Here's what I'm starting with. It's the old 1956 Revell box scale 1/169th scale Bison bomber. I've had it in the drawer of doom for so long I can't remember where or when I acquired it. I just got it out and decided it's time to do something with it and this would be a great opportunity. I checked some photos and this model is a whiff in a box to begin with. So I'll be adding some lumps and bumps.
I have removed what remained of the gun turrets, added a "stinger" cone in place of the tail guns and filled in the landing gear openings. More pics as the PSR progresses. I never had the gear or any other parts for it so this will end up on a brass rod when finished.
Not only was the canopy a mess but now it walked off the work desk and disappeared. No real loss at all so I’ll just fill in the opening with plastic and place some blue decal instead. I’m going to try making some bubble windows by heating the end of a clear sprue until it forms a half round shape. Most of the PSR is done except little touch ups.
Glued white plastic in place of the wind screen and sanded that to the proper shape. I replaced the prop spinner with the nose from an old F-18 to give a more late model shape. Time for antenna and the IFR probe. I made the observation domes seen in most pics by heating the end of a clear sprue until it melts into a rounded dome like shape. I’m going to try the natural metal top and very light grey bottom as seen in most of the Bison pics. I drilled out the engine intakes as they looked terrible. Exhaust is just as bad but if I drill that out it will be a see through engine space. I’ll think of something. I could stuff in bits of black foam to block that. These intakes are round and should be oval anyway. I’ll have to invent a story line to cover that.
I added the parts as I described and then started with some silver paint. Its all one "tone" right now but I'll try varying the shade with flat and gloss on different panels. It worked on the external tanks for an X-15 so it might work here.
All the pictures of a Bison bomber show what appears to be an off white/very light grey underside. It might just be weathered. I might have to mix up something or just go with white. Also, I've already managed to break off the IFR probe. At least I found it on the floor!
