TBD-1 Devastator and the Year Ahead
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- 1. Bit of styrene rod to act as insulator.
- 2. Monogram light.
I have decided to call the Great Wall TBD-1 Devastator done though there are a few little details to fix, like the PE pitot probes that decided to get eaten by the carpet monster at the last minute. Overall the kit is pretty good.
Link to WIP - https://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/gwh-1-48-tbd-1-devastator/
Pics of my Great Wall and Monogram TBDs were taken at our informal monthly get together.
Right now finishing up two 1/48 Eduard Fw 190F-8s in US markings as attached photos show.
I really need to finish this year the 1/48 HK Models B-17F. Eduard PE for the radio compartment is a big improvement. The engines are a mix of Eduard and 3D printed because I kept losing those resin push rods for the Eduard engines. Built the waist armor and hatch rails from sheet plastic, kit guns are oversized so have the Eduard B-17 guns to replace them.
With the RF-51D and F-16AM also to build, think my year is planned out.
RF-51D WIP - https://imodeler.com/groups/korea-the-forgotten-war/forum/topic/eduard-1-48-rf-51d-mustang/
F-16AM WIP - https://imodeler.com/groups/f-16-at-50/forum/topic/f-16am-block-15-323-sqn-klu-dirty-diana/
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- 1. The dreaded missing pitot probes. 22AWG might work.
- 2. Monogram mast after I knocked off the kit one and the carpet monster got it.
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- 1. See Ma! Wires!
- 2. Sheet plastic wheel well details.
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- 1. Achtung! Ein panzerschiff!
- 2. Monogram rear canopy parts and dressed up machine gun.
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- 1. Karaya decals were very fragile for both kits.
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- 1. Free handed with the airbrush Neutral Gray to cover the crosses and for the removed bomb racks.
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- 1. Olive drab for the upper crosses and fuselage sides.
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- 1. Steady hand with the tweezers required for these grab handles.
Nice eclectic selection David (@kahu). With the detailing space available in the B-17, you could spend a lot of time just on that build, let alone the other projects. Resin pushrods on the engines! I haven't seen that before but I am sure its as fiddly as using brass or copper wire to accomplish the same thing.
They are very very fiddly. But snagged a deal for the engines, some resin wheels, and decal sheets for a great price.So here we are.
Oh yes the B-17 has gobs of space to detail out things. Like all the control cables. Got the Eduard 3D printed A4 portable oxygen bottles to install also. Plus finish up the nose compartment. Still debating replacing the kit control columns with 3D printed ones.
The Devastator looks very good, David @kahu
Looking forward to your other work in progress. You might consider to create a seperate topic for each of them in one of the groups. In that case it is easier to update your progress and for others to follow along your build.
Just added links to all of the Works in Progress. Thanks for the reminder. Overall I am pretty pleased with the TBD-1, just have to avoid Mission Model paints and my own clumsiness in future builds.
There won't be one on the Fw 190F-8s as these Eduard kits are a joy to build. Should I create one for the B-17F?
@kahu, it would definitely give a much better overview on how the build is progressing. Everything will be collected in one topic.
Excellent Devastator, David! Looking forward to your next ongoing jobs!
Thank you Spiros @fiveten.
Nice work on that Devastator. @kahu
John @jdtruby, thanks!
Fantastic effort @kahu. I like it! Hopefully the carpet monster chokes on the pitot tube and coughs it up right onto your work station 😂
Looking forward to seeing your other completed projects.
Thank you Scott @scottiya. Occasionally I manage to rescue some bit from the carpet monster but this is a thin bit of PE about 2mm in length. If I ever find that I should win the lottery also.
🤣🤣🤣
That's a ton of great work you ha e going on There. I'm going to have to go check out your build links. The B-17 looks like it's coming along nicely. One of these days I'll have to build my Monogram TBD, hopefully it turn out as nice as your GW Devistator.
The Monogram TBD is a good place to start. No real hang ups except the doors for the bomb aimer which the GWH kit also has issues with.
The B-17F I want to build is earlier than a Block 50 which means figuring a way to remove the filler caps in the outer wings for the Tokyo tanks without destroying all the detail.
The Devastator looks great, and 2024 appears to be another busy year for you.
Busy and productive looks to be the order. Hope it turns out that way.
Great projects!