SPA Modeler

This is a pretty cool way to do this. I've since seen several others that did the same thing, for pretty much the same reasons. Nice.

I first did it on my TBD-1 build a couple of years ago.

it makes perfect sense if the fit is decent, since you can put the windows in after paint. I can "fix" some paint a lot easier than I can fix windows.

LyleW wrote:it makes perfect sense if the fit is decent, since you can put the windows in after paint. I can "fix" some paint a lot easier than I can fix windows.

exactly...

OK, another full day's worth of work here with a couple of time out breaks. And today's progress is...

I completed the lower forward seam clean up by sanding up some Squadron White Putty





second engine wired up





and with the first wired engine already glued into its cowling



second bombrack drilled out. This time I barely used a pin vise, used my motor tool to grind out most of the solid stuff and then cleaned it all up with needle files



with the first one... using the motor tool I did not break and have to replace any of the cross members... score one for the good guys!



I painted up the side package gun housings and tail gun mount, and added the flex ammo feed chutes to the tail guns- still need to paint those, and the detail work on the tail gun mount





and I touched up the OD and Neutral Gray on the fuselage seams





as well as painting the tail gun compartment OD



and that's all for today...

Apparently yesterday I forgot to add a couple of photos that I took at the end of the session. Let's just say that between some refershing beverages the night before and all day at the bench I was a bit on the tired side... so here they are:
I had read that the fir of the nacelles tot eh wings can be problematic on this kit. True. But nothing a little effort can not fix, especially knowing that ahead of time. One nacelle fits quite well, and no work needed to correct that. The other- well there is a bit of a gap- But, a simple shim of sheet plastic added where needed and sanded to match the countours ahead of time and that is corrected.



I also built up the main gear struts and l placed (not glued) them into position for drying overnight.





and that's where things stood when I sat down this morning... First was mor Neutral Gray. Landing Gear struts, bomb racks, bomb bay doors, wheel hubs...





after the NG had a while to dry I added a dark gray enamel wash on the wheel hubs and landing gear struts





I masked up where the white needed to be re done for the fuselage invasion stripes, airbrushed the white portions, the touched up the black by hand brush to give the not so neat appearance of the real things







and I airbrushed a custom mix metallic color onto the front portion of the package gun housings. Once it had dried I glued them into place. I will add the Quick Boost barrels to them at the end of the build.







and I actually did some gluing today as well... first I scrath built the final portion of the tail gun ammo chutes that channels teh flex portion near the tail gunners armor plate, and added them to the flex chutes.



then I glued the horizontal stabilizers in place... talk about a tail sitter... you would think thaty I hgad stuffed ot full of something the way it altered the balance



and then I glued the landing gear into place on the wing and after that the engine nacelles. Again, after test fitting, I learned that if I glued the front portions first, let them dry, then the rear portion, it would reduce if not eliminate most of the fit problems in that area





then I had to do it... test fit the wings...



starting to look like a B-26 now...

winner, winner, chicken dinner. beverages, day at the beach, most excellent modelling session....living the hi-life. nice work. Looks very good

Hah! No high life here. Just a good life

Well last night before bed I finished gluing the engine nacelles down in place and added their tail cones. By carefull planning ahead and effort, I had minimal gaps/seams in this area to contend with that I have read more than one person complain about online... I sanded that smooth in the midday, then used Squadron White Putty to take care of any remaining gaps







Later in the afternoon, I sanded the putty, and am satisfied with the results of that work...









I also finished painting and built up the wheels



and masked up the canopy with Tamiya masking tape, then glued it in place.



Now it's time to enjoy a Saturday evening out...

Very nice!! Almost done now!

Yeah... Almost a month overdue now ...

I finished words to commente the masterpiece coming
Just a disappointing about the paint the outer before glue final assembly.. you're mad