Infinity Models SB2C-4 Helldiver. Finished. Well, OK, maybe not.

[GazzaS]

32 minutes ago, Clunkmeister said:

A STEP?  Like essplain yourself, Esse. 

Would the airflow be smooth at all points around the cowl?  Or is there a step where the airflow has to change to move around it?

[Clunkmeister]

8 minutes ago, GazzaS said:

Would the airflow be smooth at all points around the cowl?  Or is there a step where the airflow has to change to move around it?

It seems as smooth as any WW2 bomber’s radial installation would be. Cowl flaps certainly interrupt airflow.

I’m doing a bit more research right now. To me, something seems slightly “off” 

[Clunkmeister]

A word to the wise.  The kit exhaust faIrings are an absolute work of fiction.

You have three choices as a builder: build a fictional model that looks kinda like a Helldiver, scratchbuild some and use blackened brass tubing as exhaust pipes, or use the 3D printed Resin2Detail parts.

Scratchbuilding them would be a rather simple job, however I decided to try the new Resin2Detail exhaust correction parts. 
These parts are absolutely exquisite and are a massive improvement over the misshapen blobs provided in the kit, but beware; trouble lurks ahead. 
The rear fairings on these are paper thin.  So thin that even looking at them wrong might cause them to shatter, so, before removing the parts from their runners, run some thick CA inside the rear areas of these and hit it with Zip Kicker or equivalent. Then and only then, snip them from their supports. 
 

Also, the slats are meant to be displayed open, and as supplied, are nowhere even close to being able to be modeled closed. They’re molded clunky and with thick cross sections, plus, they’re way, way too deep, as in about 1/4” too deep.  I spent a good half hour manufacturing plastic dust as I thinned out and sanded them to fit. I will install them open, but I’m not sure that’s correct for these aircraft. 
I assume that they are the Messerschmitt modified standard of the Handley Page style that float free on rollers, all counterbalanced and move based only on aerodynamic need.  The picture is of the modified slats. 
 

A bit of time spent on these two areas now will go a long way toward enhancing the look of the finished model. 

[Peterpools]

Ernie

Looking so good and the level of work you are taking the kit & parts to is off the chart and looking so good. Glad you're back to whipping the "Beast" into shape.

 

 

[Clunkmeister]

2 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Ernie

Looking so good and the level of work you are taking the kit & parts to is off the chart and looking so good. Glad you're back to whipping the "Beast" into shape.

 

 

It’s certainly a “one step at a time” situation, Peter.  The easy way is to assemble the kit, throw on a killer paint job, put it in the display case, and squint every time you look at it. 
But for as big as this model is, it’s a little thing compared to Grumman’s Big Turkey. 

[Clunkmeister]

She’s starting to excite me in a lot of ways, now.  Details being applied, and it’s getting nicer and nicer as we go along. 
The slats are now more or less scale size and thickness, and actually fit the wings now. I also slimmed the crap out of the blocks of plastic they give you to Mount the slats on. 
Milliput is my friend, here. 

[Peterpools]

Ernie

Super progress and looking mighty good. You're whipping the Old Girl into shape for sure. I'm also quite impressed with the PE exterior details that fit and look as they belong.

 

[Clunkmeister]

Getting close to paint time. 
Elevators are on now, as are the wing guns. 
Clear parts got a Future bath last night. Tonight we’ll detail and Mount the gunsight, finish the dinghy container and mount all fixed position clear parts. 
 

[Clunkmeister]

Also, late last night, we started on the PE flaps.  
 

I want, at all cost, to avoid those kit flaps. They’re OK, but the PE parts will look so, so much better in the end. The fine detail needed just can’t be replicated with IM.

[Peterpools]

Ernie

Awesome progress and the Big Gal is looking mighty good. Looking forward to seeing her progress through the paint shop. Absolutely stellar work.

Jumped the gun a bit on posting and those flaps are going to be a ton of work - can't wait to see how you work your way through the assembly procedure. 

 

[Martinnfb]

Labour of love that’s for sure. 

[JohnB]

59 minutes ago, Clunkmeister said:

Also, late last night, we started on the PE flaps.  
 

I want, at all cost, to avoid those kit flaps. They’re OK, but the PE parts will look so, so much better in the end. The fine detail needed just can’t be replicated with IM.

So me using the plastic flaps on my build detracts from the "detail". They look just fine to me Ernie. 😐

[CANicoll]

Wow,  What impresses me is exactly what you said, we are not just assemblers, but builders.  The hand-work you are putting into the kit to either address issues or add details is where your various skills come into play. Personally, I can't scribe a straight line longer than about 5mm so I do my best to avoid that situation!  And I'm getting to be pretty good friends with a variety of putty.  But the work you've undertaken is still amazing to me.  Love the build!

[Clunkmeister]

44 minutes ago, JohnB said:

So me using the plastic flaps on my build detracts from the "detail". They look just fine to me Ernie. 😐

There is no right way wrong Way, John. And if I could’ve figured out a way to sharpen up the trailing edge serrations and drill out hundreds of double layered holes I’d hAve done it.   
in my opinion there’s no right way and there’s no wrong way to build a model. Deciding to build those PE flaps is going to come very very close to making me want to start smoking and drinking 40 ounces of whiskey every day. But it’s a personal decision and I decided to try it. 

[Clunkmeister]

36 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Wow,  What impresses me is exactly what you said, we are not just assemblers, but builders.  The hand-work you are putting into the kit to either address issues or add details is where your various skills come into play. Personally, I can't scribe a straight line longer than about 5mm so I do my best to avoid that situation!  And I'm getting to be pretty good friends with a variety of putty.  But the work you've undertaken is still amazing to me.  Love the build!

Thanks, I’m exactly the same. Scribing is crazy tedious for me, Radu’s rivet wheel is the only way I can do rivets, and Milliput and I are on a first name basis. I have a tiny amount of an advantage when it comes to PE because I’ve built HO scale steam locomotives, tenders, and crummies from PE flat kits. 
Hopefully I don’t Bork it up bad. But if I do, I still have the plastic kit pieces. 

[Clunkmeister]

The PE exterior panels are a nice touch. It’s an easy way to emphasize access panels that stand slightly proud of the surface

[Clunkmeister]

John, one thing to bear in mind:  I’m blasting through this build because people like yourself built the model before me and documented the issues and potential pitfalls on this kit. When I started, I followed your build thread and an LSP build by a member who is also here. 
Those two builds allowed me to concentrate more on the plastic instead of fighting it and as a result, I was able to incorporate more AM without worrying about potential fit issues. 
My build as well has found a couple more issues and potential workarounds, and I hope that when all is lumped together, we’ll see many more built, and built quickly. 

[BlrwestSiR]

You've made a bunch of progress Ernie. It looks like a Helldiver now. 

Carl

 

[Peterpools]

53 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Wow,  What impresses me is exactly what you said, we are not just assemblers, but builders.  The hand-work you are putting into the kit to either address issues or add details is where your various skills come into play. Personally, I can't scribe a straight line longer than about 5mm so I do my best to avoid that situation!  And I'm getting to be pretty good friends with a variety of putty.  But the work you've undertaken is still amazing to me.  Love the build!

Chris

I'm right next to you on the scribing train ... my least favorite part of any build and one where I struggle endlessly. If I'm lucky, I get close and I do keep trying, just don't really see an improvement.

Putty and filler ... OMG haven't ever built a kit without it. These days I use almost nothing but Mr Surfacer 500 & 1000 and Tamiya Fine White Filler. I do use CCA when called for, especially correcting the numerous scribing misses.

 

[CANicoll]

I do have Mr Surfacer, 500 and 1500 which I used to fill in the panel lines on the Tamiya P-51D wing (to limited success).  I also have the Tamiya fine white putty, Vallejo and the ubiquitous Milliput.  Just remembering when to use which is half the battle!  Doing a build like this Helldiver would really be an excercise...

[Clunkmeister]

It’s really not that bad. It’s just a matter of scale.  Here, there’s just more of everything. Instead of Tamiya White, you go to Evergreen card stock and/or CA plus Milliput. You’re doing the same thing, in the same spots, but on a much larger area. 
Im no world class expert builder. I just don’t give up.   That is a downfall as well. I can’t build something I don’t like because I can’t get the enthusiasm which means I won’t stick with it. 

[Peterpools]

Ernie

Well said 👍

 

 

[Clunkmeister]

One other thing in defense of this Helldiver kit. 
 

The main airframe parts on this kit fit absolutely beautifully!  That alone is half the battle. It’s MUCH easier to make interiors fit decent exterior parts than getting the exterior parts to fit in the first place.   I WILL build another one of these. With folded wings. 

[Peterpools]

Ernie

That's a huge plus and when you start the next Helldiver, I've already reserved my front row seat.  

 

 

[Clunkmeister]

2 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Ernie

That's a huge plus and when you start the next Helldiver, I've already reserved my front row seat.  

 

 

My next build will be a Curtiss Hawk.