Slowly but surely working through the conversion. I have the bomb bay doors secured on the front and rear edges, but the centerline gap is much larger. I will glue some plastic to fill the gap, but that can wait until the fuselage sides come together.

I wanted to try to create a plug for the unused top turret using my 3D printer. I have very limited experience using software to design things that I can 3D print. I have recently designed and printed some bridge piers for my N Scale train layout, but they were very simple. At first glance, I thought the plug would be simple to do. But the plug was a little beyond my limited design experience. It is basically flat on top and curved on the sides. I use free software called Tinkercad to design things that I can 3D print. It was easy to print a cylinder of the correct size, but getting the edges to curve down to match the fuselage was a trial for my limited design knowledge. I eventually figured out how to get a curve that "sort of" matches the curve of the fuselage, but I will need to sand it to fit.

I also discovered that there are no deicing boots depicted on the model. I checked my photos and discovered that some post-war b-25Js had the boots and some don't. The photo of the plane that I am using as a guide has the boots, but the photos of other CB-25Js are without the boots. I may decide to leave them off the model. Another decision looming in the future.

That's it for today. I'm heading downstairs to watch a wartime Humphrey Bogart movie. :o) Cheers everyone.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Great progress, my friend @gblair! Looks like the deicer boots were systematically removed from the CB-25Js, so, either choice will be "correct". The bomb bay doors gaps look nasty, nothing your superb skills cannot handle, though. You are a fast learner in 3D printing and it shows! Your second attempt looks great, will blend nicely with the fuselage with some sanding.

Looking forward to your progress!

Resin curing sounds very cool my friend @gblair! A learning curve!

Hi, Spiros (@fiveten) and John (@johnb). There is a learning curve to designing your own stuff, but there are several free programs that are good for experimenting. I think the curing worked out well. It sands easily, but it isn't too soft. I am slowly getting everything glued into the interior so I can close everything up. Preparing fishing weights for addition to the nose of the plane.

Looking superb, my friend @gblair! I think the weight will be sufficient, you will nevertheless have the engines' inner space as a backup should you need to add more.

Thanks, Spiros (@fiveten) and John (@johnb). I hope this will be enough weight. I worry if I put too much in the nose that I will need to worry about having the nose gear collapse. The main landing gear is basically positioned halfway down the bomb bay, so not much help there. I still have two wing spars to add that support the wings, but they also have a large bulkhead on each end that create the ends of the bomb bay. I may have an option after I put those in. The engine nacelles do offer an option, if I need it. John (@johnb), do you remember how much weight you put in your Heller DC-6?

Thanks anyway, John (@johnb). I think an ounce and a half is about 40 grams, which I think should be plenty. We'll see. :o)

Thanks, Bernard (@lis). I added an ounce and a half, which is about 40 grams. I think that's enough.