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

[borntoolate]

Great work,Elbee!!! I bought this one when it first came out but due to my stroke induced mobility limitations, I have not started it yet. I plan to do another B-25B Ruptured Duck like my FMS "Duck" - just as soon as I feel up to it!
You are doing a great job on this and have inspired me.


Bob

[Elbee]

Great work,Elbee!!! I bought this one when it first came out but due to my stroke induced mobility limitations, I have not started it yet. I plan to do another B-25B Ruptured Duck like my FMS "Duck" - just as soon as I feel up to it!You are doing a great job on this and have inspired me. Bob

Bob, I am honored that you think so, I thank you, Sir.

It is the historic livery, much like "The Ruptured Duck" is for you, that caught my interest.

It just happened that it was a "C" variant.

Finding and designing parts isn't too hard on this, however, the aft fuselage glass is going to be a challenge.

My plan is to sculpt it from the pink foam on the model, cut that away, finish it with glass and epoxy, then primer and mold release.

I then plan to vacuum form it with my new-old Mattel Vacu-Form Machine like I did with stuff as a kid.

I'd thought I'd cut the fuse at the wonky angle just a tad short to allow for the vacuform part will be just oversized by the material thickness, then cut the fuselage at the correct angle and location, measure and cut the clear part after that; that's the plan for now, anyway.

If it's too large to do in one pull, I will probably try the oven method, but if Tamms finds out; I'll be building small plastic models for the rest of my days around here.

Not that I wouldn't enjoy that, it just doesn't allow for much innovation.

I trust you'll be back to building soon and when you are, let me know if you'd like any of the parts I'm designing and printing.

I won't get off into the weeds like the Corsair, though I like adding something to 'scale it up' a bit.

Best to you and yours,
Steve

[borntoolate]

Bob, I am honored that you think so, I thank you, Sir.

It is the historic livery, much like "The Ruptured Duck" is for you, that caught my interest.

It just happened that it was a "C" variant.

Finding and designing parts isn't too hard on this, however, the aft fuselage glass is going to be a challenge.

My plan is to sculpt it from the pink foam on the model, cut that away, finish it with glass and epoxy, then primer and mold release.

I then plan to vacuum form it with my new-old Mattel Vacu-Form Machine like I did with stuff as a kid.

I'd thought I'd cut the fuse at the wonky angle just a tad short to allow for the vacuform part will be just oversized by the material thickness, then cut the fuselage at the correct angle and location, measure and cut the clear part after that; that's the plan for now, anyway.

If it's too large to do in one pull, I will probably try the oven method, but if Tamms finds out; I'll be building small plastic models for the rest of my days around here.

Not that I wouldn't enjoy that, it just doesn't allow for much innovation.

I trust you'll be back to building soon and when you are, let me know if you'd like any of the parts I'm designing and printing.

I won't get off into the weeds like the Corsair, though I like adding something to 'scale it up' a bit.

Best to you and yours,
Steve

Steve, I hope to start soon on my mods. I am working with only one functional had so it is gonna be a challenge for me. However, I have always liked building and modding as mush as flying!
I would be extremely grateful to purchase your printed mods as that will really help me along. I will , of course, be happy to compensate you for your time and skill to obtain your fantastic parts!


I need to get busy on this...

thank you, sir,

Bob

[Elbee]

You'll be fine, I that I have no doubt. PM sent.

[Elbee]

Mitchell Madmen,

jetfool reminded me I had not posted any progress here in a while.

I have been draft printing and 'dry fitting' some prototype parts for the Bombardier's Gallery, (the description in a B-25 book I have).

So far this includes a fuselage bulkhead, fuselage sides and floor, new ammo boxes w/shelf, ammo belts, bicycle seat, jump seat, new machine guns, and a new bomb-sight.

In the end, most of this mod will be invisible without getting up close and personal, but I'll sure know it is there.

I will add some detail to he cockpit area: however, since this is also the forward battery compartment, there's not much room for added bits.

The addition of an IP and cowl cover; seat backs and harnesses for the crew are the other 'must have' mods.

More when there is more.

Best, Steve

[jetfool]

Boy this is looking great! The little details added to these models is worth it when someone looks closely and are amazed that you built them. Pat yourself on the back, Elbee.

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

I thank you, Sir.

[davegee]

Looking great, Elbee!👍

[borntoolate]

Steve, you are fast becomming a master! Fantastic work! I am envious


Bob

[Elbee]

borntoolate

I thank you, Bob and I am humbled by the suggestion I could be having anything but fun with this.

Master, indeed. If Tamms sees your post, I'll be raking leaves everyday until it snows.

She does a good job of keeping me in my place.

Hope all is on the mend on your end.

I am looking forward to assisting anywhere I can with your "Ruptured Duck" build.

Best to you and yours,
Steve

[borntoolate]

borntoolate

I thank you, Bob and I am humbled by the suggestion I could be having anything but fun with this.

Master, indeed. If Tamms sees your post, I'll be raking leaves everyday until it snows.

She does a good job of keeping me in my place.

Hope all is on the mend on your end.

I am looking forward to assisting anywhere I can with your "Ruptured Duck" build.

Best to you and yours,
Steve

Thank you, Steve!!!

[Elbee]

Hey All,

Between Christmas, New Years, a cold, Winter in Kansas, and anything else I can think of, I've been negligent in my building.

That stopped yesterday when I began gluing in Nose Parts.

I had to adjust a couple parts, namely those pesky side walls.

As you can see, I had to use clamps to hold everything in place.

Clamps marked the EPO, but not an issue as all will get filler and primer.

I will paint in an Interior Green or Green Zinc Chromate which ever is lighter.

Santa brought me a new 'resin' 3D printer for Christmas, so all the little detail parts, Ammo Boxes, Bomb Sight, .50 cals, radios, etc, should be more better-er.

Looking forward to that adventure.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Elbee,

Glad to see your back on the B-25. Holidays always bring modeling to a standstill for a few weeks. Glad you're feeling better.
Congrats on your new printer.
B-25 mods are gonna look great.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Hey All,

Between Christmas, New Years, a cold, Winter in Kansas, and anything else I can think of, I've been negligent in my building.

That stopped yesterday when I began gluing in Nose Parts.

I had to adjust a couple parts, namely those pesky side walls.

As you can see, I had to use clamps to hold everything in place.

Clamps marked the EPO, but not an issue as all will get filler and primer.

I will paint in an Interior Green or Green Zinc Chromate which ever is lighter.

Santa brought me a new 'resin' 3D printer for Christmas, so all the little detail parts, Ammo Boxes, Bomb Sight, .50 cals, radios, etc, should be more better-er.

Looking forward to that adventure.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

Fabulous, Elbee! Please keep us informed on how you get on with the new resin printer. My friend Archie at the Ace Hardware store just got a resin printer and is putting it through its paces. I would like to get one myself, someday. There are some applications that you mentioned just perfect for a resin printer.

Cheers

davegee

[borntoolate]

Hey All,

Between Christmas, New Years, a cold, Winter in Kansas, and anything else I can think of, I've been negligent in my building.

That stopped yesterday when I began gluing in Nose Parts.

I had to adjust a couple parts, namely those pesky side walls.

As you can see, I had to use clamps to hold everything in place.

Clamps marked the EPO, but not an issue as all will get filler and primer.

I will paint in an Interior Green or Green Zinc Chromate which ever is lighter.

Santa brought me a new 'resin' 3D printer for Christmas, so all the little detail parts, Ammo Boxes, Bomb Sight, .50 cals, radios, etc, should be more better-er.

Looking forward to that adventure.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

I am glad to see your progress!! Looking really good. I am working on getting my workspace situated so I can restart my hobby! - just gotta learn to adjust to working with only one good hand...


Bob

[Elbee]

borntoolate

Bob, I applaud your tenacity and courage.

I am both humbled and inspired by your thought process and looking forward to watching your build.

The first step might be daunting, but take it anyway, my friend

Let me know if there are any parts or ideas I can provide to assist you.

Post to me here or PM me anytime.

Best, Steve

[borntoolate]

borntoolate

Bob, I applaud your tenacity and courage.

I am both humbled and inspired by your thought process and looking forward to watching your build.

The first step might be daunting, but take it anyway, my friend

Let me know if there are any parts or ideas I can provide to assist you.

Post to me here or PM me anytime.

Best, Steve

Thank you, Steve. You are a true gentleman.

Bob

[Elbee]

Hey y'all.

Quick update.

Received an Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra resin printer from Santa on Christmas morning...

Came with a Wash and Cure Station, too, and a bottle of resin, which I did not use for this print.

I used a resin that is both water and/or alcohol clean up ($59.95+tax) and used alcohol for clean up.

I had to order all the peripheral items no one tells you that you must have in order to start printing.

A couple gallons of alcohol and not the 'fun alcohol' either.

Various small containers with baskets for washing parts.

A couple large silicone mats for the printer and wash/cure station to keep resin off of anything.

Nitrile gloves, of course, and a quadrillion paper towels.

Works out to be another $110.02 USD additional cost, not too bad, but ya gotta have it all.

So, my very first resin print is my LB Bomb Sight that costs $170.00+USD not to mention Santa's cash layout. .

I had printed it with my Prusa Mk3S and there's some good detail so I wanted to see the difference printed in resin.

My conclusions for what that's worth?

Great detail, as expected, perhaps too much when it comes to lack of pixel count/polygons in the original design.

Hi-res still doesn't always have enough poly-count to eliminate those flats showing in an accurate print

This is especially true of round objects or parts that have compound curves.

But, so what, right? How does it look.

Note that size of the print on the left is scaled for my B-25.

The resin print is 30%+/- too large which is the design size.

I wanted to see how accurate the resin print could render my design.

You be the judge.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Wow! That's impressive! I hope to add a resin printer to my arsenal of hobby tools sometime down the road. Good going, Elbee!!👍👍👍👍👍
Dave

[borntoolate]

Looking good, Steve!!!!


Bob

[Elbee]

Update Re: Resin Prints

I've done some more resin printing with really nice results: however, some unexpected, but logical results.

Resin printed parts are heavy and that does make sense, but I was surprised by how much heavier.

The B-25 Nose Ammo Box design with filament printed #2 in the picture weighed 5 grams, that same design resin printed #1 in the picture at 12 grams.

The detail was similar, but the clear winner is the resin for detail and the filament for weight.

Noted that there has been no post processing of the filament printed part, no sanding, priming or finish work of any kind.

It doesn't take much work to improve the filament prints in that way and a resin print print still requires sanding, priming and painting.

Yes, you're saying I could redesign the boxes and that I will, it just there is this wall thickness issue with resin printing if you rely on the "hollowing' option in the slicer.

Point is if resin printing is the detail I want the design needs to be adjusted or simply designed with that in mind inherently.

I will also experiment with 'skins' for lack of a better term, where the detail part is very thin in overall and the detail lies mostly on the top.

That can glued to an underlying structure of a thin walled filament print which is what I did for my Flightline Corsair cockpit parts

In plastic model world this method is used for the very small Cockpits in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale aircraft for an example.

Highly detailed, but thin when resin printed, i.e., Red Fox Studios, Ammo, etc.

Anyway, I will continue to post when there is something to post and write about the Bomber Pilots (Max Grueter Design from CGTrader), then, it's scale issue.

My very best to borntoolate as he is still contemplating and planing his project B-25J to C model build of the "Ruptured Duck" Mitchell B-25C: love ya Bro.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Elbee,
Your process is very nice. You are the design Guru on these foam planes. Waiting on the next update.

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

You are most kind, Sir. Thank you.