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'Memphis Belle' B-17f Revell 1/72 (Pic heavy)


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Nice job Ced. Too bad about the silvering decals. Had the same issues with my Mormon Mustang.

I just had a laugh looking at the gunners stations markings. Especially visible on for the tail gunner. See the + above Pete Repeat? They used swastikas for their kill markings but Revell had to be PC even on the kill markings.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/jaepton/zzbelletailgunner.jpg

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They used swastikas for their kill markings but Revell had to be PC even on the kill markings.

Revell Germany, as one might expect, is bound by laws in Germany placing heavy restrictions upon the display of the swastika. Several European countries have laws about it on the books -- when the first Aurora Fw 190 kits (mit hankenkreuz) were displayed in shop windows in the Netherlands(? maybe Belgium, my memory fails me on this point), angry crowds smashed the windows with bricks.

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I understand why Revell does it just never noticed it on kill markings before, a symbol that designates the death of the enemy. But I just have a hard time dealing with that much concern over a symbol. Yes, I do understand, at least as well as I can from written documents and actual conversations with people who were there, just how badly things were and where the hatred comes from (and well deserved). But the symbol was in place with Native Americans years before Hitler made use of it and the Finns had it as part of their national markings as well. Personally I think the Iron Cross would be held with the same or more contempt but that was adopted by the follow up Luftwaffe.

But as the correctly say, I wasn't there, so will leave the politics to the politicians and concentrate on trying to make a better model. And I need all my concentration if I am going to try and match up to what you guys do.

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Thanks Phil and PC. I'm with you on the swastikas, probably why I fitted one of the kill award transfers upside down (did you notice? It's a big one*!)

Thanks Cookie and Jon, kind comments as always.

RFI here. I don't know why I'm so grumpy about this one... I had much more trouble with the Valloms but I was happier with the results, I guess. Curate's egg of a kit and I think I got fed up with the cheeks and the fact that the 'bodges' that stick in my gall were caused by Revell's kit design and my reluctance (as usual) to doing lots of work. Lazy wotsit.

I shall return to the Spit Vb and hope that it's more rewarding... but I'm not holding my breath! After that one I'm going to do an Airfix, and probably one that's been WiP'd by one of my BM friends so I can avoid any problems!

Thanks guys - I really appreciate your support and companionship during this one! :D

* Dbl-E, score 1, fnaar fnaar

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Thanks Andy (and for all the tips during the build).

I think it's too late for Belle as the transfers are now covered in matt coat. I'll make sure I let them dry for longer in the future and hit them with MicroSol if they're silvered. In fact I'll probably MicroSol everything just to make sure.

Still learning me! :D

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Indeed it was lemonade, with all the trimmings and it went down fine... Lovely evening until the kids stared arseing around till the wee hours!

Any who, belle looks well belle! What a corker you really have done a splendid job and had another challenge along with it. Congrats on so more fantastic work.

Rob

P.s. funny let's you put arseing on... What about bottom or assing? No still changed it to bottom... What a funny little censor!

Edited by rob85
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Now that really is a bit of impressive modelling, great to see it with all the masks removed. Lovely work Ced. Here is your reward: :bouncy:

Well deserved and enjoy.

Cheers,

Nigel

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Thanks Andy - watch this space for Vb problems! (Actually the other thread, obviously). I have put some MicroSol on one of the inspection cover transfers this morning as a test. If it messes up the matt coat I shall, of course, call it weathering, but if it works I'll do the rest.

Thanks Rob for the kind comments and bottom tests! :)

Thanks Nigel for the kind comments and the 'reward'! Much appreciated :)

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Great result CedB! I think you're being too harsh on yourself because the model turned out beautifully. However, I know what you feel... We all end up thinking we should have done a few things better, but as long as that contributes to making our next model better, that's all right.

Regarding decals, I always apply a gloss coat to the model before decaling. Then, I apply Micro Set on the decal location, apply the decal, put some more Micro Set on the decal and let it dry. Then I use a cotton bud to remove all excess liquid and press the decal on the surface. After this, I apply several coats of Micro Sol, letting it dry between applications. This is a lengthy process but it works with great results. Here's a great video tutorial.

Congrats :thumbsup::goodjob:

Jaime

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Marvellous finish Ced, she looks very good indeed. Just goes to show a bit of perseverance can

take a project the whole way, well done that man!! :goodjob:

Sean

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Your welcome, I wish all wips were this enjoyable, and humourous, (including mine).

Most of the time I'm like...I should have said this or that....about 3 hrs later, :shrug:

Sean

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Thanks Sean - really kind and appreciated :)

Hey Bruce - thanks very much. I obviously have too much time on my hands but your builds are also much better! :)

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It looks good. Silvering is an 'everyman' problem, so don't let it needle you too much. Seeing yours is an inspiration to start mine. Sometime... I'm planning on a 'Higher Call' dio, with working engines, so that'll take a while, especially since I don't know when I'll even start it...

All in all, Nice! :pilot:

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Thanks Guys

I've finally applied the transfers to 'Belle's Escorts' - I know, as PC said, this could only have happened if the Red Tails got horribly lost on their way from Italy but I only have a small ceiling (compared to Europe anyway). There was some interest in the NMF so some more photos - to recap, 10 (RH) = Alclad on an Airfix, 7 (LH) = AK True Metal on a Tamiya.

80AA40CC-B31A-4934-8678-64A1965F2FF8_zps

3A6D216E-6166-4952-B44E-556576853356_zps

6657D34A-925E-4F07-814D-3F4ECA08AB50_zps

That star and stripe on 7 has MicroSol all over it - fingers crossed it'll settle.

Yes, I forgot to apply the stencils for the tank fillers on 7 and threw them away in the tidy up :doh: They'll be on the ceiling at the weekend so no one will ever know.

I did remember to leave off the aerial and pitot (you can see the end of the sprue in the first picture, bottom right). Must remember to glue those on!

I'm still in two minds about these NMFs. The Alclad looks really smooth, almost too smooth? The AK was brushed and, to my mind, looks less 'brand new'. I think I'll try AK in the AB - you can apparently dissolve it in odourless spirit... worth a try.

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