Clunkmeister

There needs to be some, yes.

I’ve been wrenching my remaining 74 brain cells, thinking of a companion build for my Lanc that would have real Texas connection. Sabre Dogs have been done ad nauseum, and so have Tex Hill’s and Jack Ilfrey’s Birds. Besides, I like building bombers and transports, not so much scouts, pursuits, and fighters. So I stumped around, looking for the most Texas of iconic Texas aircraft, one that had to have a definite Texas connection well beyond flying for a Texas squadron or being flown by a Texan. So, we decided on the only aircraft that is insanely more ostentatious than a big aluminum, white, and orange Lanc is the B-36 Magnesium Overcast, built right here in Fort Worth. 10 engines! Only in Texas would something this crazy be dreamed up and actually built! 6 turning and four burning, as they said. Or, as they also said, Two turning, two burning, two choking, two smoking, and two unaccounted for. A magnesium, white and shiny aluminum RB-36. Oh heck yeah, baby! The ultimate stash queen, hiding as investment models worldwide. What better than to turn a $1000.00 stash queen into a worthless built model? C’mon guys, this just gotta be done! The overlooked high flyer that was the only US strategic bomber that never once had to drop a bomb in anger. Right up till the day it was retired, it was for all intents and purposes, untouchable. Decent SAMs weren’t developed yet, and there wasn’t a fighter that could reach it. The reworked "featherweights" routinely cruised at 55,000 ft+, sometimes pushing 60,000 ft., and crews stated it could go much higher. That’s U-2 territory! And then there’s the real reason for that huge wing. It could carry the US’s heaviest nuclear bombs right to Russia and return to its base. Nonstop. Unrefueled. For shorter ranges, it could carry over 80,000 lbs of bombs. Long range she could manage 10-12,000 lbs. Yes, it was a maintenance nightmare, but the Russians were terrified of it and it was the perfect deterrent in the days before the ICBM, and was only knocked off its lofty perch by the new B-52. If the B-52 hadn't eventually successful, we might still have re-engined B-36s plying the skies. The B-36 only served for about 11 years, but such was the state of the race back then that the huge part time jet was eclipsed by a smaller 8 engined full timer.

So tonight, we went over all the resin to plastic areas as a few had let loose during shipping. Now that the airframe is solid, we’re now working on adding pipes an wiring for the multitude of electronics.

And officially, it’s 1/48 scale, so not a true LSM according to da roolz.

I know, eh? It’s bloody humongous. And most of all, it has quite the local history, having been built right here about 20 miles from my office. It’s the only US strategic bomber to have never dropped a bomb in anger, so by that measure, was extremely successful in its stated goal of nuclear deterrence. And, throughout the 1950s until the development of a reliable SAM, was completely untouchable and unstoppable, cruising stately along at 50,000 ft+. No MiG could reach it, not even close, actually.

I actually like the big Jug. She carries the best American engine of the war, possibly of all time, and despite her size, has a certain sleekness about her. Elliptical wing, all curves and swoops, hardly a straight line anywhere on her.

I was finishing detailing the Lanc’s wings, and for a minute I saw a giant squirrel and contemplated something I’ve been picking away at for about a year..... Then I came to my senses. It’s not even a true LSM! But then again, what could be the only prop job to be more ostentatious than the big RCAF Lanc 10MR? That’s a Lanc wing in the background, btw. I think we’re gonna need a bigger bench

all that work frantically clinging to the earth to keep from falling off has finally gotten to the poor sod. But yes, it's it's Nutter Butter and Smuckers preserves....

Phil, I have a 1/16 Tamiya Easy Eight, a Tomiya Birdcage, an HK PBJ-1H, a MuG-23, a Tamiya Male, and an HPH P-63 on the SOD as well. Just out of sight.

And it’s a simple month of weekends from completion as well.

Agreed, and I'll be adopting that idea as well. Hubert's full of cool ideas. AND that Japanese W-29 is very cool.

My bench used to look just like Carl’s. Then I spilled stuff all over my F-5 and had to re rivet the entire model. HZ organizers were the nest investment I ever made. They aren’t a perfect solution, but they do give everything a home. Mise en place.

I love the wooden ships along with small coasters and fishing boats. Same with pre dreadnoughts and up to and including anything pre steam turbine. But teeny parts like this? I’d be mumbling to myself in three hours.

He’ll be singing about lumberjacks before you know it. The GRC. Gravel Road Cop. Only true Canadians who lived on the prairies will get that one.

I finished mine, but struggled in the gear bays with the rear of the engine, etc. Ryan, it’s looking stunning so far.

my bench is littered with stalled builds.

I look at instructions and I think I’d rather build super detaIled RE.8’s in a bottle... everything is pinhead sized

Anyone ever built this sadistic thing?

Anyone have them? I sure do, and usually for no reason other than “because”. I hang my head in shame. And yes, that is the unbuildable Kitty Hawk Su-17 fuselage. My third.

Flawless execution, Jeroen. Far and away the best build I’ve ever seen of this kit.

Yep! Give that man. See-Gar! I knew what it was and started chuckling right away but I never knew it was only for the grey and white ships.

What Phil said!

Interesting on the seat, Ryan. It must have been scaled by the same person who scaled my Helldiver seat. I had to take a big section out of the middle to get it to the correct size. We all have our squirrel moments, and this one oughta be great!

This is looking great so far, Antonio. I’m not much up on what’s right and what’s subtly wrong with the various 109 kits on the market, so I’ll take your word for it. So far, it’s looking stunning, and, oh, before I forget, WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!