ghodges Posted November 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2021 Got the pilot, copilot, and top turret gunner placed this week. Once more, it took quite a bit of reposing arms and legs to fit into the cramped confines and fit the controls somewhat... GIL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2021 The last 4 figures have been reposed and positioned! The 2 waist gunners, for which I used standing "top turret" figures needed considerable altering of the legs since the floors are uneven, as well as an arm reposed to help support themselves. The rearmost figure was also slightly bent at the waist to make him a bit stooped and fit in the lower ceiling farther back. The radio man and the other crew member were used almost as is. The 2 standing figures are held in place with the help of a bit of wire in the shoe bottom that anchors them to the floor. So.....next week I'll start priming them and cleaning them up to get ready to paint! Pics of the crew when they're done will be next! GIL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted December 6, 2021 Report Share Posted December 6, 2021 This is some great work! Looking forward to the next update! 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johneaton Posted December 28, 2021 Report Share Posted December 28, 2021 What a build, Gil! Pace yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2021 Finally finished painting the figures....repositioned the turret gunner to the waist as he was going to interfere with the fit and ability to remove and replace the top fuselage section, which will remain removable. The ball turret is just sitting in position...next step is to close her up and start sanding seams! Gil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley25mm Posted December 30, 2021 Report Share Posted December 30, 2021 I don’t know where to start. Your figures look awesome. That’s a lot of work, I’m sure, not just painting them, but figuring how to pose all of them. Your paint of them is top notch. Can’t wait to see the finished model. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johneaton Posted December 31, 2021 Report Share Posted December 31, 2021 This is going to be an interesting display, the figures add so much to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2022 To start the new year I can post a major step forward: the fuselage is now together! The fit of the halves was good to marginal, as can be expected with a large kit with a LOT of interior detail that has to fit inside precisely to get a good fit. Some sections fit pretty well with a "normal" seam, while other sections left 1/16-1/8in gaps. All of the seams were filled with gel superglue and immediately sanded smooth. The separate top section was also worked on, as the client wants it to remain removable. The windshield and side glass parts were cemented in place (EXCELLENT fit for those!) and some trimming and sanding done to get the best "loose" fit when placed on the fuselage, including shaving the outside shoulders of the pilot and copilot. There's still a ways to go to get ready for the tail planes and wings to be added, but at least this may be the first true step towards "finishing this project! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 Now we're getting somewhere.....the initial painting is done! Base coated the tops and bottoms (painting the fuselage and wings separately) with Tamiya rattle can OD and Neutral Gray. The masking for the demarcation lines was done with Tamiya tape, rolled up lengthwise; with the big areas behind it masked off with blue painter's tape. I then spent most of this afternoon airbrushing MM 34086 OD and Neutral Gray to touch up the camo edges; followed by lightening both paints to get slightly lighter colors for post shading; which was then followed by a light misting of the original colors to tone down the post shading. A second, lighter OD color from Tamiya was used for the fabric covered ailerons, elevators, and rudder; and they were counter shaded in the same manner. There's still quite a ways to go on the finish with general weathering, panel line emphasis, chipping, and exhaust stains all yet to be done. But that's for next week! Slowly inching towards the finish line... Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 Added the de-icing boots, wing walk lines, and the markings last week, as this all needed to be done before any weathering. Starting to see the end of this project! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 The weathering is as done as it's gonna be.....I applied a brown sludge wash, airbrushed the exhaust stains (several times), toned them down, and then also used some pastel powders in the end. Some random chipping was added this evening. Might have her on her gear this weekend! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdCarr Posted February 1, 2022 Report Share Posted February 1, 2022 Like Stuart Mont, I have very little model-building experience, but I do have an appreciation for WWII history and the tedious work required for extreme detail. Like the Mongoose posted, I too, love the map half-off on the table in the nose interior. I started a B-17G when I was a boy, I now have the model back to finish as an adult again and that thrills me. What I have finished, though not quite to the extent that you have done, is the interior details. I believe you expressed the frustration with it in one of your posts- when the fuselage halves are glued together, who is going to be able to see all the hard work of the details? I spoke with a man while shopping for hobby supplies one day and he said he used a razor saw to cut away a section of a B-17 fuselage so he could remove it to show the interior details and still be able to place the section back so as to look whole. I do not recommend that since you have a client, but that might be a good idea for anyone else, self included, who might want to build a B-17 E/F/G with the interior detail that you are displaying with this build, which I fine to be phenomenal. Excellent work, Gil! 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdCarr Posted February 1, 2022 Report Share Posted February 1, 2022 Sorry, I did not see page 2 of this post and only went by page 1. Indeed, your client also wants to see the hard work of the interior details with a removable section of the top of the fuselage. Fantastic! All the hours of tedious work and the beautiful weathering and painting detail of the interior and the crew deserves to be seen in the finished build. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted February 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2022 Yes...even with the removable top the detailing and figures in the waist area will be tough to see...but that's what the in progress pics are for! The model is finished! See the A/C topic for more pics..... GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted February 5, 2022 Report Share Posted February 5, 2022 What an epic build, Gil! Beautifully done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMongoose Posted February 23, 2022 Report Share Posted February 23, 2022 A real beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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