Homebee Posted September 10, 2020 Posted September 10, 2020 (edited) Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=856379418100686&id=213417762396858 Quote Some of you have seen my posts on the FaceBook resin/vac kit page and the Lone Star Models page. For those that have not: OK for those that missed this. I am releasing a full kit of the PB4Y-2 in 1/48 scale. Here is the information I sent out to those on the list. This offer expires at midnight central time on 9/12/20 and will remain closed till January,20. In that time I will finish the O-47 (yeah I have been beating that one a long time!), the XF4U kit, and the biggie the PB4Y-2 kit. The later is why I am writing to you. In a “Go Fund Me” sort of way, I am offering a pre-release sale. The 1/48 PB4Y-2 is a complete kit with detailed wheel wells, cockpit and bomb bay. Metal landing gear and various other parts. A large decal sheet is also included. It will retail at $300.00 I am offering it at a discount for $250.00 and postage paid. If you are interested please send funds to me via Pay Pal using my e-mail address [email protected] for the payee. Also please make sure to include your mailing address and a notation that it is for the 1/48 PB4Y-2 presale. The release is scheduled for January 2021. V.P. Edited December 21, 2023 by Homebee 2
Homebee Posted December 5, 2020 Author Posted December 5, 2020 Getting closer - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=924573141281313&id=213417762396858 Box art V.P. 3
Homebee Posted December 7, 2020 Author Posted December 7, 2020 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=926092974462663&id=213417762396858 Quote Some details on the upcoming 1/48 PB4Y-2 It is a complete kit with detailed cockpit gun turrets and an open bomb bay with ordnance. An option to close the bomb bay is included. The clear parts are vacuformed. I considered clear resin but this requires more labor and expense. Decals are included for 5 aircraft. 4 Wartime and one Post War Reserve aircraft. I had planned to make the engines with separate cylinders but most asked that I not do this. More labor on the builders part and more labor to produce them on my end too. Inner wing panels are hollow with wheel wells. Wheels are diamond tread pattern, 3D printed masters. Landing gear and some other miscellaneous parts are white metal Overall parts count is plus/minus 130 parts in resin and metal. Price to be determined. This will be a limited release. V.P.
Homebee Posted June 26, 2022 Author Posted June 26, 2022 Sources: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02y34XasUNN2E1LS1d73QFJiZCqZk8m1TbWkMfYjJkpXkEM3vEzCRNqP68AMuoDEDil&id=100057032036635 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0mpPWJbfJa4PAYPHKur2H2XTncV88dwKiJWt1wFstHJyeGxXs631fox1VbDvuRF46l&id=100057032036635 V.P.
Homebee Posted September 2, 2022 Author Posted September 2, 2022 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid028btUs8rTgHmMAv8drURy1J1gHLwwaMfq3YG6yXTMhwGMChdVypAYTRdT5PaAcy8Dl&id=100057032036635 Quote Ok, I will probably regret this but here goes. I plan to begin shipping this in 90 days. Pre-release on sale now. $325.00 shipping included CONUS and WORLD WIDE! Shipping will be extra after 90 days. Due to box size and weight this may run $20.00 or so in the US, no idea for over seas. Over 100 parts ,most in urethane resin, plus 40 in white metal, and printed motors by Resin 2 detail. My medical issue still exists so be patient with me, please. PMNT via Pay Pal using my e-mail address LSMODELSat PDQdotNET No PP account? I will accept a check drawn on a US bank. made out to Lone Star Models/Mike West Why the presale offer you might ask? I have to invest in more mold and casting materials, order more metal and printed parts, and I may have to order more decals, depending on sales. V.P.
Homebee Posted December 21, 2023 Author Posted December 21, 2023 Source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ZhP17YqvB8tKUQHtj6ARDFNeVD68cnqywNvy82fThdjBmFEgCsmUnazXWgrpgHMUl&id=100057032036635 Quote LSM news IT'S FINISHED!! The 1/48 PB4Y2 kit is finished. Not long after I began this project I pulled up stakes and moved myself one Toyota Tundra at a time to Dallas Texas 250 miles or so each way. This took five trips with a trailer full too on one trip. I married a long-time girlfriend I had known for around 50 years. She had terminal cancer so I put much of my previous life on hold including LSM to care for her. A day before our third anniversary she died. Recovery took longer than I thought it would. I was always working on this big project when I had time. I made several parts more than once when after molding the parts I decided they took too long to cast or I found a better way to approach that part. Some of you bailed on me and I fully understand as this is a lot of money to leave hanging out there for almost 4 years now. I am working on the instructions and the clear parts vacuform molds now . Also working on a partial mold for making some of the clear parts in resin. I am trying to get at least one of these kits to one of you by Christmas. If not it should be shortly afterwards. I want to thank all of you who follow my antics for hanging in there and for your continued support of my efforts. It has been a fun ride all of these past 30 or so years of Lone Star Models. Hard to believe that some 3000 of you follow this page. THANK YOU ALL! I value your support and friendship. I hope you have a safe holiday season with friends and family Merry Christmas! Mike AKA the Resin Prince of Sugar Land V.P.
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 I ordered a Lone Star Models 1/48 PB4Y-2 Privateer complete resin kit when LSM owner Mike West announced he was going to do one, back in September 2020. Given the size and complexity of the subject, this was always going to be a major undertaking. I was happy to pay up front to help fund the development and so paid $250, which is considerably less than the current price (I think something like $350 - check the LSM website https://lonestarmodels.com/ - Mike takes it offline from time to time when he has too large a backlog of orders, as appears to be the case right now). The downside was that I had to wait 4 years to get my kit, but get it I did and it's really quite something, considering that it was designed and made almost entirely by one person - all except: the four 3D-printed P&W R-1830 engines, which were designed and made by Resin2Detail (https://www.resin2detail.com/); the production moulding of the fuselage halves, which was also subcontracted out after Mike made the masters; and (I think) the production printing of the decal sheet, which Mike designed. So, here's what you get... 4
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 The fuselage comes as two main halves, plus two additional halves for the tail section. The fin, and horizontal stabilisers are separate, with integral rudder and elevators. Also shown are the one-piece bomb-bay doors, flight deck & related bulkheads and a small spar unit (top of 1st image). The main fuselage halves are grey, in contrast to the cream resin used elsewhere; I suspect this is because they were moulded by a subcontractor. However, the panel line engraving is very consistent with the rest of the airframe and the fit is not too bad, given the parts are about a foot long. There are even locating pins. There is an aperture just forward of the bomb-bay for the main search radar, which is provided separately (shown in cockpit interior pic) so you can have it retracted (as on the ground) or extended (as in flight). 6 1
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 Mike put a lot of effort into making the wings hollow, so as to keep the overall weight down. Each wing has 6 main parts: inner upper, inner lower, outer upper, outer lower, wingtip (solid) and aileron (solid). First shot shows the outer wing surfaces; second shows the interior surfaces; third is a closeup so you can see some of the surface detail better. 6 1
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 The main gear wells are nicely detailed and the tread on the wheels is well-defined. Each engine comprises (from top to bottom in the pics) a solid base, a hollow cowling with open cooling flaps, a 3D-printed motor and a cowling front with the distinctive upper and lower air-scoops. Also shown are the prop hubs (blades are separate - see metal pieces). 6
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 A Privateer being what it is, there are more gun turrets than you can shake a stick at. Shown separately: bow turret (with bombardier's window), stern turret, the 2 dorsal turrets, the 2 waist blister turrets and a close-up of the latter, as there's quite some detail. Transparent parts are on a separate vacform sheet. 7
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 Here are the cockpit interior parts (IP, sidewalls, seats, etc.) plus radar dustbin, gear doors, DF loop and a few other interior bits. 5
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 Lots of white metal parts. Top row: prop blades. 2nd row: nose gear, main gear and tail stand. 3rd row: gunsights for waist blisters and (a whole lot of) .50 cal Brownings. 4th row: exhaust pipes, antennae, rudder pedals and steering yokes. Second pic: close-up of a main gear leg. 6
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 The remaining transparencies are on a single vacform sheet, which includes duplicates for quite a few. 5
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 The decals appear well done. They cover 5 different aircraft, all USN, including one post-war in overall glossy sea blue. Colour callouts are provided for all 5 in the instructions. The instructions run to 16 sheets - they are helpful rather than comprehensive but anyone building this kit would be well-advised to load up on detailed references, especially the Nicholas A. Veronico & Steve Ginter book on the PB4Y-2 (Naval Fighters series, NF93). The parts list is a vital aid! 9
Caerbannog Posted October 1 Posted October 1 Nice kit with nice decals of a nice aircraft. Look forward to your build log 🙂
Bill Mathews Posted October 1 Posted October 1 (edited) I got mine about a week or two ago - only ordered mine in September 22 so didn’t have to wait quite so long (which wasn’t a problem anyway- glad to have one of these in the stash) . It’s a daunting project though - might be a bit above my skill level…. But where else are you going to get a 1/48 privateer these days (I’ve seen the conversion kit from evilbay-it’s truly awful and a Koster kit is rarer than unicorn tears 😉) … and I have those ginter books - they’ll be invaluable 😁 Edited October 1 by Bill Mathews
Usual Suspect Posted October 1 Posted October 1 3 hours ago, Bill Mathews said: I got mine about a week or two ago - only ordered mine in September 22 so didn’t have to wait quite so long (which wasn’t a problem anyway- glad to have one of these in the stash) . It’s a daunting project though - might be a bit above my skill level…. But where else are you going to get a 1/48 privateer these days (I’ve seen the conversion kit from evilbay-it’s truly awful and a Koster kit is rarer than unicorn tears 😉) … and I have those ginter books - they’ll be invaluable 😁 Ah ha! The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place! Bill, you must be the "Australia" recipient that Mike referred to in his recent Privateer-related post... I am of course the "Switzerland" one! Small world! Enjoy your PB4Y-2 - if it doesn't drive you crazy! 1
Bill Mathews Posted October 2 Posted October 2 19 hours ago, Usual Suspect said: Ah ha! The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place! Bill, you must be the "Australia" recipient that Mike referred to in his recent Privateer-related post... I am of course the "Switzerland" one! Small world! Enjoy your PB4Y-2 - if it doesn't drive you crazy! Yep - that’s me (I also figured you were the one in Switzerland) . I saw one of the Koster vac kits at a local model show a couple years ago and it looked absolutely stunning so it’s worth the time on this one I think . Have some plans to use some 3D printed stuff (from B-24 kits) to replace some of the guns and maybe some other stuff (not much experience with white metal) which I think might help it be a slightly easier build - but still a lot of work 👍
flarpen Posted October 2 Posted October 2 Looks quite impressive. If I didn't have the Cutting Edge conversion I could have considered this one.
Usual Suspect Posted October 2 Posted October 2 18 minutes ago, SprueMan said: Send the guy a message, I suppose You could also try e-mailing Mike West at: [email protected]
Usual Suspect Posted October 2 Posted October 2 7 hours ago, Bill Mathews said: Yep - that’s me (I also figured you were the one in Switzerland) . I saw one of the Koster vac kits at a local model show a couple years ago and it looked absolutely stunning so it’s worth the time on this one I think . Have some plans to use some 3D printed stuff (from B-24 kits) to replace some of the guns and maybe some other stuff (not much experience with white metal) which I think might help it be a slightly easier build - but still a lot of work 👍 3D printed guns might be a good wheeze. The white metal .50 cal bodies (receivers) supplied with the kit are actually pretty good, but the barrels are very bendy! Limitation of the material, I fear...
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