look spot on Dogsbody
B-24 Liberator Diorama - 1/48th Scale.
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- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #302
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks, Red Two.
fubar57
General
Agreed
- Thread starter
- #305
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks, Wojtek and Geo, and thanks for the "Winner", Snautz.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Top job old chap, looking dogs sphericals! 
Vic Balshaw
Major General
Concur with what everyone has said. Sh*t hot mate. 
Crimea_River
Marshal
I guess that's better than hot sh!t.
Great work so far Terry!
- Thread starter
- #310
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks all.
Still fiddling around with the ammo boxes - pics when there's something to show.
Still fiddling around with the ammo boxes - pics when there's something to show.
Vic Balshaw
Major General
The day is long Terry, plenty of time. 
- Thread starter
- #312
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
A little progress after a lot of work !
The tractor tow hitch has been modified to better align with the ammo trailer towing eye, and awaits painting and the addition of the locking pin. This is not strictly accurate, but does at least resemble a two-position hitch, and should look acceptable once finished.
The steering wheel, headlamps and tail lamp have been fitted, and again, await painting. The (very small) lamps are moulded "solid", and it proved impossible to hold these to drill out the "bowls", in order to paint the reflectors and add glazing. Therefore I'll cheat a little with the headlamps, and paint the fronts to represent slotted blackout masks. The tail lamp will be painted gloss red.
I have yet to add a couple of small extra details, in the way of a small pack, and possibly a towing chain. The jerry can idea didn't work, as the can is a tad too large for the intended mounting point, and just looked wrong.
Work has started on the ammo load for the trailer, using the "Plus Model" resin ammo boxes, along with some panzer ammo crates from the Tamiya "German Tank Crew Field Maintenance" set.
The casting blocks on the "Plus Model" boxes are large, and great care was needed, and quite some time, to remove the blocks without damaging the boxes. The set provides 10 boxes, each with a separate lid, and around three or four of these will be loaded onto the trailer, with the remainder being stacked near the aircraft and being unloaded by the tractor driver.
The rest of the trailer load will be made up from the Tamiya parts.
One larger crate will represent the packing for two Smoke Marker Flares, and painted and marked accordingly, whilst a crate for a single 88mm King Tiger shell has had the moulded detail removed, turned on its edge, and engraved to resemble two .50 cal ammo boxes.
There's a very slight length difference, but with the engraving, and once painted and positioned on the trailer, it's unlikely this will be noticeable.
That's all for now, until I get the ammo load finished, but I'll be back soon. Pics show the progress described, along with the packaging for the ammo boxes and Tamiya set.
The tractor tow hitch has been modified to better align with the ammo trailer towing eye, and awaits painting and the addition of the locking pin. This is not strictly accurate, but does at least resemble a two-position hitch, and should look acceptable once finished.
The steering wheel, headlamps and tail lamp have been fitted, and again, await painting. The (very small) lamps are moulded "solid", and it proved impossible to hold these to drill out the "bowls", in order to paint the reflectors and add glazing. Therefore I'll cheat a little with the headlamps, and paint the fronts to represent slotted blackout masks. The tail lamp will be painted gloss red.
I have yet to add a couple of small extra details, in the way of a small pack, and possibly a towing chain. The jerry can idea didn't work, as the can is a tad too large for the intended mounting point, and just looked wrong.
Work has started on the ammo load for the trailer, using the "Plus Model" resin ammo boxes, along with some panzer ammo crates from the Tamiya "German Tank Crew Field Maintenance" set.
The casting blocks on the "Plus Model" boxes are large, and great care was needed, and quite some time, to remove the blocks without damaging the boxes. The set provides 10 boxes, each with a separate lid, and around three or four of these will be loaded onto the trailer, with the remainder being stacked near the aircraft and being unloaded by the tractor driver.
The rest of the trailer load will be made up from the Tamiya parts.
One larger crate will represent the packing for two Smoke Marker Flares, and painted and marked accordingly, whilst a crate for a single 88mm King Tiger shell has had the moulded detail removed, turned on its edge, and engraved to resemble two .50 cal ammo boxes.
There's a very slight length difference, but with the engraving, and once painted and positioned on the trailer, it's unlikely this will be noticeable.
That's all for now, until I get the ammo load finished, but I'll be back soon. Pics show the progress described, along with the packaging for the ammo boxes and Tamiya set.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Amazing stuff Terry. So much knowledge behind what you are doing too.
- Thread starter
- #315
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks all.
As I probably mentioned previously, the "ground equipment" element of the diorama is possibly not totally accurate, but I think close enough to give an "authentic" overall look, and create the desired "atmosphere" in the diorama.
I'm enjoying the fact that all of these items are "one offs", and that no "ready to use" kits are available for any of the vehicles, with the exception of the tractor, so in a way, the finished diorama will be unique.
A lot of time has been spent in research, and this is still on-going, as I want the finished display to be as authentic and realistic as possible, as a tribute not only to the aircrews of the 8th Air Force, but also the often forgotten ground crews.
I just hope I can do it justice.
As I probably mentioned previously, the "ground equipment" element of the diorama is possibly not totally accurate, but I think close enough to give an "authentic" overall look, and create the desired "atmosphere" in the diorama.
I'm enjoying the fact that all of these items are "one offs", and that no "ready to use" kits are available for any of the vehicles, with the exception of the tractor, so in a way, the finished diorama will be unique.
A lot of time has been spent in research, and this is still on-going, as I want the finished display to be as authentic and realistic as possible, as a tribute not only to the aircrews of the 8th Air Force, but also the often forgotten ground crews.
I just hope I can do it justice.
Looks great so far Terry!
- Thread starter
- #317
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Hugh.
Tractor and Ammunition Trailer - Final Stage.
The tractor / trailer combination is almost completed, and just needs the electrical cable and tow-hitch locking pin to be added, before joining the two units.
The tractor has had the decals toned-down, and the lamps, steering wheel and tow hitch painted. A small webbing pack has also been added at the side of the driver's seat, presumably packed with Spam sandwiches and chewing gum !
I decided against the addition of a tow rope or chain, as it just looked wrong.
Some of the "Plus Model" resin ammo boxes have been assembled and painted, and the decals applied, the latter being an extremely fiddly and time-consuming job, but worth the effort , and the crate has been painted. I added the stencilling for the T-29 Smoke Streamers, using a fine-point pen, but hadn't realised the ink wasn't permanent. Consequently, when the matt clear coat was applied, the lettering dissolved !
The crate was re-painted, and some vague lettering applied with a very fine brush - the wording is mainly gibberish, but can hardly be seen anyway, so passable I think.
The ammunition boxes and crate where then loaded onto the trailer, and secured with drops of CA.
The remainder of the ammo boxes will be stacked near the rear entrance hatch of the B-24, with an armourer figure preparing belts for loading onboard, and the tractor driver unloading another box for the stack.
I hope to get the final touches completed on the tractor / trailer in the next day or so, and then prepare to start on the B-24 - at last !
Pics show how things look so far, and thanks again for following the build, and for the "likes" etc.
Tractor and Ammunition Trailer - Final Stage.
The tractor / trailer combination is almost completed, and just needs the electrical cable and tow-hitch locking pin to be added, before joining the two units.
The tractor has had the decals toned-down, and the lamps, steering wheel and tow hitch painted. A small webbing pack has also been added at the side of the driver's seat, presumably packed with Spam sandwiches and chewing gum !
I decided against the addition of a tow rope or chain, as it just looked wrong.
Some of the "Plus Model" resin ammo boxes have been assembled and painted, and the decals applied, the latter being an extremely fiddly and time-consuming job, but worth the effort , and the crate has been painted. I added the stencilling for the T-29 Smoke Streamers, using a fine-point pen, but hadn't realised the ink wasn't permanent. Consequently, when the matt clear coat was applied, the lettering dissolved !
The crate was re-painted, and some vague lettering applied with a very fine brush - the wording is mainly gibberish, but can hardly be seen anyway, so passable I think.
The ammunition boxes and crate where then loaded onto the trailer, and secured with drops of CA.
The remainder of the ammo boxes will be stacked near the rear entrance hatch of the B-24, with an armourer figure preparing belts for loading onboard, and the tractor driver unloading another box for the stack.
I hope to get the final touches completed on the tractor / trailer in the next day or so, and then prepare to start on the B-24 - at last !
Pics show how things look so far, and thanks again for following the build, and for the "likes" etc.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Really beautiful. This is a nice diversion.
- Thread starter
- #319
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks Rob.
Vic Balshaw
Major General
My word that looks good Terry, very realistic.
