LetLetLet ~ Warplanes

Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: GregM on August 14, 2016, 08:30:21 PM

Title: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 14, 2016, 08:30:21 PM
Thinking about it, it's been just short of two years since I touched a model.  I got burnt out on it when I built the last few under a deadline for a museum while juggling work and a toddler, I've since had another child and an old hobby took hold again (music); I haven't really had the desire to build.  The good warbird airshows in my area have all folded up now and the lack of direct exposure hasn't helped anything. This week the Collings Foundation finally stopped at my local airport with their B-24, B-25, B-17 and the new TF-51D out on tour.  I hadn't planned on spending the money but my wife convinced me I needed to go for a flight again, she paid for half of my flight on 909.  I got to fly and also spent nearly three hours out on the ramp in direct sun over 90 degrees watching the planes come and go and also watching the work on Witchcraft, which was undergoing an engine change due to sheared cylinder studs.  This was much needed and at least for the time being, has started to ignite my desire to get some modeling done again.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/428_zps8t92zkz5.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/428_zps8t92zkz5.jpg.html)

Here is a video of the flight if anyone is interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAMTqYK3l0E

A few years back I bought a complete set of B-17 decals in 1/72 which covered all of the currently flying B-17's except for Chuckie, including poor Liberty Belle.  I intended to build the entire fleet including Chuckie (not interested in it's current scheme) but hadn't started the project yet.  I've now flown on 909 and Aluminum Overcast so I'll build those two first and move on from there.

I've had a Pro Modeler 1/72 scale kit tucked away for a couple years and I'll use it for my 909 build.  At this point I think I'll be hanging them so I'll probably build with the gear up, possibly the bomb bay open, and I won't go crazy with interior detail.  I hope to be able to spend at least a couple hours a week building but I may need some motivation if I slow down.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160814_114107_zps3fv627zc.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160814_114107_zps3fv627zc.jpg.html)

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160814_114147_zpsypeksh8p.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160814_114147_zpsypeksh8p.jpg.html)


Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on August 14, 2016, 09:47:59 PM
Welcome back Greg and lets see this project, it look promising :-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 15, 2016, 06:09:53 AM
And we're off...

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160814_233549_zpsuzvznptu.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160814_233549_zpsuzvznptu.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on August 15, 2016, 09:26:13 AM
very nice start, welcome back !
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on August 15, 2016, 04:08:26 PM
Good to see you back at the modeling bench!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 17, 2016, 06:11:22 PM
Interior is ready for paint.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160816_231253_zps4v5dvux1.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160816_231253_zps4v5dvux1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on August 17, 2016, 06:22:04 PM
Very good details for that scale  :-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 17, 2016, 06:25:22 PM
Yes, interior and exterior details are pretty well done, and so far the part fit has been really good.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on August 17, 2016, 07:16:20 PM
looks promising, well done so far
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 20, 2016, 07:56:59 PM
Scott, am I correct that basically everything aft of and including the bomb bay was bare metal with green structure (bomb racks, etc) and stringers?  The radio room and forward was general green paint and insulation?
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on August 20, 2016, 09:35:33 PM
Greg,

Chuckie, 44-8543, had bare metal in radio room and aft fuselage and we're quite certain that was original. The bomb bay was painted green but I'm pretty sure it was done later in life. (Yagen sprayed the whole thing green, unfortunately.) The Boeing Erection and Maintenance Manual states that everything forward of the bomb bay was given one coat of primer and then bronze green while the bomb bay and everything aft was natural metal. As I remember, though, Chuckie had green primered stringers in some areas, possibly just a Vega thing. Texas Raiders was painted all over inside decades ago so all that info is lost, unfortunately.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 21, 2016, 03:15:15 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on August 22, 2016, 04:38:24 PM
I'm impatient to see the next phases...
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 22, 2016, 06:16:18 PM
I started on the wings to keep moving while waiting on some paint for the interior.  There is a decent amount of detail in the inboard nacelles.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160821_225852_zpsvbuwkppc.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160821_225852_zpsvbuwkppc.jpg.html)

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160821_232715_zpsrdtisdts.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160821_232715_zpsrdtisdts.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on August 22, 2016, 06:23:11 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on August 22, 2016, 06:23:59 PM
Good way how to hold parts!!!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on August 22, 2016, 06:26:44 PM
I love those clamps for holding wings, stabilizers, and such.  The springs are a little bit stiffer than I'd like but you just have to watch what you're doing with them.  I have about twenty of them in two different sizes. They came from a home improvement store (Menards I believe) and are pretty inexpensive.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on August 22, 2016, 06:27:01 PM
nice progress
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on September 21, 2016, 05:12:25 AM
I knew it was bad but I didn't realize it had been a month already.  Here's some visible progress.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20160920_225726_zpsx8dkad84.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20160920_225726_zpsx8dkad84.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on September 21, 2016, 06:08:27 AM
Glass panel on nose is good solution for variant options!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on September 21, 2016, 08:49:18 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on September 21, 2016, 04:54:24 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on October 23, 2016, 07:56:59 PM
I'm still making progress but not as quickly as I'd like to.  The major seam cleanup is done and wings are on.

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20161023_134315_zpsjffrnuv4.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20161023_134315_zpsjffrnuv4.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on October 24, 2016, 07:27:20 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on October 26, 2016, 08:38:18 PM
looks nice !
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Jicehem on November 03, 2016, 11:29:46 PM
Hello ! :-salut

Amazing kit and very good work. I like this plane.

Jicéhem :-wave
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on December 22, 2016, 03:22:01 AM
I'm still here....

I've been picking at the model as time allows.  I now have all seams cleaned up and filled and it's ready for primer.  I started to mask it myself but decided to go ahead and spend the money on a mask kit - I especially didn't want to try masking the little ball turret myself or try hand painting it.

This came tonight.  I haven't used this brand before but the price was less than 1/3 of an Eduard set so I figured I'd give it a shot. 

(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy360/WIXerGreg/909%20build/20161221_195926_zpsohvwinb7.jpg) (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/WIXerGreg/media/909%20build/20161221_195926_zpsohvwinb7.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on December 22, 2016, 10:08:30 AM
Useful!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on December 23, 2016, 11:49:51 AM
I worked with Montex earlier on, the product is good but don't keep it on the kit too long ( weeks ) because it can leave a glue from the mask on the kit surface and its hard to take it off....
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on December 26, 2016, 12:28:39 AM
That's good to know, thank you.  Given my track record lately having masks on for more than a couple weeks would be likely. I'll try to get all my painting done in a weekend.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on December 26, 2016, 03:26:52 PM
Good to see your progress, Greg!

I've been wanting to see a "product review" of the Montex masking sets and now I've gotten one thanks to Modellius! (I confess that my normal method of using clear tape also leaves residue of the adhesive if left on for more than a few days.)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on December 30, 2016, 01:28:52 PM
Glad to help friends ! I tried out a lots of things during the years, Tesa tape is also good ( and the price is good also ) but same problem as Montex, in my case Tamiya tape and sheet worked out the best so far, so as conclusion any of these products work fine on short time but for me as lazy as I am Tamiya is the right choice. As far as Tesa and Montex is concern glue it first to some clear and smooth surface ( glass is best ) and glue it off several times ( 2-3 times ) it usually helps to take some glue of the mask but still enough to glue it to the model
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on May 15, 2017, 03:17:35 AM
Look, progress!

(http://i.imgur.com/vDxAH3N.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on May 15, 2017, 06:28:13 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on May 16, 2017, 11:56:25 AM
Good! (Don't feel bad--everyone this spring has been slowly building here!!!!)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on May 16, 2017, 06:32:38 PM
Looks nice, now painting I guess
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on October 03, 2019, 03:02:20 AM
I keep looking at this thing sitting on the bench and saying I need to finish it.  I need to get the props and engines painted and get the decals on.

What a sad day for the warbird community. 

(https://i.imgur.com/jzVf6Kg.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 16, 2020, 09:50:20 PM
Progress is progress, right?

(https://i.imgur.com/47eyiya.jpg?1)

Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 17, 2020, 04:33:07 AM
I got the engines and main landing gear wheels together tonight. At some point in the last three and a half years I've apparently lost the kit instructions!

I also noticed tonight that the cowl flaps are still in the box and never got painted.  I had tinted the olive drab with white when I sprayed the plane so hopefully I can match it closely to do the cowl flaps.

(https://i.imgur.com/8Pl9blA.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on April 17, 2020, 06:57:47 AM
And A-10 in background ,)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 17, 2020, 07:04:49 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 17, 2020, 01:26:52 PM
The A-10 is my five year old's!  Last year both of my girls started models with me.  The eight year old is building a P-40 (which I finally pained last night) and the five year old picked out this A-10 Snap Tite kit and we built it together. 
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 17, 2020, 09:45:44 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 18, 2020, 03:27:26 PM
Engines are painted and installed and three of the cowls are on.  The cowls didn't fit over the engines well and the last one was troublesome enough that I wanted to wait until the engine had set up over night.

I did realize that the cowl flaps are already in place.  The kit had the option for full open or fully closed cowl flaps and I had already attached the closed ones to the cowls. 

(https://i.imgur.com/Yny3xBh.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 18, 2020, 06:30:07 PM
Nice work!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on April 18, 2020, 10:01:34 PM
Good to see this one back on step!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 18, 2020, 10:18:27 PM
Thanks!  Today I've gotten the other cowl on, the turbos and exhaust pipes are painted and drying now.  I was going to paint the red around the fuel caps on top of the wing but I found all my small paint brushes are frazzled so more are on the way.

As I've tried to paint small items in the last few days again, even with all my LED and incandescent lighting in the room it's very apparent I can't see as well as I'd like to anymore!

I'm also a little worried about the ball turret.  It needed to go in before the fuselage halves were together and I recall making a decision to leave it out rather than paint it, install it and then paint the plane around it.  I don't know if I had a plan on how to install it afterward though...
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 19, 2020, 12:22:20 AM
Exhausts are done.

(https://i.imgur.com/rTs6fRK.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on April 19, 2020, 08:21:07 AM
Brass paint?
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 19, 2020, 03:55:24 PM
Testors 1166 flat brown.


Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on April 19, 2020, 04:38:31 PM
 :-ok :-flo
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 20, 2020, 03:46:35 AM
I did a little foiling tonight on the stainless area behind the cowls.  Tomorrow I'll do the areas around the turbos.

(https://i.imgur.com/cxxSJZB.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 21, 2020, 04:13:03 AM
I wish the foil was darker and more closely replicated stainless steel but I have a bunch of aluminum on hand and I'm also afraid that if I stopped a week to wait for foil then I'd lose my momentum and not finish the model again.  I'll darken it up when I start weathering and they won't be so bright. 

It was interesting to me when I started paying close attention to exactly where the stainless starts and stops, that almost every operator has painted their panels differently.  On the engine cowls, some such as 909 have just the small section that I applied the foil too, and some of them are unpainted to the next joint back.  On exhaust areas some are unpainted on engines 2 and 3 where it leaves the cowl around the landing gear, some are painted.  On the undersides around the turbos everybody seems to have done something different there too.  Even during different periods in it's life 909 sometimes did or did not have paint around the exhausts on the 2 and 3 nacelles.  I think what I've done correctly depicts 909 for the time period I'm trying to replicate.

(https://i.imgur.com/xODkvBI.jpg?1)

I have some minor paint touch up to do and then I think I'm reading for decals tomorrow.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 21, 2020, 09:05:15 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on April 21, 2020, 11:45:40 PM
Yeah, the nacelle pieces are usually painted or not painted just depending on who is doing the maintenance on the airplanes. The dishpans (the ones you foiled) are usually a stainless steel color or even a little darker. I can't remember even seeing the pans from Texas Raiders when we were working on it but we kept the ones on Chuckie in their natural color. If we'd kept the airplane long enough, I was going to repaint the anti-glare panels and would have included that part of the dishpans just like the Vega painters did. It sort of bugs me that none of the OD airplanes paint the dishpans like they were originally, but it's easier to maintain them in bare finish.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 22, 2020, 12:23:44 AM
Did I take the foil too far back on the inboard engines, Scott?  There is a panel line break just above the exhaust outlet on the turbos and then the next panel line is where I stopped.  It looks excessive the way I have it but I couldn't find any good shots of 909 showing this clearly.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on April 22, 2020, 02:44:34 AM
It looks like you stopped on the correct panel line according the the photos of the late 909 I've seen.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on April 23, 2020, 05:11:37 PM
Looks excellent !
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 23, 2020, 10:19:35 PM
Thanks!

I've been working on decals for the last three days as time allows.  The national insignia on the bottom is on also.  In addition to the insignias and stripes on the wings I've so far applied 44 small stencils to the wings and fuselage.  I have 36 more stencils to go.  :-/

(https://i.imgur.com/bL4ccwx.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 24, 2020, 06:51:00 AM
:-ok
Stencils are really time consuming...
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on April 24, 2020, 07:32:02 AM
I sat down to finish the rest of the stencils and just couldn't do it.  I did the fun stuff instead.

(https://i.imgur.com/mFU5cdP.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on April 24, 2020, 07:18:52 PM
Good work!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on April 24, 2020, 11:29:10 PM
Nice !
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on May 01, 2020, 04:59:29 PM
I got her on the landing gear last night.

(https://i.imgur.com/4fQGF6T.jpg?1)


I was waiting on some paint for touch up before starting on the weathering but when  I pulled my air compressor out to work on it last night I found a box with a bunch of paint I didn't realize I had so I'll back at it soon.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on May 01, 2020, 08:53:10 PM
Looks nice!!!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: modellius on May 04, 2020, 12:14:49 PM
Good !
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on May 11, 2020, 12:56:05 AM
I haven't lost interest but haven't gotten anything done on the B-17 for a week because I went back to work. I have three small children and many of us took several weeks off work when our state issued a stay at home order, and that's when I actually had the energy for modeling again!

But on my first day back I remembered again how bad the environment was.  I work for a new car dealer that was bought out last year by a family that's far less than honest to their customers and employees both, and the environment is toxic. Most of our original group of ~25 employees has left over the last ten months.  Last week the work situation continued to degrade and at 4:30 on Friday I got an amazing offer from another dealer which is more than 20 miles closer to home and is headed in a very positive direction.  So after almost 19 years in the same place, I loaded about $30,000 worth of tools and boxes onto a ratty U Haul trailer and I'm starting a new job tomorrow. Five of my former coworkers are already there and it will be great see some old friends again.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: No.1 on May 11, 2020, 06:15:30 AM
Wish you good luck at new job and take care, time are critical.
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: draken35 on May 11, 2020, 09:09:20 AM
Good luck with your new job!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: Second Air Force on May 11, 2020, 01:15:27 PM
Yes, enjoy the new challenge!

I had much the same situation in the late 1980s, the dealership was bought out and the new owners changed EVERYTHING. I was the second one to move out, but our move took us 1,500 miles farther from home than nearer!
Title: Re: 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909
Post by: GregM on May 12, 2020, 12:32:35 AM
Thanks for the well wishes, guys.  My first day went about as expected.  The building is old and there isn't enough room, but the light at the end of the tunnel is they're in the process of building a new, very large building that is supposed to be open in the summer.  So far everybody in the shop seems to have accepted me and are decently friendly, which is something I was worried about.