Sorry to all for last week’s unexpected hiatus, a combination of factors meant that I was unable to complete the week’s build in a timely manner. To make up there is an extra-long build diary this week.
Last time we built the second horizontal stabiliser and added the first of the ammunition feeds to the rear turret.
This time we will be finishing off the ammunition feeds, building the starboard wing and adding a plethora of other details.
The parts for this build diary are shown here:
The first thing to be assembled was the wing, beginning by laying out the pieces.
And then assembling the frame work.
And then adding the stringers.
The wing was then set aside to be finished off in the future.
Next came building the two fuel tank covers and the “step” for the last of the hydraulic pumps to go in the aft fuselage.
These are the parts.
Which were removed from the frets.
(I forgot to photograph the others)
And then assembled.
Before the two fuel tank covers had their stringers installed.
(Again I forgot to take a photograph of the other cover)
These were then set aside to be painted later.
We then took the parts for the last ammunition box.
And assembled them.
Before also putting the box aside to be painted.
We then moved on to assembling the hydraulic pump, and the three small tanks which will be attached to the outside of the undercarriage bay.
Once this was done the three tanks were attached to a pair of small frames to space them properly.
Next came assembly of the wing-tip and intermediate fuel tanks, pictured here is the wing-tip tank (with the two pieces of metal which will act as its straps), which in reality can hold up to 114 gallons of fuel each. Here it is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
The two tanks were then set aside until the rest of the parts were ready.
Continuing the theme of assembling parts, it was at this stage that the second ammunition feed was assembled.
With all of the assembly possible for now complete, we next moved on to the pieces of skin metal.
Two for the fuselage between the wings, and two to cover the starboard side of the centre section of the wings.
These were then rivet marked.
And set aside for painting.
Finally, for the pre-painting phase of construction the small details for the fuel tanks, hand rail, and engine electrical board were placed on pieces of masking tape to hold them in place.
We also used a sharp knife to remove the port-side engine bulkhead from the wing centre section. Removing these two pieces allows much freer access when installing the undercarriage, and the oil tank.
At this stage all of the parts were painted allowing the final stages of work for this week to begin.
First the last of the ammunition containers was finished off by gluing the “ammunition” into the open top.
And then gluing the box to the other ammunition box finished last week.
Before gluing both into the fuselage.
Next, the two sections of skin for the centre fuselage were glued to the frame behind the wing root. The other two pieces of skin prepared and painted for this build diary won’t be attached for a while.
Then the hydraulics and brackets for the ammunition feeds were attached to the detached portion of the fuselage.
This piece of fuselage was then reattached.
Whilst that was drying attention moved to finishing off the two fuel tanks and the second engine oil tank.
The two fuel tanks prepared earlier in this diary were then test fitted along with their covers in the starboard wing.
With the parts painted it was possible to assemble the third engine.
And install the left and right linings for the port undercarriage bay.
Followed by putting the array of three tanks onto the exterior of the under carriage bay and running three bits of wire to replicate piping.
Then we installed the pieces of the starboard ammunition feed and the two rudder and elevator control rods into the aft-most section of fuselage.
Before doing the same with the mid upper turret section of the fuselage.
And finishing off by attaching the oil tank, engine control board and wires to the engine bulkhead removed earlier.
Bringing everything to a close for another build diary.
Next week we’ll be adding the port-side undercarriage.
Please comment if you have any suggestions or issues, one of the big questions for the future of this project is, which aircraft should we finish this model as? If you have any suggestions we would be grateful.