
the circle was a challenge!  Lots of measurements, followed
by some final bends where the rod meets the base. 

Also, I did a charcoal wash but it didn't really reveal a whole
lot of panel detail.  It did accentuate the control surfaces a bit.

Sorry - this picture is blurry as hell.  I have a stain to use on
the stand that should make it about like the table in color.

Well, the U-2R project is coming along well. I'm at about 85% here until completion. Only thing i got left is future, decals, dullcote, and the final assembly of the landing gear and canopy.

However, i have elected not to post pictures at the moment, since there is a few gigs that i need to fix. I've got her in a nice coat of paint, but the problem is that i can now see that the putty wasn't sanded down enough, and i need to go back and retouch that area before i move onto the acrylic application. But, once i get that fixed, i'll post a few pictures for y'all to see where i'm at.

I am looking forward to your pic's looked good from what I have seen.

I still think you need a B-47 in the stash. LOL 

steelrudi wrote:

I am looking forward to your pic's looked good from what I have seen. I still think you need a B-47 in the stash. LOL

Agreed! My stash is pretty sparse as it is! That, plus quite a few more kits are on my shopping list here at some point!

   Why oh why is it that most all the kits that i really want are either expensive or OOP?

Perhaps, but my LHS here seems to be shying away more and more from aircraft. It seems that it's more a model car and collectibles shop. At last visit, there were maybe a couple dozen kits on the shelf. Some i have, others i just weren't interested in.

I could buy online, but i'll avoid that when i can. Especially when it comes to kits and stuff to reload the bench, i would prefer to touch it, see it, smell it, taste it, feel it and touch just a little more. Part of the fun of it all, i think.

I need to find another kit dealer out here....