The Official P-61 Group Build Thread

And to comply with my own rules, here's some WIP pics

-Fred

Alright, Fred. Count me in.

I won't be starting right away as I am waiting on my conversions to arrive. I will be attempting a F-15A/RF-61C Reporter AND, being the glutton for punishment that I am, an F-15A fire bomber. Maybe even a P-61 fire bomber. Depends on how much down time I have in between the other 2.

The basis for all three builds wil be the 1/48 Revellogram kit. Lone Star Models F-15A/P-61 conversion and B-25 fire bomber set.

OK, I'm in: Two Monogram P-61s in 1/48, One built in-flight, True Details and partial scratch interior with self-cast crew, modified kit cowls and possibly replacement gun barrels and vac-formed canopies. Not sure what bird it will be until I get the decals.

The other will be a fantasy, if allowed: an "A-61D." If the P-61's had been mothballed instead of used for research and fire bombing, think what a great ground support aircraft it could have been. This one will use the Eduard interior and exterior PE sets and be in ground configuration, running up its engines in a revettment somewhere in the 'Nam. I was thinking of modifying the kit to a P-61 C, but the conversion kit is a little pricey. Then it occurred to me that since I was upgrading an old airframe, why not make it a turboprop? I can either scavenge, scratchbuild, or find suitable AM turboprop engines and props. It will certainly be unique!

Welcome aboard, boyos.  Feel free to build any variations or fantasy birds you wish.  We're just trying to spread the under-represented Widow love.

-Fred

The is one good looking build... Im saving these pics for reference!

I have a revell P-61 in my stash, but Im so oversubscribed at the momment, will take me some months to get to this... will surface in a month and let you know for sure!

Take your time, Jmart.  Most people who are interested in this build probably won't be starting for a while.  That's why the end date is 2 years away

Me, I only ever work on one project at a time.  I actually enjoy completing a kit within my own lifetime

-Fred

Triarius wrote:

OK, I'm in: Two Monogram P-61s in 1/48, One built in-flight, True Details and partial scratch interior with self-cast crew, modified kit cowls and possibly replacement gun barrels and vac-formed canopies. Not sure what bird it will be until I get the decals. The other will be a fantasy, if allowed: an "A-61D." If the P-61's had been mothballed instead of used for research and fire bombing, think what a great ground support aircraft it could have been. This one will use the Eduard interior and exterior PE sets and be in ground configuration, running up its engines in a revettment somewhere in the 'Nam. I was thinking of modifying the kit to a P-61 C, but the conversion kit is a little pricey. Then it occurred to me that since I was upgrading an old airframe, why not make it a turboprop? I can either scavenge, scratchbuild, or find suitable AM turboprop engines and props. It will certainly be unique!

I started one once. I used a couple of C-130 cowlings and props. I eventually scrapped the idea. I may have to see If I still got the stuff.

Maybe I'll get the bug to finish it now. 

Please count me in as well.   I've been working on and off on my Widow for about a year now, and am probably 30% done.  My plan is to build P-61A Skippy.  I'll try to get some photos of my progress posted this weekend.  Thanks!

Steve

You got it, Steve!

-Fred

Well, since the end date is in 2009, that will give me a year to finish up my cue... add me with the Revell 1:48 P-61, will figure out later what exact version I will (attempt to) build

cheers, jim

Jester75 wrote:

Id like to join up with Dragons P-61B in 72nd with Eduard etch, Aires cockpit, and possibly other AM items if its not too late!

You're in.

Late would be jan.1st, 2010

-Fred

Thanks Gigatron!! And here are some pics as requested..... man is 72nd soooooo tiny!!!

Nice job, eric.  1/48 is the smallest I'm willing to go.

Here's some small update pics

-Fred

Whew, totally not cool!! Had to go to page 2 to find this thing. Lets get it back up top where it belongs. Thats some nice work Gigatron! I thought I read that all cockpit and crew surface were painted interior green and all unexposed surfaces were painted yellow chromate?? Anywho, here are some pics of the completed forward pit. All I can say is I think I need glasses now.....

And here are some shots of the rear area with the PE side panels in place and the resin interior whittled down and in...

Thanks for looking and as always comments and crits are more than welcome!!

This looks like fun! I've got a Monogram 1/48 Widow. I also had this image in my mind as an idea for a badge:

What do you think?

I confess I'm not wildly enthusiastic about that particular arachnid , and your background color turns my stomach (perhaps that was your intention!).  Your image is very effective, however. 

I think I would prefer something with the aircraft image, possibly with a background of a frontal image of the spider. (Black aircraft, gray background, ghostly image of the spider?)

it is unfortunate that the name chosen was "Black Widow," as the aircraft's performance and mission are more like those of a wolf spider. 

What do other folks think? 

Nice work, Jester!

As for the badge, I'm thinking just the spider (on a white background) with the start and end dates on either side.

-Fred

There is nothing like choices so how about this one?

kenjitak wrote:

There is nothing like choices so how about this one?

Now I like that one. I like the red hour glass! Even though it should be on the belly, I still like it!! 

You mean like this?

kenjitak wrote:

You mean like this?

Now THAT'S the way a 'Black Widow' looks!! I've seen plenty of 'em!! The REAL ones, that is!! 

Here's my entry into the badge contest

I'll give it a few more days and then we'll tally up the votes and we'll go with mob rule

-Fred

Gigatron wrote:

I'll give it a few more days and then we'll tally up the votes and we'll go with mob rule -Fred

How about we all use the one we like OR use each of them rotating randomly? 

chopperfan wrote:

Gigatron wrote:   I'll give it a few more days and then we'll tally up the votes and we'll go with mob rule -Fred How about we all use the one we like OR use each of them rotating randomly?

If someone knows how to make one of those animated GIF dealies that will rotate through the different pics, that would be cool.

-Fred

kenjitak wrote:

There is nothing like choices so how about this one?

Either this one or kenjitak's alternate gets my vote. 

Monogram's ancient 48th scale P-61 w/ some scratchbuilt interior details and AM decals...

...please comment...