Strategic Air Command GroupBulid

Wow! Vaccuform! I know that would be a little over my head, methinks! The price tag isn't too pretty either!

Right now, the decals are being applied here! Doing ok so far, But it looks like i still got some silvering happening. Wondering if maybe i coulda used more future, but no matter. The real downside with this kit is all the decals are friggin small and kinda hard to work with. After ruining a few decals, i figured maybe i should take a little break! But i'll post some pictures once i get this insolent monster all marked up!

Whew.......

steelrudi wrote:

The price scared me too, but who else can say they have a 1/48 scale B-47 in my area?

Good point!

I hearby rescind what i said about silvering! Guess it was just that milky stuff ya get before it completely dries. Good deal! Now, i had ruined a few decals (like i said) due to the small size of them. So i guess i can just add that up to the list of things wrong with this build. But what i do have, i'm pretty pleased with! Check it out:

The most prominent decals are the bat wings on the vertical stabilizer. I'd say that's about the size of a penny. I was kinda a little surprised that the red wasn't as bright as the caution labels by the cockpit, But no matter. All the decals i had messed up were some of those around the cockpit on both sides. Believe me, i did my best to salvage them. But i had followed a recommendation that had been posted elsewhere to put microsol down on the aircraft before you apply the decal. Well i did that, but it kept setting too quickly for me to get it into place as needed. With adding a little more water, it didn't help. And in trying to fix it, some of them managed to turn into a little ball on the end of a q tip. Certainly not my most defining moment on the bench.

A shot of the left side. If you look closely, there are a few minor spots that still need touch up. I'll get to that next, i think. It was also recommended that you should hit it with another coat of future after the decals are completely dry, and i'm thinking of doing that. Then hit it good with the dullcote. The future kinda ran in a few areas and it isn't terribly even, but i'm hoping that the dullcote might conceal alot of the imperfections there.

Oh yeah, i've got the landing gear kinda done too. After the dullcote, all i have to add are the landing gear doors and the canopy, and that should wrap it up!

I open the floor to comments. Be gentle...

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

DesertRat, the Blackbird in 1/48 is around 26 1/2 inch's long from tip to end.  I must say very nicly done on your U-2R.

Thanks! And if i ever do spring for it, i think that will be yet another build that will demand it's own shelf! Sure would look good though....

steelrudi wrote:

I found them in a second hand model store here in my area.  Also for you B-47 fans out there, I just ordered one of these.  http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=5689&cat=Military%20Aircraft&scale=1/48&searchtext=B-47   I am thinking of the nightmares it will bring, but GOD I ahd to have it.  Also check out the site.  There are tons of AC in tons of scale, and kits, I never dreamed of seeing.  You will like it I think.

You're going to be fine. First of all, I'd go out and buy a 1/48 Monogram B-29, because it will afford you all manner of stuff including decals that will come in handy, I'm sure.

Too bad they never made the 1/48 B-36.

Then I'd buy a 1/48 two seater from that era, an F-89 or F-101B for the seats, radios and no doubt a couple of other handy things like that.

Then watch Strategic Air Command. I'll lend you the VHS and see if you can get a transfer.

Then google the review by the guy who built the vacform Globemaster. It involved filling the fuselage halves with Instatire or some such; gotta put lead in that pencil. Wing spars were made from pieces stripped from cedar shakes, kind of like a giant chop stick.

Then watch Strategic Air command, especially where they refuel from KC-97s in front of Mt. McKinley. The B-47 has it's gear extended, flaps down and the canopy open. (not really the last).

I've got a supplier for yellow and white SAC stars (me, left overs) , a good color match for the sash blue on account of my next project, for Roger's SAC II GB.

bondoman wrote:

You're going to be fine. First of all, I'd go out and buy a 1/48 Monogram B-29, because it will afford you all manner of stuff including decals that will come in handy, I'm sure.

I've posted somewhere here on the forum that with all the problems i had with that kit as a kid, i would never build another B-29 in 1/48 again!

Now, i'm honestly starting to reverse myself on that. Guess i'm seeing one particular corner of my home office/library/hobby room/computer room that looks kinda empty. Was looking at it one day wondering what would go well there, and i had an epiphany......a B-29 in flight!!!

Do they actually have AM SAC decals for that aircraft? Lookin on ebay, i don't see any. Probably wouldn't have much time for it any time soon, given that i'm spread thin at the moment. But perhaps someday...

DRat- I was replying to SteelRudi abt the B-47. I don't know where to find 1/48 SAC decals, but there's a bunch of commonality w/ the B-29 for all the stuff that sucks in vac, i.e. every detail part.

And for that empty corner, build the 1/72 B-36. I loved building it, it's an RB-36 and can't easily, or hardly, be made into a bomber, but that's ok w/me.

I've got a real honey in the stash, a 1/72 XB-35 that I really want to build in an in-service scheme. SAC comes to mind, but also an earlier USAAF Olive Drab over Neutral Gray, or, late 40's Air Force with red wings and tails.

BC

My mistake! The B-47 kit does look pretty nice, although i have absolutly no experience with vacuform. Hell, i didn't even know what vaccuform was until i came to the forums here.

   But a B-36 would look great too, after having looked at it online. One thing though, and i guess it's a common quirk amongst modellers. But concerning aircraft, i have always preferred the 1/48 scale. Uniformity, ya know. But the real downside is that there are some larger aircraft that aren't represented in that scale, and i'll confess that i am a little miffed over that. I've always wanted to do a buff as well, but never seen anything bigger than 1/72. Maybe someday though...

I know, i know. I guess i can be fickle at times!

Well, and I'm looking at 1/144 and thinking, what if I built a C-17. So it goes...

The usual trend is to move up in scale as you get older, at least in model railroads which is my main hobby.

I missed the 10/9/07 finish date, but the C-54 is finished. I'll try to get some photos before dark and post them soon.

Cheers, Bondo.

Great work on that U-2. 
I like the Bat symbol: that's cool as hell :)

I saw a resin 1/48 B-47 on ebay once.  For about $70, I think. 
I wish I could remember the manufacturer.  They also made a
1/48 resin X-31, and lots of other neat but obscure aircraft.

Bondo, do you model in N scale?  I want to build an N layout like this one:
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1632

IL2windhawk wrote:

Great work on that U-2.  I like the Bat symbol: that's cool as hell :)

Yeah, i like that too! It was either that, or the Snoopy decal. I thought the bat was more appropriate.

One thing ya don't know about me........

.....I'm Batman!!!!

DesertRat- the U2 is a gem. I'm glad you got back to work on it and thats a really nice job.

Gentlemen; for your consideration, the C-54 at 95% completion. Exhaust stubs, antennae, and a couple of missing tail numbers remain, however I wanted to shoot this and show you guys that I have been working away all summer.

As you may recall, this beast started life as a Heller DC-6 air tanker kit, from eBay, with a hidden surprise inside- an ancient "Mullett Models" DC-4 conversion kit. Until this GB came along, my first, it languished in the stash for want of a livery scheme.

I cannot tell you that this a/c actually was on any SAC org sheet, but she was based at Goose Bay in the late 50's, along with KC-97s. She was used to hack around the Pine Tree Line, and as far North as Thule.

This build required a fair amount of surgery prior to any glue being poured, let alone about a pint of Bondo.

So here are a couple of shots I set in Goose Bay on a sunny afternoon, ready for the tasks at hand.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments, she's definitely a six foot model, and I've enjoyed doing this. On to the Lockheed GB, I'll be building an EC-121.

Bill

Bill,

Your C-54 is really looking great.  I love the paint scheme and background.

Darwin, O.F. 

Just a slight bit of an update. I've decided to coat the aircraft with another coat of future for good measure. Since it allows for about a 48 hour cure time, i'm looking at halloween for the dullcote. I figure if i run into no further problems, she will be a-settin on the shelf completed before the weekend with my first GB completed.

Sorry that we missed the deadline, FMM. But better late than never.

Chiller towers above the Arctic Circle!! Musta been for the hot months.

Thank you DR, YB and SR for your support. Kinda feel like a virgin on a troop ship (guy!!); what if they find me out. Anyways, I like working birds a lot. I've got another GB I committed to a while back; the Liberation of Western Europe.. for which I'm going to build a sweet little Lodestar in RCAF highly polished natural metal. She was a laison bird to Goose Bay. I do like the Arctic Circle action, obviously a big part of SAC.

But after that; Rudi the Shak is ready to be built for Modern African Wars, I'm going to build a EC-121 for the Lockheed GB, and Roger if you float a SAC II GB, which I encourage you to, a really sweet F-82 in a very nice color scheme.

An F-82, huh? Now there's something you don't see everyday! I'll have to kick that idea around for a little bit.....

   I think it might be part of the evolutionary process as a poster here to eventually host his own GB, and in all honesty, i really am liking the idea of having a SAC II GB. Who knows? Maybe i might give it a shot maybe sometime late next year. As busy as i am, i would feel kinda silly if i couldn't even commit to my own GB. But rest assured, the ole' rolodex is spinnin...

But here's the deal. The trick is to keep it bumping. FMM and we have done well, and take a look at the IJA/IJN GB. Cardshark keeps it tossed. The Lockheed GB: Ruddrat. You've got a good personality that I for one would be happy to team up with on another GB.

Short time period, should have entertainment like a periodic trivia day.

To quote Bela Karoli, "You can do it"

I agree. And i think that having some of these side diversions within the GB help keep it interesting. In the FAA GB, we just hit our 100th page. Of course there was alcohol involved, but I get the idea. Find unique ways of making it interesting!

   I definately know what you mean, and i agree very well. Something else i have to keep in mind as i mull it over. But i got plenty of time for that!

But we are sooooooo seeing eye to eye here!

bondoman wrote:

To quote Bela Karoli, "You can do it"