**** DONE: GB-54 1:48 TBD-1 Devastator (2) - Pacific Theatre

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff.

 

[BlackSheep]

Oh I remember that kit when I was a kid. Shep Paine did a diorama of it. Mine turned out like hell ! Looking forward to this one.

Sadly, my attempt at this model kit went to hell, too! lol, I was too young and new to modeling but I was really good at making spiderwebs and dust bunnies out of glue and for identification purposes each wing and the canopy had my fingerprint!

 

[T Bolt]

Good one Don. I built that one back in middle school and its survived 46 years, 2 moves, and is still on my display shelf although its covered with dust and one of the wing folds is broken

 

[Donivanp]

In 1938 the US Navy operated five aircraft carriers, the USS Langley (CV-1) had been dropped as an attack carrier (CV) and re designated an seaplane tender (AV-3)
CV2 USS Lexington- Limon yellow
CV3 USS Saratoga- white
CV4 USS Ranger- willow green
CV5 USS Yorktown- insignia red
CV6 USS Enterprise- true blue
Each air wing was assigned a color to identify it by.
The USS Saratoga and Lexington were stationed with the Pacific fleet at San Diego in 1939. The USS Ranger spent her entire life in the Atlantic, Enterprise and Yorktown were in the Atlantic for their part with shake downs and commixing.

So to do this build I shall be doing one of the two air wings 2 or 3 with VT-2 or VT-3 (VT torpedo squadron).

ref US Navy Aircraft Identification Colors Before World War II

Correction. VT-6 USS Enterprise was indeed in San Diego by 39/40. I do like the True blue.

 

[Donivanp]

I have never understood the US Navy's concept of hoe to paint their aircraft cockpits pre war. Most of the Navy's cockpits were bare aluminum. Flying in a glass greenhouse canopy on a bright sunny day over a calm ocean. I don't think the make sunglasses dark enough for that.

Anyway my thoughts. Prewar TBD-1's had an aluminum (not painted) cockpit with the IP and maybe some avionics in black.

So starting with a Vallejo gloss black primer. I'll use the Vallejo metal colors from there. I'll probably use Testors enamels from most of the exterior as I have the chrome yellow, aluminum, and true blue in enamel.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

You seem to be working on some of the itsy bitsy bits though my tires old eyes find it hard to find some of them.

 

[Donivanp]

You seem to be working on some of the itsy bitsy bits though my tires old eyes find it hard to find some of them.

Tri focals and magnifying glasses.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice Don.

 

[Wayne Little]

Doin' ok there Don.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[Donivanp]

Shot the aluminum the other day and laid down some brown and black washes.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

All good stuff Don.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking good. The washes make them pop.

 

[at6]

It's coming along quite nicely. Still one of the best kits Monogram ever produced besides the AT6.

 

[Donivanp]

Dang but these is little.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

You wouldn't chuckle, have been down that road a number of times and still have nightmares.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[Donivanp]

Got the front and back cockpits it's done. Needed seat belts and I've grown to love these 3D printed ones. Couldn't find any for the subject directly so I bought Kits World B-17 sets. I'm not so much pleased with their product as I am with Quinta studios but, hey it works. This needs two sets of shoulder straps and three lap belts. The B-17 kit will do both Kits and still have one lap belt set left.

 

[fubar57]

Cool

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Can't say I've used those sorts of belts before but gudging from the looks of them, they look good. What sort of material are they made from?