1/48th Mitchell II - Allied Advance and Defense of the Reich WWII.
- Thread starter Airframes
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
- Thread starter
- #122
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks chaps, it's very much appreciated.
I'm about to start on the remainder of the nose area bulkheads and wheel well walls, before moving aft, to construct the entrance well and first bomb bay bulkhead - might have some pics later.
I'm about to start on the remainder of the nose area bulkheads and wheel well walls, before moving aft, to construct the entrance well and first bomb bay bulkhead - might have some pics later.
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Great work on the bulkheads Terry!
- Thread starter
- #124
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks John.
I've spent the last couple of hours measuring and checking fit for the tunnel floor, allowing extra space for more lead weight, and I'm now ready to fit the floor, and the entrance well. A few hours should hopefully see this, and the forward bomb bay bulkheads, made and fitted, then the rear fuselage bulkheads and flooring can be attended too.
No frames, fittings or detail will be added yet, not until all the main structure is in place, and the fit of the fuselage halves, around the scratch-built additions, has been checked.
I hope to have something to show later tonight.
I've spent the last couple of hours measuring and checking fit for the tunnel floor, allowing extra space for more lead weight, and I'm now ready to fit the floor, and the entrance well. A few hours should hopefully see this, and the forward bomb bay bulkheads, made and fitted, then the rear fuselage bulkheads and flooring can be attended too.
No frames, fittings or detail will be added yet, not until all the main structure is in place, and the fit of the fuselage halves, around the scratch-built additions, has been checked.
I hope to have something to show later tonight.
- Thread starter
- #125
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Around five or six hours work has got me to the stage shown in the pics below. Most of that time was spent in cutting card templates, checking fit, adjusting, and then cutting the first parts from plastic sheet. The tunnel area, and the extra void for further lead weight, was straightforward enough, although the nose had to be temporarily fitted, removed, fitted again and so on, in order to check for interference, and some trimming done to correct the fit.
The multi-part bulkheads between the radio compartment and the bomb bay took a lot longer, as adjustments and cuts had to be made to clear the raised mouldings on the inner fuselage walls, where the wing roots ingress, and allowances had to be made in order to clear the wing locating tabs, when the wings are eventually fitted.
Between measuring and cutting sessions, as a diversion from the tedium of fit, check, remove, fit, check etc, the rim of the cockpit and instrument cowl was rebated, to allow the canopy to fit flush, and the small oval windows in the rear fuselage were blanked-off internally, ready to be filled, on the outside, with 'Milliput'.
PIC 1. Shows the basic structure of the crawl-way tunnel between cockpit and bomb-aimer's compartment, which will now align with the forward bulkhead and hatch opening in the nose, which is part of the separate, nose compartment 'tub'.
PIC 2. Plenty of room is available, on the left side as viewed, for a substantial amount of lead, held in place with 'Plasticine', which can be packed-in right back to the rear of the nose wheel well bulkhead, and up to the top of the fuselage in the extreme forward section.
Once the instrument panel has been fitted, this will create another 'compartment', above the tunnel, where more weight can be added, and I'm fairly confident that enough can be packed in to prevent a 'tail-sitter', although I will, of course, do a balance check before sealing the area.
PIC 3. The basic structure of the radio compartment / bomb-bay bulkhead has been made and fitted. Although looking a tad rough, and somewhat bare at the moment, further sections have yet to be added, along with some detailing in the form of ribs and frames, and this, along with the radio gear, jump seat, 'Gee' receiver and other equipment, should be sufficient to create the illusion of a fully-equipped compartment, allowing for the limited view through the canopy.
PIC 4. The cockpit /tunnel assembly has been loosely placed in position, ready to align the additional radio compartment and entrance well parts. Once these have been made and fitted, the cockpit can be detailed and painted, and the seats etc added, although this won't be commenced until after the rear fuselage internal construction has been completed.
All being well, the next stage, constructing the rear sections, should be fairly straightforward and, given I get most of it done tomorrow, work can then commence on adding some basic detail and panting the interior.
Thanks again for the kind words and interest, and I'll be back soon with another up-date.
Meanwhile, my hands and wrists now hurt like ****, so I'm going to have a wee snifter and get some kip !
The multi-part bulkheads between the radio compartment and the bomb bay took a lot longer, as adjustments and cuts had to be made to clear the raised mouldings on the inner fuselage walls, where the wing roots ingress, and allowances had to be made in order to clear the wing locating tabs, when the wings are eventually fitted.
Between measuring and cutting sessions, as a diversion from the tedium of fit, check, remove, fit, check etc, the rim of the cockpit and instrument cowl was rebated, to allow the canopy to fit flush, and the small oval windows in the rear fuselage were blanked-off internally, ready to be filled, on the outside, with 'Milliput'.
PIC 1. Shows the basic structure of the crawl-way tunnel between cockpit and bomb-aimer's compartment, which will now align with the forward bulkhead and hatch opening in the nose, which is part of the separate, nose compartment 'tub'.
PIC 2. Plenty of room is available, on the left side as viewed, for a substantial amount of lead, held in place with 'Plasticine', which can be packed-in right back to the rear of the nose wheel well bulkhead, and up to the top of the fuselage in the extreme forward section.
Once the instrument panel has been fitted, this will create another 'compartment', above the tunnel, where more weight can be added, and I'm fairly confident that enough can be packed in to prevent a 'tail-sitter', although I will, of course, do a balance check before sealing the area.
PIC 3. The basic structure of the radio compartment / bomb-bay bulkhead has been made and fitted. Although looking a tad rough, and somewhat bare at the moment, further sections have yet to be added, along with some detailing in the form of ribs and frames, and this, along with the radio gear, jump seat, 'Gee' receiver and other equipment, should be sufficient to create the illusion of a fully-equipped compartment, allowing for the limited view through the canopy.
PIC 4. The cockpit /tunnel assembly has been loosely placed in position, ready to align the additional radio compartment and entrance well parts. Once these have been made and fitted, the cockpit can be detailed and painted, and the seats etc added, although this won't be commenced until after the rear fuselage internal construction has been completed.
All being well, the next stage, constructing the rear sections, should be fairly straightforward and, given I get most of it done tomorrow, work can then commence on adding some basic detail and panting the interior.
Thanks again for the kind words and interest, and I'll be back soon with another up-date.
Meanwhile, my hands and wrists now hurt like ****, so I'm going to have a wee snifter and get some kip !
fubar57
General
Starting to take shape now.
Geo
Geo
Crimea_River
Marshal
Glad you're able to show us some more of your magic Terry.
Agreed, doing good Mate!
- Thread starter
- #130
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps!
Dropped a b*ll*ck though - the flight deck area back to the curved bulkhead is too long !
I'd taken the line for the cut (of the floor) from the rear of the mouldings in the cockpit area, and I thought something din't look right, especially when the bomb-bay bulkhead had been fitted, making the entrance well and radio compartment look very short.
The semi-circular frames at the rear of the cockpit floor should be in line with the rear of the cockpit glazing !
Ah well, get out the razor saw and start modifying, and hope I don't wreck it and have to start all over again.
I'll post some pics when I've done the corrections, and added the bomb-bay roof and rear bulkheads.
Dropped a b*ll*ck though - the flight deck area back to the curved bulkhead is too long !
I'd taken the line for the cut (of the floor) from the rear of the mouldings in the cockpit area, and I thought something din't look right, especially when the bomb-bay bulkhead had been fitted, making the entrance well and radio compartment look very short.
The semi-circular frames at the rear of the cockpit floor should be in line with the rear of the cockpit glazing !
Ah well, get out the razor saw and start modifying, and hope I don't wreck it and have to start all over again.
I'll post some pics when I've done the corrections, and added the bomb-bay roof and rear bulkheads.
Nice work Dogsbody
- Thread starter
- #133
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Wojtek and Karl.
I'm happy to report that the cockpit floor was shortened successfully, as was the tunnel wall and floor, and the parts have now been re-assembled and test-fitted, and look much better.
Work is underway on the bomb-bay roof, rear bay bulkhead and rear fuselage floor - pics later.
I'm happy to report that the cockpit floor was shortened successfully, as was the tunnel wall and floor, and the parts have now been re-assembled and test-fitted, and look much better.
Work is underway on the bomb-bay roof, rear bay bulkhead and rear fuselage floor - pics later.
- Thread starter
- #134
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
The basic internal structure is almost complete - just have to add the 'U' shaped rim and main formers around the front entrance well, the roof and upper rear bulkhead to the bomb bay, and the crawl way to the extreme tail area.
Once that's done, ribs, stringers and longerons can be added where they'll be seen, and work can start on the detail of the internal fittings, including the radios, ammo boxes, and the pedestal for the dorsal turret, as well as fitting-out the cockpit and nose compartment.
Notice the difference in the radio compartment area, compared to the last pick in Post # 125.
I hope to post another up-date some time tomorrow, although with hospital appointments, and taking the 'Tin Tent' to the garage for pre-MoT work, I don't know how much work I'll get done, if any.
Once that's done, ribs, stringers and longerons can be added where they'll be seen, and work can start on the detail of the internal fittings, including the radios, ammo boxes, and the pedestal for the dorsal turret, as well as fitting-out the cockpit and nose compartment.
Notice the difference in the radio compartment area, compared to the last pick in Post # 125.
I hope to post another up-date some time tomorrow, although with hospital appointments, and taking the 'Tin Tent' to the garage for pre-MoT work, I don't know how much work I'll get done, if any.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Very nice SHIRLEY.
- Thread starter
- #136
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks, Andrea ........................ take cover !!!
le_steph40
Chief Master Sergeant
Excellent work Terry 
Like it !
- Thread starter
- #140
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much chaps. No more progress yet, although I hope to get a lot more done tonight.
Wojtek, I don't think I have a full diagram of the bomb bay, but I do have some photos, and I think a general arrangement sketch. if they will help ?
Wojtek, I don't think I have a full diagram of the bomb bay, but I do have some photos, and I think a general arrangement sketch. if they will help ?
Users who are viewing this thread
Similar threads
