Part 20 – So much to do, so little time

Sorry to all again for missing last week’s planned update, unfortunately as we approach the end of the build process the complexity of the work is increasing.  As such, for the last three Build Diaries (covering issues 117-120, 121-124 and 125) we will only produce them when they are actually ready.

 

We are still open to suggestions for aircraft to build the model as, the ones which have been suggested thus far are as follows:

An aircraft from 582 Squadron (Pathfinders) suggested by a member of Pathfinder Lodge 7255,

L7537 of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron letters KM-L which was shot down on a mission to Dusseldorf in August 1942,

LL777 of 61 Squadron QR-S with its nose art of a hand holding a pair of playing cards,

S for Sugar (the default which comes with the kit).

 

Any others would be gratefully appreciated, especially if there is a photograph or art showing any nose art.

 

That said, I can now finally show you our work for the last fortnight.

Last time the main focus of attention was the cutting out of the various fuselage panels and the assembly of the model minus the bomb-aimer’s position and the wings.

This time we’ll be working on attaching the wings, adding in some of the bomb-aimer’s equipment, and covering most of the fuselage with metal skin.

The parts for this diary were as shown here.

With the skin sheets (all marked up for adding rivet marks) shown here.

And with the proper rivet marks and curvature (achieved by bending the sheets around a knife handle and checking frequently against the curvature of the frame).

After marking out the rivet lines the next step was to build one of the control panels from the bomb-aimer’s position, and the escape hatch for the same.

First was removing the parts from their frets.

And then gluing the parts into their final format.

Before adding the small metal detailing parts, also shown here is the guard rail which had its middle rail attached at this stage.

Then the two metal skin pieces for the escape hatch were attached to the frame and filed into shape.

All of these parts were then set aside to be painted.

Before moving on to that task, six small detail parts (part of the aileron attachments) were laid out (three are shown here).

And holes were drilled into the upper skin of the two wings to hold them before they were glued in.

This photograph shows the plastic mouldings which will cover the engines and undercarriage bays following preparation for painting.

These were also set aside to be painted.

As shown in these photographs.

The set of pieces in the second photograph were then taken to form the joint in the two wings.

Before the two wings were attached to the fuselage for the first time.

Unfortunately, as discussed in last week’s interlude, things didn’t go according to plan and the work had to be redone.

The joint was then strengthened with stringers crossing from one frame to another.  Then a strip of metal skin was placed over the joint.

Next, the radiators were added to the engines and the loose wires attached to them.

With the painting done, attention could turn back to finishing off the bomb-aimer’s control panel and the camera.

Before installing two metal panels into the interior of the bomb-aimer’s position.

And then adding the control panel, camera and safety rail.

This section was then set aside until the next Build Diary.

The last task for this build diary was to take the skin sections prepared a fortnight ago, and add them to the frame.

Including adding both skin and navigation lights to the two wing-tips.

And the horizontal stabilisers.

Bringing us to the end of this build diary.