**** DONE: 1/48 JM-1 Marauder - Allied Manufactured Aircraft

[fubar57]

Thanks Terry. Though I'm still a ways a way from the step, the instructions have one installing the gear almost halfway through the build. Is it possible to install the gear after paint and decals?

Geo

 

[rochie]

Nice subject, another I have in the pile, though mine might end up in desert colours !

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Merci. Painting the innards in between periods. Rear bulkhead done as are the seats. Should have something to post by the end of the game.

Geo

 

[fubar57]

Not quite finished with the cockpit but I owe ya. Not to happy with the weathering on the seat or the black bottle on the bulkhead or the seat so I work on those when I get home next week. I think I read in one of my books that the cockpit floor was covered in rubber so I'll be looking into that when I get home as well.

Done for another week, camp bus in 90 minutes. Have a good week gentlemen.

Geo

 

[Wurger]

Same to you George. Smiles.

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Geo, and have a safe trip back to camp.
Re the cockpit floor - I've only seen photos of preserved aircraft and the 'Flak Bait' cockpit, with one B&W period pic. The preserved shots show Interior Green floor, and the B&W pic, although not conclusive, appears to be a similar tone. It's very possible that early B-26 models had a rubber floor mat or covering, but probably/possibly omitted later, to save on weight and construction time.
As for the landing gear, I looked at ways of fitting it after construction and painting, but ended up wrapping it in aluminium kitchen foil, and filling the wheel bays with damp tissue, omitting the bay doors, when I painted my model.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far Geo!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Nice work George.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks guys. Cockpit is done and setting up...

Hmmmmm.....dry fit of wheel wells to wing. Also, like Terry, I don't see a way to mount the landing gear after the halves are joined.

Geo

 

[Wayne Little]

Cockpit looks good George.

 

[fubar57]

Thank you Wayne. Tail feathers need a bit of persuasion.

Test fitting the landing gear to the wing showed what I believed to be a severe forward rake. It took quite a while going through books and online searching before I found a photo that said all was good. Once the gear is dry, I will, unfortunately, glue it to the wing section and then start gluing the nacelles together. Reading reviews and dry fitting show that none of this will go together smoothly. I may have to purchase another tube of mud.

Geo

 

[Crimea_River]

You can never have too many clamps.

 

[fubar57]

Rarely use the black one's, lots of jaw force. Trying to figure an assembly plan to minimize the oncoming damage to the sticky-outy parts has been on the past hours agenda. The landing gear has been push fit into position, it has enough grab on its own to stay in place while handling. This way I can leave off the even flimsier retraction struts and the gear closing thingees until the end. The retraction struts and landing gear have to be glued together and then everything leaned forward so the struts can be glued into the well. I've glued the inner nacelle using tube glue and when it is almost set I will glue the outer nacelle have in and join them both together....I hope.

You can see how close the landing gear is to the nacelle preventing it from being installed later. Once set, the mud will fly...good bye rivets.

Geo

 

[fubar57]

OK...here's where it sits...

"A" and "C" will require some work. Note that "B" is an almost perfect match. I went for the best match in front to avoid having to redo the vents. Once the nacelle/wing joins have set sufficiently, I'll match up the front and bomb it with super glue....I hope. Three more parts to add to this little nightmare and from what I've read, they are no better. Gosh, I hope the port wing is easier.

As an aside, I tried different combinations of nacelle parts to see if they were mis-numbered but no...sigh


Geo

 

[Gnomey]

Nicely done so far Geo!

 

[javlin]

Like's the look so far George

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Dr. Gnomey and Kevin. Once the super glue has set up. I'll tackle the nacelle/upper wing join. Dry fitting reveals wee little gaps...

These aren't really too bad. I think there's a warp so I'll glue the nacelle/upper wing join first and then the wing halves..

Geo

 

[Crimea_River]

Yikes. I'll bet that superglue will gain more of your affection in the coming days.

 

[fubar57]

Yep, but at least I can flood the seam from the inside. The rear of the wheel well has been roughed in and a test fit of the nacelle cone(?) shows a bit of a gap though not the ¼" that I've read about in another review.

Geo