SPA Modeler

Between my recent completion of the Monogram 1/48 Marauder, and another thread on FSM about B-25s, I decided to pull this build off semi permanent sideline exile and get it finished up in the next month or so. First off, a little background on the build. I started it some 10 years ago or so in 2004 as a straight OOB build when I was getting ready for deployment overseas later that year. I was on a manic modeling spree and started for more kits in that time than life would allow me to complete. It was very much a live for the moment period in my life and there was just never enough time in the day to gt everything done. I got the interior completed, fuselage, wings and tail on then set it aside to await my return and completion. Fast forward 18 months later, and upon my return home I find that the kit had been damaged while I was away. The tail plane had been broken off, the front landing gear strut, had been snapped off, the tail gun barrels were broken off, and the nose section was about ready to come off. So this kit was sidelined, to be repaired and finished another day.

Well as I said above, a couple of things inspired me to get this one done at this time. I now had the tools and skills to repair the biggest issue, the snapped off nose gear strut. So I set out to tackle that first. Using my pin vise and some micro bits, I drilled a hole in the center of each portion of the landing gear leg, the stub that was still atteached to the wheel well sidewall, and the main strut. Then I added a portion of steel wire in the seperated leg, super glued it in place, test fitted it into the stub and saw that it would would work.

broken gear leg with wire added




hole drilled into stub and nose glued back in place





After that I glued the tailplane back in place and then the nose section after adding a spreader from sprue to counteract some warpage that had occured in the upper portions.

and now as she sits ready to resume construction... painting to begin soon. I need to add some lead shot to the nose to keep her from being a tail sitter.

This is what I call a long term project!

One of Monogram's goodies, deserves to be finished.

Nice to see something actually coming off the shelf of doom.

love those ol monogram bombers....

Thanks Thomas, it is a lomg term project indeed, but not my longest term one...

Borg I am slowly whittling down my shelf of doom. At the begining of each calender year I make a list of unfinished builds and add my newly started builds to the list as well during that year. My old ones are being reduced, someyears more successfully than other years...

Owl, I love those Monogram bombers too... such great kits and good bargains for the price.

That's a fine kit stik, if memory serves me she can be a tail sitter, got weight in her?

not yet, but I am gonna load up the nose full of lead shot... yes right now it has more back than any hip hop video...

Love the B-25. "Shelf of Doom"? huh? I call that my stash. Looking forward to this build.

Me too! In the wake of my Marauder, the Monogram twin/bomber bug has bit me hard!!!

This will be fun to watch. Love seeing shelf of doom models completed!