Ian Cooper Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) It's been a long time since I built a 1940s aircraft but having spent some time researching my local WW2 era USAAF base (RAF Deopham Green in Norfolk), I couldn't resist investing in the Revell kit. I've added a few extras - decals, guns, resin wheels, engines - and will add a lot of other detail from Evergreen and aluminium (the plan being to try out Olivier's - aka Edwards Scissorhands - Budweiser technique!). This will also be the first build I've finished in bare metal (using Alclad) so it'll be quite a challenge. I'm expecting it to be a pretty long-term build and will have other projects running concurrently. But from time to time - if it's going OK - I'll share some updates. I'm still thinking about which individual aircraft I'll build but at the moment it's a choice between Scrappy Jnr (44-83264) and Miasis Dragon (44-8531). Not many pictures around, certainly not colour ones, so there'll be an element of guesswork albeit based on what reliable material I can find. Wish me luck! Cheers Ian Edited February 1, 2013 by Ian Cooper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Ian Looks like you have this build in the bag with the research you hve done so far. I for ONE look forward to this Magnificent build of your.. Post updates soon.. GOOD LUCK see ya later HOLMESY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tonal Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Hi Ian, I see your at again with another great build on the table, will follow with much interest. Tonal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Thanks guys. Didn't mention that I plan to get rid of the raised panel lines and scribe new ones. So progress will be 'real slow'! But I'll try to get something done in order to re-post before this thread gets buried!!! Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Hi Here's the first update in this build .... I decided to start on the port wing rather than the fuselage. As there'll be lots of scratch building to do inside the fuselage, I wanted to "get into" the build before I tackled that. So far, I've removed the raised panel lines from the underside of the port wing, enscribed new panel lines there. These look a little messy at the moment and I'm hoping they'll smarten up with some primer. The big challenge for me on this build is the panel line engraving combined with a bare metal finish. "Challenge" because I'm not good at panel line engraving and I haven't finished a model in bare metal before. The bare metal finish is like to highlight any dodgy panel lines. Here's hoping it turns out OK! I've added some detail to those radiator (etc) intakes on the leading edge. The flaps have been removed and I've started to recreate the inside of the flap area but can't do more on this until the upper and lower wing parts have been joined. A little detail has been added on the exhaust of the supercharger. That's about it. I'm not planning to cut off the ailerons for this build - in the photos I've looked at these appear to have been left 'straight' when parked. The photos .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Wow, Ian You´re not wasting any time between builds are you :D Awesome start! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) It's like falling off a bike, Janne. Need to get straight back on! I've been looking forward to this one because of the link between the build and my neighbourhood. Occasionally I'll drive over to the old Deopham Green airfield - very peaceful now - and it was one of those visits that led me to do a little research, discovering the airfield was used by the 452nd Bomb Group toward the end of WW2. It's a special place.... I dropped into my local model shop today as well. That's situated at Snetterton Heath, home to the 96th Bomb Group in WW2 (B-17s). We're rich in WW2 history around here! Cheers! Ian Edited February 3, 2012 by Ian Cooper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 I do need to give some thought to how I'll add the nose art when I get to that stage. I don't have what's needed to make my own decals so I'm thinking (with a little trepidation!) of handpainting. I've done a quick sketch of the nose art for this aircraft .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Started to scribe the panel lines on the top side of the port wing today. Removing the raised panel lines ... Flexible steel ruler .... Scribing tool (great for straight lines but not for corners!) ... Panel lines now scribed ... Sand with fine paper and polishing tool .... Clean the dust from the panel lines .... Done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Not much done this week - been v. busy at work. But now have a few days off so hoping to get some work done. I'm still on the port wing and been giving thought to the detailing of the wheel bay. The kit is very basic and bears little resemblance to the fairly spacious bay on the 1:1 version. Here's what the kit provides .... The plan is to open up the wheel bay and build up detail with some scratch-building. I've managed to make a start on that this evening and will post some pics tomorrow. The finished wheel bay won't be entirely prototypical but will bring some much needed detail (albeit to an area that no-one will ever see - why do we do that!?!?) Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Nice build so far. I'll be watching this one. I gotta ask, why rescribe the B-17? I see people do this and it baffles me honestly. It's a lot of work, what's the pay off in taking all that time. It cant be for accuracy cause there raised/overlapping panels all over the B-17's, it's 1930's technology afterall. I'm not trying to critisize, I'm just really curious why all the extra work? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 (edited) Nice build so far. I'll be watching this one. I gotta ask, why rescribe the B-17? I see people do this and it baffles me honestly. It's a lot of work, what's the pay off in taking all that time. It cant be for accuracy cause there raised/overlapping panels all over the B-17's, it's 1930's technology afterall. I'm not trying to critisize, I'm just really curious why all the extra work? Hi B17 guy! Why all the extra work? I'm a modeller! Detail in wheel bays that noone will see. Detailed interior that noone will see. It makes an expensive kit last longer! No, actually, I just think engraved panel lines with a wash make models look more '3D' - that's my reason. And I'm crap at joining things like fuselage halves together if they have raised detail. So, lots of reasons for doing this that are all to do with me - my shortcomings and little preferences. Nothing to do with authenticity! Thanks for dropping by though. All feedback welcome. Should post some progress pics of the wheel bay later .... Cheers Ian Edited February 11, 2012 by Ian Cooper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 11, 2012 Author Share Posted February 11, 2012 Progress on the port wheel bay..... Bulkheads built .... Side panels out of this Evergreen... A preview of the empty wheel well .... Now to add detail ... The plan is to add the detail to the side panels and paint everything before fixing the side panels in place. I'm making this up as I go along so I'm hoping it'll work OK. Time will tell, I guess. Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Some detailing done on the port wheel bay sidewalls today .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 ... and the most entertaining part of the build so far came last night when I superglued my thumb and forefinger together. I've 'tacked' fingers together before but this was proper glued. Took my model knife to gently separate them. A little sore this morning! Hope to finish the port wheel bay and get it painted before the week's out. I can then put the two halves of the wing together and get working on (i) the flaps and (ii) the landing light in the leading edge. Then it'll be the starboard wing ... Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chukw Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Don't do that, Ian! ;D Looking great so far- Your wheel wells are impressive! Cheers! chuk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Daddy Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Great job so far on the Fort!! Looking forward to following your build. :thumbsup: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Don't do that, Ian! ;D Looking great so far- Your wheel wells are impressive! Cheers! chuk Hey, hang on. It's the mighty Chukw dropping by on my little ole thread and saying nice things about my wheel wells. Wow. Now THAT is something. I'm gonna quit now while I'm ahead! Thanks Chuk! You've made my day! Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Great job so far on the Fort!! Looking forward to following your build. :thumbsup: Cheers Big Daddy. Thanks for dropping by. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Looking good so far, I love the forts! Hry chuck! I'd love to see YOU build one of these!!!!!!! Hint hint!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 Gloss black coat applied to the wheel well and gear..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 ... and a coat of White Aluminium Alclad ... Just need to pick out details now in some black, white and green. Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Challenge Accepted Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 WOW Looking great so far! Keep up the good work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Looking good so far, I love the forts! Hry chuck! I'd love to see YOU build one of these!!!!!!! Hint hint!!!!!!!! probly' have to be a captured B-17 Ian great job, the alclad looks very fine on your wheel wells details. Will be looking forward to your up dates Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Cooper Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 Wooohooo! Day off work today so hoping to make some good progress on the port wing today!!! Will post pics later. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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