andymoore Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 sticking the cowlings on & masking them before fitting the engines is indeed a good idea - I wish I'd done that, I painted the underside of the cowlings with a hairy stick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_c67 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Thanks Rob! Less grumpy now, thanks, but still on a bit of a short fuse - roll on the long weekend! The Vamp's waiting patiently in the queue to go on the ceiling, sitting on a 'stand' to protect her sensitive parts - no matter what I do she insists on reverting to a jaunty angle: Ere Ced, you been raiding my stash? i'm sure I've seen them in boxes already this evening.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I think a Vamp just needs to be at a jaunty angle - very becoming. I like your queue for ceiling space - I recognize the Vampire and the Anson, but what is that big thing with multiple tail planes. I'm almost tempted to say it looks like a Valom Bombay, but it couldn't be - those are unbuildable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Looking good Ced, I would go with the advice given, temporary fix the cowlings in place. That way, hopefully your demarcation lines should match up. Simon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 ...so I made sure it was glued and held with 'Stew pegs' and let it dry first... Ced, you have credited me with some weird stuff in the past, but this... Anyway good progress mate, it's looking like it's coming together very nicely Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I think a Vamp just needs to be at a jaunty angle - very becoming. I like your queue for ceiling space - I recognize the Vampire and the Anson, but what is that big thing with multiple tail planes. I'm almost tempted to say it looks like a Valom Bombay, but it couldn't be - those are unbuildable. Mike, for Ced.... NOTHING!Is unbuildable!! Well it would appear that way sometimes Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Morning all! Thanks Sean and Logical. I won't feel I'm nearly there until the mask sheet is on the clear parts... a big task in itself! Thanks Charlie. You're obviously a man of impeccable taste! Thanks Andy and Simon - I'll proceed with the cowlings idea and let you know how it goes. Thanks Mike and Rob - the Bombay is close to unbuildable and I just got lucky Thanks Stew - credit where credit's due! There will be more to come I'm sure - especially if you continue to increase your scratch building skills... hee haw hee haw! Today I can look forward to more masking. Groan. Until that's done I can't close up the fuselage and start spraying the thing (can't wait). It's the last step before close up - I've just checked again and everything else is done. I did consider / am considering: chucking out the nose masks and trying to find a decal or something for the tiny, tiny bit of frame. Aha! Perhaps I can 'pen it in'? I have a photo of the 'current Belle' as my desktop background (apparently a 'G' masquerading) and it's almost an invisible frame. I can do almost invisible! I think another warning about step 47 is warranted - the 'orders' (faster to type than instructions) clearly say 'paint the nose 'U' - so wrong. making up the engines. Andy's over my shoulder warning about the small differences and getting things mixed up... perhaps I could label them up? Might be a nice 'non-masking' diversion how the heck do you build this thing wheels up? I had the same problem with Airfix's old Dakota. Must research. Paint the props. Nice easy side job. Right. Masking. Right. More later and thanks for looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 OK, if you're going to build one of these buy a mask set. I really enjoy masking canopies (no, really) using Paul B's technique but there's no way I could have done that top turret. 35 minutes. Anyway, done now: Here's a close up of the nose: The one on the left is my pathetic masking job so far. The one on the right is the finished article... just kidding! My name's not Paul Budzik. And yes, that is one of his models. I continue to watch Paul's videos on YouTube and looking at his website with frank admiration. Thanks Paul for sharing and helping me improve my skills, a bit. Decided - that's a job for the Sharpie or something. Edit: Noticed the wobbly masking by the guns on the top turret and now poked with a pin. Any ideas on masking the slots that the guns poke out of? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmouredSprue Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Superb building. Following 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I wouldn't paint the gun railings on the top turret in copper or gold. They were more likely aluminium. I still can't understand why did Revell with all modern technology make that impossibly thick nose blister. It really needlessly degrades this kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymoore Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Paint the props. Nice easy side job. is it ? so do you paint them black, mask & then paint the tips, or paint them yellow, mask then paint the rest.... or something else? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Hi ArmouredSprue - welcome to the madness! Thanks Josip - the rest of the mounts are aluminium but this one's brass (humbrol enamel). As always, just following orders! Hi Andy - props used to be a pain for me before I discovered Liquitex pens (yes, it is an advert). First used on my Brigand build (shudder) here and a close up of the results. Now I spray the blades and blob on the pen - easy! More details here. I use these a lot now for interior detailing. Made a bit of progress on the nose. The masked effort Mk II was left for an hour and the mask removed and excess paint scraped off with a cocktail stick. Not too bad but there were some gaps, so I used my new 3/0 brush to dab a bit more paint on. I'll leave that to dry a lot now and then carefully cut off the excess. Also masked the top turret (WWND - What Would Nigel Do?) by making a hole in some 2mm masking tape, pushing it over the guns and then carefully prodding it into the slots: Looks like I need to do a bit more prodding! I can re-coat the guns any time. Close up later? Nervous! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Nicely done sir! In the hierarchy I guess there's WWND, WWSDD, WWPCD, WWCD, and then if none of you lot have answers I'll just guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Wow, thanks Jon! I am honoured to be in such great company! Right, "Hold on to your hats Boys!" - close up time! Ready... Steady... top turret in... oh, hold on a minute, the ball turret assembly won't fit through the hole with the ball on. OK, ball off... through the hole, ball back on*... Er, steady again... rear turret on... mask the waist windows from the inside and attach guns to the tape so they don't get lost... GO! Clamped, aligned, clamps tightened, TET down the join just on the top (I'll do the bottom later **). Fit canopies (already masked). Canopies fit really well so applied with Glass n Glaze. And rest... phew. Plans: - turn over, align and glue bottom and then do the lower fuselage join ** - fit the cheek windows with Copydex (latex glue) so I can spray and then remove, fit guns and glue back on properly - mask front OR fit the nose with Copydex so I can spray and then remove, fit guns and glue back on properly - do not forget the bomb sight! Nose is ready: I think that's as good as it's going to get. Step back and imagine it on the ceiling. I'm a bit worried about the join and the paint finish across the nose joint so either: I'll fit the nose with Copydex, mask it up and spray or I'll fit the nose later, brush paint the join and 'weather it' We're out tonight, the girls are back for the long weekend and my birthday celebrations ('proper' day next Thursday) so I shall be in and out . I'll post what I can, when I can and see you later! Thanks for looking. * Do not try this at home, fnaar fnaar. ** Score 1, fnaar fnaar. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Looking good Ced, and have a good time tonight. Simon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Good stuff Ced, hope you have a fun-packed weekend Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josip Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Be sure to store the fuselage like in the picture, because ball turret mounts can easiliy be damaged if you leave it lying around without undercarriage (ask me how do I know that?) Josip P.S. I love those clamps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Beautiful build Ced. It is a bit of a shame to button up all that interior detail, but we'll all know that it looks like a B-17 on the inside as just as much as on the outside. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrlx Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Superb build and great progress, CedB! I'm amazed with your rate of progress! It'll take me ages to finish my "Belle" when I finally get the courage to build it... Anyway, your WIP thread will be a great reference. I'm already convinced to buy a masking set 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Nice masking. Congratulations on getting the fuselage closed up - this is always a significant milestone on any build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Morning all! Lovely sunny day here in Bath... Thanks Simon and Stew! We went to see 'The Mother' by Florian Zeller last night... It's supposed to be a 'comedy' but I've learned from my trips to Shakespeare plays that this doesn't mean a bundle of laughs. A play translated from the original French (so no Donkeys, hee haw, hee haw*). For some 'artistic' reason they immediately 'replayed' each scene with slight differences that no one understood - bit 'highbrow' for me. Neighbours and Mrs B enjoyed it and at least I got to see Gina McKee, a favourite of mine for some years since I saw her on tele in 'Our Friends in the North'. Yum. (I had tried to include a photo of Gina for you but 'extension not allowed in this forum', fnaar fnaar!) Thanks Josip, Cookie, Jaime and Nigel! I'm being very careful of the ball turret and the top turret and I'm really pleased I've left most of the guns off - this is taking quite a lot of handling (see below). Josip the Berna clamps are a favourite of mine... unlike some people I get on with them well and love the way they gently hold the pressure you apply - recommended! I've also used the mini-clamps a la Jon (ooh, more Francais) which I bought for this build - good call! Closing up is a major event and I always have the photos to remind me of the innards. But the main thing for me is that it precedes the filling and sanding trying to hide the joins, probably my least favourite bit. I'm therefore very careful closing up to try to avoid gaps and, on short run kits, I always do a bit at a time to try to ensure alignment. I wasn't expecting to have much trouble on this one, but I think the locating slots for the interior on this do not like any paint and the fit is so tight there's not much wiggle room. Despite cleaning up and multiple dry fits there's something making this one like handling a toy balloon - squeeze in one place and it gaps in another. So far she's closed up on the top and to the front of the bomb bay on the bottom. Andy's warning about the bomb sight was useful and I'll add "And watch the bomb aimers seat too" (see photo - oops). It's out now and that should help me sort out the problem with the fit on the front - the part that fills the front turret location on other variants is not a good fit and needs attention if I am to avoid lots of filling and sanding! As far as I can see from reference shots it's not a hatch and needs to be smooth (groan). Also, future builders take care - the nose part fits inside the plastic and, on mine, doesn't fit without that little gap at the bottom at the moment. All that said the fit is really good - the canopy and other clear parts click into place - just watch out when locating - there's an obvious peg on the front of the canopy, the round hatch has a shaped bottom (fnaar fnaar) and there's a tiny peg on the last window on the front. Off to Longleat today to see the Meerkats (my favourite) and, hopefully, say "Allo allo" to 'The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies' by Van Clomp. * I've played that Neil Innes clip again this morning - great stuff. Now that is comedy! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 If watching this build has taught me anything (and its taught me a lot) it's that I need to buy a masking set before I contemplate my build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Well I am up to date now Ced. Currently sat on my backside waiting for my daughter whos being transformed into a bridesmaid... Yes its wedding season. She looks mighty fine all buttoned up! Grand job! It doesn't look like a you will have too many issues with the sanding but we will have to wait and see. On a side note (we are a fan of them here no?) After mentioning my bitterness at having left M&S earlier in this thread, a fire was put in me to have a look see if I could go back...my old boss responded within a day say he will have an offer at the end of the week! So I think I owe you some thanks or I might not have bothered Enjoy the meerkats at longlet... They anything like these chaps https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xaPepCVepCg Rob 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 ...On a side note (we are a fan of them here no?) After mentioning my bitterness at having left M&S earlier in this thread, a fire was put in me to have a look see if I could go back...my old boss responded within a day say he will have an offer at the end of the week... We are all fans of that sort of side note Rob, well done mate Cheers, Stew 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 ^what he said 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now