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1/48th Boeing B-52H 'BUFF'


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I've been working on Sanger's 1/48th B-52 for a while now, so thought I'd share some progress over here.

 

This is what you get in the box:

 

39047586075_8d82d6a876_z.jpgDSC_0153 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

39047586695_aafd58c7d3_z.jpgDSC_0151 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

39913737012_5e3c33fd6d_z.jpgDSC_0148 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

39047589245_9ca42655bf_z.jpgDSC_0142 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

39047590495_68542357bb_z.jpgDSC_0140 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

28166234739_5cbb0ae9a6_z.jpgDSC_0138 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

26073387268_f7cb3b233b_z.jpgDSC_0156 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The base kit is supposed to cover all versions of the B-52 - I've gone for the H-version but as those of you familiar with the BUFF will note, some serious work is going to be needed with the nose radome as it is far closely moulded for the earlier versions, more familiar with the A to F/early G versions. 

 

Plastic quality is good, and although there are some panel lines present I plan to fill these and do a total rescribe as the kit lines, due to the nature of these kits, are pretty crude. 

 

More to follow...

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I thought the engines would be the most challenging part of this build, so began with those.

 

Once the halves were cut and sanded to the correct thickness, I began experimenting with various diameter plastic piping to replicate the intake trunking which is not present in the kit. The white metal fans are passable but will require some additional detailing in this scale:

 

25139600967_7a7edd1299_z.jpgIMG_6409 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Tail pipes were made from brass tubing:

 

39561818455_1fbc46552a_z.jpgIMG_6423 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Some serious filling, blending and sanding later, the engines start to take shape:

 

26682892068_77d02b30c2_z.jpgDSC_0161 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

40554155231_d5e96f46d0_z.jpgDSC_0168 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Pylons were next - they needed a lot of extra thinning as they were moulded a little thick:

 

27085411938_89c70220b5_z.jpgIMG_6514 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Once sanded and blended to the nacelles, they were passable:

 

27377354158_e7c2a6bdde_z.jpgIMG_6562 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

26378440497_e2fe8e070a_z.jpgIMG_6563 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

There's still a wealth of detail to add to the engines, including a rescribe, but the basics were complete at this point...

 

 

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Wings came next...

 

The wing halves were removed from the backing plastic and sanded to the correct thickness.

 

Uppers:

 

41228449802_396e91dba7_z.jpgIMG_6567 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The lower sections had the out-rigger bays and flaps removed, as I plan to have this with the flaps deployed as so often seen when parked:

 

27399190768_fa409d3a08_z.jpgIMG_6569 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I then set about sparring the wings for some much needed strength:

 

42954387661_784a6791e5_z.jpgIMG_6729 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The main spar was catered for for when the wings will eventually join the fuselage:

 

29081589618_c772c5b5d9_z.jpgIMG_6734 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Out-rigger bays were then scratchbuilt and painted in zinc-chromate primer:

 

43804162871_476b6a7e68_z.jpgIMG_6890 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The top and bottom sections were then joined:

 

29934259808_029262ee51_z.jpgIMG_6896 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

A test fit of the engines reveals the fit is far from Tamiya quality, but that's par for the course for these sorts of kits:

 

29934264238_913060b442_z.jpgIMG_6898 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Fuselage next...

 

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The fuselage, being so huge, has been moulded in two lengths. These were removed from the backing sheet and sanded to give me a good starting point for extra detailing:

 

29515276747_33b87a0f67_z.jpgIMG_0239 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

44453315591_cf7e07eaa3_z.jpgIMG_0243 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Due to the length of the model, it moves around like a windsock so plenty of internal bulkheads have been fabricated:

 

42887758840_f6e9a7f142_z.jpgDSC_0291 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Considering the size and nature of this kit, the fit is actually quite good:

 

44697025491_3aab7f2de3_z.jpgDSC_0288 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Unfortunately the left side landing gear bays are moulded too far forward, so these need to be moved back:

 

43979590484_4d428f48aa_z.jpgDSC_0290 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I'm now at the point where I'm starting work on the landing gear bays:

 

32462258277_e7d4fe5fbf_z.jpgIMG_0863 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

32462256997_c04ff7df3f_z.jpgIMG_0865 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

32462256617_60cea4e8a5_z.jpgIMG_0855 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

32462254887_b6cc547140_z.jpgIMG_0861 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Still lots to do in here, but this brings you up to speed.

 

Stay tuned for future updates as and when I get the time and inspiration to do any more!

 

Tom

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Wow! You are a master of fabrication.  Impressive build so far and I was curious how you were going to tackle the job from the first few parts photos. But i see that you have thought it all out and have engineered answers to the mounting of wings, engines and under carriage.  Keep a goin', please!

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14 hours ago, Dutch said:

Wow! You are a master of fabrication.  Impressive build so far and I was curious how you were going to tackle the job from the first few parts photos. But i see that you have thought it all out and have engineered answers to the mounting of wings, engines and under carriage.  Keep a goin', please!

 

With kits of this nature you always have to plan way ahead - I've been bitten by a lack of planning in the past. Still plenty of obstacles to overcome, but hopefully when the time comes to joining the main components together I've covered the worst!

 

Tom

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Afternoon all,

 

I've given the wheel bays a squirt of grey this afternoon:

 

46534657095_3c65b5473d_z.jpgIMG_0869 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

...and I've also made a start on the numerous vents and grills found dotted all over the fuselage:

 

47449860021_63e2a9d8cc_z.jpgIMG_0868 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Lots more vents. etc to drill out and make, but it's the fine details like this that bring an otherwise blank vacform to life.

 

Tom

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  • 2 weeks later...

This week I've been having a play with the main landing gear and working out how to get it installed correctly.

 

Sanger provide some fairly decent white metal as a starting point, and the bays I'd built earlier have been constructed to accommodate the legs and provide a mix of both reasonable accuracy and structural strength. 

 

The legs and their supporting struts are just taped together at this point for test fitting purposes, but as you can see they should look ok when fitted to the forward bays:

 

33637311698_be6b2ba0aa_z.jpgIMG_0879 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

40548068863_c23b0340c7_z.jpgIMG_0880 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The rear bays:

 

40548068273_7f2730ba25_z.jpgIMG_0882 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Here you can see why it was so important to move the port side bays back so that the main undercarriage legs were directly opposite one another - the way Sanger has molded the bays would mean the left side legs were approx 15mm too far forward:

 

32571771387_88d89196c2_z.jpgIMG_0883 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The sit looks about right - with the main wheels added the model will of course sit higher:

 

46598566565_96c88bb3d2_z.jpgIMG_0877 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The camera angle in this picture distorts the shape of the fuselage, but this gives a good overall impression of the fit of the landing gear:

 

40548069433_1e9cf4deb1_z.jpgIMG_0878 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The main legs and struts are going to need some detail adding to them, but at least I know the Sanger parts are perfectly usable. And the bonus is they can be fitted once the fuselage is together so there's no risk in damaging them whilst filling/sanding. Phew!

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

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Evening all,

 

I've been making the most of my Easter holidays and have done some more work to the fuselage of the BUFF...

 

I've cut out the area for the kit's transparencies and have added the kit-supplied flightdeck flooring - there'll be plenty of detail to add here but this will all come later when the main construction is done:

 

46635906505_7721207c1d_z.jpgIMG_0894 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also continued to add the numerous vents, intakes and grilles on the forward fuselage:

 

40585372983_1848a8b089_z.jpgIMG_0895 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

46635905905_a69cd16dfa_z.jpgIMG_0896 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I've also make and attached the wing spars to the fuselage structure:

 

46635907045_66da0f3ede_z.jpgIMG_0900 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

The wings will slide over these spars when the fuselage is joined:

 

40585373263_e47ea2e433_z.jpgIMG_0893 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

I had a quick test-fit of the wings - I'm going to need a larger table...

 

32608966257_998c5690de_z.jpgIMG_0887 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

 

Nearly time to join the fuselage halves - lots of tabs to add to the fuselage halves to aid with gluing and I should be good to go!

 

Until next time,

 

Tom

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38 minutes ago, DrGlueblob said:

Francois Verlinden scratched a G? way back when. Fine Scale Modeler had a photo of him holding the beast at port arms.. Yeah, you might need a bigger bench..

Belchers Bits sells nukes..

 

 

I remember that and still have the magazine. Awesome. Except I believe it was Lewis Pruneau who was a close associate of Verlinden.

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12 hours ago, Major Walt said:

I remember that and still have the magazine. Awesome. Except I believe it was Lewis Pruneau who was a close associate of Verlinden.

My mistake Walt. That was the guy.

 

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