Scratch build Boeing F4B-4

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"Proof is in the pudding" as they say. Just a sampling of the trial & errors on rib stitching. In essence, to me, this is what modeling is all about when venturing outside the box. It's part of the learning experience ( Yes, I still have room to learn at 76 years old ) & developing new skills to carry on to the next project.

I could've just stayed within the defined parameters & settle for an "adequate" model that I could pass onto my son. But I had placed a lock of my hair & my signature onto a piece of paper & hid them inside the model as an effort to create an heirloom to be passed on for generations.

Having done this, I wanted to project to anyone that I tried my best.
 

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Then I added the textured wing walk by cutting up # 400 sandpaper. Even here, I learned something new. Once the sandpaper gets contaminated (fingerprints, glue marks, etc.) it never comes off.

I cut up blue masking tape & applied the strips to the lower wing while it was temporarily attached to the fuselage. This gave me the boundaries needed for the wing walks.

As you can see from one of the last pictures, I had to quickly remove my first attempt at applying the wing walk after fruitlessly trying to move any debris.

Lesson learned & I covered the newly applied wing walks with kitchen wrap. I'll remove the wraps after the model has been assembled.
 

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I added the flotation bag covers & compass to the underside of the upper wing. I borrowed this colored photo to use as reference to allow me to give the flotation bag covers some contrast from the surrounding areas & give them some visual pop out.
 

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The upper wing is now installed. I used Gorilla epoxy to cement the struts to the wings. Then I used blue-colored masking tape to "clamp" down the upper wing.

If you'll notice in the second picture, I used several layers of soft tissue sandwiched between the tape & the top surface of the upper wing. This was done for two reasons: 1) to avoid the adhesive pulling the paint off the wing when removing the tape & 2) to act as a cushion to help spread out the tension.
 

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I ordered flat stainless steel wire from a company called "Benecreat." It's a jewelry company making fine items for arts & crafts. Their catalog included several different sized wires. It actually took me three different orders to finally get the right sized gauge. Perseverance paid off.

Now, if I can only figure out what to do with the other gauges wires….
 

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