Update on my (slightly OT) MB-2 model...

[Lufbery]

Hi all,

Here are a couple of photos showing the progress I've made on the Glencoe 1/74 scale Martin MB-2.

I suffered a bit of a setback shortly after my last post, when I realized that I had glued the cabane struts together the wrong way! I had glued the two fronts together, and (naturally) the two backs together. This is the second time I've glued the wrong parts together on this kit, and I'm a compulsive dry-fitter. However, the parts aren't numbered on the sprues, so I have a little bit of an excuse.

If you want to see what parts I'm talking about, go to this page: http://www.crossandcockade.com/WNW/MB2.htm and look at the struts around the engines in the last three photos.

Fixing this mess required me to clip off the two struts that connect the front and rear pieces on each assembly. I bought some round styrene stock of the right diameter and tried to butt join the whole assembly back together. It didn't work very well.

Then inspriation hit me. I'd read about drilling holes in struts and inserting wire to strengthen a joint, but I'd never tried it. So I tried it, and it worked!

I have a pin vice and a set of small drill bits that I bought to drill holes for rigging. I drilled holes in the ends of the round stock and corresponding holes in the cabane struts. I stripped the insulation off a spare electrical wire that I had in my basement. The "wire" was actually a whole bunch of much smaller wires in a bundle. I clipped some, and put two to three of these in the holes I drilled in the struts.

Everything fit togehter perfectly after that.

Here are the photos:
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Way to go Drew! Looking good! I had the same problem with those struts myself. Luckily for me, CA saved the day. If you look closely at the pic on that Cross & Cockade article you'll notice that you have to cut away a piece under that rounded strut that goes over the front of the engine. What a pain that one was. Still, the results are worth the extra effort. I can't wait to see your next progress update.

Brian da Basher

[Lufbery]

Thanks, Brian.

I clipped off all the supports that connect the engine nacelles to the cabane struts -- probably for the same reason the guy who wrote the Cross & Cockade article did. They're a real pain in the butt.

Overall, though, I'm pretty pleased with how this old dog is shaping up.

Regards,