B-58 Hustler Lindberg 1/128

[smokeriderdon]

So, my son and I were at the hobby store a bit ago and I said to him "I want to get something I have not done before. Something like one of the older bombers, like a B-58." When I said that to him, I wasn't looking directly at him. I hear him pick up a model box and he says "Like this dad?" I turn, and lo and behold he is holding this model. LOL Sold!

So, I have never actually built a Lindberg. I know they are an old company, not even sure if they actually exist anymore. I remember seeing their models frequently as a kid, but never picked one up. So I open the box and clearly this is an OLD tooling. And inside is a fold out pamphlet for a company called Round 2 Models. The pamphlet shows a slew of old AMT models. My guess is this company is simply issuing the old kits in their original boxes under license or some such.

Anyway, here it is:





So I go through, randomly test fitting parts etc, and I realize that even with flash on some parts, this thing is going to fit rather well. I LOVE the way the wings fit with hooks that slide into slots. Looks like the join will be rather tight. But, I rapidly find that there is NO detail in the landing gear wells. They forfeited detail for making the gears retractable. Argh. Not much I can do about that as I want to do this OOB and I cant imagine there is a lot of after market stuff for this kit anyway.

So I have done the pilots and what little is there for the cock pit...







And here is what the front well looks like...



As I said, I want to do this OOB, so I am going to have to live with that. I wont be displaying it on a mirror.

So, to make it even more fun, a few days ago I knocked the box over spilling parts everywhere. My son and I found all but one part. One of the front engine cowlings. Great. So I went and bought another one. FOR ONE PART. *banging head on desk* But, the bright side being that this is the first time I will be using Testors Metalizer. I will have something to experiment on before doing the "real" model. And maybe later I will do an engine repair diorama or the like with the second kit.

Finally, I am going to try to get this done by the first week of April. My local IPMS club meeting is then with the theme of anything that could launch a nuke. Perfect!

 

[smokeriderdon]

Alright, some progress has been made. First, I decided that a small piece of plasticard in the nose well would not preclude calling this OOB. It is just enough to make it not so horrid...





Serious lack of detail, but thats the kit.

Not only is the kit designed for the gears to retract, but the cockpit access hatches are hinged as well...



So, with the fuselage assembled, I primed it with Mr Surfacer 1500. While the fit is not awful, there is a bit of seam work to be done...







So, I worked on that and started on the engines in between sanding and putty setting. The internal engine parts, again, lack detail. Its ok as they wont be seen at all. They are basically there to hold the intake and exhaust nozzle in plae...



Here they are fully assembled, primed and some seam work done...



Then with a base coat of aluminum...



So, I did the remaining seam work (silver REALLY shows flaws). In every reference pic of a B58 I have seen, the engine housings are different colored metals. They are NOT uniform except that the fron portion is polished metal like the body. So, I had an issue. To make that look right, I need panel lines. Nice engraved ones. This is an old kit. With fine RAISED lines. Much of which I sanded off. Soooo, time for me to use the panel line engraver I bought years ago and have never used. I have never ever done panel lines. EVER. It just wasnt ever a thought back when.

But, having been reading the trade mags for the last few years, I had bought the engraver AND Dymo tape just in case. So I did a basic job on the engines, then painted them in different shades of metal. The front part I did in the stainless steel metallizer the rest of the plane will be done in. The other panels in differing silvers I have purchased for this kind of thing. Then a bit of Vallejo pigment to dirty them up. I think they turned out fair decent...



So, on to the wings. I assembled the two pieces. The fit on these parts was the worst so far. I did some work on them then attached the to the fuselage. That fit was not so bad. Then primer...





Obviously some work yet to be done. But I thought, wait. Even with primer, the fell extent of the flaws only seems to show up when the silver hits the plastic. So, on went a coat of the metallizer...





So thats where I am. I am going to let the paint set for a good 24 hours before man handling it to do final work on those seams. And one further note about the kit. I have never in my life seen soooooo many ejector pin marks! Like every flipping piece has them...



So, please folks, any constructive criticisms or idea are welcome.

 

[Quaralane]

Looks like you're doing some very nice work on this old girl

 

[JMac]

Very cool. I love seeing these older kits being built (I'm currently building a Matchbox He 111). That being said I really wish someone would kit a new release 1:72 Hustler...

Looking forward to your next update.

Jason

 

[smokeriderdon]

So. The local IPMS meeting was this past Wed. The special category for this month was anything that could launch/drop a nuke. And this is why I decided to build this kit at this time. But I think I mentioned that already. Anyway. I stayed up until 5 AM Wed finishing her up. I didnt really take any pics between the last update and finishing. So here are a few (not great but they will do) pics of the finished plane.







I know the pics arent the best. But, I am very happy with how this lady turned out. The paint ended up looking almost exactly the way I envisioned. The decals went on OK. Detail of the model itself isnt the best, and its not totally accurate. But over all, this one is a B in my mind.

As for the meeting/show. Well, I did not place. The old Monogram 1/48th B 58 and one other beat me out. Mine is the one in the upper left of the pic. The 58 in the lower left was display only.



So thats that. Now to wrap up the 141 and start the old Monogram 1/32 F4E sitting here.

 

[Quaralane]

Sorry you didn't place.
Your work was pretty good on this bird, based on the pics

 

[smokeriderdon]

Quaralane, thank you sir.

I received plenty of compliments on it. People liked the weathering, they liked that I managed that out of a Lindberg kit. Etc etc. It just didnt translate to votes. Or they simply liked the others better.

Like I said, *I* love how it turned out. Not my best, but pretty darn good. Placing would have been nice, but there is always next model.