SBD-3 Dauntless 1:33 scale

[Don Boose]

This is one of your best, Erik. Perfection in paper modeling of a rightfully famous airplane.

Don

[abhovi]

I don't know how you do it Erik,
Have a nice holiday.

[Erik Zwaan]

Thank you Dion, Doug, Don and Ab . Holidays are over and it's good to resume the build again. In the last week of leave I was already eagerly looking forward to the moment.

Alright then. Gunner's seat is finished now, with the last paint touch-ups and installed in its compartment. Installation is tricky, the main ring of the assembly is wedged in between two structural ribs and it's hard to judge if it's exactly straight and level. I figured that in reality this outer ring (also holding the machine gun) was fixed to the airplane structure, which acted as a kind of rail that allowed the seat assembly to turn several degrees to the right and left, like a kind of simple gun turret.

The ring is also stabilized by a rod to be placed between ring (right underneath the gun stand) and cockpit floor, as indicated by the red arrow in one of the pictures. Not exactly easy to install but by dry-fitting a few times installation of the gunner's seat assembly can be done first time right when glue is eventually applied.

When not in use the gun was neatly stored in a separate compartment, and also during battle the compartment doors were closed. I left the doors open to show the interior details.

The gun is more or less finished but I'm still figuring how to make the visor. I intend to use very thin and flexible metal wire and take it from there. For the time being the gun will not be installed, the connection with the pedestal is very delicate. Something to save for last.

As a side note: The cockpit picture clearly shows the view port in the floor that helped the pilot to release the bomb at the right moment.

So, next will be the canopy, not particularly my favorite subject, and it helps to use the pre-vacuumed canopy that can be bought separately. Although it comes in one piece, you can not use it as such. Each window section has to be cut and prepared individually. A lot of frames to be cut out, and starting with the windscreen. To be continued....



That's it for now,
Erik

[Petestein]

Your work is really amazing. You are so way out of the ordinary modeler. You are an artist who turns simple card modelling into a beautiful art. Very few people can achieve your standards. Keep up the good work, Erik

By the way, did you ever finish the Paper Trade DC-4? Being a very complicated and intricate model, built by you it will become a museum piece.

[ricleite]

Hello Erik,
I find it amazing how you add detail to a Halinski kit! The gunner’s seat is a cute assembly. I started with it yesterday. Regarding the visor, maybe printing it in acetate makes a good result. I confess to have simply used the provided part, after painting it gray…

[Olo]

Hi Erik, good to see you being back to the build. Sending some pictures of how I did my visor maybe it will help you a bit.

[Erik Zwaan]

Hi Tom, thank you for providing the visor details, that looks very useful! Did you use (super)glue to connect the wires?

And thank you Petestein and Ricardo, yep, it's great to be building again after a one month break . The DC-4 is in pause mode, mainly because the landing gear needs alteration, it's too fragile to hold the model and I ran a bit out of inspiration to fight that battle. In any case, it will be finished some time in the coming year. Good luck with your Dauntless build Ricardo!

Erik

[Petestein]

Originally Posted by Erik Zwaan

Hi Tom, thank you for providing the visor details, that looks very useful! Did you use (super)glue to connect the wires?

And thank you Petestein and Ricardo, yep, it's great to be building again after a one month break . The DC-4 is in pause mode, mainly because the landing gear needs alteration, it's too fragile to hold the model and I ran a bit out of inspiration to fight that battle. In any case, it will be finished some time in the coming year. Good luck with your Dauntless build Ricardo!

Erik

Are you planning to modify or to suggest modifications to Mr. den Bakker concerning the DC-4 landing gear? This DC-4 is extremely well designed nd accurate although a little more difficult to build. As you say it deserves a good landing gear to support its weight.

[Olo]

[QUOTE=Erik Zwaan;772103]Hi Tom, thank you for providing the visor details, that looks very useful! Did you use (super)glue to connect the wires?


Hi Erik, yes I did use thin super glue, I used wire for two circles, but also I used a thin EZ line instead of the wire for rest of the lines. I hope that helps.

[romanmodels]

nice work Erik.