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World War II: USA
Aircraft of the United States in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
Pearl 2017...The Subject
fightnjoe
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Posted: Saturday, August 12, 2017 - 07:17 AM UTC
Wait.......another build.....another PUBLIC build......what madness is this then?



Well I am finishing up an article for consideration to a magazine and the P-40B is currently in between video sessions. Now is also the time where I begin to look towards December 7 and what that means. This year I have gone solo again and so my only deadline is the finish line. This is not for submission. This is for me.

First up is the subject. Kind of my holy grail build.



The 1/72 Special Hobby B-18. For this I will need to pull out a few tricks as the decals will need modification. The build itself will be out of box.



The journey begins......




Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 12:02 AM UTC
Joe, I've been doing research on the B-18A at McChord AFB, and shot several photos of it- in preparation for building one of these truly ugly aircraft from Special Hobby too-- If you'd like some walk around photos, send me a PM and I'll email them. Supposedly the McChord Field Bolo was in the 17th BG in 1940, but I believe it's been re-engined at some point, changing the exhaust system. It was airlifted to McChord from the southwest Via C-5 Galaxy In 1984, after being found delivering fish in Mexico and extensively renovated back to its original look. Only six of these beasts survive worldwide.
VR, Russ
Szmann
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Netherlands Antilles
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 01:02 AM UTC
Joe, I'm glad you found you Holy Graal

I'm watching with interest this one.

Gabriel
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 09:12 AM UTC
Thank you for looking in.

Russ I may take you up on that. Would like to see this in a larger scale so I could detail it out.

Gabriel it can be daunting as well as exciting.



Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 09:31 AM UTC
Well here is a quick follow up to the intro.

I would show you a couple of pictures of the sprue but to be honest I dislike those as they really show nothing. For myself I like to see some progress.

As the title says it is the beginning.

First up, I rarely do things as the instructions call for. Just not how I build. This build is no different. Because of the amount of clear in the fuselage the first thing I want to tackle is to get the exterior paint and the interior paint out of the way. To that end I wanted to try something different. Tone variants by changing the base color. I used Testor Gloss Gray, Model Master US Navy Gray, and Testor Creatix Gloss Black. I picked out some panels to try it out.









I then sprayed Alclad Chrome.




While this dried I played some with the interior.





And with some paint.




Next up will be to get some color on the interior walls and then move on to the clear parts.


All comments, critiques, and criticism is encouraged.



Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 05:11 PM UTC
Joe, interesting work so far. I've read a review on the kit over at IPMS USA which is not complete yet, but said the seats sit a little low in the cockpit-- just something to look out for. You're building the B-18, I'm building the B-18A, and there are some differences in the nacelles between these birds. The interesting thing is the McChord B18A seems to have the nacelles and upper turret from a B-18. The B-18A (and some late B-18s) had an exhaust system that runs back along the top of the nacelle. I haven't sorted that out yet-- there's a color video on line of Hawaiian based B-18s flying around the islands-- The link is at:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QvgByO1LorQ
You can also get it by searching B-18 Bolo.wmv. There's also a book, "B18 Bolo and B-23 Dragon, America's Forsaken Warriors" by Dan Hagedorn Sr.- Dan Hagedorn is the curator emeritus of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Supposedly this is the definitive work on the B18. If you'd like the photos send me a PM.
VR, Russ
TotemWolf
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 07:14 PM UTC
I not it's not a big deal but the shoulder straps are on backwards. The loop for the lap buckle should be on the inside.

Not that it will ever be seen or even matters.
Emeritus
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Uusimaa, Finland
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Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 11:47 PM UTC
Looking good! And a nice choice of subject, that's certainly something one doesn't see built every day.

Now that's quite some deviation from the instructions indeed. To be honest, painting the main airframe components at such an early stage of the build, some even while still on the sprue, looks quite daunting to me. Even with these current era Special Hobby kits being a far cry from their earlier limited run days and going together quite well (I'm currently finishing their Folland Gnat, and it's been excellent), you're still facing quite a lot of touch-up paint work after you've finished the seams. But hey, if that works the best for you, then that's all that matters.

Jugg-Head
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 05:34 AM UTC
I'm new here,

but this is a subject I would find hard to resist myself after seeing a good breakdown of the kit's quality!

fightnjoe
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 07:06 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Joe, interesting work so far. I've read a review on the kit over at IPMS USA which is not complete yet, but said the seats sit a little low in the cockpit-- just something to look out for. You're building the B-18, I'm building the B-18A, and there are some differences in the nacelles between these birds. The interesting thing is the McChord B18A seems to have the nacelles and upper turret from a B-18. The B-18A (and some late B-18s) had an exhaust system that runs back along the top of the nacelle. I haven't sorted that out yet-- there's a color video on line of Hawaiian based B-18s flying around the islands-- The link is at:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QvgByO1LorQ
You can also get it by searching B-18 Bolo.wmv. There's also a book, "B18 Bolo and B-23 Dragon, America's Forsaken Warriors" by Dan Hagedorn Sr.- Dan Hagedorn is the curator emeritus of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Supposedly this is the definitive work on the B18. If you'd like the photos send me a PM.
VR, Russ


The review is truly spot on. There are several issues to be sure. The seats are just one of them. Another will be the wing roots. More on that soon. This is not a kit I would recommend for one just beginning in the hobby. Going to take some serious tools out of my toolbox to work this out.


Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 07:08 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I not it's not a big deal but the shoulder straps are on backwards. The loop for the lap buckle should be on the inside.

Not that it will ever be seen or even matters.


Robert that is my own fault. I should have checked closer. I went by the instructions and they were wrong for sure. But you are right they will not be seen, although I will know they are wrong.



Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 07:11 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looking good! And a nice choice of subject, that's certainly something one doesn't see built every day.

Now that's quite some deviation from the instructions indeed. To be honest, painting the main airframe components at such an early stage of the build, some even while still on the sprue, looks quite daunting to me. Even with these current era Special Hobby kits being a far cry from their earlier limited run days and going together quite well (I'm currently finishing their Folland Gnat, and it's been excellent), you're still facing quite a lot of touch-up paint work after you've finished the seams. But hey, if that works the best for you, then that's all that matters.



You are right, I am breaking one of the most fundamental rules of this hobby. Always paint following the closure of the fuselage and the installation of the wings. I am going to pay for it as well. The fuselage will go as planned. The seam work and repair will, should, blend nicely into the paint work. The wings however will be a major issue. More on that soon.

It is only after about a dozen attempts that I can move forward down this line with any confidence. One must have a plan of attack and hope that the kit plays under the same rules.


Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 07:12 PM UTC
Tommy welcome and I hope you enjoy it here. The subject is an interesting one to me although the interior of the kit leaves me a bit frustrated. This is not one for someone just beginning the hobby.


Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 07:48 PM UTC

Quoted Text


The review is truly spot on. There are several issues to be sure. The seats are just one of them. Another will be the wing roots. More on that soon. This is not a kit I would recommend for one just beginning in the hobby. Going to take some serious tools out of my toolbox to work this out.

Joe


Joe, I've found the solution regarding the wing/horizontal stabilizer gap is to work on the upper wing/stabilizer attachment points-- which have a little additional plastic at the point the wing meets the rectangular attachment block. Then I glued the upper wings and stabilizers to the fuselage first, rather than gluing the wing/stabilizer halves together. But be careful as the alignment of the elevons at the wingtips needs to be precise on the lower halves. There's not much dihedral in the wings, so it's not too bad. I sent you the photos of the McChord B18, one of which is a frontal shot. I'm going over to photograph the underside today, as I missed the windows just behind the bomb bay doors.
VR, Russ
Kevlar06
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Posted: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 02:38 AM UTC
Joe,
Well-- this AM I went over to the McChord Museum to look at thier B18A again, and thats when I noticed what might be a glaring deficiency in the kit wing-- the kit has a rounded "hump" where the outer wing bolts onto the inner wing just outboard of the nacelles. The real aircraft appears to have a flange, with no covering where the outer wing bolts to the inner wing, with several hundred threaded bolts to hold the outer wing on. I don't know how accurate you want to be. I'm trying to locate some photos to see if there was a rounded covering for this flange of some sort, but so far I've only come up with the bare flange photos.
VR, Russ
Kevlar06
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Posted: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 07:28 AM UTC
Joe-- well, I did some additional research-- apparently there was a cover that went over the riveted flange on the wing join-- it was removed on many aircraft during and post WWII for inspection purposes, so some have it, others don't. I've ordered Hagedorns book, but it won't be here until next week.
VR, Russ
fightnjoe
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Posted: Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 12:51 AM UTC
Russ you have my interest peaked. I did not know that. I look forward to what you find.



Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 02:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Russ you have my interest peaked. I did not know that. I look forward to what you find.



Joe


I sent some photos to you via email. I have a few more I took yesterday that I'll forward. I spoke to the curator at the McChord AFB Museum, who shared their B18 Bolo restoration book. The Mchord B-18A has a B-18 turret and engine nacelles, with non standard exhausts. When received from Arizona, it was in B-18B (ASW) configuration, but had originally been B18A, Serial 37-505, based at Geiger Field (near Spokane). I believe the covers were removed from the wing join at some point and never put back on. They had a ton of B-18 research in thier restoration book, with many photos of McChord based B-18s and B-18As of the 12th, 17th and 47th BGs. All of them seemed to have covers over the wing join. The only ones without covers appear to be post war birds. I was very surprised to see they had Special Hobby kits of the B-18 and B18A in thier gift shop for very reasonable prices! I almost picked up the B-18 kit, but figured one is enough for now! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.
VR, Russ
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 06:24 AM UTC
Russ first and foremost, thank you (Publicly) for the links to the pictures and those you emailed. Wonderful stuff. Got to go searching for another of these kits.



Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 06:45 AM UTC
Well folks everything was moving along smoothly.

The interior went in with no fuss. Although way off it will work when all the "glass" is installed.





The fuselage looked to be a pretty simple project to close up.






And then the honeymoon came to an abrupt end. Well crashing halt. Well total and complete standstill for a while.

The OH MY GOD, ARE YOU KIDDING ME moment came when I attempted to attach the wings to the fuselage. It was just as a bad joke.

The carnage...




Not too bad you say??? Well to compliment that after a lot of sanding to try to get the engine nacelles to fit this was the best I could get....





Now the best part, no picture of this though, after much use of adult language I test fit the stabilizers and they fit a dream with little to no seam. I was fit to be tied.

Well after a trip to the big city on Saturday I was able to obtain some Apoxie Sculpt and so that is now drying, thinking I didnt mix it exactly right, and that should fix my gap issue but holy crap that was a large gap.

More on this soon.


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.




Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 07:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Russ first and foremost, thank you (Publicly) for the links to the pictures and those you emailed. Wonderful stuff. Got to go searching for another of these kits.



Joe


Joe, so sorry to hear about the gap in the wing root-- I've decided to glue the upper wings to the fuselage first to see if that makes a difference-- now-- I know where four B-18 kits reside for $45 each-- two B18s and two B18As. No shipping and no tax, but they are hard to get to. That is, If you're still interested after that wing gap! Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to your build, based on your other work, you'll overcome I'm sure.
VR, Russ
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 05:21 PM UTC
I am thinking that I want another of these but you are right I am not sure how soon.


Joe
Kevlar06
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Posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2017 - 09:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I am thinking that I want another of these but you are right I am not sure how soon.


Joe


Joe,
I received my copy of Hagedorn's book on the B-18 / B-23 today-- it's well worth the $28 cost from Barnes & Noble. If you're going to buy another B-18, I highly recommend the book too. It's cleared up some questions I had regarding antennas, exhaust systems, the turret and the dorsal gun position. By the way, the turret MG barrel end would have projected though the top of the turret in the stowed position-- something not depicted in most photos.
VR, Russ
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 08:53 AM UTC
Saw that but circumstances have altered the want to the need.




Joe
fightnjoe
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Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 08:53 AM UTC
Now for an update on the 1/72 B-18.

The wings and the wing roots are now attached, puttied, cleaned up, and now painted. This kit has been a major chore all the way through.











Next will be to get the markings on, some custom, and then finish out the small stuff.


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe
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