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Hi All,

Here is my entry into the GB, the classic 1/72 Hasegawa B-47E.

IMG_4440_zpskcplgdka.jpg

As you can tell from the badly crushed box, this has been at the bottom of the stash for a loooooong time. I've had this kit since I was a teenager. It has survived in storage when I wasn't modeling and through several moves across Texas. I think I've had it for around 25 years or more! I think moving into a new place with my own modeling area has inspired me to dust it off.

I am planning on building this kit gear up so I can hang it from the ceiling in my new man cave at my new house that I moved into 3 months ago. I am going to use decals from either Wolfpak sheet 72-023 or 72-064. As you know, SAC B-47 markings are pretty plain so markings from either one of these sheets are very similar and I don't really have a preference to either. I'd love to model a 96th BW bird from Dyess AFB so if I can find some photos in one of my books I may modify those decals. Not sure if I have a suitable 96th BW decal for the nose however...

Getting to the kit, I've been at it for about a week or so now. I started out with the smaller sub-assemblies.

Single engine jet pods:

IMG_4442_zpsf1jbjfrn.jpg

Under wing tanks:

IMG_4441_zpstx0eniwn.jpg

Dual engine jet pods:

IMG_4444_zpsx5j1lmsy.jpg

Horizontal stabs and engine pylons:

IMG_4443_zpson9cgzl2.jpg

And finally, the wings:

IMG_4447_zps0bau2cbz.jpg

This where I am at now, not too much to see yet really. It's still just a pile of parts. This kit has been a putty queen so far and I expect the fuselage to be the same way. I should save some time without any gear, but maybe I've just created more work for myself when I close up the wheel wells!

I am not going to do much to the cockpit. While the Pavla resin cockpit looks killer, I am not going to use it since this is going to be hanging from the ceiling. I am thinking of adding resin seats and some pilot figures and not much else.

More later as I have some updates for you guys.

-Derek

Edited by viking73
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Derek,

Welcome to the build and a very nice choice of subject. I always like the lines of the B-47. She looked so clean for such a large airplane.

Mike

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Thanks for the reply Mike. I too love the lines of the B-47 and I think gear up hanging from the ceiling is going to look good! No gear to clutter up those lovely lines.

It's time for another quick update on this one. I haven't had much time at the bench this week and what time I have had has been spent on several projects at once :)/>/>/>

The fuselage is together and I glued closed the main gear doors, bomb bay doors, and drag chute compartment. I backed them with sheet styrene and super glue. Of course the fit was less than perfect. I'm using super glue to fill all the seams and once it's smoothed out, I will re-scribe the doors. Here are a few photos:

IMG_4445_zps8hrftyax.jpg

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While the wings, horizontal stabs, under wing tanks, and single engine pods are complete and ready to install, the main dual engine pods are not. I closed up the gear doors and the fit was even worse than the main gear doors! Here they are together:

IMG_4466_zpsd9xg32rn.jpg

And here they are as they sit now, all slathered in Tamiya Putty:

IMG_4467_zps7r88c3o5.jpg

I see several sessions of sand, putty, sand, repeat in my future!

That's all the B-47 updates for now. Once I have the belly smoothed out and re-scribed, it will be time to attach the wings and horizontal stabs. Can't wait to see how that is going to turn out.

More soon -

-Derek

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Nice progress Derek :thumbsup:

I have one of the these with the Pavla stuff waiting for attention. My boxing is not as old as yours. I have been waiting to find for an interesting scheme to do mine in.

With all the sanding and fillg, do you plan to rescribe the kit?

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  • 2 weeks later...

how much sand paper have you worn out?

By the looks of things, he has bought stock in 3M and probably has forearms like Popeye.

Keep it up Derek.

Mike

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I have worn out a lot of sandpaper for sure Kurt! Especially trying to get things smoothed out to re-scribe the doors on the belly.

Mike - I don't have big forearms like Popeye - just sore fingers and cuticles from all the sanding I'm doing on this kit (and also a Hasegawa RA-5C but that's another story!).

Ray - I don't plan on doing much re-scribing, just for the major areas like the gear doors and bomb bay doors. The rest would be a waste in this small scale in my opinion. Plus it's going to hanging from the ceiling in my man cave when it's done :)/>

I do have a small update. The wings are on!

IMG_4846_zpsgyzzqw0d.jpg

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Of course now I have more filling and sanding at the joints but I'm used to it at this point ha ha!

I finally have the belly smoothed out enough I think. Here's a shot of the rear gear doors all re-scribed up with a minor spot still to fix up:

IMG_4847_zpsi6i5ge4h.jpg

And finally, I think the main engine pods are good to go. I need to give them one final primer coat to check everything but I think they are okay now:

IMG_4850_zpsw9vms1yw.jpg

Once the wing joints are smoothed up (the joints weren't too bad really), I'll get the horizontal stabs glued on and the seams cleaned up. Then, about the only thing left besides the tail guns, will be the engine pods. My plan at the moment is to glue on the single, outboard engine pods and dress the seams. They look pretty bad and will be hard to get to... I'll also most likely glue the dual main engine pylons to the wings and clean the seams up. The engine pods themselves will be left off to ease painting. I think I can get them to fit their pylons without too much of a gap - nothing worse then trying to fix a seam once the painting is done. I think it will be minor or not one at all if I am careful. Nothing so white glue won't be able to fix certainly.

More later, thanks for looking all.

-Derek

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hello Again,

Just another small update on this one. I have the horizontal stabs on as well as the outboard single engine pods. The seams are of course horrible on the pods (the left one is much worse for some reason):

IMG_4907_zpsiy5z89dv.jpg

IMG_4906_zpsy52phz61.jpg

So more fill, sand, repeat for me and in a tricky area to boot.

dd02861f-c406-4453-8248-4c53a3ecc533_zps0dhdihwt.jpg

I think the wing root seams are smooth now. So that's something at least! :rofl:/>/> It is coming together but each and every seam needs a lot of attention which has been very time consuming. This kit has fought me at every step and I'm starting to understand why you don't see many of these built which is a shame. At least it's looking like a B-47.

Once all the current seams are fixed up, I will glue on the dual engine pylons and fill and sand those seams!

More later...

-Derek

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Derek,

What's a build without the occasional kick in the pills? Your persistence and patience is going to yield fine results.

What kind of filler are you using? I find that when I have a tough seam to deal with, I use Tamiya putty to fill the void. Once the filler has dried somewhat, I use a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover to wipe away most of the excess filler. That way, you have the seam filled and less sanding to do to get the seam under control.

Looking good sir.

Mike

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Nice progress Derek, When I am confronted with gaps like that I usually fill them with card and file to shape once the glue has dried.

Agree with Mike, you have these moments occasionally and the final result will be more satisfying when you know what trials you had to go through to finish it.

:thumbsup:

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Hi Guys,

Thanks for the kinds words and following along. I generally use several types of fillers depending on the location and severity of the seam. In the case of the jet pods on my B-47, the first round of seams are filled in with auto-body Bondo filler made by 3M. I find this filler easier to sand (it's softer?) than Tamiya Putty. I do use the Tamiya Putty for easier to reach areas since it seems harder and doesn't seem to sand as easily in my opinion. I should try the acetone and q-tip trick sometime, just lazy I guess. I also use super glue and/or Tamiya Surface Primer that comes in the square glass bottle for small pin holes and such areas not filled in by the putty. Just don't drop that glass bottle onto a tile floor as it will break. Ask me how I know :(/>

I am off from work tomorrow so I plan an attacking all the seams on the B-47. I hope it won't be a big battle but I'm not holding my breath :)/> I will also be trying to get an equally putty guzzling 1/72 Hasegawa RA-5C Vigilante off my bench. That kit is about the same vintage as the B-47 and the fit is just as bad! I am building that one in flight as well, this one for a RVAH-12 USN veteran. I really need to pick a "shake and bake" kit for my next build once I finish these two off I think...

Hopefully another update tomorrow on this beast.

-Derek

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  • 3 months later...

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