Hasegawa 1/72 B-47E

[jeaton01]

I've been working on this one since last December, it's just not a model I can do quickly and well, and it's such a pretty airplane my collection really needs to have one as well done as I can manage.

The B-47 has always been one of those airplanes that has always been one of my favorites, both elegant in appearance and one of the major milestones in the history of aircraft design. Over 1500 were built, and besides politics it is what made the Air Force give up on the YB-49, since it had the same range and was 100 mph faster. I am using the Pavla resin cockpit and engine sets, which also provide a vacuform canopy. The kit canopy has major coke bottle disease. The decals are croccodiled from the years the kit has been in my stash, so aftermarket decals are also being used.

Prep work on it included cutting the flaps free from the wings so they can be displayed extended as B-47's often had them on the ground. The landing gear bays have been installed in one fuselage half, and the bomb bay doors are also installed in the closed position to get the best fit possible. The main cockpit resin part has been fit, which was mostly done with my band saw and the engine fronts and exhausts are stuck to the nacelles, but there will be some work getting them faired in well, the sizes are close but not quite the right match to the plastic.  I would not use the engine parts again, the minor improvement does not justify the work needed to get them to fit.

I am adding a 3d printed flap set which has been rather interesting. A lot of cutting was necessary for the wings as the 3d set replaces the flaps. The lower wing skins get the flap areas cut out which was a little interesting because Hasegawa missed the outline in some spots, and also the trailing edge of the upper wing gets some trimming because the flaps make up some of the upper trailing edge. As you can see all the ribs and stringers in the exposed part of the wing are also supplied, and were very fragile, making clean-up interesting, as well as fitting.

Here's the current state of the B-47. I've been working on a bunch of other stuff while doing this one because lots of patience is needed on it. Lots of intersections that need careful attention. Not much of the work seems picture worthy, but I seem to have reached a milestone with it today, it's now ready for some aluminum type paint. The anti-flash white areas and the engine exhausts have been painted and masked, and the vacuform canopy has been fitted, attached, and masked. The canopy framing and sealant will be done with decals.

[deafpanzer]

Funny I always liked B-47 too! It is amazing what 3D printing can do to make older kits look much nicer. I look forward to see more process of your B-47!

[stikpusher]

Oh very nice! The 47 is such a classic aircraft. You can never go wrong with the old SAC colors & markings.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Andy and Carlos.

[reserve]

Been waiting to see this one, yer right I see a ton of extra work. Be worthwhile in the end I'm thinking as not many others will have such a spiffy B-47

[jeaton01]

I put the first coat of Alclad ALC101 on the B-47 today, my usual very thin and dry coat. I rubbed in aluminum powder on the bottom surfaces, and then sprayed another very thin coat just to "fix" the powder, then turned it over and put the first coat on the upper surfaces. There are some places that need attention on the top before I go further, but not as much as I thought I would find. There is no undercoat except where there was white overspray from the anti-flash white on the bottom., the ALC 101 is on the bare plastic, which will work for me on the very nice and hard Hasegawa silver plastic.

[stikpusher]

Looking good John! Very smooooooooothhhhh 😏

[TJ]

Such a gorgeous airplane. John you are doing this kit complete justice

[406 Silverado]

I do like all of the 3D parts that I'm seeing in the lineup. She's lookin' swell so far John. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on this one.

[deafpanzer]

SWEET!!!!

[stikpusher]

Jun 2, 2023 4:27:52 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

I do like all of the 3D parts that I'm seeing in the lineup. She's lookin' swell so far John. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on this one.

Yeah, John sure is dressing up this classic kit! Since this kit is pretty much the only game in town for a 1/72 B-47, it’s great to see that there is so much AM available for it nowadays. 

[mach7]

Very nice start on a VERY cool plane!

[jeaton01]

Peeled of a lot of masking this morning. I chose to paint on the wing walk borders. It's a lot of masking but has a much better appearance than decals. I used the Hasegawa decals as a pattern by cutting the decal sheet apart and laying it over the wing to get the proper location and pattern.

[stikpusher]

Looking great John. Painting the wing walks definitely looks better than decals.

[handiabled]

Just superb painting John! The nmf on this is smooth as silk and the walkway borders look perfect

[deafpanzer]

Looking real good as you are getting closer to the finish line!

[406 Silverado]

Daaaaaaaaaaaang jeaton01....that's looking frickin' awesome!!! Great outcome from all the hard work of masking.

[mrt51]

Looks great!

[TJ]

Definitely a much better look with the painted walkways

[brandonk]

Great work! Such amazing detail and craftsmanship. Such a sexy plane.

[jeaton01]

Finally got to a finish with this one. Not a quick build but just one of those subjects that has to be in my collection. I made decal strips to frame the canopy, the rest is just detail work. I used Microscale decals for the markings which worked very well.

[stikpusher]

Excellent finish on this John! She is a fine addition to your collection.

[handiabled]

One to be proud of for sure!

[creading]

What a beauty! I used to see these flying around all the time when I kid in Ohio. Truly a nice build of a classic aircraft.

Cheers,
C.

[kyledehart5]

That’s beautiful! Missed this one so far but I love it. Great work.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, everyone, for all the nice comments. I must have seen one of these flying at some time since they were in and out of nearby McClellan as weather ships, but I can't recall it.

[TJ]

Excellent finish John. Well worth the time you spent

[ogrejohn]

What a beauty!

[adt70hk]

Wow!! Quite simply wow!!

Very well done indeed John.

Can't be small even at 1/72.

ATB.

Andrew

[dukemaddog]

Stunning work! Truly a Masterpiece John!