Strategic Air Command GroupBulid

COMPLETION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   And i can't believe how long it took me just to getting back to the last few details that it did. But here is the completed Testors/Italeri U-2R Large Dragon Lady:

As you can see, there is still some shine to it from the future applied for the decals. I've tried both the Testors MM dullcote, and the dullcote offered by Tamiya, but i still couldn't shake some kind of sheem. I've noticed that it seems more obvious in the pictures than it does in person though (lighting perhaps?). And i had considered to coat the aircraft in another coat of flat black while masking off the decals, but decided against it. I figured i would be better off "quitting while i was ahead". The landing gear doors were one of the few pieces that i had saved for last. And in retrospect, i think they could have done better. On the MLG door control arms, i have to say that the instruction booklet was abiguous at best as far as the exact placement. Those things just aren't too detailed- as least as much as i would like. I think i had a hard time figuring out which side was truley up.

I'm also learning that with a black colored aircraft, just keeping the dust off of it is quite a chore. Believe it or not, i had dusted it as best i could just moments before snapping the picture. But it seems i missed a few spots. Sorry about that

And i know i had mentioned it before, but the biggest headache i had was the placement and fit of the canopy. I went into this build assuming it was gonna be relatively easy. But the fit was more challenging than i had though. I tryed to manipulate the canopy aft section so it would lay flush to the fuselage behind, but found that if i did that, then the alignment of that and the windscreen would be completely off (not to mention adding to the gap underneath. I even thought that maybe if i were to add some strategically placed putty, i could get it to kinda taper some and maybe it might not be as noticable. But decided against that too. It still wouldn't have looked right to me, and i would risk damaging the canopy more. So I did my best to find a happy medium, but i think it still looks pretty off. I think in my mind, all i could do was just chalk it off as either warping due to age and storage, or just a poorer quality mould. And of course there were a few other mistakes made on the assembly and decals that had mentioned before. But i won't go into those. I'll just file that away as lessons learned.

   Despite all the problems i had with this kit, i wonder if maybe they all might be like this or not. So with that in mind, i still would like to do another of the same kit. Perhaps after my skills have improved, i'll get a better build that I would be happier with. By no means am i as good as the rest of y'all. But hopefully i'll get better as i progress. If nothing else, the techniques used here (putty/sanding, future, researching, cockpit detailing and dullcote) were all new stuff to me. So for a first attempt at all those at once, i think i am pretty happy with how it turned out..... for now.

All comments and critisisms (either good or bad) are all welcomed.

Well just putted two coats of model masters flat black on, my BlackBird.  The flat color looks really nice.

Just a heads up, guys. I'm waiting for the last few odds and ends here to finish drying on this build here, and then she will be a-goin on the shelf! I'll be posting pictures once everything is completely cured.....

As i look at this Dragon Lady, despite all the shortcomings there are in this build and problems/errors, i have to say that i like what i see. Mostly because of the new experiences learned off of this one. More details to follow with illustrations....

If i'm not mistaken, i believe the very last flight was a cross country flight from LA to New York that was done in about 20 minutes or so (though i'm not sure about the elapsed flight time for sure).

   But that definately looks like one of the final flights of the blackbird. Nice find!

While looking around Youtube, I found what seems like one of the last Blackbird flights.  It says its from a air show at Edward's AFB in 1999.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GwuEx7YYEU&feature=related 

That had to have been a really big aircraft! What strikes me as unusual is that it appears to be quite a radical and unorthodox design compared to other bombers of that era. One thing about this aircraft was that to me it still looked more like a science-fictional aircraft rather than being reality. But i guess that is just my own observation...

While i can say i've never seen the kit firsthand, i actually had a chance to see the real aircraft. It was an airshow at Edwards AFB back in '98 (i believe) and i remember that because it just happened to be the first time i had ever seen the U-2R in flight too. It actually took a little asking to find out what it was because i had never seen that particular aircraft before. It was certainly out of the ordinary

   At least i was pretty sure it was that aircraft. It has been awhile since...

Very nice!!

It's worth noting that the B-70 is 1/72 and the Bone is 1/48, correct?

Here is the XB-70 in 1/72 scale.  It is from the aircraft forums under "Size comparison.  The top pic shows it with the 1/48 scale B-1B.  Also you can see it next to the 1/72 scale P-2V behind it.  It is a rather large aircraft.

As for the bump under the nose on the B-47, it is the Radome!  It is bulged out from the fuselage. 

IL2windhawk wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a radome. And I think the tan part is fiberglass, the black part carbon fiber.

Wow! I can honestly say i've never seen the xb-70 kit in any scale! Seems to be a rather elusive kit.

Thanks for the heads up on the radome. It did look a little unusual to me, but i understand now

Yeah I did read some were, on the underside thats a radome.  My brother started on a Buff at the start of the year, hes going with the Aliumium top and flash white bottom color.  You know the other day I found a 1/72 XB-70 model.

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/mod/us/hamm70.htm

"Note it says long out of production" lol 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a radome.

And I think the tan part is fiberglass, the black part carbon fiber.

And those are some nice builds! I can see what you mean about the Buffs paint, but it's alot better than some of the other camo jobs i had seen in times past though

One question on the '47. That spot/marking underneath the nose. Any idea what that is? I know alot of time with modern fighters, they used to paint a canopy shaped marking underneath (the idea being so you couldn't tell if it was upside down or not). But i'm wondering if that might be the same idea or no?

Well, i agree. Of course the downside is that Testors is the only company that makes the SR-71 in that scale, so it's either that or nothing. But i tell ya, if they did the '52 in that scale, it would be worth all the tea in China (not to mention all the room it would take up to display). But i do wonder about how structurally sound it might be. I remember the B-29 i did in that scale many years ago. If i remember correctly, the wings stayed glued to the fuselage for only about 2 months or so, before it began to fall apart. While i would still like to try that again (now), i do wonder if there would be bigger problems with anything with a larger wingspan. Just kinda food for thought. But one can dream, right?

   Concerning the SAC GB II, i think it might not be really feasible to do right away. I think probably about this time next year might be good. Maybe we might be able to get some additional participation next time around. But really, alot of the credit would have to go to you, FMM. After all, the original SAC idea was yours, and it amazes me that it hasn't been done before. T'was a really good idea!

Speaking of the Buff, here's one I did a few years ago.  To me I wasn't happy with the paint job, and the final turn out.

B-47 from sealing,

My SR and U-2

And what the heck, I'll throw in a XB-70, in 1/444

The talk of a SACII is interesting,  I to get over minded and keep thinking of projects to do in the future.  And Desert Rat, the Testors Blackbird isn't the greatest model kit.  I belive it was made some time in the 70's, so the model fit is great.  Which leds to alot of filling and sanding!.  But I think It's worth, my LSH has them for 29.99.  But you can find deals on online stores, and ebay. 

Another thought, if some one maked the Buff in 1/48 that would be neat.  Just think of the detail, and the size it would take up! 

I'm going small- the F-82, or an F-111!!!

Otherwise, the B-50 which isn't so small.

bondoman wrote:

SAC GBII- I've got a choice of three lined up!!

Ahhhh, the sweet torture and agonizing ecstacy of choices!

Looks like space is going to be a bit of an issue for the upcoming year here, but i think if i go large next time around, i may build it for my nephew. I'll need something that looks cool to offset all that "Power Rangers" debris he has in his room!

SAC GBII- I've got a choice of three lined up!!

Ahhh, the Blackbird and the Dragon Lady. Somehow they just look too perfect sitting on the same shelf there! Like two peas in a pod...

   I'd still love to get my hands on a Buff, but i really wish they had it in 1/48 scale though. But i agree with FMM- the camo scheme looks great on her!

   But going back to the Blackbird. Between FMMs and yours, i'm starting to think of other options for the SAC GB II. Maybe i oughta try the SR-71 too.

There's entirely too many kits out there, and not nearly enough years in my life...

The SR-71, and U-2 are both 1/48 scale.  Here are some more pic's.

Here is another shot of the B-36.  Sorry will have to get more later.

More of the SR-71

More of the cammo B-58, and another one.

Now here are som of the B-47E.  It has been modified from the kit with phase III ECM gear.

Cockpit area shot.

Left extended wing tip.

Left side ECM blister, on rear fuselage.  Note the belly aft ECM pod/hump.

Two ECM plisters on the right side, with better look at belly ECM.

Right side shot of cockpit.  Seats are from Revell, F-101 in 1/72 scale.

I believe that is all  Gent's.  Will post more later.  I hope you like them.

Here is my B-47E built about 2 years ago.  Along with a few other things.  Let me know what you think.

She has the full underside white paint scheme with the Aluminized top side.

The "Big Stick".

B-58A with S.E.A. Cammo Scheme, as photographed at Eglin AFB in Fla, circa 1970.

Sr-71, and the Dragonlady.

I have more pic's of these if anyone wants to see them, and can get more.  I have figured out the camera!

DesertRat wrote:

FeldMarSchall Model wrote: Thanks for your nice word's guys, I will try to find a way to remove some of the paint on the forward canopy.  Today I started on some decals, the decals on the wings don't really line with the lines on the wings.     She's lookin good enough to go to the ball, methinks! And from the picture, i have a hard time seeing what you mean about the line on the wings.

I'll have a better photo tommorrow, of what I'm talking about.  Or like the seems line, the black decal is supposted to fellow that line but doesn't.  So you just got to keep the two lines apart. 

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Thanks for your nice word's guys, I will try to find a way to remove some of the paint on the forward canopy.  Today I started on some decals, the decals on the wings don't really line with the lines on the wings.

She's lookin good enough to go to the ball, methinks!

And from the picture, i have a hard time seeing what you mean about the line on the wings.

Thanks for your nice word's guys, I will try to find a way to remove some of the paint on the forward canopy.  Today I started on some decals, the decals on the wings don't really line with the lines on the wings.