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

[davegee]

Very nice, LB! Looks good.

Bob

I read somewhere that using that Bendix turret caused spatial disorientation and motion sickness among gunners using it. Still, it is neat you found an airplane that used this design for a while until they came up with a better solution for the times.

Coming along great, Steve!

Davegee

[Elbee]

I read somewhere that using that Bendix turret caused spatial disorientation and motion sickness among gunners using it. Still, it is neat you found an airplane that used this design for a while until they came up with a better solution for the times.

Coming along great, Steve!

Davegee

DG,

Let there be no confusion, I, too, have suffered 'spatial disorientation and motion sickness' researching, implementing,

cutting, designing and fitting all the holes/parts for this fuselage modification.

It's a first world problem, but enough of one to drive a man to drink copious amounts of adult beverage.

Thanks for the encouragement, Gents, it means a lot.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Hey All,

Quick update: Prime, sand, prime sand....

Y'all know the drill.

Disappointed in all the 'gatoring' on this model, though some of it is self-inflicted, unfortunately.

I will soldier on, however.

I am using the same Krylon Filler/Primer I used on the Corsair, but it is just not doing as well.

I'll need to add a bit more filler, which slows the process.

The picture is a bit blurry and she doesn't look quite that bad in real time.

The good news is there are quite a few larger markings to add and she is a war weary warrior.

More when there is more....

Best, LB

[f4u ausie]

Lookin good Steve.. U r an amazingly. Patient man.. it's a heck of alota work.. and U already no ,, the harder U work the luckier U get

[RRHandy]

Hey All,

Quick update: Prime, sand, prime sand....

Y'all know the drill.

Disappointed in all the 'gatoring' on this model, though some of it is self-inflicted, unfortunately.

I will soldier on, however.

I am using the same Krylon Filler/Primer I used on the Corsair, but it is just not doing as well.

I'll need to add a bit more filler, which slows the process.

The picture is a bit blurry and she doesn't look quite that bad in real time.

The good news is there are quite a few larger markings to add and she is a war weary warrior.

More when there is more....

Best, LB

What I use as fill primer is a sample size of paint and equal amount of talcum powder (8 ounces) and paint on, just sand like normal.

[Elbee]

What I use as fill primer is a sample size of paint and equal amount of talcum powder (8 ounces) and paint on, just sand like normal.

Ron,

Great Tip, but what type of the sample size paint, Latex, acrylic, what or do use your final color?

Best, Steve

[Elbee]

Lookin good Steve.. U r an amazingly. Patient man.. it's a heck of alota work.. and U already no ,, the harder U work the luckier U get

Hah Craig,
If I had any patience, I'd be a Doctor...bu-dum-bump-tiss.

Thanks, I think "How would Craig do this?"

That keeps me motivated.

Best, LB

[RRHandy]

Ron,

Great Tip, but what type of the sample size paint, Latex, acrylic, what or do use your final color?

Best, Steve

Sample size from Lowes, I believe Acrylic Latex and tint grey.

[Elbee]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. I should go back to acrylic latex for these foamies.
It is what I've used on everything except the Corsair and I had great results always.

[f4u ausie]

Handy I've heard of that in the auto body trade.. if ya.doing a in show type . custom or bike

[Elbee]

Medium Bomber Fans,

Another update............. from LB......

Finished a remake of the lower fuselage turret to beef it up some.

I know I'll crunch it otherwise.

Added the glass and have just finished the dry fit before glue, filler, and primer/paint.

Next is masking for the color line and applying the upper color Desert Sand ANA 616.

This is quite pinkish and as I understand it, become more so with sun fading.

My plan is to use both ANA 616 and Desert Yellow for the finish, but use the yellower tone as part of the weathering.

As Dr Frankenstein was once heard to say, "We'll see what we will see, when we see it."

Or was that Stevie Wonder.

More when there is more...

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Color Critics,

This is ANA 616 Desert Sand in the sunlight.

Not as 'pinky' as I thought, but I can see how it would sun-fade to pink.

The paint is an Acrylic Enamel so I tested it on a piece of the EPO.

Held up just fine as did the primer coat.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Lads and Lassies,

WHAT?!?!?!?!

.....a pain to mask this little jewel.

Zinc Chromate down, then a quick splash of gray primer, and on to the Desert Sand.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Mitchell Menagerie.

Celebrating another small victory with the 'greenhouse'.

First coat zinc chromate, second gray primer, third Desert Sand.

No runs; however, there is some vinyl tape residue, but that's to be expected.

I have had this roll of 0,125" masking tape since the mid 80's and it still works great.

You can't leave it on the part for more than a couple days as it de-laminates somewhat and leaves the sticky behind.

Comes off with IPA.

I did get overspray in the inside and will deal with that once it cures out.

Next the cockpit greenhouse.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Coming along nicely, Elbee. Spending time in basement with this heatwave going on. Stay cool!

[davegee]

Mitchell Menagerie.

Celebrating another small victory with the 'greenhouse'.

First coat zinc chromate, second gray primer, third Desert Sand.

No runs; however, there is some vinyl tape residue, but that's to be expected.

I have had this roll of 0,125" masking tape since the mid 80's and it still works great.

You can't leave on the part for more than a couple days as it delaminates somewhat and leaves the sticky behind.

Comes off with IPA.

I did get overspray in the inside and will deal with that once it cures out.

Next the cockpit greenhouse.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

It's like opening a present on Christmas morning to see how it all turned out!

Good job!

Davegee

[Elbee]

Hey all,

Thanks fellas for the kudos.

The photos are not centering for lack of a better term when you click on those.

Just continue to click on it and it will come around.

Also, I narrowed the 'frames' of each of the plexi-glass sections when I masked everything.

The OEM seem too wide and not to scale IMHO.

Looks much better to me.

Best, LB

[Elbee]

Hello Fellow Medium Bomber Ardent Devotees,

There is more, so there is more.

Cockpit glass still needs to cure and then get cleaned up.

Turned out better than I thought.

Still don't know why the OEM upper sections were blocked out, in fact not even molded into the part.

In any event, I winged it and I like the way it turned out.

On to the verticals, then full paint for the fuselage.

See you then.

Best,
LB

[jetfool]

Excellent Elbee!

[Elbee]

Thanks, Rex.

[Charlee]

"Still don't know why the OEM upper sections were blocked out, in fact not even molded into the part"

The H and J models of the B-25 eliminated 3 of the upper rear cockpit glass panels that the A-G models had.

[Elbee]

Charlee

Did not know that, thank you.

I've been looking at "C" models and early production references too long.

Just wasn't paying attention.

Doh.

Best, LB