CONSTRUCTION

Construction began with the weapons bays section. The bays need a lot of modification because I wanted to build Conventional Weapons Module (CWM) with fifty-six MK 82 Air Inflatable Retard (AIR) bombs in the intermediate and aft weapons bay, and an auxiliary fuel tank mounted in the forward weapons bay. 

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The iron bomb carriers were scratch-built from styrene sheets so they could be fitted with twenty eight MK 82 AIR bombs. And the BSU-49/B AIR fins and nose plug fusing were scratch-built using sprue and styrene sheets. 

Flaps, leading-edge slat segments, housing for the flaps were scratch-built from styrene sheets. 

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The intake duct anti-radar reflection baffles or Radar Cross Section (RCS) vanes inside each of the B-1B four-engines intake were scratch-built from styrene sheets. 

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The B-1B exhaust nozzle actuator fairings (‘turkey feathers’) came from Masterpiecemodels. But I think the resin burner cans are too long and the interior of the burner cans does not match with the real thing, it’s nearly looks like F-15’s interior burner cans. 

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CONCLUSION

The model is technically not finished yet; I still have to scratch built the canvas-covered inflatable rubber seal, as when the B-1B wings are in full-span positions they are individually raised. And I plan to change the exhaust nozzles and the decals with Cutting Edge productions.

I really enjoyed building this kit and the sheer size of a 1/48 B-1B Lancer is very impressive. Total construction time was about a sixth month and right on the schedule before the 3^rd Jakarta Annual Model Expo & Competition 2002. The model won the 2^nd place of “Modified Models” category at the contest.

Kamil