SPA Modeler

Bruce I have seen many variations of color on the bulkhead in different modern day pictures, it might come down to artistic choice. Either way I know you will knock it out the park with this one

Thanks, Brent. I sincerely appreciate your encouragement. I hope I mentioned earlier to you that finding a Gee Bee Facebook Group through a link you shared continues to yield amazing photo reference. I sincerely believe that for many of our subjects a FB Group exists, and provides information. The Gee Bee FB Group is very active so far.

Turning to the build, I waited for Odorless Superglue only to discover that this does not bond well at all with this type of hard plastic. This gave me an opportunity to work with my favorite plastic glue - Mr Cement Type S. This brought back memories of childhood model building and made me eager to return to the Monogram P-40B build with the intention to do more gluing and less finesse work. (Having written that, I hasten to add, “We shall see, said the blind man” which is one of those expressions I always think means “That ain’t gonna happen” but I’m not entirely sure.).

First up was the seat. Two sides to finesse, and thin more to scale.



A simple form, without locator pins, required a bit of fettling to achieve a squared off appearance.

Next up, I glued both halves of the wheels together and smoothed things out with 400 grit. I will sand the seam a little more then paint some Mr Cement around the seam to smooth things out further, then follow that with fine grit. I also need to address the amount of sag from the weight of the aircraft. I hope I will be able to sand the forms down convincingly enough to pass.



I concentrate on forms especially when the forms are so simple. Often I feel we are as modelers moving always to the next stage, and the steps become condensed. So, I am extraordinarily grateful to everyone here who takes the time to share each moment. I truly feel that we all know what it is like to sand and shape forms, yes, but sharing the steps is our way to learn.

Attaiboy! Get after it.

I’ll get it. The propellor is a challenge. You were right about that. I’m thinning the edges as well.



Reference:

Bruce, I’m with you 100% on focusing really well on what’s at-present, even something seemingly as simple as wheels. It took me a long time to get that, but I finally did and it’s legit. There’s no reason at all to rush to the next stage. Spend time enjoying each stage, I say. And you’re doing great work here, too, buddy. Very nice!

Thanks so much, Ken. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts. I’ve been thinking about stages and steps since this morning when I read your reply under “Shelf of Doom.” I think it is also important to have another project available in the Ready Room when you are in the thick of battle. We often push ourselves to the next level by the next project.

Overall I know following builds here has helped me understand prep work. I don’t think I naturally gravitate to doing so but I have learned that good prep is essential and become more accepting of the time it takes to smooth out seams.

For the spats I tacked the halves together with white glue before the prime coat. I see areas to clean up, but white primer will reveal all mercilessly.



Also from the instructions (re the spats):

“During the Cleveland Air Races, the openings between the landing gear legs were fabric covered for one race, but the slight drag reduction benefits may have been offset by destabilization effects, and the fabric removed.”

Prep work is one of the most relaxing parts of the build, or at least it is to me. Get a few dozen parts off the tree and sit back with a new #11 blade and a sanding stick and start removing moldseams while watching tv.

Thanks for your reply, Clint. Learning how to prepare plastic so keen and smooth has been interesting for me and a good experience overall. I tend to approach kitchen table building with single mindedness. I’m not sure if I could watch a show. I work in silence, too. This has always been my way, since childhood. I would have to do my work quietly in the corner, be it homework or model building.

Bruce, I’m absolutely loving these photos you’re finding and posting of the real machine. Something as simple as a fabric fairing cover is a snapshot in time to identify a location and date for that moment.