B-52G-115-BW 58-0253 "The Moose is Loose", 42nd BW Loring AFB ME mid-90s
1April 24, 2022Good parts count for this scale, pity about the dark green plastic ?
2April 24, 2022Those fuselage ripples are the biggest challenge, there isn't a B-52 that doesn't have them!
3April 24, 2022After reading the detailed build story on the ARC Forums page I decided to break out my Dremel (purchased several lifetimes ago in Michigan, 1973, so 110v) and start mutilating the left fuselage half!
4April 24, 2022First marked the ripples with a pen (the felt marker was too wide), then carefully scored the indentations with the Dremel, smoothed with Tamiya round file then cleaned up with 240/400 sanding block held edge on.
5April 24, 2022Like this........
6April 24, 2022Followed by a final overall sanding of the section using 1200 grit. On reflection I think the Dremel is a bit too severe for this scale, so I'll do the rear fuselage ripples using just the round file.
7April 24, 2022There is also the wing shoulder duct intake to be added, so I guesstimated the location and commenced drilling...........that's it for now, I suspect this will be a slow and drawn-out build!! ?
8April 29, 2022Just about the correct shape, just needs some detail filing & sanding.
9April 29, 2022This week I decided to take a break from the fuselage ripples (which are proceeding well, just needed a change of focus) and work on the cockpit. This is the instrument panel provided - nothing like the actual ?
10April 29, 2022Also, the detailing is rather sparse. What to do? Leave it like this, knowing once it's all buttoned up inside the fuselage nobody will look, or, see what we can do to add a bit of interest ?
11April 29, 2022Started with the instrument panel and this was the first attempt in low resolution - but definitely an improvement.
12April 29, 2022For reference, this is how it should look (even some of the 1/72 kits are rather inaccurate!)
13April 29, 2022Better resolution, finally downloaded the actual B-52G Flight Manual!
14April 29, 2022That looks better, but the seats could do with some work........
15April 29, 2022Starting with headrests from another of those old business cards.
16April 29, 2022Blutac for the seat cushions.
17April 29, 2022Seatbelts & buckles painted on (masking tape or paper belts are too fiddly for me at this scale!)
18April 29, 2022Ejection mechanism frames were fabricated from Evergreen strip styrene.
19April 29, 2022The pilot's seat definitely looks more accurate now.
20April 29, 2022To be continued................. ?
21May 13, 2022This week I concentrated on the "hidden" details - cockpit and the two main landing gear wells.
22May 13, 2022The cockpit dressed up OK, especially considering once it is in place under the canopy most of the detail won't be visible. But I know it's there! ?
23May 13, 2022Here it is, ready for insertion.
24May 13, 2022Next transformation was the two main landing gear wells, which are "sparse", to say the least.
25May 13, 2022After a lot of searching, I found the manual for the 1/48 HPH kit to be an excellent resource, along with many of the pics from their website (hphmodels.cz/).
There are plenty of good "walk around photo shoots of actual B-52's out there, but the angles looking up into the wells are generally not ideal.
26May 13, 2022I started with the rear well, which is simpler to "dress" than the forward one. First step was to mark and grind out the two indentations.
27May 13, 2022Evergreen strips were drilled out for those reinforcements at the lower outside edge.
28May 13, 2022Then it was just a matter of using card, more evergreen and various gauges of copper wire to add the plumbing and wiring. This is pretty close to enough - even if I place the finished model over a mirror, who will study these details?
29May 26, 2022Update 26/05/22; I wasn't able to resist adding the retraction mechanisms after realising that these details are rather obviously absent from the kit.
30May 26, 2022Rear bay detail - according to my reference this is the more "empty" of the two bays.
31May 26, 2022Front bay detail - this one is a lot busier than the rear and definitely the more interesting.
32May 26, 2022Also made some progress with the right fuselage side skin ripples. I found the Dremel was too fierce so am just using the Tamiya rats tail file, carefully braced. Almost time to start assembling main components!
33February 26, 2024After a very long pause (family medical event which required time before I was able to return to the models) I recommenced the B-52 late last year: primed with AV surface primer then AV colour coats.
34February 26, 2024Masked upper surfaces for the "faded green" seen in many of my reference pics, such as the following.......
35February 26, 2024Rather pleased with the outcome here.
36February 26, 2024This was the desired effect.
37February 26, 2024I used Microscale Kristal Klear to build up the small windscreen so its flush with each side and also built up the cockpit ceiling windows.
38February 26, 2024Decals were prepared and printed on the trusty Epson; I ended up not applying the walkway lines as they wouldn't behave after separating from the backing. Most of the reference pics from this era (mid-late 90's) didn't appear to have them, fortunately.
39February 26, 2024I was pretty happy with how they turned out, maybe a little dark but quite acceptable for the display cabinet.
40February 26, 2024After a clearcoat of slightly thinned Pledge I contemplated the next step - panel lines/weathering. For the last few models I've been using AK weathering pencils, which have proved better than my previous old school methods but still not totally convincing. While I was researching alternatives I realised the wear panels for the tailplanes were missing, So I did them with BareMetal Foil, darkened with AV Metal Color dark aluminum.
41February 26, 2024For the panel lines & weathering I searched for a method which could be applied by airbrush and came up with Flory clay-based washes, ordered a set and gave the dark grime shade a try.
42February 26, 2024After removing the window masking foil I saw that the windscreen and first 2 side windows are wrongly proportioned (the windscreen is far too small and the framing is too wide) so I removed some of the masking foil to left & right of the screen. Not the ideal solution as this creates a massive front screen but on balance its OK.
43February 26, 2024After removing most of the wash with a too-wet cloth I watched the tutorial video through to the end and realised the error. Reapplied the wash with a brush this time and removed by rubbing with slightly moistened cloth - Success this time, and pretty happy with the outcome.
44February 26, 2024Pretty happy with the completed kit, looks good alongside the Tu 142MR!
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Komentáre
13 24 April 2022, 09:51
DutchWow! Love the details! I admit it. Sir, you are way better than me in B-52 building. But I would like to watch. Kind regards, Dutch
16 October 2022, 18:28
Album info
Was to be built in 2-tone grey/green as operating from King Abdul Aziz IAF base Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Operation Desert Storm, March 1991, but decided to complete it as a Harpoon-toting marine patrol a/c
Found excellent build suggestions on ARC Forums "AMT 1/72nd B-52g "Memphis Belle III" 59-2594", and plenty of reference pics at dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/b-52.html.
