High speed recon bomber

[sequoiaranger]

I like the look of this, Frank!

I, too, have looked at the 1/144 B-26, as a possibility for a 1/72 whif, but have since sold mine off.

If you are looking for an appropriate name for your project, I have a suggestion. I was looking in the dictionary for some appropriate moniker that started with "Mar-----" to keep the "Marauder" aspect to it, and found "Marabou". A Marabou is an African or East Indian stork from which ladies' hats were made around the turn of the 20th century. Perhaps a stork name is a little "slow" for a swift aircraft, but at least it is a bird name with "mara" in it. Also, traditionally the "stork" carries bundles (babies) like a bomber. You could keep the British-style alliteration, too-- Martin Marabou!

[Brian da Basher]

Surf board foam? I've never heard of this before, but the results look top notch!

The pins to strengthen the wing join is a smart move. I should take a lesson from you, Frank.

It's great to see this beauty progressing so nicely!

Brian da Basher

[frank2056]

I finally had a chance to primer the plane:



The wing roots are smooooth.

I wasn't too happy with the 1/200 scale jet engines, so I took two 1/100 Jumo 004s from a Tamiya kit and sanded down the tops (where the wing joints are) until they were flat, then glued them together. It looked pretty good - but I liked the intake section from the DML 1/200 B-52, so I sawed off the front of the Tamiya engines and glued on the B-52 fronts. The result still needs a fair amount of PSR, but it looks good. I'm also followed Brian's suggestion and moved the engines to just over the wings (closer to the plane's CG):



It's too bad there aren't any British NMF bombers, because the finish on this model is better than my usual efforts. I didn't do more than clean the surface with a rag before the primer, and the finish is nice and shiny.

I'll go with RAF colors - sorry, colours - Medium Sea Gray & RAF Dark Green. I'm tempted to do the undersides in Medium Sea Gray as well (since I have it...)

Frank

[Tophe]

better and better...

[thedarkmaster]

Why not go anti flash white.........it'll look top class that way   

[frank2056]

Why not go anti flash white.........it'll look top class that way   

That's an idea.... I guess it would look OK for an early 50's jet. Were low-viz (pink & light blue) roundels and fin flash in use then, or just muted reds and blues?

Brian - surfboard foam is used for making... surfboards. It's a closed cell rigid polyurethane foam that looks like a white version of balsa or florist foam, only it's very hard (you can dent it with a fingernail, but not crush it easily)and not crumbly. It can be sanded paper thin (down to a single foam cell) and it soaks up just the right amount of CA to make the surface glassy smooth and to stick to plastic.
A friend went to a surf shop in San Diego and asked them if they had any leftover bits he could buy; they looked at him funny and just gave them the cutoffs that they were going to toss. I got one of the corners - three feet long, 3" thick and with a curve from where the board was cut out. It's lasted me for about 8 years!

Frank

[Brian da Basher]

I really like the engine placement, which is a dramatic improvement over what I was imagining. As for a RAF plane in NMF, you could go that route with high-viz markingsand call it a prototype.

Thanks for the tips regarding surfboard foam. Seems like a very interesting thing to work with and your results are outstanding!

Brian da Basher

[frank2056]

I tried to finish this model last week, with anti-flash white. For some reason, the white finish was really pretty awful and I ended up taking it off - and also the primer and while I was at it, I knocked a wing off and rubbed off the tape I'd used to mask off the canopy. By the end of the day, everything was back to where it had been at the start - primered and re-masked. I decided to quit while I was ahead.
Instead of a anti-flash white, I opted for the PRU blue/gray undersides and darker gray and green upper sides.

This where it's at right now - no decals and missing the weathering and small bits:



I had one minor masking disaster, which I may just leave as is. I painted the lower nose radome black, and the rear gun radar (which I'll call a Cylon gun, because it looks like a nuBSG raider).

The question now is what type of markings to use on a mid 50's RAF bomber? Here are some RAF decals I printed up a while ago:



Which set should I use? Also, serial numbers and squadron markings - I have no idea as to what to use. The number has to have 0912 in it somewhere, but what would be the squadron markings, etc.?

Frank

[Sauragnmon]

I think the camo paint does a real slick effect on the plane.  As to roundels, I think the tricolours were the ones in use around that timeframe, but I Might be wrong (and probably am) so I'll defer to Others on this.

[thedarkmaster]

With the cammo you have mate you need to use the full 3 colour markings in bright not the subdude anti flash ones, as for the serial not sure. I'm off to work now but if noone has answered whwn i get back i will look into my books for an answer.

[JayBee]

This site will help you with RAF serials.

http://www.ukserials.com/

JimB

[Stargazer]

This aircraft looks incredibly good with the camo on! Can't wait to see it finished and in a proper setting, it will be awesome!

[Brian da Basher]

That camo scheme looks great, Frank! I'd go with the three color markings, but hopefully one of our resident RAF experts will give you an authoritative answer.

Brian da Basher

[frank2056]

Thanks for the comments; I'll use the three color decals and Jim - that site is great! I found an unused serial number that wasn't being used - XE912.

Now I need a unit suggestion - hopefully one with a small and fairly simple design.

I'll probably go back and retouch the camo pattern, then it's decal and weathering time!

Frank

[Martin H]

try 543 squadron. they last flew photo recci Victors. and have a long and proud history as a PR squadron.