john53 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Here it is in all it's glory! I have a lot of filling and sanding for a few weeks. I have the left side of the windscreen filled and pretty much sanded up. On to the other end which is a disaster looking for a place to happen. I cut the tail, put the plug in and sanded it a bit then added the cut off tail piece back on. The plug is quite a bit narrower than the tail or fuselage so I am going to try to fill it and some how blend this in to make it look somewhat acceptable. Word of advice, if you want a 1/144 B-52H in current flying condition seriously consider the Revell kit!---John Edited January 9, 2013 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kingoalie Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Word of advice, if you want a 1/144 B-52H in current flying condition seriously consider the Revell kit! Thanks for the heads up. I'm amazed at how poorly Minicraft's new parts fit. Not that their kits fit exceptionally well, but that tail area is way oversized. Keep up the good work though! I can't wait to see it finished! John Edited January 9, 2013 by John King Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Wow, that's pretty something. I'd be pretty unhappy if I'd bought that kit and found a part like that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Keep it up, I look forward to seeing the progress! Any thoughts on which squadron markings you'll use? Jonah Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 I am using the kit decals for 60-0059 of the 96th BS, 2nd BW, at Barksdale AFB 2001. Hopefully I will get that far.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 (edited) I sanded the livincrap out of this and it looks some what "flowing". As for accurate, eh close counts. I am going to add some more putty to the offending seams and sand and blend some more. Then I have to add this tail piece. It looks like a stinger from some sort of insect, doesn't resemble the ECM antenna that's on the "current flying model" to me. I am going to cut it off and fashion a more realistic looking piece.---John Edited January 11, 2013 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 All puttied up. I am going to let it set then tackle it another day. Need a break, I just spent 1/2 hour vacuuming dust from sanding, my wife found it amusing, I didn't---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 (edited) I assembled the tail pieces and corrected some of the mistakes. I added two more lumps and bumps to the tail and cut off the offending gun barrel. I still have more sanding and shaping but it looks a lot closer to it's current flying condition than before.---John Edited January 12, 2013 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fellow Hobbyist Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Are you planning on removing the gun and replacing it with the parabolic array that the B-52's presently are equipped with? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 I'm trying to stay in the 2001 time frame, that and I am not sure what you are talking about. I am going by the pictures I dig up and an outdated walk around book.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fellow Hobbyist Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 While I haven't figured out what exactly it is for (ECM or communications are my guess) it is a feature on the B-52 fleet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 That looks similar to what I have now. There are a few more lumps and bumps to add to the side of the fuselage tail, I don't quite understand all the small holes in the blanked end of the tail. Are those vortex generators on the stabs? Thanks for pictures. I still have to look into tree antenna on top rear fuselage and the antenna farm on the underside of the fuselage. Not sure about GPS dome?---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 I have the rest of the kit lumps and bumps on the rear fuselage and tail. Anything else will have to be scratch built.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 I have the pylons on and am starting to do the engines. All these small parts and the painting started me thinking. Why do all this, a gazillion wheels then hubs so I decided to go wheels up. Seeing as though I didn't plan on it I now need to figure out a stand. Are there any after market ones or does some one have a good design? The doors closed up fairly decent.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kingoalie Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 This will look great in flight! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Thanks John, now to figure a stand. I have the wing tanks on and the engines built. Now to sand them then add them to the wings.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) That looks similar to what I have now. There are a few more lumps and bumps to add to the side of the fuselage tail, I don't quite understand all the small holes in the blanked end of the tail. Are those vortex generators on the stabs? Thanks for pictures. I still have to look into tree antenna on top rear fuselage and the antenna farm on the underside of the fuselage. Not sure about GPS dome?---John Can't remember where I read it, but believe the perforations in the plating over the tail gun location are there to equalize pressure in that part of the fuselage... The GPS antenna is located on the top of the fuselage, just aft of the leading edge of the wing. Look at some photos taken from a tanker and you can see it if the boom isn't in the way, it's a round, flat plate that is sort of a pale yellow color. Keep up the good progress! Jonah Edited January 21, 2013 by Gator52 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Thanks Jonah. Would you know if the GPS dome was in use around 2001. That's the timeframe of the decals I am using.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Yes, I believe so. I'm pretty sure the GPS mod pre-dates the integration of JDAM on the BUFF. Jonah Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 I have the engine pylons on and almost ready to paint. I need to add a few antennas. Does anyone know the size of the tree antenna on the top rear spine? Revell had a nice one on it's B-52H kit. Anyone here have that and can measure it for me. I have lots of plastic and sprue material and pictures but no idea how big it was or is in 1/144. Thanks---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bdt13 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 John- I have the Revell kit you mentioned. The antenna is exactly 5 mm in height. The lower cross-piece (horizontal antenna) is 3 mm above the fuselage. Let me know if you need any other measurements or photos of the Revell kit. PM me as needed. HTH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Thanks. I was laying out the top fuselage where the antennas and domes go and put my RB-47H of the same scale next to it. I never realized that the Stratojet was so much smaller than the Stratofortress.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Started scratch building various antennas and lumps and bumps to bring this up to "current flying version".---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kingoalie Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Nice attention to detail. Keep it up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Looking great John. Can't wait to see the finished build. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.