This is the Hobby craft B-36 in 144th. Man I tell you it is big even in this scale! :o
The kit has gone together relatively easily. But I have some advice for anybody planning to build this baby.
Dry fit the components before gluing them together. The kit has a lot of flash and some of the parts mouldings are a bit meh, so serious sanding and scraping will be needed to get a decent fit. Otherwise you will be using a lot of filler. Especially the wings to the fuselage.
If you do this prior preparation then you will have no problems.
This will be wiffed.
Looks interesting. What are the two cutouts and blocks in the upper fuselage?
Ed
They are the remote controlled gun bays. I will add the guns when the whole thing has been painted.
They are a completly fictional representation of the real thing. :rolleyes:
OK. Looks like some BIG guns will fit on this one. I guess that would explain all the clear bubbles around them as well.
Ed
All the turrets were equipped with 20mm's Ed. There were 8 turrets (I think) which retracted into the fuselage when not in use, plus the two in the tail.
Does the kit come with these turrets or are you scratch building them Sisko?
The kit comes with the turrets.
The clear domes have the sighting gear that controls them. There is no sighting gear to go behind the domes provided in the kit. I guess 1/144th is a bit small and fiddly. I scratch built something to go behind each dome, just so it looks like something is there.
All hobbycraft give you is a decal. And that doesn't even fit.
Man am I excited to see how this comes out. The Hobbycraft B-36 isn't the easiest to build, but it's really ripe for whiffing!
I plan to turn one into an airliner, but I have a feeling yours is going to really rock, Sisko!
Brian da Basher
Wicked ! That's one cool looking bird so far. Thanks for the tips as well....I've been wanting to get one of those.
:cheers:
Quote from: Sisko on May 21, 2008, 03:32:30 PM
The kit comes with the turrets.
Neat! I think I will have to get one to see how the turrets are. Apart from a Monogram 1/72 B-36 I've got almost built and a whole bunch of parts and conversion to build an XC-99 in 1/72, I picked up a Contrail 1/72 B-36D kit a short while ago. I had thought it was a conversion but it turned out to be a whole kit, I want to build it with the turrets deployed.
Got a GRB-36 that I've been in awe of since I bartered for it some yrs ago. . . dunno if I'll build it OOB or go with my early 'Nam bombtruck idea.
Shas 8)
I have all three versions that Hobbycraft released. I want to do another Whiffed one as a soviet copy.
I would graft the front end from a tupolev or some other such aircraft to the front and move the aux jets to the tail. I was also going to us the trumpeter 1/44th bear to give me the turbo props but they aren't cheap so the project has gone on the back burner for now.
The Ficon version I want to do as a non whiff.
Not much to show for tonight because I am working on the six props. One of them has an almighty sink mark in it so..........more filler nurse.
No wonder the original was called the "aluminumn overcast.".........................even in 1:144 that is a big project.
Some pics/info on the gun turrets for everyone:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi37.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe68%2FGTwiner%2FCAC23%2Fb36guns-b.jpg&hash=3de674f69e94739bc0499d158265f55adf4d636a)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi37.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe68%2FGTwiner%2FCAC23%2FB36GT.jpg&hash=b4a5c61cc2bb4fcd6e96c39e4cd082321370d8f8)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi37.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe68%2FGTwiner%2FCAC23%2FB36GT2.jpg&hash=be4377e2d44abf7b79377c69e661fb1c1cbff260)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi37.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe68%2FGTwiner%2FCAC23%2FB36GT3.jpg&hash=ff014f140803733b1a5a24e33a7726dcfcbaf95b)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi37.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe68%2FGTwiner%2FCAC23%2FB36GT4.jpg&hash=07b7c894617eda3fc32605a486c4151c5abd87dc)
Regards,
Greg
Brilliant GTX, thanks a bunch. Just what I was looking for.
Awesome ! Thanks for that, Greg.....who knew !?
:wub:
Finished the the prep work now it's time for paint!!!!!!
Masking the canopy on this baby was a challange to say the least.
Another shot.
Tommorrow night more paint.
I'm in awe!
This thing is big!
What are you going to do with it, in the end, whif-wise?
Rafa
Yup....she's coming along beautifully !
:wub:
After 2 hours of masking. :banghead:
First top coat is done :thumbsup:
This shot should give some clues as to where this going! :rolleyes:
Desert scheme? R.A.F. Hemp? I'm enjoying the mystery! Sisko, I've got a feeling this is going to be a wonder to behold!
:thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
Wow! I'm glad you said it was hemp coloured. For a moment there I thought it was going to be flesh coloured and used as the executive transport for the Viagra people.
Massively cool build mate!
Quote from: Brian da Basher on May 26, 2008, 05:30:39 AM
Desert scheme? R.A.F. Hemp? I'm enjoying the mystery! Sisko, I've got a feeling this is going to be a wonder to behold!
:thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
I agree with Spatman, gotta be desert or Hemp MPA.
CAS bird for Desert Storm/Iraqui Freedom?
Rafa
(now piqued)
Coming along nicely but it's gonna be hard to inconspicuously play-fly around the yard with this one.
You're right there, Baz.....all play flying will have to be over the beach, or a sandbox !
Sure is looking good....thanks for the update teaser !
:wub:
Well the painting is done.
Now it's decalling and final assembly.
Then I have to find a stand.
The weathering is kept to a minimum because in this scale it can so very easily be overdone.
Absolutely sweet, Sisko! Now I know what scheme you're going for and it's a beauty! That camo with the black undersides looks soo right on a B-36!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
Quote from: Sisko on June 01, 2008, 04:57:14 AM
Then I have to find a stand.
Might I suggest a 3 tonne car jack ?
Very nice.....looking forward to the 'unveiling'.
:cheers:
Sisko, old friend, I never doubted you for a moment !
Ian
Looks awesome, I have the 1/72 scale Monogram kit, I'm tempted to whif. Looks good in the camo, do you have a back story for it?
As a matter fact I do.
Or should I say there is ;D
Finished.
From now on it's Sci-Fi
I have to finish my Bird of Prey for the pimp my ride comp. enjoy
All i did today was a bit of weathering with pastels and put all the little bits and pieces on it.
I it was not without a sense of drama however. I did manage to break one of the propeller blades off. But I managed to save the day with some super glue.
The decals are a mixture.
The cheesecake girl came from a starship modeller sheet that I have. These are excellent and well worth the investment. The rest are from a 1/72 lancaster sheet and the roundels came from a Hobbyboss typhoon kit.
The hobbyboss kits are great and the decals are good to. It's almost worth buying the kits for the decals.
The masking of the clear areas would be difficult in 1/72 let alone 1/144th. Still it came out allright in the end.
:wub: :wub: :wub:
Lets name it the Seattle!
The base is a MDF craft base from a local hardware store and the stand is a chair leg modified.
Overall I am pleased with the result and the kit was not to terrible to build. I would build another in the future.
Hope you guys enjoyed the build as much as I did.
Cheers
Quote from: B777LR on June 09, 2008, 12:28:05 AM
:wub: :wub: :wub:
Lets name it the Seattle!
Thanks!
Seattle is good.
That is really nice - teriffic stuff :thumbsup:
Wow - turned out great.
Regards,
Greg
:wub: gorgeous! :wub:
Love what you done with the B-36, looks great :thumbsup: :bow:
Superb build - like I said..... never doubted you !
Ian
Ooo! just look at that :o what a great result :bow: :thumbsup:
Lovely work, mate, but Anti-Flash White is so much....cleaner.... ;D
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv191%2Fluftbct%2FB-36%2FConvairMonroe003.jpg&hash=bb1cbcca9b6f8945fd86db0926a2dcf6b0bdb3f0)
It's a real treat to see a B-36 in RAF camo and markings and with the guns opened up! That's some tremendous work and you topped it with that very cool stand! Love it!!!
:wub: :wub: :wub:
Brian da Basher
I just had a thought occur to me.
Given that the B-36 big advantage was that it flew at such high altitudes, why are the guns mainly on the top side?
Very, very beautiful, Sisko. Wow! :wub: :thumbsup:
Dude that rocks!!! :wub: It looks like it was naturally built to wear RAF roundels.
-Ben
Cheers guys glad you enjoyed.
Quote from: Brian da Basher on June 09, 2008, 01:28:07 PM
It's a real treat to see a B-36 in RAF camo and markings and with the guns opened up! Brian da Basher
To right Brian - I think that's the first one I've seen with the guns opened up. I never knew thats what tehy did :banghead:
So, when you going to build yours Chris, eh, eh, when eh, he,he ;D
Tuck's anti flash white one is similarly superb, must finish my glossy sea blue US Navy patrol B-36...
I've got the monogram one in the stash.
It will probably be one of those that never gets built. 1/144th is so much easier to handle. :wacko:
Quote from: tinlail on June 09, 2008, 02:28:25 PM
I just had a thought occur to me.
Given that the B-36 big advantage was that it flew at such high altitudes, why are the guns mainly on the top side?
If I remember correctly, there are other guns on the underside, either fore or aft of the bomb bays. The visible turrets only account for ten of the twenty it was rated for.
Looks good in those RAF colours.
;D
Thanks found this text http://www.air-and-space.com/castlb36.htm (http://www.air-and-space.com/castlb36.htm)
"One of a pair of retractable turrets, each equipped with two 20 millimeter cannon. The turret door slides down the side of the bomber to expose the two turrets. There is another pair of turrets on the forward fuselage and a third pair on the lower rear fuselage, below this pair. The gunners occupied the plexiglas bubbles. A mechanical analog computer calculated the direction to point the turrets, taking into account the necessary lead angle and the displacement of the guns from the sighting blister."
So four turrets up top and two at the bottom, and one at each end
Just for the record the and I guess that I didn't mention it before but the door for the lower turrets is sealed.
But with a little kit bashing it could be opened.
I was reading that on take-off a lot of the crews use to have the forward upper turret hatches open just in case of a accident so the crew just behind it could escape faster.
Quote from: Aircav on June 10, 2008, 03:49:21 AM
So, when you going to build yours Chris, eh, eh, when eh, he,he ;D
1/72 or 1/144 scale one ? :banghead:
Both ;D
Excellent result mate! :thumbsup:
Are you going to bring it to the model expo this year?
:cheers:
Richard.
Love the traditional camo scheme and the nose art. great build.
Quote from: Gekko_1 on June 22, 2008, 01:22:15 AM
Excellent result mate! :thumbsup:
Are you going to bring it to the model expo this year?
:cheers:
Richard.
Glad you liked it!
I am definetly bringing it to the expo.
Hey, how did I miss this one? A real Knockout :wub:
Thats just...so...well...sort of...well..........................................GOOD :wub:
Found this one on a French website
Whoa ! What is that ? 28th scale ?
Pretty cool find.
:cheers:
The German version is 1/72 scale
Very beautiful work Sisko! You never cease to amaze me with your talent. :thumbsup: :bow:
Eddie
Amazing collection of High quality models :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :thumbsup: :bow: :bow: :bow:
More versions on the way? hopefully -_-
Great RAF B-36! :wub: Strangely, that Luftwaffe scheme suits the B-36 also!
:cheers: Bryan
Can you imagine what would happen if the German's Amerika bomber program could have succeeded and evolved. Would they built something in similar design and size as the B-36? My guess would have been probably, though something with twin vertical stabs//rudders, eight engines in four nacelles with a push pull configuration (which Dornier used frequently), twin main gear concept like th He177.
Cheers I am glad people liked the build. It was a lot of fun.
I am planning on doing a soviet version sometime in the future. This would require some extensive modifications to the kit which is the reason why it's in the to do list ;D
I am also thinking of using more basic manned turrets and I want to extend the nose glass to be sort of conical.
I have 1/44th scale bear and I am going to use the engines of that to master some new ones.
Quote from: Tuck on June 09, 2008, 12:53:13 PM
Lovely work, mate, but Anti-Flash White is so much....cleaner.... ;D
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv191%2Fluftbct%2FB-36%2FConvairMonroe003.jpg&hash=bb1cbcca9b6f8945fd86db0926a2dcf6b0bdb3f0)
This is the most beautiful plane I have ever seen. Is that in 1/72 scale? :bow: :bow:
It's the old Monogram kit and it's a monster in 1/72nd.
Hobbycraft kits in 1/144th are big enough. :o
QuoteThis is the most beautiful plane I have ever seen. Is that in 1/72 scale?
must agree, stark and beautiful.
you can't beat anti flash white
EXCELLENT :wub: :thumbsup:
Growing up in San Diego, where the Convair plant was, I would see these giants flying occasionally.
When I lived in Oxford, in my teens, I saw them almost every week. The approach path to Brize Norton's main runway went slap over the centre of Oxford and a B-36 went over so slow, and so low, it really did blot out the Sun sometimes! You could hear the drone from MILES away as they turned off base leg and onto the approach.
I only ever saw, and heard, one take-off with the '4 jets burning' as well as the '6 props turning' and that noise was unique, nothing I've heard before or since came close.
When the 'Stick' that undershot the runway at Boscombe Down went in my Dad was part of the recovery crew and I tried like hell to get a ride down there to see it, but his CO wasn't having any of it and I be satisfied with Dad's explanation of its incredible size.
One day I'll finish my 1/72 scale RB-36H/RF-84K FICON, but it won't be this year.... :(
Quote from: Sisko on June 23, 2009, 12:42:00 AM
It's the old Monogram kit and it's a monster in 1/72nd.
Hobbycraft kits in 1/144th are big enough. :o
Kind of a dumb question, but what kind of white paint did you use? I really want to build this!
Sorry but it's not mine. I built the RAF version which features a few pages back.
Tuck posted the pic of it. Given the size of the beast I would have used Auto enamals from a can.
Quote from: Sisko on June 01, 2008, 04:58:45 AM
The weathering is kept to a minimum because in this scale it can so very easily be overdone.
Sorry for the confusion, even though I like the anti-flash scheme, I think I would like to build a WWII RAF version like yours. Could you tell me the paints you used on your plane?
I gotta admit, the B-36 does look quite wicked... I find myself wondering what it might look like with six Bear Contra-props on the engine mountings...
Still, both are quite magnificent looking Peacemakers.
Quote from: rlee61 on June 24, 2009, 03:42:06 PM
Quote from: Sisko on June 01, 2008, 04:58:45 AM
The weathering is kept to a minimum because in this scale it can so very easily be overdone.
Sorry for the confusion, even though I like the anti-flash scheme, I think I would like to build a WWII RAF version like yours. Could you tell me the paints you used on your plane?
Tamiya and Gunze acrylics.
I use these almost exclusively.
Pastels for the weathering.
Quote from: Sauragnmon on June 24, 2009, 04:16:29 PM
I gotta admit, the B-36 does look quite wicked... I find myself wondering what it might look like with six Bear Contra-props on the engine mountings...
Still, both are quite magnificent looking Peacemakers.
I planned to build a Soviet copy for the Sovietise it build. I have two 1/144th bear kits and a host of other donors. I planned bear type contra props and tupolev style tail mounted jets I wanted a tupolev style glass nose and simpler turrets.
But in the end I just ran out of time.
Besides I have so many unfinished kits lying around that I really must get them done before I tackle anything else.
Quote from: Sauragnmon on June 24, 2009, 04:16:29 PM
I gotta admit, the B-36 does look quite wicked... I find myself wondering what it might look like with six Bear Contra-props on the engine mountings...
Possibly not unlike the projected, but never built, B-36C:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airwar.ru%2Fimage%2Fidop%2Fbomber%2Fb36%2Fb36-5.jpg&hash=cb58af6e9fae8d55d5c2e9524dd662a30cfd1d68)
Power plants were to be the R-4360 VDT.
There was a proposal to equip the B-36A with four Curtiss-Wright XT35-W-1 or T35-W-3
turboprop engines driving 19' diameter tractor propellers. The engine never came to be.
If the B-60 had made it into production, the production versions would possibly
have been powered by podded contra-prop equipped turboprop engines.
Jon
I've always liked the 'C' version Jon, I might build one of mine like that. Even though this is an enormous aircraft it looks all in proportion, but I had a real problem finding a box to pack the almost completed one I've done for my house move though, ended up having to use a box which a washing machine came in.
I was actually thinking of keeping the pusher look, but with contraprops...
Quote from: Sisko on June 24, 2009, 04:31:11 PM
Quote from: rlee61 on June 24, 2009, 03:42:06 PM
Quote from: Sisko on June 01, 2008, 04:58:45 AM
The weathering is kept to a minimum because in this scale it can so very easily be overdone.
Sorry for the confusion, even though I like the anti-flash scheme, I think I would like to build a WWII RAF version like yours. Could you tell me the paints you used on your plane?
what are the exact colors?
Tamiya and Gunze acrylics.
I use these almost exclusively.
Pastels for the weathering.
Oh the exact colours! :rolleyes:
I can't remember. :banghead:
Standard RAF colours from the tamiya range, dark green and brown and the under side is Gunze flat black.
Maybe someone can give the exact numbers?
Quote from: Sisko on June 24, 2009, 04:36:38 PM
Besides I have so many unfinished kits lying around that I really must get them done before I tackle anything else.
Sisko,
That way lies madness. :unsure:
One of the major assets of whiffing is a VAST stock of part finished kits, not to mention a monumental stash. Maintaining both of these resources gives you many more opportunities to come up with something wildly exotic, so the last thing you need to do is to finish off all the ones you have in build before starting any more. -_-
I have a question about the gun turrets. Were they isolated from the gun aiming positions in order to preserve the pressurisation? Or was it that when the turrets were opened the gun aiming positions became depressurised? If it was the latter, wouldn't that rather limit their usefulness at high altitude?
Apart from that, very nice models.
They were isolated. The gun sights were in the forward and aft crew compartments. The forward gun compartments could be accessed from the cabin, at least the top one since it was an escape route and you will almost always see those doors open when they are on the ground and taxiing.
Quote from: Aircav on June 26, 2008, 01:17:18 AM
Found this one on a French website
Thank goodness they never had them!!
MAD
Resurrecting this thread after 4 years............ ;D
Did anyone ever make an upgrade kit for the Monogram 1/72 B-36 so you could add the gun turrets in the deployed position?
My 'Stick' has always beeen intended to be a GRB-36J with an RF-84K hanging underneath and the Thunderflash has been built for many years now, as has major portions of the 'Stick', but I've noticed that all photos of the RF-84K being launched or recovered show the turret hatches opened but without the guns deployed. I'd like to do the thing reasonably accurately so it looks like some turrets would be essential.
Mind you, in recent years I've been thinking of doing it in a RAF scheme with a Hunter FR10 in the bomb bay....... ;)
Click2Detail does a few mods for it Kit, I don't think turrets was one of them though.
Quote from: PR19_Kit on April 29, 2013, 05:29:26 PM
Resurrecting this thread after 4 years............ ;D
Did anyone ever make an upgrade kit for the Monogram 1/72 B-36 so you could add the gun turrets in the deployed position?
My 'Stick' has always beeen intended to be a GRB-36J with an RF-84K hanging underneath and the Thunderflash has been built for many years now, as has major portions of the 'Stick', but I've noticed that all photos of the RF-84K being launched or recovered show the turret hatches opened but without the guns deployed. I'd like to do the thing reasonably accurately so it looks like some turrets would be essential.
Mind you, in recent years I've been thinking of doing it in a RAF scheme with a Hunter FR10 in the bomb bay....... ;)
Kit, skip the turrets, but keep the rear upper turret doors open if you want to show the aircraft in realistic recovery/launch phase. The 10 RB-36D's that were modified to the mother ships were part of the Featherweight III program that removed a good deal of equipment, including all main turrets except the tail turret. (The Featherweight conversion saved about 15,000 pounds). The full designation for the mothership was GRB-36D-III, with the III designating the featherweight modifications. I note you used the GRB-36J designation in your post, so not sure if you want to WHIF a "J" as a mother ship, but the "J" also only had the tail turret, so either way, leave the turrets off, but the turret doors need to be there. I see no reference to a "J" being a mother ship. So the turret storage bays should be empty (no turrets), making your job easier.
Now for the gun turret doors. The aft upper doors should be displayed open if you are showing the RF-86K or a FICON Hunter on the hook with the parasite doors open. They learned the hard way if the turret doors were not open when the bomb bay opened up, the difference in pressure would blow the rear turret doors off the airplane. So they would open the rear upper turret doors before opening the bomb bay/FICON bay doors.
I love the ideas of Hunter on the hook! Go for it.
My main reference for this post is "Magnesium Overcast", by Dennis R. Jenkins, ISBN 1-58077-042-6, pages 177-178 for the GRB version and page 79 for the Featherweight modification, with a chart showing the number of turrets for all versions. (only the tail turret on the J and the GRB version).
It has some great info on the FICON modifications. Happy to supply more if you need it.
Dave.
That makes life a lot easier Dave, thanks. I've got that 'Magnesium Overcast' book myself, as well as a few other books on the B-36 but I couldn't figure out how the 'Featherweight' mods stacked up with the FICON project. Building just the open bays should be easier than adding those complex turrets and ammunition feeds!
Sadly far too many of the published photos of the launches and retrievals during the FICON project show the original nose intake F-84F with the original longer trapeze rather than the production RF-84Ks with the wing root intakes and the anhedral tailplane with the shorter trapeze used in service by the 91st SRS. Somewhere I have the trapeze mostly built, but it may get cannibalised for use on my Convair F4Y-2 Petrel project, see here :-
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,34362.0/highlight,convair+petrel.html (http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,34362.0/highlight,convair+petrel.html)
I'm sure you can recognise the antecedants of the Petrel's trapeze in the drawings. ;D
You are welcome, yes it should be easier without the turrets. I too have a soft spot for parasite fighters and would like to hear more stories on the 91st squadron while in service. Seems they went away pretty quickly when the U-2 came into service, but there seems to be some hints of penetrating Soviet airspace. Good luck with this and the Petrel.