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I think I have been building these things for as long as I can remember. Sure, others can
build a better model, or may have a larger collection. My motive: it relaxes me, and the result is pleasant to look at.I have
been building models since I was 7. The earliest model that I recall building was an Aurora Bainbridge Guided Missile Cruiser.
My Dad was in the Navy and would bring some home for me to work on. After his 6 month tours I would show him the result. It
was good fun. After a long hiatus of modelbuilding I got
back in to it while, of all things, at work. A number of modelbuilders worked in a company called Media Vision in the tech
support department. (If you guys are still out there drop me a line) Between tech support calls we would share tips, build
models, and sand the heck out of those pesky fillets and part gaps. A lot of my WWII 1/48 scale collection was built during
"company time". Not that they minded, we were the best tech support staff that ever worked there. Eventually we all went our seperate ways after the company
folded, but I did leave with new appreciation for model building. I thought it would be a kick to build a model that reflected
the best work that I did as a kid, and see how far my model building skills progressed over the course of 25 years. The obvious
choice for a subject was one of my favorite builds, the "revellogram" 1/72 B52D.
This
project began Jan 3, 2000. The first model of the millenium, 250th in the collection, and quite possibly the best work I've
done so far. The goal of any serious model builder is simple:
If it's on the real plane it's on the model. If it is not
on the real plane it isn't. Most take this to extreme, but I build for the fun of it. Hey, It's a hobby don't let it run your
life.
B52 circa 1975
Paint- Pactra flat spray bottom & rudder surfaces, pactra flat brown, green
bottle enamel top camoflauge. Chrome silver landing gear. Radome white gloss ( mixed with black undercoat). Bombs painted
black. Fingerprints all over freshly painted surfaces. Parts- Ripped from sprue, no sanding/exacto , un-filled seams,or cleaning.Clear
parts-attatched with too much pactra glue, crazed with unpainted frames. Interior-unpainted, box stock, large gaps in fuselage
and bomb bay areas.
Instructions- thrown away ( I knew better)
B52 Circa 2000
Pre build- Reaserched color schemes and camoflauge.
Purchased accurate colors (Polly-S). Built wheels and bombs first then Fuselage & Wings. Paint-Airbrushed Tac Mid green,
Tac Mid Brown, Dark Green. Bottom and Rudder-Gloss Black. Bombs-Spray Olive drab with Yellow bands& fuses Interior-
Bulkheads for Bomb bay, Cockpit, Nav Station, and Wheel wells built from scratch. Fully painted figures and interior.
Joints sanded smooth, Clear parts attatched with white glue. Frames painted, Lines done in drafter's tape. Details with fine
camel hair brush. Instructions- Thrown away for tradition sake.
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