LB's FlightLine B-25J to B-25C "Desert Warrior" Build

[Elbee]

Mitchell Mob,

Applied some of Callie Graphics beautiful work to the verticals.

Found good reference photos for placement.

Going to need some faded weathering for certain.

Best, LB

[davegee]

That looks very fine, LB. Those desert-based aircraft really took a beating due to the elements, that's for sure. Love the desert sand color.

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

Bomber Buds,

Working on another "Easter Egg" of sorts.

With all the other details, I thought to upgrade the Top Turret as well.

Close up period reference and line drawings were used.

The pics show my 3rd version and it is getting closer.

I am also working to design the part to print as one part and not 2-4 parts.

Printing that version is sloth slow.


More when there be more. Arrgh,

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Excellent progress Elbee.

[borntoolate]

Mitchell Mob,

Applied some of Callie Graphics beautiful work to the verticals.

Found good reference photos for placement.

Going to need some faded weathering for certain.

Best, LB

Looking very good, sir!

Bob

[Elbee]

Thank you, Bob, however, I have to redo these as I used the OEM hinge line at my data line and the 'real' data line is at the counter-weight line if drawn from top to bottom. See actual photo. Should have new markings this week...Oops, just got in a hurry which is SOP. (Remember your training, 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast'. LOL.)

[davegee]

Bomber Buds,

Working on another "Easter Egg" of sorts.

With all the other details, I thought to upgrade the Top Turret as well.

Close up period reference and line drawings were used.

The pics show my 3rd version and it is getting closer.

I am also working to design the part to print print as one part and not 2-4 parts.

Printing that version is sloth slow.


More when there be more. Arrgh,

Best, LB

Looks great, Elbee. Question: what are those thin square plates on the front and back of the turret on the fuselage? I'm not familiar with those. Was that part of the real airplane or some other purpose for the model?? Just curious.

Thanks,

Davegee

[Elbee]

Dave,

Thanks and those panels will be glued to the fuselage top like the one on the bottom.

The aft panel is an "emergency escape hatch" as per the stencils. Shown in Yellow.

I have presumed the other is fuselage reinforcement centered on the bulkheads for the lower turret's weight. Shown in Red.

There is another panel on the bottom of the fuselage centered beneath the upper turret. Also Shown in Red.

My logic tells me structure and weight reinforcement opposite the turret holes top and bottom in the fuselage.

I have yet to find an iso that confirms exactly but the locations suggest added strength for the fuselage at bulkheads.

That is my story going forward and I'm sticking to it.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Dave,

Thanks and those panels will be glued to the fuselage top like the one on the bottom.

The aft panel is an "emergency escape hatch" as per the stencils. Shown in Yellow.

I have presumed the other is fuselage reinforcement centered on the bulkheads for the lower turret's weight. Shown in Red.

There is another panel on the bottom of the fuselage centered beneath the upper turret. Also Shown in Red.

My logic tells me structure and weight reinforcement opposite the turret holes top and bottom in the fuselage.

I have yet to find an iso that confirms exactly but the locations suggest added strength for the fuselage at bulkheads.

That is my story going forward and I'm sticking to it.

Best, LB

Sounds like a good plan, Elbee!

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

Bomber Brood,

I tinkered with it and finally said enuff and built my own, mostly.

I am using the sight cage or whatever they called it from the OEM turret, but the rest is new stuff.

Color order was not as accurate as I had referenced, so full repaint of parts.

Printing last test parts now, but this is the general idea.

More when there is more...

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Mitchell Maniacs,

I painted the new 3DP parts and the the Top Turret is ready for install short of masking/painting the clear dome.

I also got the (ahem) graphics rework done on the verticals after I had used the wrong data line, my mistake.

Callie came through in a couple weeks and now those are correct to picture reference.

More with there is more.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Following your progress Elbee. You make it look easy, but I know you have worked hard to get there.

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

Thanks Rex. Baby steps sometimes or is it 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I know you know what I mean....LOL Best, LB

[davegee]

Excellent progress, Elbee. Curious, do you happen to know what happened to this aircraft after it went on tour in the USA afterwards? Was it eventually scrapped, crashed, placed in a museum, etc.?

Thanks,

Davegee

[Elbee]

Nope, I do not. I need to run the BU Number, but that is a toss up.
Calif was it's last stop on the tour, unknown after that.

[Elbee]

Excellent progress, Elbee. Curious, do you happen to know what happened to this aircraft after it went on tour in the USA afterwards? Was it eventually scrapped, crashed, placed in a museum, etc.?

Thanks,

Davegee

Hey Dave,

My research shows as of March 2016 that B-25 BU #41-12860 was listed as "for reclamation" on June 6th of 1946.

http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?content=B-25

She had a great life.

Best, LB

[f4u ausie]

Dont no as much as u guys.... about the scale stuff... but the turret work looks just impeccable steve ... awsome as always small steps r good steps

[Elbee]

f4u ausie

Thanks much, Craig.

Not perfect, but representative of the subject.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Hey Dave,

My research shows as of March 2016 that B-25 BU #41-12860 was listed as "for reclamation" on June 6th of 1946.

http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?content=B-25

She had a great life.

Best, LB

Yep, that was probably the end of her. But as you say, she had a good life!

Thanks for that info. One of my reference books on B-17s has a small paragraph detailing the "life" of each of the12,731 B-17s that were built by several companies during WWII. Great source and I have been able to use it to "solve" some of the details as to what happened with a few of them that their families had wondered about for decades.

Press on with your B-25 as we enjoy watching the steps you are taking to make it another masterpiece!

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

Bomber Bunch,

Wanted to add the additional exhaust blisters, then one thing led to another.

Proportions are close, looking okay, still have a way to go.

There doesn't appear to be much, if any, offset of the motors.

More when I get a test print or two.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Hey Y'all,

Finished the first print of both the Cowl Ring and Engine Panels.

Printed at 0.15 mm layer height and angled areas show the expected layer lines.

Hope to remedy that with a either a softer transition of the exhaust fairing or when all else fails, post-processing.

The Cowl RIng matches my references, though next to the OEM part, it looks more angular.

I like the OEM shape, so I'll find a compromise.

Also, the Cowl RIng opening is larger in my design, so I will round over the LE more to reduce that circumference to match the OEM.

I want to use the OEM faux engine, I think it looks good.

Partially open Cowl Flaps are next, but will not be functional.

More when there is more...

Best, LB

[davegee]

Looking great, Elbee!!

Davegee

[Elbee]

Thanks, Dave.

[f4u ausie]

Is that 1 print. Or more then put together?? If 1. That's amazing. Those 3 d printers sure are the bees knees