LetLetLet ~ Warplanes

Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 01:02:26 AM

Title: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 01:02:26 AM
I have been far too slow to put up my first thread on the Forum.

I started this model over a year ago and am making slow progress. I find most of my weekends taken up with working on a 1/1 scale B-17, 44-8543, known as Chuckie, at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

I started with a 1/48th scale Monogram B-17G and Koster B-17C/D conversion kit. If you have never built a model using a Koster product I highly recommend his kits. Here are a few photos of the very beginning of the project:
The initial cut of the aft fuselage:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2672.jpg)

The shortened forward fuselage common to all small-tailed Fortress variants:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2675.jpg)

This is what comes with the Koster kit. Not only the parts for the "shark fin" C and D model Fortress, but the transparent sheet also include the pieces needed to build a Cheyenne tail turret for the later Gs.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2676.jpg)

If anyone is interested I'll post more in-progress photos and text.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on March 02, 2010, 02:00:31 AM
Welcome mate...
Sure we are interested... Unusual subject and daring conversion, I will follow this topic  :-obey
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 02:52:18 AM
Thanks for the interest--now you'll have to be patient as I am a rather slow modeler! ;) I will have several posts to add to the thread before I get caught up to the current state of the project. I've not been able to spend more than a couple of evenings on it this winter. Fortunately, for the first time, I've kept documentation of how I fabricated parts so that duplication for the other side of the airplane is much easier.

Here is a general photo of the finished product. I will be using a slightly different paint scheme and the airplane I'm building will have the later Hydromatic propellers.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/scan0219.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 02, 2010, 08:36:55 AM
Excellent project! I have seen just few conversions were is used KAE parts and all of them looking amazing. Model will look for sure nice as well it have shiny metal cover. I am sure that you are better informed but maybe this material in attachment could be informative for other members here, mix of very early and later models of B-17.

Keep on good work  :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 08:54:10 PM
Thanks for posting those pics, Srecko. When I first ran across the two camouflaged airplanes in the Amarillo Army Air Field Historical Records I was surprised a little that they were still around in 1943/44.

I'll transfer the photos from WIX over here as I get time to do so, and then (hopefully) some new progress as I move forward.

Here are a few photos of the transparencies in the Koster kit, starting with the overall sheet less the early cockpit enclosure:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2702.jpg)

These two are the early effort at fitting the new cockpit area. I had to remove the Airplane Commander's observation dome as these were not used on the YBs.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2680.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2686.jpg)

More later,
Scott

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 02, 2010, 09:10:42 PM
There will be a lot of work on the transparent parts ;) One question about the first series, they have small turret in the nose transparent cover. On some images this turret is in top and in some in bottom position. Does it mean that nose cover rotate?

Cheers :)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 09:37:40 PM
You're correct--the entire nose transparency rotated on a set of rollers so that the gun could be brought to bear on targets. I don't exactly know how easy it was to operate, but it must have kept the gunner very, very busy! I have a good photo of the nose of the Model 299 but I'm having computer issues right now......

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 02, 2010, 09:39:39 PM
Thank you for info :) And hope you will solve PC trouble, I know what headache it could made.

Cheers :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 10:05:00 PM
Well, the evil PC is working right now, so here is the nose photo of the prototype 299:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/299Nose.jpg)
The small ball pivots in the nose piece and the entire nose rotates. That might be one of the most challenging parts of the model to construct. I have a Mattel Vacuform machine so can experiment until I find the correct solution. Also, all four of the aft gun positions will be vacuformed but these should be a bit easier to fabricate.

Here is a photo of the first time I mated the two fuselage sections.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2688.jpg)

S

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 02, 2010, 10:15:40 PM
Very challenging project!! Thumbs up mate :-ok

Image of the nose is very good, maybe I should consider to finish profile of this plane I have start several months ago...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 02, 2010, 11:48:46 PM
If your profile isn't too far along ;), this is the ship I'm modeling.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/38thY1B-17.jpg)
The cowls are yellow and black checkerboard, and I have a color profile of the Squadron emblem somewhere in the reference photos for the project. She was in the 38th Recon Squadron at the time this photo was taken. There is a color photo of her and a sister in flight in the group of pictures you posted earlier.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 03, 2010, 12:02:05 AM
I will consider this subject ;) Nice colors :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 03, 2010, 05:13:04 PM
Hey, Scott, hello and welcome :-obey :) :-flo
This is going to be one wonderful model, I see. Go on man :-ok :-ok :-ok :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-and thanks for sharing. :-flo wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 05, 2010, 08:07:27 PM
Here's another little installment on what I've done to the poor ol' model so far. I have jumped back and forth from one section of the plane to another during the building process and my updates aren't necessarily in that order.

The radio room is shaped quite differently on the sharkfin Forts due to the teardrop shape of the gunner's transparency. I glued the kit glass in place and filed off the little bit of dorsal fin and the wind deflector for the radio gun:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2965.jpg)

After the glue had dried I did some filling and cut out the opening for the early bubble. After getting the opening shaped correctly I used my Dremel and files to reshape the turtledeck fairing--it is much narrower than big-tailed Fortresses and tapers to match the bubble:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2978.jpg)

The photo reference that is under the fuselage in the second photo is actually of a B-17B, but the YB is the same shape with different framing on the bubble.

Scott



Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 05, 2010, 08:13:39 PM
Very good progress :-clap Please tell me what kind of the brick red filler you are using?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 05, 2010, 08:34:42 PM
The filler you see on the bomber is Testors Model Master Red Putty. I like it as it dries relatively quickly (except if applied very thickly) and sands easily. The same basic product is also found in automobile body shop supply stores here in the U.S. and is often called "spot putty". The material is actually red oxide lacquer primer in a paste form. The only drawback to using this stuff is that the lacquer component in it tends to attack thin plastic sheet a bit.

I've had this tube for over ten years and it is still working well.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 05, 2010, 08:40:36 PM
Aha- sounds good, if it is nitro based, thus better, as well it adhere excellent to surface :)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 05, 2010, 08:42:48 PM
Yes, it has very good adhesion. I decided to see if it is easily available but it seems that Testors may have quit carrying it.  :( I have also used Squadron Green Putty and it is quite good also but seems to dry out in the tube a little faster.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on March 06, 2010, 11:36:01 AM
Oh ! Very important modification. That will be very amazing.

Cheers,

Jicehem
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 07, 2010, 02:48:14 AM

I decided to jump around a little to show some of the other parts I've been collecting for this project.

The YB was equipped with R-1820-33s, somewhat different appearing than the -97. After looking through some boxes I remembered that the SBD used much the same engine. In fact, the SBD-1 and 2 used a -32. I just happened to have one from an Accurate Miniatures SBD-1 that I was able to mold and cast in resin.
B-17 kit engine on the left, new -33 on the right:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2751.jpg)

The propellers on the early Forts were the narrow-chord version, and the old AMT A-20 kit has the exact propeller needed. I also cast these in resin and put the resin props in the A-20 kits for later. Koster also makes a really nice narrow-chord Hamilton Standard that I have reserved for a PB4Y-2 planned for the future.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2743.jpg)

And here is the engine cowled up with the new propeller on it next to the Monogram parts:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2750.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 07, 2010, 05:25:46 AM
I had a few free minutes tonight and that gave me a chance to start on the intake/exhaust fairings that are a distinctive part of the Y1B-17 nacelle. On the real machine the intake for the carburetor is at the leading edge of the long fairing. Here is a really good photo from the Amarillo Mechanic School showing the intake duct and part of the exhaust system with the fairing removed:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AmarilloMock-upcowlinginstallation.jpg)

The air that didn't go into the carb intake was ducted aft and appears to have acted as an augmenter, or at least as cooling air, for the exhaust. The collector ring exhaust pipe came up the right side of the nacelle, was routed into the long duct, and dumped at the end of the nacelle fairing. These two photos show the first fairing on #2 nacelle. I made the duct by splitting an aluminum tube lengthwise and shaping it as needed. To complete the installation I still need to build the intake duct and the collector ring exhaust pipe:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4642.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4637.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 07, 2010, 07:37:08 AM
Wonderful work!!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: mfg495 on March 07, 2010, 09:41:14 AM
Excellent work, I cannot wait to see the finial model  :-think
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 07, 2010, 04:54:14 PM
Thanks for the support and interest in this project, everyone! My modeling works at a pretty slow pace due to a lack of time, but it gives me enthusiasm when I share the work with fellow modelers. Once we get the 1/1 scale B-17 flying I hope to have a bit more time to devote to this 1/48th version ;).

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 08, 2010, 07:00:55 AM
Another nacelle update. I had some free time again this evening to devote to the exhaust system so I built the fairing for #1.
One of the little details on the YBs was the exhaust stack that runs at an angle from the engine collector ring up into the exhaust fairing. You can see the #1 exhaust pipe is installed in this photo and the trough for the #2 installation is marked with black ink. The outboard engines used a different routing than the inboards for some reason, and all four angled exhaust stacks are on the right side of the engines. The inboard ring cowls are cut back to allow room for the exhaust while the outboards are not.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4649.jpg)

And here's a close-up of #1 that shows the exhaust pipe more clearly, with a photo of a "real" #1 nacelle below the model.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4651.jpg)

I'll have several more tall tales to tell about the nacelles that I must save for later.
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 08, 2010, 05:43:56 PM
Exhillirating! :-eek :-obey :-tri :-clap :-clap :-clap :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 09, 2010, 04:21:12 PM
Here is a continuation of the engine nacelle story. (I did this work last year, so things are not in chronological order. ;))

The YB-17s used a different design nacelle and engine mounting structure than all later Fortresses. One of the differences was the length of the nacelles. The outer ones are a bit longer than later Forts and the inners are shorter. Here is the beginning of the modifications--cutting off the firewalls and removing a bit of material. I then added material to the outboards to lengthen them the appropriate amount.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2736.jpg)

The right wing has been modified in this photo. Notice how much closer together the propeller arcs are to one another on the YB wing versus the standard B-17G on the left.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2784.jpg)

Another feature of the early airplanes was a lack of cowl flaps. The front end of the nacelle is rounded to let the air flow out of the aft end of the ring cowls. Here is the early effort at reshaping the lip and adding appropriate firewalls.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2789.jpg)

All of the putty you see is part of the work involved in eliminating the exhaust system and various turbocharger ducting on the bottom of the wing.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 12, 2010, 07:48:24 AM
Next was the #2 and 3 nacelle interiors. The 299 and YBs used a totally different engine/nacelle support structure than all the later models. On the B and forward the nacelle is fully monocoque with the skin, stringers, and frames supporting the entire load. On the 299/YB there is a truss from the wing structure to the firewall that supports the engine mounts. Here are a couple of reference photos to show the truss. The bottom picture is the development of the Y1B-17A showing the early turbocharger mounting on top of the wing.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_45311.jpg)

Here are both nacelles with the trusses constructed. All the plumbing and other details will be installed just before the wing halves are glued together. The long white half-tube at the top of the nacelles is the trough that housed the exhaust system on the real airplane.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4543.jpg)

Here are the ring cowls in progress. I simply removed the engines from the cowl flap section and glued the cowls to the flap rings. There is some reshaping of the front of the cowls that I will do on the lathe later.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4582.jpg)

The o.d. ring is from the first B-17 kit I ever built, just after Monogram released it. I decided to incorporate it just for the sake of nostalgia.

Scott

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: alaleksic on March 13, 2010, 11:11:11 PM
Very nice model and great work
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 14, 2010, 12:57:18 AM
This change of the nacelles length - great work, awesome! :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
 :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 14, 2010, 04:59:52 AM
This change of the nacelles length -

I learned a valuable lesson on the engine nacelles. When I originally started planning to build this model many years ago I thought I had studied the dimensions quite thoroughly. I knew the fuselage was 18" shorter in front of the wing and that the back of the airplane was entirely different, but I thought the wing and nacelles were more-or-less the same as the later airplanes. Only after I started measuring a factory three-view drawing did I realize the differences in the nacelles. I am thankful that I didn't find this out after the wings were glued together or it would have been quite a problem. You can never have enough information on a conversion project!

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 15, 2010, 12:48:14 AM
I am very "fresh" modeler, and I haven't done any conversion (some "small surgery" - yes) still, but when I, in some future, come to that I'll remember your words. :-salut :-clap :-clap :-clap  :-flo:-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 15, 2010, 12:59:03 AM
Scott- do you have blueprints or factory drawings of this nacelles? I can make precise technical drawings of this subject.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 15, 2010, 03:08:55 AM
No.1,

I have a pretty accurate three view drawing of the YB but no actual dimensions or blueprint. I overlayed the YB overhead drawing with a B-17G outline and determined the dimensions that way. If it will help I'll get you the material I have.

While I'm here, a couple of photos of the main landing gear. The Y1B-17 used pneumatic brakes rather than the later hydraulic type. On the Monogram kit there is a small container molded to the gear leg. This is a "debooster" and varies the hydraulic pressure being applied to the brake. I removed the deboosters in order to have room for the small fairings that the YB's had on their gear legs. The retraction jackscrew and motor/gearbox are made from aluminum tubing and some spare B-29 main gear door actuators from the spares box.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4579.jpg)

And a shot of the gear in the nacelle:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4581.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 15, 2010, 08:48:02 AM
No problem about the drawings, most important that you have it arranged in scale for your work. What you doing on landing gear is amazing!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on March 15, 2010, 12:11:01 PM
Amazing work mate....
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 15, 2010, 02:54:41 PM
That white inner structural grid, I suppose it didn't came with a kit, so you build it too, right? :-think :-think And, yes, whats that red tube inside? :-think

Really amazing work :-eek :-clap :-clap :-clap
 :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 15, 2010, 06:18:16 PM
Letipapa, I had to construct that support structure from plastic rod and sheet. The YB and 299 had these tubes in the nacelle to support the engines and the outer skin fastens to the cage. The thicker piece at the top of this photo is the trough that the exhaust system sits in on the original airplane. All later Forts had a fully monocoque nacelle and eliminated the need for this support basket.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4535.jpg)

That red piece is just a part of the plumbing that will be in the nacelle when it is complete. That is actually a piece of electrical wiring that happens to be the correct diameter for the tube I was replicating.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 17, 2010, 06:03:15 PM
I thought I would jump from the nacelles to the fuselage for a little update on that part of the model.

The forward fuselage of the "shark fin" Fortresses was 18" shorter than the E and later aircraft. The surgery was quite easy, just cutting the section out with the trusty razor saw. This photo is the first fit check of the shorter nose, using the propeller arc as an informal guide to the length I wanted. I used the prop arc and the aft rectangular window as reference points in order to confirm the dimensions were equivalent to the drawings I have.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2693.jpg)

Here is a bit of progress on the window configuration of the YB. The Koster kit actually provides a clear section to fill the cheek window but I decided to use plastic sheet instead. All the other windows, of course, are located differently than the B-17B and later.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2714.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 17, 2010, 06:06:03 PM
Amazing surgery work and best at is that fuselage perfectly fit into shape :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 18, 2010, 06:27:00 AM
The bombardier station has been a question mark since I first contemplated doing this conversion. I decided to simply get out the grinder and start removing plastic. The first photo is what's left after I removed the chin turret fairing from the forward fuselage.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2953.jpg)
The G fuselage really works pretty well to build the YB because the new bombardier sighting cutout goes exactly where the chin turret was.

This is the plug that I came up with. It still needs some adjusting before I glue it down, but you get the general idea of how it will look.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2955.jpg)
Figuring out how to get the correct window size and shape by adjusting the two side fairings was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. :-think

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 18, 2010, 08:33:48 AM
You are right, works like this could be very hard... but it is very close to shape as I can see.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 19, 2010, 07:22:42 PM
Here is an early update on the forward fuselage interior. I first built up the cockpit floor and instrument panel front piece. This had to be finessed and shortened to adapt to the shorter forward fuselage and new bomb bay bulkhead. Then I started adding detail parts to the kit pieces, including the lower bulkhead enclosure and the floorboard that runs down the middle of the belly. The putty on the aft cockpit bulkhead will later be smoothed out and some details added:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4416.jpg)

Once that was all fitting as it should I moved on to the bombardier/gunner section. A floorboard was added for the gunner to stand on and the instrument panel/lower bulkhead were fitted to the fuselage halves:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4424.jpg)

Since it was decided a long time ago to open the forward entry door I had to add details to the lower fuselage area. I've spent enough time in this part of Chuckie to be able to build the floorbeams from memory. I hit my head on them enough last summer to leave a lasting impression.  :-roll
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4426.jpg)

Here is a shot of the floor supports and right-side frames and stringers. I built the stringers this way so that I can slip them into the main fuselage in one piece. Once all the preliminary fitting and adjusting of the entire fuselage is complete I'll glue the three left and three right fuselage sections together at the joints. Then painting, detailing, and final assembly will go forward much like any kit, left and right halves.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4427.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 19, 2010, 07:25:45 PM
This floor is something new- I was always wonder how the compartment inside look like, now I know :-clap Plastic strip work is excellent!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 19, 2010, 07:40:01 PM
All of these details are pretty rough at this point. I still have much to do to blend everything together. Interestingly most of these details will be unseen after the airplane is built, but at least we'll know the parts are in there!  :-cool

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on March 19, 2010, 07:41:41 PM
Everything looks great even at this moment...
I can allready see that this is going to be impresive once it is finished...
 :-flo
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 21, 2010, 05:20:57 AM

Here is the first of four intake ducts that go into the nacelle scoop. The little divider in the center of the duct was a door that could close off the ram air duct if selected by the flight crew.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4665.jpg)

And here it is roughly mounted in the #2 position--still a bit of work to do but you get the idea:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4664.jpg)

I also managed to construct the #4 exhaust fairing and am working on the #3 fairing right now. We had some snow (quite unusual for Oklahoma this late in the season) so I may have more time to model tomorrow. :-cool :-jump

Scott

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on March 21, 2010, 01:02:44 PM
Great work on the duct...Was it a brass square profile that you used?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 21, 2010, 04:14:41 PM
Yes, Samuraj, it is K&S Products brass tubing. The outer walls are too thick and will need to be filed down to thin them to a more "in-scale" profile before I'm finished. I would have preferred using aluminum tubing but the brass was all I had.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 23, 2010, 06:14:54 PM
I got a bit more accomplished on Sunday. Again, I find that the more I study the photos and drawings the more I learn about the YBs. While working on the nacelles I noticed that the landing light wells in the wings are quite different than later models. Here is one wing modified with the unmodified one on the right, with a photo of the YB landing light between them:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4668.jpg)

I got the right exhaust fairings roughed in also. These will be removed until the wings are nearly finished so I don't knock them off or bend them while I'm doing the rest of the wing bodywork. They'll be permanently installed and faired in with putty much, much later......
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4674.jpg)

Here is one engine/cowl/prop set after the cowl mountings were fabricated. The engine will support the cowling as on the real airplane so that the cowl and nacelle opening will have the proper gaps:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4675.jpg)

I also finally sprayed a bit of primer on several pieces so I could check the fit of various window plugs and modifications. Notice the darker grey spot shows a low area that must be corrected. This area will need to be filled, sanded, contoured, reprimed, and re-block sanded until the shape is consistent. It did feel good to finally put some primer on this project!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4669.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 23, 2010, 06:30:09 PM
As I could note this is perfectly shaped :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 25, 2010, 02:15:57 PM
Scott! You are incredible! :-obey :-obey :-obey :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap

This marvelous work made my day wonderful. I was not on LLL more days, I visited my mother in the other city, other country. This is fantastic and pleasant surprise. Thank you man :-flo, suprime work. :-tri
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 12, 2010, 02:17:55 AM
It's been a while since I last updated this thread. I've been able to do just a little bit to the B-17, so here goes:
I finally applied the first couple of coats of primer to the wings, finding a LOT of touch-ups needed. There were the usual high and low spots and some other challenges to contend with. This photo is after the third prime/sand/fill session and I've marked flaws with a marker for the next round.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_4763.jpg)

I posted a few photos of the nose section on the Natural Metal Finish thread so I won't add them here.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on April 12, 2010, 07:45:11 PM
This look very smooth and fine! I see something metal on nacelle top side- exhaust?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 14, 2010, 04:06:56 PM
Yes, those are the exhaust stacks, No.1. I glued them into the wing surface when I was making the fairings. I decided to permanently attach them since it was a bit difficult to get the angles just right.

I've built a number of the Monogram B-17G kits over the years but never had the guts to try opening the bomb bay doors. It isn't all that much fun! :-wall

First, the real bomb bay is circular so you have to build an upper panel to cover the turtledeck opening. Then the internal structure has to be built to replicate the former rings and stringers in the bay. Here is a rough idea of how that looked during the process. The white panel is the filler for the turtledeck area.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2989.jpg)

The forward and aft bulkheads also have to be built from scratch in order to completely plug the fuselage forward and aft. Flat covers were made to cover the wing root-to-wing junction on the inside of the fuselage, and the ears on the wings have to be trimmed so they don't impinge too far into the bomb bay. More on that area later.

Next I started fabricating the center keel truss assembly. I dug out a visible B-17 kit so I could use the keel and bomb racks for a guide, but that wasn't really of much use. Fortunately I'd taken lots of photos of TR last year and have some good YB-17 references, so the truss is starting to take shape. Here is the aft wing carry-through getting started:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3029.jpg)

And this is the forward carry-through mostly complete. The lower beam of the centerline truss can be seen in the middle of the bay. The racks will fasten to this and the top of the fuselage later.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3025.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on April 14, 2010, 06:02:21 PM
Marvelous work!! I have only once work this and that was in 1/72 scale and more narrow fuselage of Dornier Do 17. As well this will be open, there will nice nice option to make diorama.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on April 14, 2010, 08:01:48 PM
Mmmm! :-think As I understood, both pipes (signed with a red arrows on photo 1) are, in fact, still there but under the plaster (areas rounded with red ellipses on photo 2), so nacelles changed their section profile actually. Right? :-think :-think :-think
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 14, 2010, 08:12:56 PM
I've actually removed the fairings in the second photo. The exhaust pipes on the real airplane sat in a groove in the nacelle and the scoop fairing was screwed on top of the groove. For the sake of laziness I just drilled an angled hole in the nacelle and stuck the exhaust pipe tubing in the correct location. One of my earlier photos of the interior of the wheelwell shows a plastic rod that represents the trough or groove that is visible in the wheelwells. After I've glued the wing halves together I will install the fairings--they actually sit on top of the nacelle as in the first photo you highlighted. I didn't want to damage the fairings while working on the individual wing pieces.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on April 15, 2010, 10:31:37 PM
Oh, I see! All clear to me now, thanks! :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on May 02, 2010, 04:06:05 AM
Here are a few photos of the bomb racks that I built several months ago:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3057.jpg)

The kit racks depict (rather generally) the later style rack with a solid web between the two uprights. The YBs and earlier production variants used the type with separate intercostals as I've built:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3060.jpg)

Here are all four racks, still needing most of the release mechanism and other details installed:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3064.jpg)

And one of the racks test-fit into the bay:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_3062.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on May 02, 2010, 10:29:58 AM
 :-eek :-tri :-clap :-clap :-clap Amazing and painstaking work - all this same small parts - one really needs to be patient. ;)
Bravo! :-obey It will look superb, I tell you! :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on May 02, 2010, 10:57:28 PM
Fantastic work
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on May 04, 2010, 06:56:57 PM
Just a quick update--I get to build the nacelle interior structure for the #3 engine one more time! :-wall :-roll I managed to destroy the first attempt yesterday when I moved some stuff around in my modeling area............I wanted to curse a little bit, but it was actually kind of funny. I work in a tiny space that used to be a storage closet/attic that I insulated and finished out. Our German Shepherd has decided it is HER room and I had to move my chair to accomodate her. She just looked at me with her head turned to one side and laid down.

Oh, well, we've all had to redo things in our modeling careers, haven't we?! :)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on May 04, 2010, 07:51:48 PM
It look like that this is our destiny to repeat some things again... most important is to keep calm, I know people who simply smash the kit when things goes badly ;)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on May 04, 2010, 07:55:44 PM
I used to know a GREAT modeler that had no patience whatsoever. He had a nearly finished kit that something went wrong on and he just swept the entire model into the garbage can. It was a wonder that he ever finished anything far enough to show us. He eventually gave up the "hobby" because it was too hard on his health and wellbeing.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on May 08, 2010, 04:40:49 PM
Patience is the most important I would say, and in fact, the process while working, and all those spectacular details, know how ideas, visions and solutions. I enjoy most when I look photo's of modelers work. Even some "disasters" that happens are in fact very interesting; now I regret that I didn't take photo's of some that happened to me (like on last year An-2 in "Santa's livery").
And even if model is unrecoverable smashed (if that is possible at all), even than it is good to keep it, because it can be fantastic for some diorama (modeler's own or to other modeler friend).

So, I would say: do not throw any models, just classify them! :))
Long live modeling :-jump  :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 03, 2010, 07:01:53 PM
Well, after a long hibernation, I rebuilt the damage I caused in the right wheelwell last weekend. It actually wasn't too much of a bother and served to get me back into the habit of working on the model again. My next project is going to be the aft fuselage section and empennage. I'll have much more time at home on weekends now so I should make progress.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: ikarus214 on November 03, 2010, 08:49:25 PM
Omg! :-eek   :-obey
Superb work-superb work mate!
Great plane,great work..Whooo   :-tri
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on November 03, 2010, 08:56:45 PM
Very well done!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 05, 2010, 06:35:40 PM
I know that most of the contributors on this forum are familiar with vacuum-formed modeling, but I thought I'd do a little how-to for those who haven't yet attempted a vacuform modification or kit. I apologize to everyone who's already familiar with this media, but I will share my techniques for those who aren't.

My first step is to plan where and what to cut out first. That can actually be important with some vacuform kits as damage to outlying parts can occur if you're too aggressive with the big pieces. Here's a Koster PB4Y modification kit for an example:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5728.jpg)

On a sheet this size I usually cut the major parts into individual segments before the close trimming begins.

Next, get out a SHARP X-Acto blade and scribe fully around the part, leaving just a little bit of the flat sheet with the part:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5726.jpg)
When you've completed scribing the outline, very carefully snap the extra plastic off and free the part from the sheet.

Here's half of the horizontal stabilizer for the YB after being snapped out of the sheet.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5729.jpg)

Now, prepare a flat, hard, stable surface--a desktop works well--and secure some rough sandpaper (I use 180 or 240 grit for this) to the tabletop. Then, carefully sand the excess material from the part you're working with by using slow, deliberate strokes, keeping steady pressure on the entire part so as not to over or under sand the seam. This is the critical step in preparing vacuform parts as it's easy to sand off too much material. I also wet-sand as it keeps the sanded material from collecting on the paper.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5731.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5732.jpg)

I'll add to this process when I get more time to do so,
Scott
 
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on November 05, 2010, 06:42:42 PM
Very useful explanations! Thanks!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 05, 2010, 06:43:11 PM
This is excellent post mate :-clap I am familiar with that type of build and I still have few of the kits completely made in that way (most favorite is NORD Griffon) but I am sure that rest of members will appreciate this outstanding images tutorial :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 05, 2010, 06:53:18 PM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 05, 2010, 07:43:12 PM
Thank you for the interest. Perhaps I'll take better and more photos and others can add their techniques if y'all would like.

Have a good weekend,
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Nico Braas on November 05, 2010, 08:43:20 PM
My advice for vacform underground: take an old bathroom mirror.
It will give you a surface that is absolutely flat!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 06, 2010, 06:14:24 AM
Excellent tip, Nico! That's the kind of information I hope comes out in the vacuform discussion.

I still remember the very first vacuform kit I purchased and how near-impossible it looked to me. After working with the stuff, and learning from others, I got to a place where I didn't mind building with vacuformed parts. I must confess that I never did finish the old 1/72 XB-35 Flying Wing, though--the styrene kit came out before I ever got up enough intestinal fortitude to build my vacformed one! :-cool

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 11, 2010, 07:19:52 PM
It's raining today so I did a little sanding. Here's a photo of the left fuselage half after removing most of the flash. You can see a little pigtail of material on the edge, a sign that you're just about at the correct sanding depth. From this point on you have to use a very light and even pressure on the part so as not to go too far:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5745.jpg)

A couple of shots of test-fitting of the two halves after sanding. Notice that there is a tiny bit of a gap at the vertical fin/fuselage juncture--I still needed to touch up the top of the vertical fin to finish this part of the process. On larger parts it is sometimes difficult to uniformly sand all the surface at one time because vacuform pieces are usually a little bit more flexible than their styrene molded cousins.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5748.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5747.jpg)

The same process, this time on the horizontal stabilizer halves. I usually start by sanding the entire half as a unit, keeping it on the sandpaper with even pressure (providing that the part doesn't have dihedral, of course).

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5749.jpg)

After getting through the flash it's time to fine tune the process. For this part I sand only the left and right halves of each piece individually so as to get a uniform leading and trailing edge thickness.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5753.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5750.jpg)

And here are the two halves after sanding and finessing.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5755.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5754.jpg)

You can see from the last photo that the trailing edge is still a bit thick. With careful sanding you can achieve a knife-edge on most vacuform surfaces, especially on a Koster kit. In this case I'm going to be cutting the elevators and trim tabs loose from the stabilizer later and I'll finish the thinning of the trailing edges then.

More later,
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 11, 2010, 07:54:44 PM
Amazing work mate! Is there any need to add framing inside, to keep shape precisely?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 11, 2010, 08:34:48 PM
Yes, I'll be adding some extra reinforcement to the horizontal stabilizer. Since I'll be removing the elevators I'll be able to add the spar in the same area as the close-out for the elevator well. On that F-89 I built years ago I made an aluminum carry-through spar in order to keep the wings from drooping in later years. It worked quite well in that application.

Planning a vacuform kit is really harder than building it. On this project I cut out and sanded all of the major pieces before starting to modify them. The fuselage halves need to have a lot of work done around the waist windows, for example. I'll temporarily assemble the two halves before I start cutting so as to keep everything stable and dimensionally accurate.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Nico Braas on November 11, 2010, 09:38:52 PM
For fuselage vacform part I advise to strengthen it with internal bulkheads.
Just one will give an enormous improvement of stiffness.
As glue you can try regular polystyrene plastic cement, especially for wing and horizontal tail parts. For fuselage halves I would advice polyacryl glue. It gives a good bond and excess can be easily sanded away.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 12, 2010, 06:28:22 PM
I tend to agree with Nico on adding transverse bulkheads in the fuselage. On this model I won't be able to add any full bulkheads as I want the entire aft fuselage to be open for viewing. Instead I'll build up several frames with longerons and stringers to help beef up the fuselage much like Boeing did it. Fortunately the Koster kit is molded of sturdy plastic and can be built without much additional strength.

Here's another little update. One of the modelers on WIX, Steve Nelson, posted a suggestion to use a marker pen to outline where cutouts are to be made and around the perimeter of parts when cutting from the sheets. I added that process into the update.

I followed the tip that Steve posted about outlining cutouts with a Sharpie and it is a nice guide for trimming, indeed. On a Koster kit there is a light outline molded into the parts such as where the horizontal goes through the aft fuselage. I simply ran the marker around the perimeter of the molded-in guide marks in this instance.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5763.jpg)

I should mention for those who haven't done much vacuform modeling that you have to be careful when cutting holes into the fuselage halves for wings and stabilizers. Study the particular kit you're building to make sure that the left and right halves agree with one another. I once built a Wyvern that was molded with the left wing opening 1/4" further aft than the right. If I hadn't done some measuring first I would have made a mess of it. Today's kits, and especially the products I've gotten from Koster, are very accurately molded but some of the old vacuforms weren't quite so precise. It makes building vacuform all the more satisfying when you are able to build a poorer quality kit into a presentable model, but it can also be exasperating to make cuts that don't line up. Measure twice, cut once!

Here's the stab cutout during trimming. Lots of filing and test fitting, but the process isn't anything difficult.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5765.jpg)

After making both cutouts I slid the horizontal into the fuselage. Notice that it isn't 100% perpendicular to the vertical in this photo. A tiny bit of tweaking will make this come into line. I'll probably build a little fixture so that I get it just right.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5772.jpg)

Just because I could, I assembled the sections together for the first time to get a feel for how the airplane will look someday. I haven't built a 1/48th B-17 for twenty years---darn it's big!!!!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5769.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5771.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 12, 2010, 07:55:44 PM
Great work and good point on marker use. When I need to mark anything I use CD label markers, they are very thin and can write on almost all surfaces. Must say that I am impressed how the shape is well positioned and how it fit to the rest of the airframe!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 12, 2010, 08:35:00 PM
I am sure I've already done so, but here is another shameless plug for Koster vacuform kits. The fuselage halves fit perfectly into the original Monogram forward section with only a very minimum of work. I've never been disappointed in anything Mr. Koster has produced and can hardly wait to start working on the PB4Y-2 modification that I photographed earlier.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 13, 2010, 07:37:49 AM
 :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek :-eek
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on November 14, 2010, 02:10:34 PM
Very,very informative and useful, Scott, thank you for that! :-flo :-ok :-ok :-ok :-obey :-salut
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 17, 2010, 06:12:39 PM
Very quick update--a couple of pictures of the waist and ventral gun openings. Next will be making the die for vacuforming the actual blisters.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5774.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5775.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 17, 2010, 07:34:19 PM
Great job! :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on November 17, 2010, 08:12:33 PM
Find so too
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 21, 2010, 03:38:35 AM
This evening I tackled the problem of making the gun blisters. I first got out the calculator and calipers, figured the size of each emplacement in 1/1 and copied No.1's profile view of the lower blister, scaling it to 1/48. Here's some of my math project and the final size of the lower blister:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5779.jpg)

I then laid the drawing up against the fuselage to get an idea of the dimensions before committing to making parts:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5780.jpg)

Here is the first mold being made for what will become the male master that'll go in the vacuform machine:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5784.jpg)

The first male die just after being popped out of the mold. Now I will start the shaping and fitting process, and once I'm happy with the result, I can use this piece of resin to vacuform the clear parts. If I make a mistake, I can always pour as many more pieces as needed to get the four enclosures.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5786.jpg)

Scott



Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Profa on November 21, 2010, 06:49:53 AM
Almost like building a real thing... :-think :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 21, 2010, 07:22:38 AM
:-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on November 21, 2010, 10:03:43 AM
Nice job...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 21, 2010, 05:12:56 PM
Almost like building a real thing... :-think :-clap

I almost think it would be easier to build the real thing sometimes! :)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 22, 2010, 02:27:02 PM
Wonderful! :-obey
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 26, 2010, 05:14:08 AM
It's not much yet, but here is the early stage of the tailwheel assembly. I was forced to make a mold of a C-47 tire/wheel assembly and then glue two of them together to get the correct width tire for the B-17. The fork and balance of the strut are aluminum parts.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5792.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 26, 2010, 07:18:49 AM
Very good combination of materials and aluminum work is very good, even the shaft is precisely made :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 26, 2010, 10:20:16 AM
NIce!!!
 :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 28, 2010, 02:26:08 PM
As a change of pace I worked on the engines and cowling installations for a time. I had been concerned about how I was going to get the correct gap at the rear of the cowling where it meets the nacelle. On these very early machines there were no cowl flaps, only an aerodynamic opening between the cowl ring and accessory fairings. On the real airplane the engine supports the forward cowling, independent of the rest of the nacelle. This is done by attaching two support rings, one being the aft baffle ring and the other being a plain ring attached to the front of the cylinders. Here is a photo of an engine change on a Y1B-17 from the Amarillo B-17 Mechanic School engine change "classroom". The support ring is easily seen:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Amarillomock-upEngineInstallation.jpg)

I decided to mount the forward ring into the cowling on my model to expedite the process. I used a band of safety wire cut to the right length and made circular, then just inserted it into the cowling so that the engines will be in the correct position. In the final assembly stage I will be able to attach the engines to the firewall and the cowlings will slip onto the engines giving me the gap at the rear of the cowl ring that is needed. In that way you'll be able to see light between the cylinders when looking into the front of the cowling, just like on the real thing:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5800.jpg)

Now I have to build four airscoops for the oil coolers. I hope I have something in my spares or I'm going to have to scratchbuild them, and I'm not really looking forward to that prospect.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 28, 2010, 02:30:29 PM
Very good and precise analyze of the early engines :) Must say that resin samples look so good and crisp!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 28, 2010, 03:01:09 PM
Those engines are "limited run" castings. :-dal I knew I only needed four of them so I didn't spend much time making the molds. There was a bit more flash on the pieces than there should be and it took several attempts to get good copies out of the mold. I was very happy to have been able to find a good master, in this case an Accurate Miniatures SBD-1 kit. The SBD-1 used a R-1820-32 and the YB used a -33, a perfect match!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5794.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on December 03, 2010, 10:13:47 AM
Hmh, lot of job to clean that surplus of plastic flash :-think
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 03, 2010, 01:04:19 PM
Yes, those ignition harness/pushrod tubes did take a lot of extra work. That was the problem with my hasty moldmaking when I cast those pieces. Since I knew I was only going to pour less than ten sets of the parts I didn't spend a lot of time fine-tuning the molds. Had I planned on producing the parts for sale to others I would have done a much better job of quality control. On the positive side, the flash is pretty easy to remove if you do it within a couple of hours of casting the piece.

Now I am working on the air scoops for the oil coolers that mount at the bottom of the nacelles. They have proven to be harder to replicate than I initially thought they would be. Once I figure out if my current idea will work I will post an update.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 05, 2010, 04:53:18 AM
I mentioned the oil cooler intakes in my last post. Has anyone noticed that sometimes the smallest item can take the most time to figure out? I hadn't given much thought to these little intakes until recently and it turned into quite a struggle to come up with something I think will work. First I tried to build the ducts completely from aluminum tubing but could never get the proper shape at the back part where it tapers into the nacelle. Then I had to dig through the parts boxes for something that might be close:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5801.jpg)

After digging through three piles of parts I finally came across an intake duct from an old Monogram C-47 that seemed to be about the right size and shape. I cut off the back part of this duct and made a mold of it. Then it was fairly simple to cut and trim aluminum tubing and styrene strip to make the semi-circular intake portion. Here are examples of all the parts involved and an assembled duct at the far end:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5808.jpg)

Here is a semi-finished product with the real thing for comparison:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5816.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5812.jpg)

Only three more to go! :-roll
 
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 05, 2010, 08:23:56 AM
This is one of best scene I have seen here last time  :-clap :-clap :-clap

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5801.jpg)

This happen also to me many times and I even think to make some kit from this spares  :-smey
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on December 05, 2010, 09:40:05 AM
Excellent work!

Agreed with Srecko, I like the photo of your spare parts...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on December 05, 2010, 09:46:00 AM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 05, 2010, 04:08:16 PM
Here is another box:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5802.jpg)

It's always fun to dig through this stuff as it is from kits I actually built. I remember building all of them and always get a kick out of some of the painting and decal application I did when I was starting out. There are some pieces in there from the mid-sixties up to the early nineties when I took a hiatus from aircraft modeling.

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 05, 2010, 04:13:35 PM
 :-love :-jump :-love :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on December 06, 2010, 03:14:55 AM
My Gosh! :-eek :-eek :-eek :-tri :-jump :-jump :-jump Hey, Scott, this is fantastic; it is a whole treasure. Quite new territory :))  :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 12, 2010, 04:05:21 AM
I finished assembling the last of the four oil cooler inlet scoops. Here is a photo of the last one and the parent part from the C-47 kit that I found in the spares box. I cheated a bit and used the mold master for this last scoop. Next I'll have to use a little filler and primer on each scoop.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5827.jpg)

I'm back to the teardrop gun emplacement now that I've conquered the oil cooler inlets. Here is the master resin piece trial fitted to both the waist and ventral position. Next will come a good bit of material removal in order to get the correct profile. After I'm satisfied with the shape it will be used to make four clear vacuform blisters. The dorsal fairing will be somewhat differently shaped but I hope to be able to use the same form for it as well.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5820.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5822.jpg)







Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 12, 2010, 07:48:53 AM
So next step will be most interesting at all :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on December 12, 2010, 09:05:26 AM
I'm really impressionned...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on December 12, 2010, 10:37:01 AM
I'm also really impressed... :-eek :-eek :-eek
 :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap

 :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 12, 2010, 04:07:43 PM
So next step will be most interesting at all :-ok

With the help of all the photos, drawings, planviews and the artwork of No.1 I have good reference for contouring the teardrop shapes. It will be somewhat of a headache nevertheless and I suspect it will take several attempts. Once I'm satisfied with the teardrops I'll have to move on to the nose glazing. When these parts are figured out the rest of the build will be relatively easy.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 12, 2010, 04:10:00 PM
Let the force be with you :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 12, 2010, 04:28:04 PM
Let the force be with you :-ok

I WILL NEED IT! :)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 17, 2010, 03:59:47 AM
Very little to add here, just a photo of the oil cooler scoops after a light coat of primer. They will need a little more work before going into the "storage" box to wait for final assembly.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5877.jpg)

I also tinkered with the nose glazing master. I decided to cut up two spare B-17G nose pieces so I would have a round shape for the start of this part. As y'all know, the YB has a perfectly round cross-section at the nose while all later ships have a flattened-out lower part of the nose opening. I simply cut the two pieces and then glued the upper sections together to construct a round section where it attaches to the fuselage. It leaves a double-humped point that will later be shaped into the pointed shape of the prototype.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5859.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5861.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5870.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 17, 2010, 09:17:54 AM
Must say they are are now in the very sensitive part of work...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on December 18, 2010, 11:38:33 PM
 :-eek Woooow :-obey
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 23, 2010, 01:42:16 AM
A short update on one of the small projects--the forward crew entry door. This is built up of styrene sheet, styrene strips and metal framing. By the time I construct the hinges and outside entry handle there will be twenty parts to this little item.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5909.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5918.jpg)

And one of the exterior:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5924.jpg)

Scott

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on December 23, 2010, 06:48:10 AM
Wow! Splendid!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on December 23, 2010, 07:56:54 AM
There is no prize on model competition for this build!!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on December 23, 2010, 02:50:13 PM
Wooooow! :-eek :-eek
Perfect...! ! :-obey :-obey :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on December 29, 2010, 04:55:56 AM
The Koster kit includes two pieces for the aft crew door on the clear parts sheet. Here are the two halves after cleaning up and being held together for examination.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5944.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5945.jpg)

The two pieces fit together quite well and will look very nice when hung on the fuselage. The hardest part of modeling this door in the open position will be getting the opening in the fuselage to look right. The joint between the vacuform aft fuselage and the kit part is right at the front of the opening and will weaken the joint if it isn't executed just right.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 01, 2011, 03:42:24 AM
I was going back through my references yesterday and found a mistake I'd made while building the forward crew door--the inner sheetmetal reinforcement is in the shape of a cross rather than the way I'd first depicted it. I'd first laid it out using a photo of a damaged door for a guide, but I found a picture of the door in another set of pictures. Here's the corrected door:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5989.jpg)

The vacuformed inside panel for the aft door looked promising, but I finally decided to scratchbuild the framing in the same manner as the forward door. I cut the window and frame out of the Koster part and used styrene and metal for the framing. Again, I ended up with around twenty parts in this door, just like the forward one!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5959.jpg)

After cleaning off my work area it looks like I can now start on framing the inside of the aft fuselage and working on those gun blisters.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 01, 2011, 04:53:21 AM
This is excellent sample to show how to built small complex structure without etched parts :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 01, 2011, 09:32:41 AM
Your work is absolutely fabulous...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on January 01, 2011, 11:56:20 AM
For the sake of Chronos, Zeus and Achilles and in the name of Calidon boar and tree headed Hydra of Lerna springs, this man is breaking the limits, bouncing the waters and opening new horizons. :-obey :-obey :-obey so big applause - cheers to you my friend  :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-tri
pardon me (all these smiles) but I am so delighted (you killed me with forward crew door :-eek)  :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 01, 2011, 05:20:32 PM
Letipapa, the truth is that I am too cheap to use much in the way of "off the shelf" photoetched parts ;). In this case there aren't any PE parts for the doors, but I'd scratchbuild them anyway. I have always figured that my modeling time is free and buying parts costs money! It is rather relaxing to build these little sub-projects--I turn on some music or the TV and just start whittling.

Happy New Year, everyone!
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on January 03, 2011, 01:48:31 AM
 :-ok I agree with you, I like (I try to) make some parts myself, although I am just on the beginning. :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 03, 2011, 07:22:44 AM
:-ok I agree with you, I like (I try to) make some parts myself, although I am just on the beginning. :-flo :-wave

That's the idea! I've always enjoyed the scratchbuilding part of modeling, especially when I can find a part in the spares box that I can adapt to serve another purpose. A bit of time spent hand-making a part that doesn't quite turn out as I'd like it is still time well spent (most of the time, anyway) and makes building the next piece a little easier just from the knowledge gained.

Here's a little flight control update.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6001.jpg)

Removing/repositioning the rudder and elevators was a given as most photos of the early Forts show the elevators in the nose-down orientation and the rudder is often off to one side or the other. In addition the trim tabs are also offset in all of my photos.

More later,
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 03, 2011, 04:40:22 PM
First the progress on the rudder assembly. The initial step to building the rudder is to reshape it. The YB had a smaller, more tapered, rudder than the B, C or D. This photo shows the initial marking of the area to be trimmed at the top and the marked outline of the YB trim tabs:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5763.jpg)

I taped the two fuselage halves together while trimming the rudder trailing edge so as to keep the two halves true to one another. After I was satisfied with the overall shape I scribed the rudder free from the vertical fin halves. Next was to carefully file the trailing edges from the inside in order to get a scale thickness. This process is something that the novice vacuform modeler will find somewhat aggravating as vacuform parts are usually thicker at the trailing edge than normal kits. When I was satisfied with the trailing edge I measured and trimmed the tabs from the rudder halves. Filler has been applied to the unused tab outline:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5993.jpg)

Here are the halves of the rudder with the grey hinge spar made from a sprue tree. The tab spar is from a piece of plastic tubing:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5996.jpg)


Next is to drill holes into the false spar in the rudder and install corresponding pins into each tab. I make these pins from .020" safety wire. This way I can remove the tabs during the painting process. This is the initlial test-fit to the fuselage, with much more yet to be done:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_5998.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 03, 2011, 05:20:13 PM
Once again, it's splendid!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on January 04, 2011, 12:58:47 AM
Perfect work! :-eek :-clap :-clap

 :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 04, 2011, 07:07:40 PM
It was time for a change of pace so a bit of thought was given to the landing gear. The YBs had a small door that covered the lock link/drag brace assembly. It was eliminated with the B-17B and onward, as was the fairing on the lower part of the gear leg. I'd originally thought the opening in the nacelles was the same as the later Fortresses, but when I studied photos I found that the YB opening is quite different. Here is a good shot of the real thing:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/Strutdoor.jpg)

Here are the two wings side-by-side, with the modification already done to the nacelle on your right and the marking made on the other one:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6008.jpg)

And here is the strut door installed with a tire temporarily placed in the gear well for the demonstration:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6009.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 06, 2011, 08:07:23 AM
Here are the elevators in the progress of being built up. I wasn't satisfied with the trim tabs after I cut them from the elevators so I made new ones from .010 sheet and styrene tubing.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6000.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6005.jpg)

This photo is a rough idea of the final product. Every YB-17 photo I have shows the tabs drooped at different angles so the model will have them this way also:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6007.jpg)

And a photo from the Amarillo AAF B-17 mechanic school that shows the empennage of the real machine with the drooped elevators and tabs:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/AmarilloMock-upEngineChangecleaning.jpg)


Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 06, 2011, 08:56:25 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 06, 2011, 05:46:53 PM
Wow!!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 10, 2011, 04:32:24 AM
I fine-tuned the gun blister master and I think it's just about ready for me to vacuform a test transparency. It looks like I'll be molding two transparencies per blister so that I can properly model the moving portion. The radio room blister is actually quite different as the shape of the fuselage it fastens to is different, but I can still use the same master to vacuform this part also. It'll just require more trimming to fit the turtledeck.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6015.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 10, 2011, 09:11:55 AM
Scott- havy you try surface copy method for better and faster results?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 11, 2011, 07:20:59 AM
You said the word "faster" regarding my model building, No.1! :) :) :) I enjoyed that as I am one of the slowest modelers I know...... :-roll

Here's the first vacuformed test-shot roughly fitted to the fuselage. I did the test piece in yellow so I could mark on it for fine tuning. It is pretty close to the correct shape as-is but needs a little shaping. Once I'm fully satisfied with the master it'll be short work to produce the four blisters.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6018.jpg)

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 11, 2011, 08:13:15 AM
Oohh... sorry for my bad Englis :( When I said faster, I mean on faster way to get precise surface shape copy
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on January 11, 2011, 01:29:13 PM
Stunning work mate
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 11, 2011, 05:11:00 PM
Excellent!!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 11, 2011, 05:16:02 PM
Oohh... sorry for my bad Englis :( When I said faster, I mean on faster way to get precise surface shape copy

Your English was just fine, No.1--I like to poke fun at my own speed any time I get a chance. ;) I usually use a contour gage to do this kind of work but I either loaned it to someone or left it at the hangar.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 16, 2011, 06:50:26 AM
This evening I glued the practice blister onto the extra rear fuselage that I removed at the beginning of this project. I also cut out the moving portion of the blister (I cut it too large by accident, :-roll but that is one of the reasons I built a practice part). All I was doing at this point was to study how to use filler to properly fair the new blisters into the surrounding skin. With just a bit more work the blister mold will be ready to make clear parts. You can see a little bit of BareMetal foil on the lower part of the fairing and fuselage where I practiced applying it to the compound curves of the fairing, and the hand-drawn forward windows that I drew for reference:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6028.jpg)

The nose fairing also moved forward tonight. I poured resin into the clear piece I constructed the other day, then chucked it into the lathe for shaping:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6024.jpg)

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6026.jpg)

After the first shaping session I vacuformed the first attempt. It fits the airplane pretty well but the contour is still not right. Next will be more lathe work and another practice part.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6031.jpg)

More later,
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 16, 2011, 08:11:52 AM
Every work step in this build is simply great!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 16, 2011, 08:25:52 AM
+1 with Srecko!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 23, 2011, 06:30:03 AM
The plan for the nose glazing is complete. We went to a local craft store today and found some necklace beads that were the correct diameter to vacuform the gunner's ball with. I also reshaped the nosecone master and vacuformed some practice parts in order to fit them up to the fuselage:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6038.jpg)

Next step will be to make the final clear parts and build the gun swivel mechanism that goes into the ball. This was one of the sub-projects I'd been somewhat concerned about when I started this model. Next will be to fine tune the waist blisters and the hardest parts of the build will be behind me.

I'm working on the oil cooler vent louvers for the engine nacelles right now, but it's not really worth showing photos of...... :-roll

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 23, 2011, 07:35:04 AM
This side by side composition with the real subject is great!!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 23, 2011, 08:55:28 AM
I'm really impressioned by your work...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on January 23, 2011, 11:28:10 AM
I really don't know what to say... :-eek :-eek :-eek
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 27, 2011, 07:24:57 PM
I finally purchased some clear plastic that is pliable enough to vacuform the nose cone. Everything I'd tried earlier didn't pull down to the mold tightly at the bottom. Here is a first attempt at the nose and radio room blister just after molding them:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6082.jpg)

Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 27, 2011, 07:30:43 PM
So join progress is next?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 27, 2011, 08:14:23 PM
So join progress is next?

I wish it were, No.1! I need to add all the structure inside the aft fuselage next. The gun emplacement details also have to be built and then fitted to the fuselage halves. I am thinking about adding the waist blisters to the side of the fuselage halves prior to glueing the halves together so that I can get the details inside more easily. The upper and lower blisters will have to be built-up and installed to the fuselage after joining, especially the lower one since it sits on both the center section and aft fuselage.

Another consideration  :-think is the right-hand crew entry door. The opening is right on the joint between the Koster and Monogram fuselage halves. I will have to be careful to build the opening without weakening the seam between the two parts of the right fuselage section.

All of the headaches  :-wall are not yet over, but at least the transparency problem is substantially conquered.

Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on January 30, 2011, 03:56:37 AM
Here is a quick sample of a nose piece with the ball installed. Someone wondered if it would be hard to cut the opening in the clear nose cone so I did this prototype. I didn't clean up any edges since it was just a test-shot, but the process went about as I'd expected.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6086.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on January 30, 2011, 07:52:17 AM
This is very hard and tricky task!! Congratulation :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on January 30, 2011, 08:48:49 AM
Splendid!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on January 30, 2011, 10:08:25 AM
Great!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on February 07, 2011, 07:28:32 AM
Just so y'all don't think I put this back in storage, here is the first bulkhead for the aft fuselage. This one is a stiffener only. The next bulkhead forward will actually be visible from inside the fuselage. Then there are a pair of bellframes further forward. After all the bulkheads and frames are in place the former rings, stringers, floorboards, etc. can be installed.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6209.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on February 07, 2011, 07:53:31 AM
You will made the rest elements from plastic shapes?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on February 07, 2011, 06:38:02 PM
So join progress is next?

A quick update--I painted the inside of the #2 and #3 nacelles this morning, and the joining of the wing halves is at hand. :-paper These will be the first parts of the project to reach a stage where I can glue something together permanently.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on February 07, 2011, 07:30:05 PM
As I said previously, this is outstanding effort.
Great work  :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on February 08, 2011, 09:49:08 AM
Great!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on February 17, 2011, 07:31:04 AM
I restarted work on the waist gun blisters this evening. I must get these fitted and design the inside framing of the openings before I can finish the interior work on the aft fuselage.

Here is the first "practice" blister after cutting out the opening. Making the opening is turning out to be tougher than I had thought it would be. After I am satisfied with the shape of the opening I'll use another blister to provide the moving portion of the perspex. The moving part of each blister will be a separate project that should provide me with a headache. :-wall
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6282.jpg)

A couple of photos of the blister taped to the fuselage. Notice that the aft crew entry door opening has been cut. This goes into the Monogram fuselage just a little bit but it isn't as tricky as I feared it would be.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6268.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6281.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on February 17, 2011, 08:02:11 AM
:-clap :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on February 17, 2011, 09:47:08 AM
Great!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on February 17, 2011, 03:46:03 PM
Stunning...
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on February 23, 2011, 07:31:41 PM
I haven't totally ignored the Fortress project--all the other stuff on my bench pushed it into the background. I had the vacuform machine heated up for another item so I pulled several more blisters for later use.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6337.jpg)

Other than making these I've been scratching my head on how exactly I'll build the assemblies. :-think
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on February 23, 2011, 07:44:54 PM
Wow...What a work! :-eek :-eek :-eek :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on February 23, 2011, 08:04:17 PM
Looks really great.
I have never seen other than home built Vacuforme machine
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on February 23, 2011, 08:29:06 PM
My machine is a Mattel Vacuform that I found in an antique shop. It had been used very, very little and still has all the accessories and molds that came with it when it was new in the early 1960s. I bought it for less than $50 U.S., and that turned out to be a bargain as they are collectors items now. The big drawback with the Mattel is that the sheets are only 3x4 inches so you can only form relatively small parts such as canopies.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6339.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: samuraj77 on February 23, 2011, 10:36:36 PM
Thanks for sharing, canopies are usually what needs to be done on that way.
Very good acquisition
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 14, 2011, 06:56:33 AM
I've done very little on this project lately. It looked sad sitting there gathering dust :-help at the back of the workbench, so I decided to do something to it tonight. I glued the right wing halves together--the first large section to be permanently assembled. I slid the flap into place and taped the cowlings on for show, and you can just make out the aluminum color of the wheelwell. Also the two small vents for the oil coolers can be seen as bright silver squares on the nacelles. Making those little exhaust vents was problematic, and it took a trip to the model car spares boxes to find the proper grilles to make the louvers from.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6507.jpg)

Perhaps I will get the other wing assembled soon and move back to the fuselage, where there is still MUCH work to be done........ :-roll
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 14, 2011, 07:03:27 AM
This project can not be done fast at all so this is fine progress from my point of view ;)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 14, 2011, 07:20:20 AM
Yes, but it looked so lonely sitting back in the background! :) Now it feels "wanted" again.....!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on March 14, 2011, 07:21:50 AM
Right :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on March 14, 2011, 10:29:26 AM
This wing looks great! :-obey
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 19, 2011, 09:08:22 AM
This is extraordinary and already legendary and gigantic enterprise for me, so Scott,  "I proclaim you the the big knight of vac-u-forming and great guru of Boeing bomber modeling, Amundsen of patience and durability, and Livingstone and Doc Holiday of modern modeling investigation." :)) :)) :)) :-jump :-jump :-jump :-flo :-flo :-flo

This incredible work make my day sunny although in Belgrade is a gray, rainy morning, thank you :-obey :-obey :-obey :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on March 19, 2011, 06:11:20 PM
Letipapa, you neglected my true title--the tortoise of model building! :-paper I'm so slow on this project that I may not finish for another year. Or two. Or......? Seriously, THANK YOU for the enthusiasm though I'm not worthy of such comments. :-flo

It's gray and rainy here in Oklahoma this morning, too. Good modeling weather for me! Perhaps some more progress today after I drink my coffee and finish up some other work.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on March 28, 2011, 10:04:01 PM
I am slow too, so you are my man :-razz :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 25, 2011, 04:27:55 PM
PROGRESS! :-tri

I have totally pushed the YB to the back of the bench (literally) but felt pity for it last night. I assembled the left wing halves and prepared them for filling and sanding. I also did a final fit check of the flap. The remaining issues with the wings are to fill/sand/prime the seams, add the scoops permanently to the nacelle tops, fit the engines, mounts and cowlings, fix the landing light bays and re-scribe the panel lines.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6832.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6835.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on April 25, 2011, 04:37:17 PM
It going slow but nice :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on April 25, 2011, 04:51:12 PM
You have very small hand! :-eek :)) :-razz
Finaly progress!Looks nice! :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on May 18, 2011, 12:13:38 PM
Go ahead Scott :-ok :-ok :-ok do not put aside this great bird please :)
 :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on May 18, 2011, 05:01:43 PM
It never leaves the back of the workbench.........

Every so often I do some small thing to the wings--I have not felt inspired to again work on the interior structure of the aft fuselage, however. Once I finish some of the other smaller projects the Fortress will get more attention, I reckon. It's good to have no deadline whatsoever for this build.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Letipapa on June 09, 2011, 08:08:40 PM
I completely agree! :-ok :-salut :-flo :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on July 17, 2011, 06:59:49 AM
Just so it doesn't feel neglected I applied some filler to the seams on the left wing of the YB today. The project still lives.......
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7532.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on July 17, 2011, 07:22:54 AM
Excellent news and excellent work, Scott!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on July 17, 2011, 07:36:50 AM
Thanks, Daniel. It's back to the rear of the workbench again now, at least for a while. I just don't have that enthusiasm for the bomber that I need to really make progress on it. I need to focus on the aft fuselage when my desire to work on this returns.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on July 17, 2011, 07:41:28 AM
Just take your time, this will be amazing build once when completed ;)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on July 17, 2011, 01:18:33 PM
Greaaaat!! :-tri :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on November 22, 2011, 07:17:07 PM
I mentioned this airplane on the B-25 thread so here is a photo of the further "progress". Really, really, really boring sanding, filling, sanding, filling etc. on the wings and soon I'll start on the aft fuselage interior structure again. There are a couple of other things on the workbench that need to either get finished or go to hibernation mode.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_8656.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on November 22, 2011, 07:24:09 PM
Nice Scott. I'm glad to see progress. :-flo
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on November 22, 2011, 07:48:57 PM
One of most interesting build is back :-clap
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: draken35 on November 22, 2011, 09:31:22 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 11, 2012, 02:13:36 AM
It's been a while since the Fortress got some attention. As I stated on another thread, it never leaves the back of my desk. Last evening I couldn't sleep so I decided to do some sanding and filling on the wings. They're ready for another coat of primer and some final touching up. These Monogram wing sections have rather poor fit on the nacelles that takes a lot of work, even moreso since I've removed the turbochargers and ducting.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_9805.jpg)
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on April 11, 2012, 06:34:18 AM
Except of fitting, I guess you need additional work on panels?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on April 11, 2012, 12:19:38 PM
Yes, I haven't even started the panel lines. This kit has raised panel lines and this will need some work.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Sall on April 11, 2012, 06:24:08 PM
Nice job! Go ahead! :-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: javier_planells on July 14, 2015, 03:37:40 PM
Hi Scott!

What was done about this project?

Looked so great!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on July 14, 2015, 06:01:01 PM
Hi, Javier.

This one is still sitting at a prominent space on my desk! I recently did a small amount of work on the wing skinning and the project is always in front of me when I am modeling. Both this and the SAAB B17 have, for some reason, not gotten any attention on my part. They will be finished, someday!! ;)

Thanks for the encouragement to continue!
Scott
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on July 14, 2015, 06:12:40 PM
This is best project on forum and I will be happy to see it progress :))
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on July 14, 2015, 07:28:41 PM
Okay, I should carry forward on this one, I reckon!

I don't know why modelers (and I think this applies to most of us) sometimes quit working on certain things, but it happens. I do remember being somewhat burned out on this B-17 and deciding to step away for a few weeks, that turned into years........
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on July 14, 2015, 07:37:54 PM
It happen to me too, I have many projects in various stage of work :(
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 19, 2015, 08:19:12 PM
Okay, I should carry forward on this one, I reckon!

... and deciding to step away for a few weeks, that turned into years........

My longest buildind of a kit was the XF-91 Thunderceptor in 1/48 scale... I had to mix two kits to obtain an acceptable model. From the beginning to the end, almost 20 years elapsed... Yes, you have read well : twenty years. The most difficult was to find documents. That was a time without the internet.
(http://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/10/07/63/16/republ10.jpg)

Jicehem :-wave
 
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on August 19, 2015, 08:47:53 PM
Wait... you have make this incredible metal finish by hand brush?
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 19, 2015, 11:34:26 PM
Wait... you have make this incredible metal finish by hand brush?

Hi,

Yes, by hand-brushing with Humbrol Metalcote "Polished aluminium". The kit was finished in March 1999 and all along this long time the metal became a little oxydized.

Jicehem :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on August 20, 2015, 03:43:39 AM
Miracle work!!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 20, 2015, 09:12:30 AM
Hi mate,

Two pictures more (the dark tint on uppersurface is the reflected blue sky) :
(http://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/10/07/63/16/republ11.jpg)

(http://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/10/07/63/16/republ12.jpg)

Jicehem :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: No.1 on August 20, 2015, 09:17:05 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on August 21, 2015, 04:17:24 PM
That is a beauty!!! I tried to build one of these many years ago but didn't get very far--knowing the kit you started with makes the results even more impressive.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 21, 2015, 04:36:26 PM
That is a beauty!!! I tried to build one of these many years ago but didn't get very far--knowing the kit you started with makes the results even more impressive.

Thank you very much, Second Air Force.
It's a mix of two Lindberg kits in 1/48 scale. I'll never do another one... even if I had the project to build the single-finned version.

Jicehem :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on August 21, 2015, 04:56:18 PM
Yes, I must agree. The Lindberg kit is.........better than nothing, I guess. I have (in moments of weakness) thought about bashing together elements of F-84 and F-105 into a Lindberg F-91 but planning was as far as I went.
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 21, 2015, 05:19:56 PM
Yes, I must agree. The Lindberg kit is.........better than nothing, I guess. I have (in moments of weakness) thought about bashing together elements of F-84 and F-105 into a Lindberg F-91 but planning was as far as I went.

The fuselage of the Lindberg kit is good enough. The most difficult thing to do is to give an accurate surface to the wings. Wheel wells must be created, as the entire cockpit, the tail rockets (fortunately they were inactive on the V-tail version... The canopy is too big and must be reduced in size...
I don't remember all what I did on this kit.

I had thought also to make the version with the nose radar...  :-flo

Jicehem :-wave
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Second Air Force on August 23, 2015, 03:32:56 PM
My project would have had the radar nose if I had carried it through, but my abilities at that time were overwhelmed by the challenge. The main thing I remember about the Lindberg kit is all the huge rivets!
Title: Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale
Post by: Jicehem on August 23, 2015, 03:38:28 PM
The main thing I remember about the Lindberg kit is all the huge rivets!

Oh, yes !   :-roll

Jicehem :-wave