Hi, bigfoot01,
Welcome. In contrast to you I am a baby modeler in experience. Interest has waxed and waned, but been more constant in the last year or two. So I have been getting FSM for about a year, and lately reading some in the forums here.
I "love" the B-17 as well. I think it is a most beautiful airplane. One of my modeling dreams ( I usually dream too big for what I will realistically do ), is to build enough B-17 and fighters to hang up and give a sense of a mission in progress.
Do you know the book "The B-17" by Martin Caidin? He tells the history of the development of the plane, and on into its use in combat, Pacific theater too.
Maybe "see" you around.