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

[Elbee]

I know there is always discussion about these lights...look great, Elbee. What did you use for the silver bowl-shaped parts of the recognition lights?

Cheers

davegee

Dave,

Designed and printed the "cups".

Wonderfully simple: 14 mm diameter cylinder X 3.7 mm deep dished from the zero datum to the top with a semi-flattened 1/2 sphere.

For the 0.5mm inner lip use a cut out (negative) cylinder at 13 mm diameter set 0.5 mm below the top of the positive cylinder.

Presto-Change-O, add a bit of brite-silver paint for the reflection and "Bob's your uncle."

Cut the lenses from 1/32nd clear sheet using a sharpened brass tube and used Clear Colors of Tamiya Acrylic Paints for Amber, Green, and Red.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Mitchell Maniacs,

Finally, mounted the LB Cowls to the Nacelles.

Had to design a jig to hold those at the correct down thrust angle per OEM.

The jig uses the motor's prop shaft as the zero and an inner ring that fits the ID of the cowl to center and stabilize the entire part to the center line of the motor until the glue dries.

Whew, that was quite the description.

Anyway, it works.

Next is repainting the prop tips as per davegee's suggestion (thanks, Dave) that the OEM yellow tips are too long/wide from the tips to the base to be scale.

Well, I checked my references and he is quite correct, so somewhere along the line I'll need to repaint the tips on my Spittie and my Corsair, too.

Gotta do what ya gotta do, right.

Once props are complete it's on to mounting the nacelles to the fuselage.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Mitchell Maniacs,

Finally, mounted the LB Cowls to the Nacelles.

Had to design a jig to hold those at the correct down thrust angle per OEM.

The jig uses the motor's prop shaft as the zero and an inner ring that fits the ID of the cowl to center and stabilize the entire part to the center line of the motor until the glue dries.

Whew, that was quite the description.

Anyway, it works.

Next is repainting the prop tips as per davegee's suggestion (thanks, Dave) that the OEM yellow tips are too long/wide from the tips to the base to be scale.

Well, I checked my references and he is quite correct, so somewhere along the line I'll need to repaint the tips on my Spittie and my Corsair, too.

Gotta do what ya gotta do, right.

Once props are complete it's on to mounting the nacelles to the fuselage.

Best, LB

I just found this on a quick online search: I just checked my guesstimates on my FMS P-47 and what do you know, the yellow tips measure out to an equivalent of 4 inches tall, by 1941 military standards! Besides, to me the OEM prop blades make the plane look like a toy with those wide yellow bands. Comparing our models to period photos, no question, narrower is better and more scale (not that Any of us care about scale!) HA! Davegee

During World War II, the standard for painting propeller tips on Allied military aircraft (USAAF, USN, and RAF) was a 4-inch (approx. 10cm) yellow band applied to the tips of the blades, primarily as a safety warning to ground crew.

• Primary Purpose: The bright yellow tips provided high contrast against the typically black-painted, rapidly rotating blades, helping personnel avoid walking into the propeller arc.
• Coloration: The tips were painted yellow, often on both the front and back sides of the blade, though sometimes only the front.
• Time Period: While some earlier, pre-war, or early-war aircraft used red/yellow/blue painted bands, the standardized yellow tip was adopted by the USAAF around August 1941 and for US Navy aircraft by early-to-mid 1942.
• Other Markings: While yellow tips were standard for visibility, some early war British propellers used by Rotol carried colored identification discs (white, red, or blue) indicating blade material or settings, rather than just tip safety paint.

[Elbee]

Bomber Bunch,

Kwik Update.

Adding the nomenclature and graphics to the nacelles, weathering as I go.

More when there is some more...

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Looks fantastic!

[RRHandy]

Awesome

[f4u ausie]

Absolutely awesome Steve... Always wished I got a birdcage f4.. 4 me lighter colour show the dirty weathered effect so much more.. I'm looking forward to finished product almost as much as u. I really like a dirty warbird!!