XB-52 Stratofortress

the cockpit insert for the new nose section has been cleaned up and checked for fit. The new tail piece framing was incomplete so has been sanded back and will be replaced later in the build, 

The replacement nose has been cleaned up, some areas need filling which will be done when it is attached to the fuselage. 

Another view of the new nose. This piece had an annoying casting lug on the nose that had to be removed and sanded to shape. 

The kit nose has been removed so the prototype tandem cockpit nose can be fitted. 

One half of the fuselage was marked at the appropriate place and a razor saw was used to remove the nose and tail. the fuselage halves were then taped together and then the nose and tail were removed form the other half. 

The tail end after the removal "D" tail. 

The pieces that have been removed. 

The bomb bay doors were then glued in place and a piece of plasticard was glued in to provide support for the filler that was needed to fair them in. 

Filler added to fair in the bomb bay doors in the closed position. 

The doors after sanding, The panel lines will be restored later. 

The "D" model has a slot for the bomb racks or the slipper fitting used when the racks are not fitted, As these were not present on the prototype these need to be covered. 

The slipper fitting supplied in the kit was used as a template on plasticard. This was then cut out and then sanded to shape and size. 

This shows one of the blanking pieces sanded to shape next to the other one. 

The blanking piece was glued into place and left to cure before sanding flush. 

and for the other wing. 

The flaps on the real thing. 

Another view of the B-52's flaps. 

and a third. 

As you can see the kit flaps show a number of differences with the real flaps. 

To correct this plasticard was cut and and glued to the flap. this was then sanded to shape and marked up for the recesses for the actuators and guides. 

The recesses were cut out using a scriber and a modelling knife. 

The shorter recesses are shallower than the others, these correspond to the guides rather than the actuators. 

Sink marks filled and sanded on the flaps reverse. 

Marking out and cutting bulkheads to box in the landing gear bays. 

The bulkheads in place on the rear bays. 

and on the forward bays. A small amount of filling is still required to make them flush. 

Starting to fill the slots for the additional fuel tanks. 

more on filling the slots for the underwing fuel tanks