Aerial antenna (Monogram B-17 pics)

[IRONHORSE]

Maybe the negative was flipped.
CHUCK

[Second Air Force]

I thought that too Chuck. After a good bit of study, I think the photo is correctly oriented. A clue is the antenna from the radio room to the tail. The insulators are clearly visible in the photo I've posted, and that antenna runs in the right side of the radio compartment. I do have a very poor image of another Fort with what I think is the trailing wire on the right, but it is of terrible quality.

Here is the other photo of her from the Grand Island Base History, notice the insulator for the wing-to-fuselage antenna is visible:


I do enjoy trying to solve a mystery!
Scott

[Elroy13]

Thanks for the help! I finally finished the B-17 and used the painted fishing line for the antenna and I like it alot better than the thread! The client gets to see it for the first time today.

But before I finished the 17 I had a huge scare!!! The neighbor stopped by to chit chat Saturday afternoon with his two year old son ....Yeah thats all I had to say! "Two year old" The boy was at the front of the garage close to us and all of a sudden I glanced over to my work bench and the airplane was GONE!! The little boy had his tiny hand wrapped around the waist section with the nose almost dragging the ground. He just about dropped it by the time I could get to him!! All the machine guns broke off, the antenna came off and one of the horizontal stabs came off!!! But I was able to put eveything back together.. talk about heat attack!

Last edited by Elroy13 on Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Cripes A Mighty]

Havent we all been there before?

Glad you got her back together.

PICS!!!!?????

[Elroy13]

Havent we all been there before?

Glad you got her back together.

PICS!!!!?????

Thanks!

Im workin on the pics. Stay tuned.

[Elroy13]

Sorry for the crummy pics.

Well the client was very pleased and asked a lot of questions. I think he's trying to get into the whole model thing. Thanks for the replies and post guys!! In the first picI started the smaller port wing antenna. But later on decided not to include it. These pics were taken before the final detailing.







Now Im starting on his Mustang. "Miss Marilyn"

[Cripes A Mighty]

Looks GREAT! Wouldnt mind having that right here on the desk

[Elroy13]

Hey thanks alot!

[Cripes A Mighty]

Once I finally get a compressor, Im going to fly up and get lessons from one of yall.

The weathering is what makes the model stand out in my opinion.

[Elroy13]

Weathering makes a huge difference! I sort of have a huge reference tool especially when building a B-17. Since I crew on a B-17 I always take small pics with my cell phone camera around Thunderbird and take those back to the work bench. With weathering its very easy to get carried away and over do it! I think you have to know when to call it quits. Im wanting to try paint chipping using wet salt on the Mustang.

[Second Air Force]

Cripes,

In lieu of an air compressor, have you thought about a small nitrogen tank? There is an initial cost for the tank rental or purchase, and you need to buy a regulator, but they work great and don't make any sound if neighbors are a factor. I use my shop air compressor in the garage or hangar for most projects, and have used an air tank with a water separator in a pinch.

Elroy,

I'm glad to see the finished product, and even happier that the little guy didn't prang it! I do have one question, though--how do you keep your workdesk so darned neat and orderly!?

Scott

[Elroy13]

Elroy,

I'm glad to see the finished product, and even happier that the little guy didn't prang it! I do have one question, though--how do you keep your workdesk so darned neat and orderly!?

Scott

My work bench for my models is about the only thing I really clean up and keep nice and neat. My desk here at the office if no where near that clean! Plus there are two little ones ages 8 and 4 that are always running around. They know not to mess with anything on the table but you never know.

Speaking of air compressor, I was at a craft store the other day and saw a nice bench top/quiet compressor but the little guy was almost $200. I guess if you stop and think about 12-16 bucks a pop for a can of air its probably worth dishin out the money for a compressor. Especially now that I have several more requests to build a few more kits.

[Django]

Back when I was airbrushing everyday, the silent compressor was a Godsend. Well worth every penny.

[Elroy13]

Back when I was airbrushing everyday, the silent compressor was a Godsend. Well worth every penny.

Got any recommendations on which ones are good?

[mustangdriver]

They also make a thin wire that comes in a tube, that I have used. No painting required, just needs to be trimmed.