Brian and Kobus,
Thank you!

Gaz

Gary, I'm running out of superlatives... as always-most excellent!

Gaz, as Brian said, you certainly fit the description there.

Reminds me of the old Yardbirds song:
"Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief
Doctor, baker, fine shoe-maker
Wise man, madman, taxman, please"

Any other options there that fit? I know that there are a couple there for me!

Most excellent work as always mate, every update shows some real thought and ingenuity.

Cheers, D

Russell and Damian,
Thank you!

I'm really just learning as I go. One of the best things is when you find another use for a rarely-used tool. So far in this build I've incorporated the Dremel as well as a dust-gathering bench grinder, as well as getting more practice with soldering. Even the screw gun I got for Chirstmas is playing a part.

Best wishes,

Gaz

Hi everyone,
I'm feeling a little under the weather, so not really in the mood to focus on building. But, since I have finally leapt a large hurdle, a small update.



I apologize for the orientation of this photo. My phone is an Apple product, so sometimes it decides it doesn't want to work with Microsoft and this kind of thing happens.







Thank you for looking!

Gaz

Hi Gary,

Awesome work there mate! Hope you feel better soon.

Hasegawa make a 1/48 scale P51-D called 'Pacific PinUp Girl'

Regards,
Kobus

Hi Kobus,
Thank you! Now I know which kit to look for!

Gaz

Gary, hope you are feeling better soon. You've made a huge leap forward now that those wings are installed. I know from my own build that the model suddenly stops feeling like lots of parts a long way from being finished.
I hope your wings stay attached and firm, I wouldn't have the confidence to mix metal and plastic in such a major way!
I understand why you veered away from the epoxy but my worry is the white glue as I don't imagine it has any strong bond to either area it acts best on porous surfaces.

Loving the scale comparison photos. I'm going to have to dust off my other recent builds soon to do the same.

Wow Gary!
What a big beast and a fantastic and "heavy" build. Hope you can fix the wing-issues. It's already looking really good

Thomas

Paul and Thomas,
Thank you!
Using white glue to back up CA is something many ship model builders do with brass railings to prevent the railings from coming off during expansion and contraction due to temperature change.

I hate to experiment on this scale with it, but it has surprised me in the past.

Best wishes,

Gaz

Thats interesting, i've not come across that technique before.

Gary,
Sure hope you're feeling better. Being under the weather really makes modeling an effort.

I was also concerned about using white glue as a secondary bonding agent for those brass spars. While white glue will certainly expand and contract, the CCA glue won't, so I can't see how the brass spar would actually move away from the inside skin of the wings. I would have gone with a few coatings of a gel type CCA glue to seal the spars to the wings.

It doesn't take much to pop off a canopy or part being held in place with white glue.

As far as letting the styrene glue harden and cure. I'd give it a few weeks, as it will shrink quite a bite through the drying/curing process. Better to go the conservative route now, then having to back track later when small crators start to appear.

That issue usually occurs when you used the glue mixture, then covered it with the plastic parts so that the vapors really have no place to go. The vapors actually can cause the plastic to "melt" as they try to work their way out of the wing joints. Hopefully, those issues won't be something you'll have to deal with.

The glued and taped up B-29 is certainly massive to say the least. Can't wait to see you start to foil her.

Joel

Hi Gary

hope you're feeling better too.

Just a quick question for my own reference: what was the reason behind using white glue on the wing spars as opposed to a 2 part epoxy glue(eg Araldite)?

Hi Joel and Russell,
Thank you for your well wishes. The white glue thing may or may not work. I will make use of the suggestion to give the dissolved sprue another week to harden. I put a lot of white glue in to act as support, so it won't act like a thin line we would use on a canopy. I can't guarantee it will stand rigorous punishment. I've decided I'll build a cradle to hold the bomber while I foil it.

Russell, I didn't use the 5 minute epoxy because I feared it might melt the wings, and dealing with epoxy is always messy.

Best wishes,

Gaz

good point, Gaz. I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference

Gary,
Good point about 2 part epoxy. I have a few different ones in my glue station, and honestly never use any of them. I much prefer a Gel type CCA. I even have a never used box of Miliput that just might be the best solution.

Joel

Hi Joel,
The worst thing about an unused box of Milliput is that it only lasts a year or two. . . The best thing about Milliput is that it is quite firm. If you build a column of Milliput, stand it on one end, and then go to bed, you will wake up to find your column rock hard and in the exact shape you left it.

Please note that if any of the above makes anyone think of morning wood, it is purely coincidence.

Milliput well always have a place in my box of tricks.

Best wishes

Gaz

Hi everyone,
I imagine this is the last structure-related updates we'll need to see. Good thing, too. Been dying to get to the make-pretty stuff!













I didn't get much time for modelling today(took an unscheduled nap), but at least this has all of my structural questions answered.

Thank you for looking!

Gaz

Hi Gary,

Looking awesome mate - the structural work you have done on this build is amazing.

Looking forward to seeing the foil go on - it is going to be epic!

Regards,
Kobus

Kobus,
Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to the foiling, too. And I know, at least in time taken, it will be epic...lol

Gaz

Gary,
Your engineering solution for mounting the struts to the base is outstanding.

I've been going back and forth as to how I'm going to accomplish this myself. My base will be wood, and hopefully a map of Japan decoupaged on the top.

The front landing gear won't be used to support any of the aircraft's weight as it's kind of flimsy, so the main struts will have to carry the full load. I'm thinking of drilling holes in the rather massive main wheels, then gluing in brass rod that will then be glued into corresponding holes in the base.

I thought of threaded rod, then counter sinking the holes in the back of the base so I can use a nut to secure it. That way I could remove the model when and if necessary. But the odds are I'll never have to remove the B-25B until we move, and then the models will all be packed in small individual boxes with foam cradles. Well that's the long range plan at this point.

Joel

Hi Joel,
Thank you very much! I'm quite pleased, so far. I've learned a lot and broadened my skillset. All of a sudden, I'm contemplating things like a micro-lathe.

Brass is really easy to file. You could buy brass bolts and cut and file them to the required dimensions and easily go through the main wheels of your Mitchell. You just have to ensure you don't over-tighten and rip the rod/bolt from the wheel.

Gaz

Hi Everyone!
From the beginning of the build, there have been restless rumblings in the back of my mind (no, I don't think it was a bustle in my hedgerow!) about how I would get through the latter stages of this build without three hands and without damaging the model.

Today, I decided to build myself a third hand.

I designed it in my head, and took tally of the lumber leaning against the walls of my shed. Then I decided what kind of hardware I would need and wrote my shopping list.

While standing amongst bolts, nuts, and brackets, I redesigned it in my head to save some money. In the end, I think I spent about 17 bucks on hardware.

First I built this simple cruciform base of about 3ft in diameter:


Then I slopped the rest together using the hardware I'd bought, and other bits and pieces that I've collected over time.

then I slapped the plane on it...

The bolts that comprise the landing gear supports pass through holes in the upper part of the cradle.

I will use sponges or foam (yet to be purchased) to keep the plane off the wood. Then, I will tie it down with bits of pantyhose I purchased today.

I now have access to 75% of the plane without having to lift, balance, or lean it on something.


BTW...this is what the sky in Queensland looks like during winter...


To do the underside of the plane will require a different placing of foam and sponges, and I won't have the benefit of the landing gear passing through the wood cradle.

Thanks for looking!

Gaz

Purchased today you say? Hmmmmmmmmm, a likely story!

Your "third hand" will prove invaluable I'm sure Gaz, ingenious improvisation. I have no doubt that you will come up with a solution for the underside before the time comes, maybe something involving those stiletto's you don't fit any more.

Cheers, D

Heh, Damien....

Anyway, went out and got a couple of sponges and took to sanding the beast. Got past the outer engine to discover that I hadn't even glued one side of one nacelle on the inner engine. Thank goodness Bondic cures in 5 seconds.


The panty hose are working great. They offer perpetual tension without biting into the plastic.


Thanks for looking!

Gaz