I am modifing a 1/48 B-17G to post war Coast Guard configuartion. Build requires removal of both top and belly turrents. Suggestions on how to reskin the holes?
There are sheets of styrene plastic you can buy to do that. Make a diameter the same as the holes you’re looking to re-skin and close up.
will have to slightly bend that plastic to conform to the shape of the fuselage or square cut the holes to build up with plastic & carve to shape of body.
Hello!
I’d go with a plastic plate, that is slightly thicker than the fuselage half thickness, so that you can get the hull curvature through sanding. Or doing it two-pieces - fill the hull halves independently - then a thinner plate will also do the trick. I’d also recommend using molten sprue for filler. After it dries well (two-three days), it can be sanded so that the seam between the hull and the fillet will be invisible. Later it also gives you no problems when scribing, because it is just as hard as the material surrounding it.
Hope it helps and good luck with your conversion
Paweł
But hold on…
I am no expert and don’t plan to look for this, but I would certainly assume that on the 1:1 model, a panel to fill in the opening was fabricated with a lip or other seal around the inside, that was riveted to the panel, and then riveted to the fuselage.
It would most certainly show, and would be a part of the story.
Yeah, I agree on that - but first, the shape of the real life plug needs reserach to verify its shape - that’s one thing. Secondly, best way to do it is to sand it all smooth and then rescribe - otherwise the “notch” will be way out of scale, much too pronounced. And if the scribing goes over the filler, you need a really good filler to pull this one off.
Have a nice day
Paweł
purchased sheets, pondering next step.
My thoughts exactly. Round or square? That is the big question. Also had to remove the chin turrent. It will be replaced with a radar dome. I am manufactured the dome already. I think I will have to square out the dome area.
I like your suggestions. Moltant sprue? I gotta do some experimenting with that.
Near as I can tell, the top turrent was covered with no evidence that there was a turrent there. I have looked at B-17 fire bombers and they show no “round” patch over the turrent. I am still looking. But good suggestion.
Agreed. I am going with a plastic patch, going to be real tough to get it exact.
GM has a point …or the entire panel was removed and replaced with a solid one? A picture of the area in question will help.
If the surface the turret is mounted in is curved, wood makes a good patch. Choose thickness of wood to be greater than depth of curved surface. Cut a cylinder from the wood by trial and error. Mount in hole, then carve external surface to shape. Several coats of primer will fill surface for painting. Basswood is the best wood to use, as its very tight grain is the easiest to fill.