Martin Marauder B26B - Airfix 1/72

[TeeELL]

For future reference,

  what about fisherman’s tungsten putty - it has a greater density than lead and is easily squeezed into small spaces.

[giemme]

1 hour ago, CedB said:

 

I do like this jig.

That's some really pro (or even posh) stuff!  

 

1 hour ago, CedB said:

I'll dither over that then and do the wings:

 

Haven't you masked these the other way around? The tape should be where the white stripes are, right?

 

Ciao

[Terry1954]

9 minutes ago, giemme said:

Haven't you masked these the other way around? The tape should be where the white stripes are, right?

 

Now I'm confused! Assuming the green tape, is covering the white stripes, and black will infill between, then the masking looks ok ...... I think?

 

Perhaops the positioning of the tape is confusing us, where it intercepts the leading edge light?

 

T.

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, CedB said:

the instructions have the white stipe starting at the bottom of the window (right hand side) but not fully covering it.

Hmmm.

The diagram also shows rectangular windows and the kit has squarer ones.

Or am I in completely the wrong place?

I'm doubting myself now…

You don't need instructions 

 

I posted this earlier

 

 

Though looking at it there looks to be 3 black stripes, which is very non standard...

 

Anyway.  Photo beats instructions every time.

 

HTH 

[giemme]

Looking at @Troy Smith's pic, the central black line under stbd wing (but I'm guessing is the same on the other side) should intersect the leading edge light right in the middle, with the black portion remaining inboard. If the green tape is the white line, that's exactly the other way round....

 

Or, I'm still under the influence of the Ced/Ninja vision, and I've got it all wrong....  

 

Ciao 

[Terry1954]

13 minutes ago, giemme said:

Looking at @Troy Smith's pic, the central black line under stbd wing (but I'm guessing is the same on the other side) should intersect the leading edge light right in the middle, with the black portion remaining inboard. If the green tape is the white line, that's exactly the other way round....

 

 

Ah, yes, referencing Troy's picture (smart thing to do) then I see what you mean. When you commented showing Ced's model with the instructions showing the stripes, then Ced's masking follows the instructions which I know see do appear to be incorrect.......... sorry Ced!

 

I should have known better, given that I have recently made a similar mistake on the P-51, by following the instructions, when all along I had a very clear reference picture, of the actual aircraft!

 

T.

[81-er]

The wing stripes look pretty even in the photo (albeit with an additional black stripe as Troy noted), but the ones on the fuselage get noticably thicker as you approach the tail. There's an extra black stripe there as well. Finally, that aircraft is FILTHY!

 

James

[CedB]

22 hours ago, 81-er said:

The stripes on the scheme certainly don't look to be an even width, but what do the photos of the real aircraft show? I've got one of those jigs as well, a great bit of kit even if getting the parts back into the drawer is like something from the Crystal Maze

 

James

Thanks James. Crystal Maze indeed!  

 

22 hours ago, TeeELL said:

For future reference,

  what about fisherman’s tungsten putty - it has a greater density than lead and is easily squeezed into small spaces.

Ah thanks, noted!

 

21 hours ago, giemme said:

That's some really pro (or even posh) stuff!  

 

Haven't you masked these the other way around? The tape should be where the white stripes are, right?

 

Ciao

Hard to get my head around it too but the tape masks the white stripes ready for black overall. Honest!

 

21 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

 

Now I'm confused! Assuming the green tape, is covering the white stripes, and black will infill between, then the masking looks ok ...... I think?

 

Perhaops the positioning of the tape is confusing us, where it intercepts the leading edge light?

 

T.

So was I! Chang after me… “Mask the white, mask the white!”  

 

21 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

You don't need instructions 

 

I posted this earlier

 

 

Though looking at it there looks to be 3 black stripes, which is very non standard...

 

Anyway.  Photo beats instructions every time.

 

HTH 

Thanks again Troy but I find it difficult to see the exact demarcation especially close to the nacelles. The dirt doesn’t help!

I’ll certainly use that for the final attempt, especially the fuselage… that is a ‘white’ stripe to the fore isn’t it? Could do with a wash!

 

21 hours ago, giemme said:

Looking at @Troy Smith's pic, the central black line under stbd wing (but I'm guessing is the same on the other side) should intersect the leading edge light right in the middle, with the black portion remaining inboard. If the green tape is the white line, that's exactly the other way round....

 

Or, I'm still under the influence of the Ced/Ninja vision, and I've got it all wrong....  

 

Ciao 

I think you’re right G. The stripes aren’t standard width but, good luck, are 7mm wide, just right for Tamiya tape!

 

21 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

 

Ah, yes, referencing Troy's picture (smart thing to do) then I see what you mean. When you commented showing Ced's model with the instructions showing the stripes, then Ced's masking follows the instructions which I know see do appear to be incorrect.......... sorry Ced!

 

I should have known better, given that I have recently made a similar mistake on the P-51, by following the instructions, when all along I had a very clear reference picture, of the actual aircraft!

 

T.

No worries Terry, it takes a village to mask stripes  
 

14 hours ago, 81-er said:

The wing stripes look pretty even in the photo (albeit with an additional black stripe as Troy noted), but the ones on the fuselage get noticably thicker as you approach the tail. There's an extra black stripe there as well. Finally, that aircraft is FILTHY!

 

James

Noted, thanks James. 

[CedB]

Here you go:

 

 

Measured on the model the first 5 stripes are 35mm so standard tape!

I’ve found the original of Troy’s post so, when this blasted dizziness goes, I’ll have another go. 

[Jeff G]

Nothing like some soothing invasion stripe commiseration to start my day, I'm pulling for you @CedB !

[Keeff]

Oh my goodness .... those stripes have caused some kerfuffle! The build is looking good @CedB .... and I hope the dizziness subsides so you can beat this into submission! 

 

Keith ☺️

[CedB]

1 hour ago, Jeff G said:

Nothing like some soothing invasion stripe commiseration to start my day, I'm pulling for you @CedB !

Thanks Jeff  

 

42 minutes ago, Keeff said:

Oh my goodness .... those stripes have caused some kerfuffle! The build is looking good @CedB .... and I hope the dizziness subsides so you can beat this into submission! 

 

Keith ☺️

Kerfuffle indeed Keith but I think I've done it…

 

 

Following Giorgio's keen eyes and Troy's picture I've masked the wings:

 

 

Good enough?

 

On to the fuselage:

 

This looks like Tamiya tape then special:

 

 

So…

 

 

That's no good. I don't think the scheme matches the model.

Well, there's a surprise. As usual the panel lines aren't on the model either. I think they do it to test or sanity… OUR SANITY I TELL YOU 

 

Now I remember that you can't tape under a fuselage so out with the Aiko and just match the picture on the scheme (which is cleaner than the picture!)

 

 

Filled in with tape and a tape line for the top mark:

 

 

Carefully cut along the mark tape, strip off the tape, fit the masked canopy, plug the other holes and ready for primer, finally:

 

 

Tomorrow.

[giemme]

10 minutes ago, CedB said:

ready for primer, finally:

 

Ciao

[Biggles87]

Hope the dizziness goes soon Ced, it might be worth having the blood flow through the carotid arteries checked. I had a similar problem a few years ago and there was a slight blockage, which was the cause of the problem.

 

John. 🇺🇦

 

PS: glad you got the stripes sorted, that would have kept me awake at night!

 

[CedB]

18 hours ago, giemme said:

 

Ciao

Done! See below  

 

2 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Hope the dizziness goes soon Ced, it might be worth having the blood flow through the carotid arteries checked. I had a similar problem a few years ago and there was a slight blockage, which was the cause of the problem.

 

John. 🇺🇦

 

PS: glad you got the stripes sorted, that would have kept me awake at night!

 

Thanks John  

I Googled carotid arteries but I think my problem is just blocked inner ears.

It's a shame that, to talk to a GP in the UK now, you have to run the gauntlet of receptionists and 'clinical assistants'. I'm sure they all do a great job with 'the herd' but I find it frustrating that I can't access some guidance when I've run out of information. Luckily I reckon my body will sort it out and, if not, I'll take on the barriers. Or go private!

Sorry chaps.

 

Primer!

I obviously need to support the parts (snurf) while painting so out with the stick collection:

 

 

As has been said before you can always tell a modeller in a coffee shop; they're the ones taking a handful of stirrers  

 

I drilled a couple of holes in the wing root for rods and stuck some flat sticks through the fuselage:

 

 

Into the booth and Stynylrez black:

 

 

Ooh, black basing with some variation - feeling a bit like a proper modeller! A bit.

I'll get most of the variation with the AK paste so I'm not too bothered about coverage apart from the black stripe areas.

 

What to do while that's drying?

So, found a good picture here that showed the bomb bay doors open and they don't fully close together so:

 

 

Parts trees checked and 'to be fitted' parts identified; mostly aerials and, of course, clear parts.

Thinking about the transfers.

I've left the guns off as I think the top ones go over the nose art?

Later.

[The Spadgent]

On 08/09/2025 at 17:19, CedB said:

Close up and be damned!

Sorry that made me chuckle. 🤣

 

looking good Mr B. Even though there are a few issues along the way your mojo seems to be in full flow. 
Hope you get your ear sorted. Could it be,  

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).  I had that years ago. There is a “ mechanical “ fix for it but it works.

 

looking forward to more modelling action. 
 

🤔 I need to check your spitfire too.

 

 Johnny

 

[81-er]

I'm glad you've managed to sort the stripes, Ced  

 

James

[CedB]

4 hours ago, The Spadgent said:

Sorry that made me chuckle. 🤣

 

looking good Mr B. Even though there are a few issues along the way your mojo seems to be in full flow. 
Hope you get your ear sorted. Could it be,  

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).  I had that years ago. There is a “ mechanical “ fix for it but it works.

 

looking forward to more modelling action. 
 

🤔 I need to check your spitfire too.

 

 Johnny

 

Thanks John  

I think the ears are just an infection. Elder daughter is an Audiologist and she agrees. No point in a GP visit then as they'd probably just prescribe antibiotics; "the medicine we give you while the body's making you better"  

 

4 hours ago, 81-er said:

I'm glad you've managed to sort the stripes, Ced  

 

James

Thanks James - I'm hoping!  

 

 

Mask the last black stripe:

 

 

Now the fun can start.

Regular readers will know how much I like AK True Metal paste, even though others have trouble with it.

I use an old brush and just scrub little amounts around, refreshing the brush when the coverage isn't to my taste.

 

For some reason I decided to use 'steel' on the fabric bits:

 

 

I hope that's going to give a little contrast.

 

Then it's random panels with Aluminium and then filling in with Dark Aluminium.

Didn't get that far before I have to stop but you get the idea:

 

 

[Beard]

My chosen 'metal' paint - Humbrol Metalcote - becoming harder to get (as nowhere near me sells), so I think I'll have to give AK True Metal paste a go.

Edited September 13 by Beard
to correct spelling.

[giemme]

Ah, lovely paint job, Ced - even I this initial state

 

Ciao

[The Spadgent]

Shiny!!! 🥰

[CedB]

On 13/09/2025 at 17:17, Beard said:

My chosen 'metal' paint - Humbrol Metalcote - becoming harder to get (as nowhere near me sells), so I think I'll have to give AK True Metal paste a go.

Recommended Simon! I scrub it on with an old brush - a little goes a long way. 
 

On 13/09/2025 at 17:35, giemme said:

Ah, lovely paint job, Ced - even I this initial state

 

Ciao

Thanks Giorgio  

 

On 14/09/2025 at 09:29, The Spadgent said:

Shiny!!! 🥰

Yes, at the moment!

 

 

Had a couple of days away back in Bath. Still full of tourists, especially the Jane Austin fans in their ‘period dress’. 
Still a nightmare getting about in the car and oh, the car parking costs!

 

A bit of time this morning patching up the bomb bay after that grinding:

 

 

Anti-glare masked and brushed:

 

 

Off to our new dentist for the first time this morning. 
I will report back later. 

[Farmerboy]

I was in Bath on Saturday!! Thought I’d stepped back in time! and I agree parking and cost is atrocious.

She getting there now Ced, just my two pennies worth, for anything metallic I use SMS acrylic laquers, get on really well with them.

[Terry1954]

Great progress, Ced!

 

Are you using that metallic paste on this one? I checked out the videos and it looks great. Might try it myself on something soon.

 

T.

[giemme]

Remarkably neat paint job on those anti glare, Ced!

 

Ciao