popeye the sailor

it was time to work on the decals.....I had put them on a window sill a couple of time, to see if the sun could bleach out the yellowing. this was fairly successful.....good enough to use them. the one thing I was concerned with, was becoming brittle. if they weren't useable, I'm sure I have some I can scare up. I began with the wings...... they conformed to the ribbed wings rather well.......I didn't need to use decal set {Testor's} to soften them. after the decals were applied, all the small loose parts could be added......the props, the bombs, the antenna brackets. the antennas were strung with the thin wire I like to use. it's pliable and could be adjusted to straighten it. there is the one on the belly, and there will be one on the top. this one was a bit tedious........it just didn't want to center itself on the brackets. two types of radar masts are also shown.......one under the 'chin', and another near the navigator's station. well.........looks like there are no more parts...........the model is complete! all that is left is a few small touch ups. the gallery is next

I got into a frenzy with this model........but first I had to back up a tiny bit. I removed the turret platform from the front of the fuselage. this way, I was unobstructed installing all the windows. I would have continued with the window maker.....but I was a little rusty with the process, and I felt I was getting more inside the fuselage, than filling in the window openings. the first four were done........sanding the flash from around the panes and making sure they would fit OK........ the six front panes were next....the bottom center window was the worst one to fit into place. it was also good that I removed the platform too.......I was able to repair the gap along the top border. I do need to touch it up some....... I removed some of the window maker that had dried around the frames.

I'm still here......catching up on your exploits very nice finish you've created. should look sweet on this large scale model

here in the states, we rob Peter to pay Paul ....all means the same though. the spit is looking great........the camo and decaling really makes the difference

look'in good KP! the paint finish came out great.......have you done the rest of the body yet?

superb transformation! really nice job KP

really good info gents

thanks OC & Lou........one more day of work........I might be able to finish it I should say anything, butt the existing guns have faired well...haven't broken any off . actually, all of the B 17's so far have been good in that respect. near the end of the last session, the luck failed on the nose guns.......one of them broke off. there's still the belly turret and tail guns to add to the mix. they will be the last part to be put on. thanks for all the likes

coming along really good

looks great.....glad to see your getting to roofing

nice look'in car

knocking them on the floor with my arm actually, Ed.........I had them in a pile off to the side. I have been very lucky with the wind aspect........even have the ceiling fan going I use decal set OC.........I use it when there is a lot of panel lines and contours. I have an update on her progress. as mentioned, I've added more decals around the engines and the fuselage. the decals are now cleared up.....a little less clutter on the desk.........the wings are assembled onto the fuselage. one of the nose guns broke off.........so that will be repaired. here are the props

I think you are right Jack. gee.......I think I'll look into a gauge like that I need to get a new grill........last year we had a violent wind event and silly me left the umbrella attached to it..........the wind blew it over. one of the knobs broke, so I've been using the good knob on both burners. it finally gave out, so now I'm using vise grips. did just a little on the Dr 1.........should have something soon

here is some more progress........ I add some of the decals from the ill fated sheet. I tipped the blades for the Memphis Belle props and I continued with these. next was the tail gear........it now has support from all three wheels. for the underbelly, I set up the bomb racks. I was short one of the rack arms, so I will be one bomb less. I will use CA to fill in the holes. also added are some of the antenna apparatus....a couple more parts will go topside. I got home this evening and for fun, fitted the props. I still have the nose glass to do.........I abandoned the window maker. there's a bit of a mess inside the fuselage.......glad that it won't be seen. clearly I need to practice to get the ability back I also cemented the belly turret in place I wish you all a super duper Father's day!

nicely done.....looks great!

I'm finally here! I have been trying like crazy Michael, to get to the point where I could look in, but I kept running out of time. looks to be a very unique project......the building backdrops are nicely done! I'll be following along

catching up with your progress Pat.......the overall picts of the deck look superb........the layout is fantastic! the cannons are done very well........very cleanly done.......the screw is cool too! ...just beautiful workmanship

very neat project Phil....... look'in good so far!

superb looking model Mustafa rigging looks top notch........congratz my friend

I got a little progress done..........got some more decals on............then the fridge issue hit, and there went my morning one small mishap.........I have accumulated quite a collection of decals for the B 17. ....you figure I ordered a set for the Nine........then a set for the Wulfe Hound. I had the pack I was working from up on top of my printer. I reached for it and some of the cut pieces of decals fell into the water that was directly below. I managed to use a few for the MB 200 {since there aren't too many decals for it}, but sadly, the rest went into the trash. I added some more to the fuselage........but the bulk of the work went into the wings. I had selected and cut out a bunch of them, and I needed to get them on........tired of picking them up off the floor {wind effect}. I'll see if I can get more done tomorrow..........no surprise though that there are errands to run. we'll see how that goes

props look perfect! she's com'in along nicely

is that the Corel Mayflower Patrick? no difference.......these two ship are alike in many ways you got me there Tom......I never gave the rudder enough thought yep......that's an old kit.....the nice thing is that you have all the parts to assemble the tops........the kit I have was an incomplete kit {missing some parts}. I believe Billing's at the time used basswood for the planking. I've become accustomed to using Obechi, which is what Billing's supplies in most of their more recent offerings. back in the day, they used to supply mahogany as well......I have a whole bundle of it from the second Norkap kit I got. I'm using the kit to build the progress another fishing boat that was produced back around the early run of the Nordkap. is your kit laser cut? if not, then your kit is likely 30 or more, years old! I took a few liberties with the planking too...I also changed the bulwarks a little. for the bow spirit.......it's in my log. I can agree that the instructions lead a lot to be desired . I'm glad I finally got to see your build....look'in forward in seeing another beauty come out of the box

the tube was clear Jack.......I had to roll up paper towel to sop up the water as it collected in the tray. this set up is a joke! reminds me of when we lived on Spruce St. the refrigerator was on it's last leg when we moved in. I was curious about how it was slanted....it should be level. it quit working and I checked it out...........come to find out, the previous tenant never checked the drainage tray. it was once overfull.....spilling onto the floor underneath, rotting it out. if not for the joices, it would have fallen through the floor. the landlord was a Russian fellow and had no idea how to repair the damage. I told him that if he got the materials, I would fix it. he asked to help me.......I said sure. I took my skill saw and adjusted the blade to the thickness of the floor, and cut out the bad part........filled it back in with the plywood he bought. I'm not an expert at tiling floors, but I think I did a good job. the landlord was so pleased.......he had a surplus of wood in the dellar and he let me build a workbench....'"use what you need, " he said he was a pretty nice fellow too....we liked him a lot.......his name was Uri. I never minded doing thing for him....everything I needed, he'd get it! I had better times there though..........this guy is a tightwad. we asked him if he had the receipt for the fridge { he bought it at Home Depot}........he can't find it. .....a two year old fridge, and he can't find the receipt. he deserves what he gets. I think this will be the biggest Dr 1 I'll build to date.........of course, if I got off my behind and got with the program, the Gillow's plane will be the biggest. it has a 20 inch wingspan. oh....don't think I get favor.........she's still the budget director.....if she thinks we can't afford it, no new toys for me. I don't recall the last time I bought any wood.......although I've been submitting my needs for flat stock @ Hobby Lobby. ....and if the fridge wasn't enough...........I went to cook the burgers on the grill, and I ran out of gas

name something that can ruin your day..........I got one. our fridge is still on the fritz! there is no division between freezer and fridge.....everything is freezing in the bottom we had a guy come out to look at it.........he replaced the controller. this morning, the admiral showed me the burger patties we bought yesterday....half froze. I wasn't going to get involved with it.....the landlord bought it......let him deal with it. this time, I looked into it.......noticed the icy frost spot on the back wall of the freezer. the admiral showed it to the guy.......he said that there might be ice behind the wall...........but he didn't check it out........just ordered the controller. by what she told me, he didn't check out much of anything. this is a frost free refrigerator.......this type of nonsense isn't supposed to happen. there is no cold division between the freezer and the fridge.........I took the back wall cover off. it revealed a large chunk of ice where the the build up of ice was on the outside of the wall. it covered part of the condenser, as well as the freezer sensor. the ice was removed.........all residual water sopt up from inside the bottom........no REAL catch basin in this mangy thing......it's all bolted in place! I spoke to the landlord.......who knows if he understood what I was telling him. long story short.......I'll see if it cures the problem. if it happens again, I would suspect that the defrost heater is at fault. the guy didn't even know that maytag refrigerators have a diagnostic circuit.......I found that out from a crumpled up paper in the back of the fridge, in the compressor cavity. what a world........what a world! the admiral was so happy {I guess}, that I could order a model.........a 1:28 Fokker Dr 1 it will look good next to my Fokker D VII.

......and 6 feet apart? {had to ask } look'in good at any rate