FUSELAGE PRIMED!

It turned out far better than I expected. The places where re-work is still necessary are obvious, but there are relatively few of them. I feel lucky.

I used Tamiya Neutral Grey and am happy with it. Two birds with one stone.














More relatively soon, I hope.

Hi Brian,
Though living in Thailand for more than 4 years now, I only took the chance to visit River Kwai museum in Kanchanaburi. Still have to visit Don Muaeng Museum, only a 20 minutes drive from my town. Pass it on my travels to other, business related places several times a month. History in Thailand however is a little bit like Disney World. Very colourfull.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Brian,
Congrats on reaching another milestone in your epic build. Overall the Tamiya Neutral Gray primer looks excellent. As you said, a few redoes needed, but the vast majority of the dreaded rescribing came out just fine.

Joel

A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT - PASSING THE TORCH

It will soon be, unbelievably, over five years since I started the Luscious Lady build blog, and it's already over five years since I started the actual build. That's a helluva long time not to have a completed model leave my workbench! For me as a modeler, it has been an inspiring journey in which, with the help of friends old and new, I did things I never dreamed I was capable of accomplishing.

I'm proud of the completed interior of this model, and always will be. I certainly consider ripping out the nose compartment, and completely replacing it with an accurate one, to be my Fitzcarraldo high (or low) point, as well as the mad journey to do a reasonably accurate tunnel between the cockpit and the nose compartment, complete with that open hatch going up between the pilot seats.

But, meine Damen und Herren, Mesdames et Messieurs, Lay-dees und Gentle-mens,



I'm not getting any younger.



(No that's not me!!). I'll turn 70 this September. And my periodic references to "the actuarial factor" should make it obvious I'm mindful that "life is short."

Also, it cannot have escaped your notice (love that 19th Century phrase) that the frequency of posts here has dropped off, despite my best intentions. The reason for that is that I still work full time as an immigration lawyer and the pace in the current climate is extraordinary. I easily work a six-day week, sometimes six-and-a-half.

So, what to do?

I mentioned before that in the last year or so I started to collect diecast A/C in 1/48 and I even did a post about cleaning one up. The Die is Cast.

That led to my looking at built models in 1/48, which brought me to a remarkable model of a PZL.42A available on eBay, basically a PZL-23B Karas with a twin tail. I was super impressed with the super detailing and went for it. I was equally impressed by the care that went into its preparation for shipment and packaging.

Correspondence to express my admiration followed and when the builder mentioned that he was working on a Finnish Buffalo I said I was interested.

I about fell off my chair when he offered to make it as a gift in appreciation of my sending him a copy of Half A Wing. You know the rest after reading H.G. Barnes' build review right here on Aeroscale.

After some soul searching I decided to ask HG if he would be interested in a commission to complete Luscious Lady for me. When he said yes, that settled it. I KNOW he has a skill set that will do this justice, and I am confident the final build will be far better than if I had tried to finish it on my own.

It's easier to "let go" of this than you might think. Five years is a long time, and there is enough of "me" in the build that I already have sufficient pride of ownership in the finished product. Moreover, it was never all my work from the get-go. You all know how much my North Carolina friend has contributed to the build, and everybody knows how absolutely essential Karl Haufe's incredible knowledge of B-17F airframe history has been in the quest to get things right. Pretty much everyone also knows how much I have appreciated your moral support through the years, particularly from Joe Willstein.

So, the build will continue, but I'm passing the torch to HG's capable hands. It's time! This build blog will continue too, and while we haven't worked out all the logistics, what will probably happen is that HG will send me build pictures and commentary, to which I will add my own as the work continues. He and I will be discussing each step of the build to ensure we are on the same pages, and in that respect I look forward to your continued input as well.

I do hope all of you who have patiently followed this will continue to do so as this FINALLY gets done. I'm good with it folks. We all know no one person was responsible for building the real thing.

I am honored to play a very small role in your project Brian! Thank you!

Brian,

I really don't know what to say. This is about the only thing I never expected as a turn of events in your epic build journey. I've often posted my utter amazement, not only to your skills to create what you've posted in your updates, but also your friend's incredible skill set that's far beyond what us mortal modelers can even dream of.

In a sense with the lack of constructive posting of late. I've wondered, as well as worried that your journey after 5 years has reached a defining moment to continue, or what I thought would be a long Hiatus, and let it be for as long as it takes for your Mojo to fill its tank once again.

What I never expected was your decision to find someone to continue your personal quest. Yet, you managed to find someone whose skills and abilities are surely equal to the task.

I fully intend to continue to follow this epic journey to its conclusion no matter how much longer it may take. As I'm still as enthusiastic about the build as I was 5 years ago.

We all have changes in our lives that call for changes in our hobbies and leisure past times. For me, I got lucky & retired. Now everyday is a vacation day. The other side of the coin is my somewhat failing health from old age. I switched gears, and now model my life long love affair with Road Racing and Sports cars.

I sincerely hope that you'll find the time to model on a more modest scale, as your work has always been right at the top of the Aeroscale chart IMHO.

BTW, those pictures are of Joel Gray. I was fortunate enough to actually had seen him, Lisa Minnelli, and Robert Gullet in Cabaret many, many years ago. And that turned out to be my last visit to Broadway.

Joel

Joel, I knew you were going to be gobsmacked by this news. But I was REALLY aware how my progress had slowed to a crawl, like I was running in cement, and that bothered me. And, as the weeks without a constructive rather than talky post lengthened (though I did some work since my last one) I became increasingly dissatisfied with doing nothing "constructive" about it.

Part of the problem was definitely not only emotional burnout but physical burnout as well. You know it's bad when you come home and only want to rest! So I've had to take steps on the hobby and professional front. Professionally I've formed an alliance with a smart-as-hell Cuban-American lawyer, which will probably result in a formal partnership down the road. She has the passion and the raw legal talent to take over the practice when I finally say "Enough, I can't do this anymore!" So there is a bit of "succession planning" there too.

I am both relieved and happy that HG has agreed to take this over for me. I've gotten to know him rather well through emails, and I can think of no one better to complete this build. I really admire his detailing both inside and outside the airframe and his own skill at subtle weathering and coloration on exteriors, not to mention his rescribing. That, BTW, is NOT my strong suit.

He has said that BW-372 has stretched him to get ready for this build, and I believe that. We are going to see him tackle the wheel wells and build an interior for the ball turret too.

Not to worry, I will continue to build myself.

You were lucky to see Joel Grey and Lisa Minelli in Cabaret. The film version is one of my all-time favorites. Back in 1969 I was living in Munich as a college student (military dependent, Univ. of Maryland, Munich Campus) and on one school trip got to see Berlin, including a surreptitious day-trip to East Berlin. Seeing "Cabaret" was like watching the ghosts of that place come alive.

Send me some links to your car builds and I will follow them! You might also be amused by some YouTube channels I've found where retirees and others restore matchbox cars. "Timerider, Chapter 4" -- DIE-CAST RESTORATIONS AND OTHER USELESS SKILLS -- is definitely worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRr_WxhUUG_A8hCuX8OkdDQ

Be seeing you.

Brian

Well, NUTS! I am going to miss seeing your creative solutions to issues you have encountered. It just won't be the same. But congratulations on all you HAVE accomplished, outstanding work. I too am glad to have been of some assistance here and there. Actually, retirement is great ! I highly recommend it... jest sayin'. I can see how you are burnt out on this build. I have one I am working on on it goes in spurts and sputters with nowhere near the detail you put into yours. Good luck and we will all be interested in seeing the project go forward.

"It just won't be the same." Well, yeah, I know. I hear you.

But I didn't want to wind up like General Savage.



And "the mission is more important than any one man"

I would much rather it be completed than lie fallow because of lack of time and burnout. That would be a defeat for me.

Besides, HG and I will be talking about these things as we go forward. I have a lot of confidence in his considerable talent. I will still have considerable input, and I hope you will too!

So do stick around, Karl!

Brian

Brian -
Just read of this as I have been absent from the modeling world a bit - my mojo has taken a dip and my leisure time is being absorbed by other interests at the moment .
This must have been a very difficult decision for you but I think I can empathize and understand why you did it . I am certain to continue following as I hope you will post progress photos and notes . I hope to attend Mosquitocon this year but have nothing new to enter .
Perhaps one day soon you will have more time and energy for your hobby when you can pass the baton and let someone else shepherd others through the immigration gauntlet.
-I'm glad you are still around - the lack of updates seemed sinister and was a somewhat frightening .

Cheers - Richard

Brian,

I am glad to have seen you get this far!
I understand your reasons and will still be following the progress!

Cheers Rob.

Richard:

Thank you for the very kind words, and also the concerns about my health.

My dad lived to 91, so I expect to be around for a while, "unless something happens."

I am at a point where it would be nice to retire if I could ... Long story there. But I have a much younger colleague who may become a partner soon and we are in the process of sharing many more files, so there's some progress on that front.

Yeah, I do have some mixed feelings about passing the torch to HG, in terms of my not "personally" finishing this, but I have every confidence the final model will be far, far better given his expertise and openness to work with me every step of the way.

My willingness to turn the heavy lifting over to him is a function of the personal rapport he and I have developed, and my admiration for his technical skill and comparable fanaticism in "getting it right."

The build blog here has always been an integral part of the work, and that will continue. I will do my part to document not only the work but also the decision-making process the two of us go through getting there. I also want future readers to see what it took to make "the perfect B-17F model," if there is such a thing.

It's time I reveal the back story why I began this at all, and have a Captain Ahab attitude to it.





Twenty-two years ago when I was writing the second edition of Half A Wing I approached a friend who was a professional model builder to make a B-17F model of "Vicious Virgin." That's the aircraft on the cover of the book. I had commissioned him to do a couple of models for an executive at my then employer and he delivered great work, on time. So, doing another project for a friend would be no problem, obviously.

I was inactive in the hobby due to work (sound familiar?) and this was way beyond my capabilities at the time. I paid up front.

I did everything possible to not let the contract interfere with the friendship, but sixteen years later I reached my limit. I won't go into the details save to say that I began Luscious Lady as a competing project to demonstrate that (1) a project of this scope could be done in this scale and (2) I'd do one myself if need be.

Life always interferes with the best-laid plans, and in this case, I'm not going to be able to do it myself. But I'll be damned if it's not going to get done one way or the other.

When is Mosquitocon? I'll look the date up. It's close to me and I would love to meet you in person. Let's plan on it.

Joe, are you game?

Brian

Brian,
I'm really glad that you've come out with the full story behind the build. This way I don't have to keep on telling myself not to accidently spill the beans.

I can 100% confess that the best thing I done since I started working about 55 years ago, is to retire. Everyday is a vacation day for me, with no end in site. Of course my wife still thinks that this is all the more reason to add to her never ending "Honey To Do List" that I've avoided like the plaque for more then a year, but it looks like that time is coming to an end.

Not sure about the Mosquitocon as the driving distance is a concern for me these days.

Of course if the LI clubs of which there are two for some strange reason holds their Replicon this year once again, and I can talk the two of you into attending, that would be the height of my Aeroscale career.

Joel

Thank you, Rob!

Brian

THE WESTWARD MIGRATION IS UNDERWAY

I figured I should document this as well as everything else. It will also provide a small trip down memory lane for long term followers.

Here is the box I used to mail the fuselage to HG. It's a box within a box, actually.

You don't want to know how much it cost to send this from New Jersey USA to Alberta Canada!



I am preparing a second shipment that will include the following:

1. The Luscious Lady Decals:



2. Parts from the Verlinden Detail set, in particular, the turbo-supercharger parts.



3. Two sets of exterior doors cast by my North Carolina friend.




4. Top turret detailed parts, including at the right the accurate Koster top turret canopy for the turret. (No, it isn't damaged). And to the left the bracket for the radio room gun my North Carolina friend made.



5. For nostalgia's sake, some dertailed views of the top turret.





6. The Ball Turret exterior pieces made with my North Carolina Friend during a trip down there.



7. Some Karaya .50 cal gun barrels.



It will be interestiong to see how these parts fit into the completed model. "To be discussed."

Gee, I hope you have better luck than I did:

Whoa! You were taking one overseas I thought. When/how did this happen?

The one that went overseas was fine and is on display at the 100th Bomb Group Museum near Thorpe Abbotts. No, this is one I did for a veteran here in the States. It was the ninth one I have shipped. The previous eight had no problems. They were all double boxed and well supported. But this one I made the mistake of marking it "Fragile Please Handle With Care" which apparently some USPS employee took as a challenge. Interesting thing about the PO: You can file a claim (it was insured) but there is no way to follow up on it. No e-mail, no phone number, no form, and certainly no name. I took it into the local PO where I had shipped it (it was returned to me via UPS) where they had no idea how to follow up but of course they said it was not their fault. When I asked whose fault was it, they said anybody could have done this. Really? Who is this anybody? No answer... So either I shipped it broken, my friend broke it when he opened the box, or it committed suicide. Here is the one I took to England on display:

Very nice display!

Brian,
I actually enjoyed the brief trip down memory lane. Your friend in NC is another master at his craft. I will miss his contributions for sure. On the other hand, your decision to go with Mr. Barnes surely will work out well. And I do have a fair idea of the outrageous shipping to and from Canada. Even before my switch to cars, I had stopped ordering anything from Canada as the shipping often exceeded the total cost of what I was buying.

Joel

Karl,
I'm right with you on the USPS crap service when you have a problem. I had shipped a few unbuilt models that I sold online to North Carolina. After a month the tracking still listed the package as being in transit. So I started to make daily trips to the PO where I shipped it from and get the Postmaster to get off his ass and do something like track my package.

Well, their tracking is next to useless as I was told that they really have no idea where it is at this point. I was told to file a claim since I took out $100 worth of insurance. Then I was told that I needed receipts for the models, which I told them I didn't have. So I was informed that I was SOL

I had repeatedly offered the buyer his money back, but he said lets wait a little longer. 6 weeks into this nightmare, I get a email from the PO that the package was delivered. Never did find out where it went, why, and why they can't track it like any other delivery service.

Joel

Thank you Brian, I am kinda proud of that one. Of course I am also proud of the thirteen others that have gone to veterans, their families in one case, and the 100th BG historian !

Joel, the USPS can be a joke. An irritating one at that. But the other carriers are rarely any better. It is quite frustrating. One fellow suggested I hand deliver them but as they have gone from the east coast to the west coast (and I live in the middle), not practical.

Ah well, it's only plastic. So what if it missed his 97th birthday? The USPS sure doesn't care...

SOFT LANDING IN ALBERTA

I am pleased to report that the Luscious Lady fuselage arrived safely at HG's place in Alberta.



and is now resting on his workbench.



Having taken sooooo many pictures of this object from my own workbench (and from that of my NC friend) to post here it was very strange to get his email showing it in another location.

Rather an emotional moment for me. A simultaneous sense of letting go but also feeling a great weight lift from my shoulders.

HG and I have also discussed his plans for the fuselage. He's going to re-scribe it all and I'm good with that: way beyond my labor grade!

Here's an example of his work from another build.



HG has asked if I have any "riveting and panel line diagrams" for the fuselage.

Karl, can you help?

Thanks all for your continuing interest.

Brian

Brian,
I'm looking forward to his update. I think that you've made the right decision for all the right reasons.
Joel