FGMM B-17 Olive Man O War

[BARX2]

I've been building some Fiddler's Green models lately, so I guess I'll jump in here for the fun of it. I plan to re-scale to 1/72 and glaze the windows. No other modifications, so I guess that qualifies as Improved Stock. Let me know if I'm mistaken. Looking forward to this, but I probably won't start build for about two weeks. I need to finish the B-29 and then I have an out of town trip planned for next week.

[jagolden01]

No rush, plenty of time.

[mchale]

that one is on my list to

[cjwalas]

I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together. The clear glazing IMHO is a must on these models, even with no interior detail. Great choice!
Chris

[rockpaperscissor]

One of my favs. Always wanted to build it - never did. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

[willygoat]

should be a great one! The nose section could be fun. You should glaze the ball turret too :D

[BARX2]

I was thinking the same thing. I'll see how it goes. I already began printing it. I'm using Kinko's glossy card stock, but using my ink jet printer. It's looking good.

[Papercut]

Looking forward to this one, and your print method sounds wonderful. I do hope to add to the collection soon this and the B-29.:DRick

[willygoat]

I've heard about the Kinkos cardstock before. Does it require the use of CA glue, or does regular Aleene's work on it?

[Paperwarrior]

I'm sure this will be well worth the wait.
I have a couple of projects to finish prior to beginning, too.
Most are on the "Honey Do" list. :(

[KCStephens]

Great Choice! I really this one as well.

[BARX2]

It glues just fine with regular glue. I use Tombow Mono Aqua. I'm sure it would work just as well with PVA. I made the Canon green sea turtle with Kinko's paper. I had the model printed there. It went together great with regular glue.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jepolch/GreenSeaTurtle#

[cdwheatley]

I've had this one printed out for some time, will be interested to see how it goes together.

[BARX2]

Wow! I can't believe I started this thread almost six weeks ago! I have been very busy with out of town trips, etc., etc. I began working on the model earlier this month, but haven't gotten around to posting any pictures yet. Here they are. I'm cutting off FG's glue tabs and making my own to create neater seams. Otherwise, it's stock. I don't even think I'm going to do any clear glass. I messed around with the nose and just couldn't get anything right, so I guess it will be paper all the way.

[BARX2]

I'm using the glossy card stock from Kinko's/Fedex printed on my Epson Stylus 1400. I gave the sheets a quick spray of Krylon matte clear.

[BARX2]

After this post I'm going to get back to work on the model before I get sidetracked again!

[KCStephens]

Looks good so far...adding your own glue tabs is the way to go...really makes for a much nicer joint. Look forward to seeing more...

[ghshinn]

This is looking very good. Any trouble with alignment when using butt joints?

Garland

[BARX2]

Everything fits perfectly - so far. :)

[rockpaperscissor]

It's coming along very well. I second Kevin's comment regarding making your own glue tabs. It's well worth the extra effort.

[BARX2]

Well, this model has been giving me some problems. The main wing sections are designed quite strangely (to me), with a glue tab at the leading edge. I had to build them three times before I was satisfied, but I'm still not very happy with them. Also, this glossy card stock from Kinko's worked great with a simpler model, but it's a little heavy for this 1/72 scale B-17. Nevertheless, I will push on and finish it. Not going to win any prizes, but hopefully it will look something like a B-17. :)

[BARX2]

These pictures show how I curved the halves of the wing sections before gluing. I found that if I glued first, it was just about impossible to get a decent curve of the leading edge.

[cjwalas]

Your problems with the kit certainly don't show. This looks like it's going to be a great looking model!
Chris

[Doubting Thomas]

The FG B-17 looks great, and a lot easier to build too.

I found a Model Art one on the internet and I look at the instructions,
then the parts sheet, go back to the instructions again. Then I close the file
and say to myself it looks way too complicated.

When I print it out and start cutting the parts, then I will believe it can be done in paper.

[KCStephens]

Joe, It's really looking great so far...I know what you mean about the design of the inside wing sections.....It is kind of tricky to build as two separate halves and all. Since you are building at a reduced size would it be possible to edit the image and digitally paste the two halves together onto one sheet via some paint program before printing. That way you would only be working with one part rather than two.

[BARX2]

That's a great idea - if I knew how to do that. :) Anyway, they're done. It's probably just me being fat fingered.

[flightsimmer2010]

im just wondering.. when i printed out that same model it looked more ummm earthy brown then drab olive:(:(.. and i had trouble with the wings too

[Swampfox]

im just wondering.. when i printed out that same model it looked more ummm earthy brown then drab olive:(:(.. and i had trouble with the wings too


This most likely because your printer/monitor set up is slightly-or a lot different.

What you see on you monitor is not what you always get from your printer.

To get accurate color (what you see is what you get) you need to do a monitor-printer calibration. Most of the time this is a very complex and expensive process and is only done by print shops that must come pretty close to what the customer expects.

Google 'calibrate monitor to printer' or vs and see what comes up. It takes time to do on you own but I'm sure there are instructions out there if you feel that your system is out of whack.

KEEP IN MIND, this is not something you should attempt if you don't know what your doing. You can jack you system up really bad and if you think you have color problems now....... do this calibration wrong and you'll see just how bad it can get.

[BARX2]

The colors look quite a bit different depending on the paper I use. This glossy paper gives the most vivid color, but the ink tends to run together a little. Plain typing paper seems a little darker than it should be. OfficeMax brand 65 lb. BrightWhite card stock is the worst. The colors come out very light, like the paper isn't very absorbent. Glossy photo paper gives the best colors, but is virtually impossible to work with.

[rockpaperscissor]

Great job on those wings! I'm building something right now with top and bottom wing skins that need to be joined at the leading edge, and it is a real pain. You've done a masterful job of joining them. I salute you sir!

[AndyC]

The model looks great. The wings look like they came out pretty good too. The Dell P-51 uses tabs at the leading edge too and it was a nightmare to get them curved properly. I went through two sets of wings on that model before I finally got it to look decent. You've done a really good job on those wings, especially at that scale.

[flightsimmer2010]

funny thing you said about monitor-printer calibration and print shops....
i got it printed out at office max ..because my printer took a dive.. and it came out brownish... but it still looked good after i weathered it up and added lots of battle damage

[Swampfox]

i got it printed out at office max ..because my printer took a dive.. and it came out brownish...

If your really concerned about it I'd stop by sometime and ask them if they've ever calibrated their system.......maybe they haven't. It does cost some serious cash and time to do it right.

Although most OD examples I've seen in museums, that claim accuracy in their a/c restorations, do show a brownish/yellowish cast to the OD paint scheme. Many OD paint jobs tend towards having too much blue in the OD paint, making it lean towards a brighter green.

Like you said though, nothing a little oil and grease wash can't fix.

[KCStephens]

I haven't had good luck having things printed at Office Max either....Way back when I had them print a panzer tank kit and it actually came out purple...Way off from the dark panzer grey that it actually should have been.

[BARX2]

I've had good luck with prints from Fedex/Office/Kinko's - except for the price: $1.50 a sheet on their glossy paper. :( Buck a sheet if you bring your own paper.

[BARX2]

Makes me kind of sick to say it, but I've given up on this build. I am just not happy with it - both the kit and my work. Maybe I've just built too many planes. Anyway, this one's out of the contest. Sorry for any inconvenience. :o

[willygoat]

Say it ain't man, say it ain't so :(