Scratch build Boeing F4B-4

Skyediamonds · Jul 10, 2024

I used a small file to round out the top. I was lucky that the lights were made from plastic & not glass.

I then compared which would be the ideal size. I chose the smaller one as it appeared to be in correct proportion.

Skyediamonds · Jul 10, 2024

Following Westburg's drawings (& other photos) I used a thick aluminum foil similar to chrome plumber's duct tape to fabricate the aluminum mounts.

I used a modeler's punch & die set (obtainable from MicroMark) to punch out the hole. I found from past experience it's far easier to punch the hole first, then cut out the surrounding mount later.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

The tedious cutting, filing & sanding of each strip commenced. The short strips used on the leading edges of the elevators were the few exceptions of cutting separate strips & I could "gang cut" several at a time.

More wine, please…

Vic Balshaw · Jul 11, 2024

This is most intriguing, just trying to keep up with you is mind boggling and I do not envy your doing the corrugation but that was a good solution with sealing the balsa for it is such a soft wood, you'll never get it to a smooth surface. You are doing well.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Hinges were fabricated out of thin plastic sheets. The sheets were thick enough to give the base support that " beefy look" yet still be thin enough to avoid looking like a toy.

The corners were rounded off.

Two holes on opposite sides were drilled using a pin vise. All I needed to do was "connect the dots" by using a # 11 X-Acto blade & cutting a line on either side of the holes to get a nice slot with rounded ends.

This certainly solved the problem of cutting out the ends.

The tricky part came when I was making the control horns. I cut tiny pieces of brass tubing to fit inside the holes to act as bushings for the stranded wire (thread).

I had to match up the drill bit with the outside diameter of the brass tubing & still make sure the whole assembly fits within the control horn.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

I posed the sub assemblies of the horizontal & vertical stabs as they are currently at this stage.

I used several coats of rattle can Testor's enamel paint to get a hard & durable finish.

Each coat was lightly sprayed to slowly build up the desired color. If I were to attempt to apply it in one heavy coat, I risk the chance of running paint.

I also had to spray from different angles to cover areas that were "shaded" by the corrugated strips.

Vic Balshaw said:
This is most intriguing, just trying to keep up with you is mind boggling and I do not envy your doing the corrugation but that was a good solution with sealing the balsa for it is such a soft wood, you'll never get it to a smooth surface. You are doing well.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Vic,

Thank you, sir. Hope you also find it entertaining. Now if I can just uncross my eyes….

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

I'll start posting the cockpit interiors on my next round.

Wurger · Jul 11, 2024

Well done Gary !

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Wurger said:
Well done Gary !

Thank you, sir!

Airframes · Jul 11, 2024

Great work Gary, and looking forward to the next stages.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Airframes said:
Great work Gary, and looking forward to the next stages.

Airframes: Thank you, sir. I know you've followed my previous P-51 Mustang build.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Good afternoon everyone. I'm in the process of collating the detailed photos of the interior of both the model & full sized aircraft. As of this writing, there are approximately 130 photos alone. So I'll need just a bit more time to organize the presentation.

Thank you for your patience.

Vic Balshaw · Jul 11, 2024

Ok....................I'm checking my calendar, looking for a free afternoon to do the viewing.

Skyediamonds · Jul 11, 2024

Vic Balshaw said:
Ok....................I'm checking my calendar, looking for a free afternoon to do the viewing.

LoL…. Thank you very much, sir.

Skyediamonds · Jul 12, 2024

Good evening everyone:

I thought before commencing on the postings of the cockpit interior, you might like to see my end goal. Thus, the 5-view presentation is from the book: Aircraft in Profiles # 27 from Vol. 2 of the series.

I have already received the custom graphics from a gentleman named Geoff Gill of U.K. & has done outstanding work right down to matching the blue tone on my Rustoleum rattle can.

There are several other accessories that were ordered & received from various sources & I'll be posting them as well. If anyone is interested in contacting Mr. Gill or any of the vendors, please let me know.

To our more astute observers, the number 7 is actually a separate graphic on the same sheet & will be properly oriented within the blue chevron upon applying over the top wing.

Just as on the P-51 Mustang, there are conflicting information & I try to use the most valid source, this is usually in the form of photographs & I'll point these out as I go along.

I'll also point out the differences between the P-12E & the F4B-4.

As always, please feel free to chime in & offer suggestions / observations / comments.

Cheers,

Gary

Skyediamonds · Jul 12, 2024

I used as much of the commercially available sources on the Internet, Mr. Peter Westburg's drawings (he did outstanding inboard profiles showing the placement of various accessories within the interior), my own b+w photos taken of the Boeing P-12E on display at the Planes of Fame air museum in Chino, California & from the Nat'l Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.

I'll post a few of the pictures now.

Skyediamonds · Jul 12, 2024

Oddly enough, the main instrument panel was one of the easiest accessory to make & it was one of the first few I fabricated right at the beginning.

My source was from Westburg's personal collection -he sold it to me tars ago.

Skyediamonds · Jul 12, 2024

To make this panel, I sized up the overall dimensions by the tried & true eyeball method using the "lt looks about right" & combined with the proportion to the surrounding areas.

A modeler's punch & die was used to punch out the holes for the instruments. This is available through MicroMark & well worth the investment.

Next, I used a punch that was slightly larger than the hole made from the previous punch & using the bevel end instead of the sharp punch to make holes, I gently tapped it with my hammer to get that "in-depth" recessed look.

This was followed up by using a rattle can & spraying flat black at a greater distance than normal to get that " splatter" effect.

Finally, I took the photo of the actual instrument panel, taped it to my garage door entrance to my home & tried various distances to get the size of the panel reasonably close to scale.

Skyediamonds · Jul 12, 2024

The "front office" is utilitarian with breeches for a .50 caliber machine on the right & a .30. caliber in the left. Why Boeing chose this option? I have no idea.

Notice that there's no "wall" or former behind the instrument panel & there's space for the machine guns in either side of the instrument panel.

Scratch build Boeing F4B-4

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