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Playing in the Sandbox Group Build Sept 1, 2024 - Jn 1, 2025

1/48 Monogram B-58 Hustler - SEA


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Decided to see if I can do this as a 'Quick' build.  I have had this kit for a long time, and it is so old the instruction booklet is browning, and the decals, well, lets just say they have a patina to them.  :lol:

I thought the Tamiya 1/32 F-4EJ box was big... Ha ha ha!

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Taking off the top gives you this nice one-piece top of the fuselage.  Lots of parts banging around.  One of the belly tanks somehow got under the fuselage top.

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Individual Sprues

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The clear parts are actually very clear.  These have not been touched yet, but I'm planning on blacking out the 'windows' anyway.

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The instruction booklet is so old it is no longer on white paper...

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Speaking of old, the decals are definitely taking on a yellow hue. Unfortunately, the only AM 1/48 B-58 decals I could find (on Ebay) are 21 years old!!  And one set was going for $79!!  Nope.... 

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As much as I would like to have those SAC ribbon and shield decals, I have another idea for the scheme in mind.  It is a 'what if' but I like it!  Will see about doing the camo freehand - maybe!!

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Will see about paring it with my F-4 SEA Phantom II.  The only problem is, the B-58 in 1/48 scale is larger than the F-4 in 1/32.  Wow.

 

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Chris

I just love everything about the B-58 and only wish an up to date kit would come our way in either 48th or 72 nd scale. I'm to much of a traditionalist and would opt for a gleaming and polished NMF Hustler. 👍

 

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I'm with you, Peter!  Very tempting to do a finely polished B-58, in all of its metal splendor.  Years ago I did do a 1/144 B-58.  Tiny by comparison...

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John, thanks!!  I'll do my best.  🙂

Carl - It does, but I really like the black undersides.  Should be fun!  Going to be 'in-flight' which means none of that very complicated landing gear and not doing the cockpit as you can't really see it if the cockpit isn't open.  Kinda feel like I'm cheating, actually!

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Closed up the landing gear openings and it is very clear Revell did not intend for these to be displayed shut.  The nose gear door fit is ok, the main gear door fit is horrible.  I paid more attention to the more visible nose doors than I am to the main door fit.

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Had to saw off the plumbing part of the main gear doors to get the doors to kind of fit closed.

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From the inside.  Wrote the part numbers on the doors to make sure I put them in the correct locations.  The notches are to clear the tabs for the bomb racks.

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There are no options to cover the entire length of the landing gear door.  Might play around with some round Styrene rod to mock it up...  Not that much of this will be seen once the engines and center tank are attached anyway.  But it irks me...

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The centerline tank to the fuselage join is designed not to fit well:  Attaching a flat surface to a curved one.  Even in the 1990s this should not have been an issue.  Thinking about the best way to handle this.  Suggestions are welcomed!

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Working my way through the major assemblies and primer painting.  I didn't know that the Hustlers carried external bombs?  They go on racks on either side of the centerline tank. I can see that some seams are going to be a problem on the bombs...  PXL_20240804_185647124.thumb.jpg.3fb5f6fa41b9aecf2b4090e11c3af1ef.jpg

Bomb racks shown on either side of the centerline, extending onto where the tail will join later.  The paint is Vallejo Primer Black.

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There are two options for the centerline tank - the top one is a fuel/bomb tank and the bottom one is just a fuel tank.  I'm planning on using the top tank as I've not seen too many planes with the smaller tank.  Still using the Vallejo Primer Black, which I really like for a semi-gloss black.  It sprays on very smoothly.

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The engine intakes are sprayed with Model Master Jet Engine as well as the exhaust insides which you can't really see from the other photo.  The three on the right have had a Black MIG wash applied.  PXL_20240804_142529845.thumb.jpg.732502b2218b07421a0baa5b499d02b1.jpg

Several of the other bits.  The intake cones are Vallejo Chrome. 

The tail has been sprayed with Vallejo Gloss Black primer which for some reason did not lay down well at all.  Going to let this fully dry then take an 800-grit pad to it to smooth it out and respray with the Black primer or a Gloss Black to get ready for the tail decals.  The white bit to the right is the pilots hatch.  I still need to mask the canopy.

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Going with a white primer for the top-side surfaces as I am planning on pre-shading the raised panel lines in black- using a VERY fine needle - prior to applying the camo which I intend to do free-hand.  The fuselage/wing join is going to take just a little bit of putty to close a few small gaps.  But not as bad as I had expected.

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And here is my trusty helper.

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Chris

What an amazing project and it surely is going to be a 'stunner.' I'm right with you in that I never knew the B-58 had the additional external bomb pylons, something always to learn. Can't wait to see how you work the wheel well doors into place as they surely seem to be a fight to the end ready and waiting to happen. Of course, my money is riding on you to wrestle them into shape. 

Good thing you have the right help for the job 👍

:construction: 

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Yes, the B-68 had underwing positions, and they were for « special weapons », which are represented by Monogram / Revell.

You apparently created for yourself a set of problems by going for an in-flight display … but I am sure you will prevail in the end.

For me, the B-58 looked like it was doing Mach-2 even on the ground on its spindly landing gear, so I always loved its highly complex landing gear.

As for the scheme, it was never meant to drop anything else than « special weapons », so a SEA scheme seems incongruous. 
But then, it’s your build and you can do as you want. I have taken a seat to watch your progress :popcorn:

Hubert

 

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Thanks Peter and Hubert.  Definitely an interesting project with the main objective to get to the camo painting.  Also, "In-Flight" means I can put it on a stand and still have other models under it.  My display case is getting fuller and fuller.  Between the 1/48 Catalina, all of the 1/32 Mustangs, and now the 1/32 F-4E.  Whew!!

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Well, you're off to a nice start there Chris. Those gear bay doors look like a lot of fun.

Maybe  put a strip of styrene on the inside over the centre gap. Then when you add the rounded bit, it'll be a stronger join.  

As for the centreline tank for, chamfer the sides of the tank mount, this will give you a bit of room to accommodate the curve of the underside. 

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Thanks Carl.  I was thinking of cutting out the middle of the tank pylon, leaving the edges, but that actually would not work very well with the points on both ends of the tank pylon.  The gaps on both sides are pretty big.  :unsure:  Might just build it up the sides with some sheet styrene to cover the gap and add more stability.

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Wow, very cool subject Chris!  Great start, this is going to be a sweet one!

Vallejo is one of the paint lines that I really want to love, but sometimes their paints and primers are temperamental.  On the one hand, I've primed using their Gloss Black and painted with their Metal line and really loved how things came out.  On the other hand, I've had problems with paint lifting at times when taped.  Some pros out there use Vallejo all the time and never have an issue.  At the time being, I'm sticking with using Vallejo for interiors and other parts that don't need to be taped.  

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Making progress on the underside.  Found that some of the sprue for the kit was as close to the right size as I expected to find.  Plus it was handy and free!  The focus won't be on the underside, but I didn't like leaving the doors the way they were.  This is marginally better.

Before painting with some putty on the joins:                           After with a coat of paint.  Still not great, but maintains the profile, anyway.

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Attached the engine pods to the underside of the wing.  The joins are two small pins which are far undersized for the holes they go into in the wing.  Attached with a combination of Tamiya Extra thin, CA, and Testors cement (at various stages, not combined!).  At least they are not resin so not very heavy and don't have to worry about this being a tail-sitter either.  Vallejo Black Primer on the underside.

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The Internet is an amazing place sometimes...

Found this picture of the bomb pylons and the B-43 Thermonuclear bombs, as well as the larger under belly tank.  Also found out that in 1967 the Hustler was proposed to be moved from the SAC inventory and be redesignated as a Tactical Bomber to take over from the poor performing F-104 and F-4 Fighter Bombers.  This did not come to be, however.

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For those interested in the bombs, here is the Wikipedia page:  B43 nuclear bomb - Wikipedia.

 

 

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This will be cool Chris will be walking this one along with ya.I have this kit in my stash also when time comes will be silver but methinks like you need to start another floor cabinet first.:hsmack:

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1 hour ago, KevinM said:

This will be cool Chris will be walking this one along with ya.I have this kit in my stash also when time comes will be silver but methinks like you need to start another floor cabinet first.:hsmack:

Hey Kevin, I do have access to a nice woodshop... hmmmmm.   Looking forward to seeing your build.

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Started on the free-hand camo last night.  What I learned is, I should have started on a 1/48 scale fighter like a P-40 or Spitfire!  Using my Grex Tritium because I really like the control with the trigger and a .2 needle.  VERY hard to do such long lines and not over do the paint in one part and under in another.  The 'fill-in' I should have done with my Iwata HP-CS and the .3 needle which covers a much wider area.  Will take a look at the overall effect later and see if I need to go over anything again.  Using the MRP paints and spraying at about 10psi.  Next up, is dark green.  Here is the idea:

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While the paint was drying, added the centerline tank and the fit is better than I expected.  Used Testors Cement on the length, and CA gel on the alignment pins.  Especially on the rear fin - that is a very large pin and the hole it goes into is even larger so not a tight fit.  The CA holds it securely as there is some tension on that join.

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That Hustler look is shaping up

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And had to try a dry-fit just to see how it is all coming together.  The fit, surprisingly, is pretty good.

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I might respray the engine nacelles to match the camo.  Have not decided yet... 

And noticed some gaps that needed a bit of filler...

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Chris

WOW, some mighty nice progress on the free hand cammo ... can't see any overspray from my end at all. 

Normally when I'm doing free hand cammo, I'll always use my H&S Infinity with a ,2 tip as it gives me the most control. I try to widen the spray pattern for the fill in and sometimes need to go back and do a bit more of the fill-in if needed. Most of the time the gloss and semi gloss final cotes blend in the fill with no issues.

  

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Peter, Thank you!  All told it was about a good hour's plus time on the painting.

I actually have that airbrush as well and am a bit intimidated by it!  I guess it is my experience with same double action trigger on the Iwata that I worry about.  The Grex is so much easier to use.  I was thinking the gloss coats would do some blending, so good to hear.  

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