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Ol' Scrapiron

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  1. I looked through our 447th BG archives, and here's what the front of 42-97976 Louie the Creep looked like before being repainted as Bit O' Lace. The early glare shield looks like the standard OD. One thing I had not noticed is that the tally markings on Louie the Creep are below the glare shield while there was still just a single row. I always assumed that by the time the plane was Bit O Lace the shield paint had bled down into the row of bombs... but actually, the second row was added above the first such that it encroached into the faded shield area. A decent look at the underside of 42-97976 later in the war ...and also the upper wings I have more BW pics, but the color ones should be helpful.
  2. Looking forward to watching your build -- but I'm always biased toward that beautiful yellow and green!
  3. Take a seat... I decided to learn a little from the miscues during my first attempt at the Pilot and Co-Pilot seats during the Ol' Scrapiron build for the last STGB. You have to admit the kit provides a rather simplistic representation of the structure -- just three parts. The problem is I want to depict closer to the real seat structure as I've seen in B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle - Let's begin... Rather than slopping on putty (what a mess that was) this time I just covered the gaping holes in the seat back with some soda can scraps Here is a comparison between the stock kit seat and what a little Evergreen strip can do. - Now both have the extra detail I don't like the molded-in shoulder belts, and it seemed simpler to cover them with foil than to scrape off the belts. I also feel this gives a nice "wrinkled padding" look to the seats. I did wind up putting another layer on the seat lying down in the pic. A little yellow paint and suddenly we have the familiar seat pads. - Lap belts will be added later, and I am thinking of lopping off the high seat backs because almost all of the Fortresses I have photographed have the standard seat without the armor plate. This high back looks odd to my eye. But I'm still thinking. Testing out the seat to the cockpit assembly... ...and it became obvious that I had used both long legs on one seat and short legs on the other, when apparently they should be one of each per seat (I swear I paid attention to the "suggestion manual" ... but here we are.) Evergreen strip was used to make easy extensions to the length-challenges Pilot's seat. Then, for a repeat of the silliness of the last build, I figured I would take another go at the bungee cord between the seat legs. Turned out OK this time. I'm sure adding the stretched sprue "bungee cords" while the seat was still unattached to the flooring helped considerably. Here are a few more seat examples that I mostly ignored because I got the look I wanted from the ones in Movie Memphis Belle (shown earlier) B-17G 44-85778 Miss Angela Palm Springs Air Museum B-17G 44-85734 Liberty Belle My son in April 2011... B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast My son again, just a month later in May of 2011... B-17G 44-83785 Shady Lady Evergreen Aviation Museum This has high-backed seats but they are shaped quite differently than the kit. Still stuff left to do before I mount them to the flooring, but some progress.
  4. That is an amazing failure on their part. What good is the nose art if you can't actually depict the plane as a whole? I can understand not including the generic items like stars/bars that would be included with the kit, but specific tail markings would be important. Not having looked into this more than your post here, is it possible that there is a second sheet with the larger markings that would be primarily in black/blue/white/yellow that may have been grouped to save on screen costs because of the limited number of colors? If not, then my other hunch is they expect you to purchase a separate set of generic numbers and Group markings and cobble what you need for your specific plane.
  5. Wow... one could spend A LOT of time perusing that site. Fantastic artwork.
  6. The diagonal band on the tailfin that started in August 1944 indicated the 1st Air Division's 94th Combat Wing. The bands were red for the 351BG; yellow for the 401BG; and blue for the 457BG. I don't have the "Blue Book" at my fingertips, but I don't see any examples of the yellow band on an NMF plane that doesn't have the 4" black stripe borders on the yellow band. Not sure what reference was used for the profile of Ice Cold Katy on the Kits-world sheet.
  7. That is my hunch. The stabilizers were identical and just used off the assembly line so one was flipped over and became the left side. I knew the inner wings were "sided" as they had to be plumbed for tanks and also prepped for mating to the nacelles. But the symmetry of the shape for the wings hinted that the outer wings (until they got Tokyo tanks later) could actually be swapped, which meant at the plant (or in the field) you wouldn't be stuck with ten "left" wing tips while you waited for a "right" tip. I think this may have been a "bolt on what's available now" situation. I like to take pictures of the stabs for this reason, and B-17G 44-85829 Yankee Lady is a good example. Left stabilizer right stabilizer But look closer and you'll see that the data plate for the right stab is correct... ... while it is upside down on the left Until the get painted on the OD/NG planes, there is no top/bottom because they are identical. I believe that to be true for the wingtips prior to the outer tanks being installed. Just switch out the red and green tip lights, of course.
  8. The Front Office There were a number of differences between the basic flooring the kit provides and the complex steps and curves I've photographed in multiple B-17s (many of which differ from each other) so I decided to stick with what the Monogram craftsmen provided and keep my modifications relatively cosmetic rather than butchering up the parts and hoping it would fit later on. First I cut (crudely) a circle from a sheet with different wood grain to imply the part that was the top of the chin turret. My photos of B-17s that I've been in this section show that this should be an additionally raised area that projects out from the first step/wall but I am going to call this close enough. I did curve a section of wire into a "mostly" circle (due to my own underestimation of the length needed) to imply a lip around the wood turret top. For reference, here are some pics I've taken of the area I am working on now. B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey Note that the seat legs straddle a hub mounting for the chin turret there is some sort of cylinder near the chair legs that I assume is part of the motor that rotates the turret. I don't recall if that was a sheet metal or plexiglass (under the seat) that is the top of the turret. B-17G 44-85813 Champaign Lady Champaign Air Museum; Urbana Ohio Here is that area as seen from the front, a nice opportunity to see this vantage point while this B-17 is still being built. B-17G 44-83575 Nine-O-Nine A little dark because I was still using film when I took my first flight. The prints were scanned at a lower resolution than I would use these days. If I ever find the prints I will most likely rescan. B-17G 44-85778 Miss Angela Palm Springs Air Museum This one doesn't have the extra motor or the center hub for the turret mount under the seat. Also, note that the table legs go to the floor rather than into the forward step as portrayed in the model. B-17G 44-85829 Yankee Lady This shot shows an additional step down after the rounded first step. This one also looks like a plexiglass floor over the turret when most of the others have plywood. B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast Mostly for the seat details, but also note that the wood way forward under the Norden sight looks to be narrower. Back to the model... I fashioned some seat legs out of wire (shown before being trimmed to length.) When I was letting the glue dry for the first pair of legs, I must have blinked and the glue set with a slight tilt to the legs... That falls in the "close enough" category this time. With the "mostly complete" wire circle in place and a crude hub and motor glued on. The chair has been painted up. After comparing this to the photos of the real planes, the table looks oversized and the legs extend far enough forward to mount right into my turret top. - - That's where she sits for the moment. As always, I see new evidence of shoddy craftsmanship each time I see the close-up photos but I'll keep plodding along.
  9. Throttle it up a notch... Let's start with some pics I've taken of the throttle controls. B-17F 42-29782 Boeing Bee Museum of Flight B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle B-17G 44-83575 Nine-O-Nine B-17G 44-83785 Shady Lady Evergreen Aviation Museum B-17G 44-83790 Dyke Lake project Willow Run airfield B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast B-17G 44-85778 Miss Angela Palm Springs Air Museum B-17G 44-85784 Sally B IWM Duxford B-17G 44-85813 Champaign Lady Champaign Air Museum; Urbana Ohio Not often that you can see the back side of the tower. B-17G 44-85829 Yankee Lady Obviously, some of these pics will also come in handy when I do the IP, but for now, I was concentrating on the differences in the throttle towers and trying to decide what things I would try to duplicate and what I would ignore... So, on to the model First up was the big levers. The handles were made from stretched sprue glued to the ends of Evergreen strips. Once that had dried I actually shaved down the Evergreen to make it thinner. My initial thought had been to split the center of the handles, but I wisely dropped that idea when I thought about trying to align the left/right sides. I glued four short lengths of stretched sprue under the handles and then nipped them to length when the glue had set enough. Also, note the extension of the deck surface because there will be two wide handles in the floor between the trim wheel and the edge of the deck. This was easier than trying to get a clean cut to make the wheel thinner. Sprue was added to the upper part of the tower on the right side, and a block cut from thick Evergreen sheet added on the left side. Even when faced with all the evidence that "almost all" the B-17s I have been in have black or gray or green throttle handles... I just had to go with red. It's the way my mind remembers it and at least they are that way in Aluminum Overcast. Probably the same instinct to paint the pry bar red in the cockpit door on a Spitfire -- you know it's wrong, but you do it anyway! - - Still plenty yet to do in this area, but that's where she stands for tonight. P.S. Wow, the photos show off every minor flaw. I swear it looks better to the naked eye.
  10. No more nakedness I sat here pondering how to simulate the cloth that covers the interior of the flight deck, nose section and Radio Room. Not the sound-dampening padding that has a pattern in it, but the green cloth that was stretched over the stringers. I've seen it done pretty convincingly with fabric tape on a 1/32 build, but in 1/48 it would be very difficult to reclaim the little boxes and gauges that are molded into the side of the fuselage. Masking tape might actually work at the smaller scale. I considered cutting little panels from the soda can sheet and realized kitchen foil would actually stretch over the bumps and stringers. When pressed flat, the foil reveals where the details are. I was able to cut out the windows and little boxes fairly easily. I wanted to err on having too much for the Radio Room. I will trim to the correct size later when I can put the bulkheads in place. A little color. A medium green on the "fabric" (which is what most mistakenly think is zinc chromate painted on the aluminum sides) - The paint is still a bit sloppy. It will get a final coat after I paint in the boxes and stuff. As far as the fuselage piece, I removed the chair mounts and the ammo box up front so I could get nice flat expanses where the wood will be. As I mentioned before, this is actually scrapbooking paper with a wood grain pattern. Note that the flat surface where the control yokes and throttle controls are (under the Pilot's feet) is unpainted sheet metal. If you have not yet downloaded a copy of the information packet compiled by Karl Hauffe (link in the previous comments with @vppelt68) I strongly recommend it. Tons of info on the proper colors for this area of B-17s based on his work restoring them. A good rule of thumb is not to trust the older restorations as being indications of the original service colors. So here is the fuselage piece just set in place for the moment. Long way to go.
  11. WARNING: Photo Heavy! Here are a few photos I've taken while crammed into the small cavern between the front office for the Navigator and Bombardier (or Togglier, perhaps) and the flight deck where the Pilot, Co-Pilot and Flight Engineer performed their duties. Hopefully, they will be helpful to anyone trying to detail out that small neglected area -- but who would be that crazy, right? B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle This is the space directly ahead of you as you enter through the hatch (climbing a ladder instead of doing the 12 O'Clock High arm pull and tuck). The passageway to the flight deck is in the upper right side of the photo and you can see the legs of the Co-Pilot's seat and the oxygen tanks in the background. A turn to the right shows a green canister tucked under the flight deck. You can just make out the passageway at the top of the photo. B-17G 44-8543 Madras Maiden Here is that same area on Madras Maiden (formerly Chuckie, currently Ye Olde Pub). There are two of the yellow tanks and the touring crew has placed a box for a step as visitors climb up. B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast Here is my son (9 at the time -- 2011) climbing into this area. Again, you can see up through the passageway to the flight deck, and how close it is to the bulkhead to the forward area on the left. B-17G 44-85778 Miss Angela Palm Springs Air Museum Here is a pair of shots that show both sides of the cavern (looking aft from the hatch). They also use a box to assist visitors. Note the sound-dampening material between the stringers. - B-17G 44-85828 I’ll Be Around Pima Air Museum We were not allowed to actually enter the plane, just take a peek from the ladder up to the hatch. I extended my camera in as far as my arms could reach in order to get these shots. View from the hatch... The ceiling of that area with control cables running under the Pilot's feet Looking back along the near side of the body. They also have the big yellow tanks stored there (rather than the canister seen on some examples) Disregard the modern extension cord they have to run fans and display lights) The rear side of the bulkhead with the passageway to the nose section as seen from outside the plane B-17G 44-85829 Yankee Lady I only got a quick shot as there was somebody behind me so I couldn't hold up the line... They pack the yellow canisters into that space. B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey Here is a look at the carpet flooring the CAF has in this area (most use plywood plank) as my daughter (4 at the time) climbs up into the plane. My son in the cavern. You can really see how small that area is and get a nice view of the roof details. Note that the wooden flooring of the command deck is visible from the lower area.
  12. Yes. I downloaded the pdf Karl made and referred to it before starting this step. Last time I painted, then repainted, then repainted until Karl's data came to light. I'll try to find a link to it. Well, that was quick. I found it in one of his facebook posts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/B17ModelersWorkshop/posts/2683640721867412/?__cft__[0]=AZVUDLJjvABBY95b3jK7tfDKbZYrQ5EioMi1yC_KqyqEsxu45_EduDjyBvcz0UqhlveQal4dV2allejUfNFtAcxP-6--0PwVwzME1iiXzIe1O80uKOLOuFEx8L8GVut_qWc4phpONesOGaTC2yO0Ds-_cHtvfXos3LhXrtekvIW62g&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R I wonder if he ever updated it (this says version 1) but it is a great resource.
  13. Going below deck... Hopefully, everyone has had an opportunity to climb up through the front hatch of a B-17. As you poke your noggin inside, a glance to the left reveals the front office for the Navigator and Bombardier (or Togglier, perhaps). A hunched-over scramble to the right lets you climb up onto the flight deck where the Pilot, Co-Pilot and Flight Engineer performed their duties. But what about that little cavern under the Pilots' feet? I have managed to remember to take a few shots to capture some of what goes on down there. And there is a variety of equipment setups among the planes I have photographed. Bear in mind, these are from restored aircraft that were making the flight tour rounds or in museums when I saw them. When given the choice, I like to refer to my own photos as it keeps the project personal. I do that with the understanding that these may differ greatly than what a Fortress looked like in action. WARNING: Photo Heavy! Let's start off with a few pics I've taken while crammed into this area, often while the next person in line wanted me to "git a move on!" B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle This is the space directly ahead of you as you enter through the hatch (climbing a ladder instead of doing the 12 O'Clock High arm pull and tuck). The passageway to the flight deck is in the upper right side of the photo and you can see the legs of the Co-Pilot's seat and the oxygen tanks in the background. A turn to the right shows a green canister tucked under the flight deck. You can just make out the passageway at the top of the photo. B-17G 44-8543 Madras Maiden Here is that same area on Madras Maiden (formerly Chuckie, currently Ye Olde Pub). There are two of the yellow tanks and the touring crew has placed a box for a step as visitors climb up. B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast Here is my son (9 at the time -- 2011) climbing into this area. Again, you can see up through the passageway to the flight deck, and how close it is to the bulkhead to the forward area on the left. B-17G 44-85778 Miss Angela Palm Springs Air Museum Here is a pair of shots that show both sides of the cavern (looking aft from the hatch). They also use a box to assist visitors. Note the sound-dampening material between the stringers. - B-17G 44-85828 I’ll Be Around Pima Air Museum We were not allowed to actually enter the plane, just take a peek from the ladder up to the hatch. I extended my camera in as far as my arms could reach in order to get these shots. View from the hatch... The ceiling of that area with control cables running under the Pilot's feet Looking back along the near side of the body. They also have the big yellow tanks stored there (rather than the canister seen on some examples) Disregard the modern extension cord they have to run fans and display lights) The rear side of the bulkhead with the passageway to the nose section B-17G 44-85829 Yankee Lady I only got a quick shot as there was somebody behind me so I couldn't hold up the line... They pack the yellow canisters into that space. B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey Here is a look at the carpet flooring the CAF has in this area (most use plywood plank) as my daughter (4 at the time) climbs up into the plane. My son in the cavern. You can really see how small that area is and get a nice view of the roof details. Note that the wooden flooring of the command deck is visible from the lower area. Putting that to use... While plodding along on my Ol' Scrapiron project I wandered further and further from my comfort zone as the Group Build progressed. I'll admit right up front that I'm definitely going to get a little crazy for this one too. I started off by hacking away the "wood door" and "curtains" that Monogram used to hide the fact that the cavern was there. I have no idea what they did for the "Visible" kit with the clear fuselage. - Next, I attached a piece of that soda can to act as the far wall under the pilots' seats. A segment of sprue was used to support the aluminum can because it is too thin to glue on edge. After adding some "wood flooring" I decided to extend the floor rather than cut into the trim wheel on the floor. There are a couple of handles that need to be in that space (but I'll get to that when I do the cockpit area). I also added wood flooring to the underside because that would actually be the same sheet of plywood in the real plane. Then I added two of the canisters I made last night You can see some of the roof details I added. That started with a piece of soda can to cover all the holes for the cockpit equipment above (remember, no one is actually supposed to see this area of the model.) Then some wire stringers, mainly because I was too cheap to use actual Evergreen strips for such a small area. The wire bundles were made from stretched sprue, as was the plumbing line for the two tanks.. I should mention that the "wood" is actually a piece cut from a scrapbooking sheet and then trimmed to size. I found a few different 12x12 sheets that had a tight woodgrain pattern that I got for the earlier project at about 25 cents/sheet back then. My guess is I'll never get around to using it all. Anyway, here's where this fits into the model. Don't worry -- I will be (GASP!) cutting significant holes in the right side of the fuselage to expose the areas where I do the detailing. I chose to hack into the right side because I don't want to interfere with the nose art. However, I might cut out the hatch on the left side as well. Maybe.
  14. Tanks... you're welcome! I am working on a part of the plane (ooooh, secret) that will need some of the big oxygen tanks, so I thought it would be a good time to bring up a little shortcut I worked up during the first B-17 STGB back in 2018. I made my template from a small sheet of Evergreen and glued on some equally spaced strips. Here's the process (from left to right) Sculpey craft clay is rolled into a ball about the size of a pea (roughly 3/8" - less clay than you would think!) and then with very, very little pressure, rolled across the template. The "pea" will elongate slightly and the strips will leave nice grooves. If I don't get a good result, I just re-roll the clay and do it again. Once I have a dozen candidates I bake them in the oven (275 degrees for about 10 minutes). A couple coats of yellow paint and they look the part. - - These are not going to be perfectly consistent, of course, so I try and match sizes so that when they are in groups they are paired up -- saving the "runt" for someplace where there is only one tank. A better practice would be to make way more than you need and discard the oddballs. After making a few on my original template, I've started thinking of making a new one with different grooving. I might also look into some yellow Sculpey next time I am in Michael's or Hobby Lobby.
  15. And then there were four... Another simple update, but just wanted to share that the remaining three engines were painted up this morning. The reddish-brown paint I had used for the wiring on the first engine was rather thin on pigment which caused it to run before I could get decent coverage so I switched to a more tannish-brown that went on in one pass. Much better. But I think I will search for a pre-colored wire to use in future builds so that it would be nice and clean. Also, I'm starting to think builds that only have one radial engine are too easy since you don't have to match multiple motors. I still want to splash some oily wash on these, but I'll wait until I drill them out and attach some brass tubing so the props can spin. That will have to wait. Until then I'll take a moment to skim the instructions "suggestions" booklet.
  16. Down to the wires... Another mini-update before dinner time. The rods I glued in last night were snipped to length and the double wiring strands glued in place. This time I am going to let the glue dry completely before attacking it with the paint brush. Last time my impatience cost me a bit as things got messy pretty quick. So, here are the other three engines wired up. Also a look at the craft wire I used for the rods and the spool of thin wire. I have to keep tabs on the thin wire as it tends to unspool a bit and the exposed length is like miniature piano wire waiting to slice into a finger. I have had to move the kitties out of the area a few times already as they would certainly love to chew on unattended strands of wire. I might post an update later on if I make more progress.
  17. Rod-O-Rama... Only one photo from tonight's efforts. The pic doesn't show my fingers glued to the tweezers as I tried to loosen a bit of wire that had fixed itself. Thankfully the gel gives a little (merciful) grace time to pull the affected digits apart but I'm not sure when I'll have fingerprints again. Anyway, all the rods are attached... all the fingers are separated... I'm calling it a night while I'm ahead.
  18. Engines I am working on the engine for my build, so I thought some others would benefit from some of the reference shots I have taken over the years. Warning: Photo Heavy!!! I prefer to start my research with my own shots of the 30+ B-17s I have photographed around the country and England. (I know these might be of some use to others so I will post these and a few more in the reference thread.) B-17F 41-24485 Memphis Belle NMoUSAF +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17F 42-29782 Boeing Bee Museum of Flight; Seattle - - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 42-32076 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby NMoUSAF Restoration Hangar +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey (multiple locations) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle (multiple locations) - - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83563 Fuddy Duddy Lyon Air Museum (Orange County John Wayne Airport) Santa Ana, Calif. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83575 Nine-O-Nine (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83684 Picadilly Lilly II Planes of Fame Museum +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83735 Mary Alice IWM Duxford - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83785 Shady Lady Evergreen Aviation Museum +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83814 City of Savannah Nat’l Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83868 RAF Museum, London - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83872 Texas Raiders Gathering of Fortresses, Willow Run Detroit +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-8543 Madras Maiden / Ye Olde Pub (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85718 Thunderbird Gathering of Fortresses, Willow Run Detroit +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85734 Liberty Belle Boeing Field - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85784 Sally B IWM Duxford +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hope these help... I know not everyone has the good fortune of having a Flying Fortress on display near them, or the chance to catch one at an air show. I have been blessed with many opportunities to point my camera at several and hope my experiences will be beneficial to other builders. I will be posting plenty more reference pics for the various sections of the plane as I work on those parts of the model.
  19. And so it begins... Like the last Fortress I built five years ago, I'm starting off with the engines. Warning: Photo Heavy!!! I prefer to start my research with my own shots of the 30+ B-17s I have photographed around the country and England. (I know these might be of some use to others so I will post these and a few more in the reference thread.) B-17F 41-24485 Memphis Belle NMoUSAF +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17F 42-29782 Boeing Bee Museum of Flight; Seattle - - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 42-32076 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby NMoUSAF Restoration Hangar +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83514 Sentimental Journey (multiple locations) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83546 “Movie” Memphis Belle (multiple locations) - - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83563 Fuddy Duddy Lyon Air Museum (Orange County John Wayne Airport) Santa Ana, Calif. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83575 Nine-O-Nine (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83684 Picadilly Lilly II Planes of Fame Museum +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83735 Mary Alice IWM Duxford - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83785 Shady Lady Evergreen Aviation Museum +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83814 City of Savannah Nat’l Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83868 RAF Museum, London - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-83872 Texas Raiders Gathering of Fortresses, Willow Run Detroit +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-8543 Madras Maiden / Ye Olde Pub (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85718 Thunderbird Gathering of Fortresses, Willow Run Detroit +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85734 Liberty Belle Boeing Field - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85740 Aluminum Overcast (multiple occasions) - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ B-17G 44-85784 Sally B IWM Duxford +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ On to the plastic.... [Editors note:] I had forgotten how much the camera brings out details (usually gaffs) that are next to impossible to see in person. Ugh! Both my eyesight and camera skills seem to have waned since the last group build. Basic gunmetal for the cylinders, but I decided to enhance the rods with short bits of 20 gauge wire from the craft store. You can see the difference on the engine at the upper left. The copper wire is very chrome-like so I thought it would be easy to paint the main part gloss black and leave the bits at the end unpainted. This is before trimming to length. Next up was some very thin brass wire. I loosely fold a short length so that it resembles a bobby pin and then drag the fold/loop through a drop of Gorilla Glue gel and let that grab as if it was two separate wires coming out of the collector ring. Here's how it looked with the rods painted black and the wires trimmed and painted (poorly) in a ruddy brown. A little more touch-up and still looking pretty sloppy A little more touch-up, and shown with another engine that hasn't been worked over. Note the red upper and gray lower hoses have been added. Now I just need to do three more of these.
  20. Just found your thread, so my apologies if this is too little, too late... MH-53M Pave Low IV 68-10357 NMoUSAF - - - - MH-53M Pave Low IV 73-1649 Pima Air Museum - Like @f111guru earlier in this thread, I have mostly exterior shots, but I hope the interior at the NMoUSAF might help some. I do have a few other exterior detail close-ups as well.
  21. Extra supplies Those who watched the Ol' Scrapiron project unfold know that this is the bulk of the "extras" I will be using. Aluminum soda cans (which some students donated to me because I don't drink the stuff); a couple different gauges of wire; and kitchen aluminum foil. I'll also be using some of my daughter's "sculpey" clay to make oxygen tanks again, and I have a few of the plastic costume jewel bits because they make good landing lights. I think there are some Evergreen styrene strips laying around as well. Basically whatever I can salvage and cut to a reasonable shape. Might be a day or two before anything gets painted or glued... but the gears are now in motion.
  22. Unpacking the box Aaaaah, that feeling you get when you peel the box from the shrinkwrap and dig through the fresh sprues. Ok, the moment's over. On to the individual sprues. A little more flash than I recall in the other kit. Hmmmm.... - - - - The mere suggestion instruction booklet and decals. I am going to have some custom markings made with a few different options of nose art from the 447th BG. I know a few builders with relatives that flew out of Rattlesden that would probably chip in to get a set or two (I assume buying 10 sheets of the same design will help reduce the cost/sheet) And everybody's favorite part of the old Monogram kits: The Sheperd Paine tips insert. Awesome as ever! And I did have an oversight committee keeping track of my mysterious activities...
  23. hmmmmm.... there's a lot in that photo that makes me uneasy to trust it. I assume it isn't just a colorized photo, but there are sections all over that look 'edited" to me. I would say that the bottom area looks extra dark because there was some burning done when the negatives were printed. The whole underside just looks dark because someone did some dodging/burning to bring out the depth of the image, which was probably overexposed in that area from shooting essentially a mirror in the sunlight. If it were codes and markings missing I would say the Army censor was at work. There are several other wing panels on the planes that seem "too smooth" to be natural. and the second plane from left has black tips rather than red. Even the far wing on LiTTLE "Guy" makes me cringe when I inspect the stars/bars. Sooooo.... ignoring all that making me want to not trust the photo, I would say you can feel comfortable using OD over Gray. That's what it has to be. PS- I do have one other "out of the box" thought, but I would need to check on something with an expert before I even hinted at that option.
  24. I would definitely try aluminum kitchen foil rather than masking tape. You get a good wrinkle that will hold its shape. That or the white glue-soaked tissue like the armor guys use for tarps.
  25. Thank you @Gordon J -- much of the last year/half has been making sure all is squared away for the kids (both still live at home) and sorting through everything... now that is a "work in progress" that may never get finished. My big therapy has been sharing photos of Michelle at least daily (sometimes 2-3 times a day) which is an ever-growing slide show of all of our family adventures together. Each time I visit fb I can scroll through hundreds of happy memories. I've made time for the kids, the in-laws (she was an only child, so me and the kids are the family they have left) and even my artwork. But model building really feels like a thing I do "just for me" and seemed a little selfish given the amount of stuff we faced since last January. I've seen how tough/strong the kids have become. I did tell them that I plan to do this group build and they both agreed it was perfectly fine to have some "me time" to build a model. Michelle and the kiddos sometimes went with me to military museums or an occasional airshow. She was definitely a good sport. Michelle and McKenzie at McChord AFB back in November 2007.
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