I’ve seen a few of these built up online, so I know this kit has a clear side. I’ve never seen one in person though so I’m wondering how good the clarity is, can you really make out all the detail inside or is it kind of fuzzy.
I built the regular kit as a kid and as I recall it had quite a bit of interior detail which you then close up and never see 90% again. I’m sure the aftermarket has added even more over the past 25 years or so. Although I mostly build 1/72 if you can really see the detail then the idea of visible kit is really starting to grow on me. I really like the one someone posted last year done in the style of a cutaway drawing.
Also was the 1/48 B-24 ever offered with this option?
Im gonna do th visb-17 next year w/all the aftermarket psrts as well ,I havent seen one done yet with all the parts available.It would be nice if there was one around. Check out the GB b-17 goin on in the forums I dont know if a vis b is being doneso we’ll have to wait and see.There are lots of amarket kits some good some bad .Go to the GB and click on numerous links and check it out. The clear side is the same as the grey side it has all the details cast in it as well ,it looks like the inside will be visible ,but I am gonna add lights in the correct places so I can see it.
Aaron…I have this kit and a bunch of Eduard PE sets for it. Im looking also to pick up a few resin sets and building it as a cutaway in a shadow box...still workin it out in my head but thinking Im not going to use the clear fuselage half...its clear enough but Im planning on doing a lot of detail and no matter what,itll still hide some of the detail. Dont think Ive ever seen a “24” with a clear side but have seen em built as cutaways...theres actually a pic ture of a cutaway on the old Monogram “D” version right on the box. Good luck…Len
I have plans for one of these in the FAR future … but here’s what I was thinkin’ …
The clear side is formed from the same mold as the grey plastic ones. That’s how thick it will be. Nature of the beast. However, I was planning on vac-u-forming my own clear side w/ thin clear sheet. I was going to see just HOW thin I could make it. From there, build as usual. But when I got ready to paint, I was going to mask off large “windows” of the clear side so you could see each compartment. I want the exterior paint to come over the seam line 1) as to not exemplify the seam, and 2) I didn’t want it to look like one of those see-through skeleton models.
Here’s some shots of mine /forums/t/120221.aspx?PageIndex=1
You can’t really use every aftermarket detail set that exists. The problem is that there are two versions of AM parts - a resin set and a PE set. Each one kinda negates the need for the other. I went the PE and scratchbuild route as I found it to be more accrate in the end. The resin set tend to generalize shapes and details.
Gtron Thanks for reposting the visb you built ,excellent work on a very difficult kit/project. I agree with you on the resin/pe comment .The True Details resin set I got on ebay was really soft on detail ,almost to the point I thought it may be a blackdog.I trashed most of it and am using only the seats and maybe one or two other pieces. The best thing ,and something to look forward to, is you only have to use 1/2 the interior p/e on the visb ! The bad news is the p/e detail tends to make the kit detail almost toy like in looks.I have the flap kit as well and see your point on the minutia of the detail but you will agree that it is worth it. I have detailed the underside of the floors as well ,and scratched a ball turret, tail wheel , bombbay , and miles of framework as well . Yuor underside demarcation line is perfect ,I may steal that from you as how to transition to clear has been buggin me .Mine will be an all-black B-17 so I get away a little easier.(Also why I am intently watching your X-15 build) One thing I notice about problems with p/e is the ammo belts ,I thought I might use small plastic rods to keep the line of the belt smooth as the krinkled look detracts from these. Yours look great ,and I got a good laugh seeing them floating in midair on the build pix.Please post more B-17 pix if you can as I cant get enuogh.I thought I was in the game and then saw the FSM issue with the scratchbuilt B-17 in 1/16 scale ,bit of a deflation for me!!! Once again -cool VisB
Thanks, I think I will keep an eyeout for one of these kits. Too bad they never offered a companion B-24.
Fred yours is the one I was watching last year, but I don’t believe I ever saw the post with the completed model. The clear is much better than I would have hoped, does it come that way or was that the result of a lot of polishing.
surprisingly, the OOB clarity is pretty good, but I did dip it in Future to enhance it a bit. I really wanted to maximize the ability to see inside. I didn’t spend 9 months building the interior just so it couldn’t be seen, LOL.