1/72 B-17G: FINISHED!

Pfft, that's not big!  Try the Revell 1/48 kit!  Lol.  J/K.  I know what you mean about running out of room.  I recently had the same issue.  Now I don't have a display case for my models, my living room doubles as a scale aircraft museum, lol.  Once I got to around 30 models I started to run out of room, sort of.  I didn't want it to start looking cluttered.  Maybe it already does, I don't think so though.  I recently brought home a shelf my Dad made around 30 years ago.  He originally made it for a 55 gallon fish tank, but converted into a shelving unit.

So this has bought me more space.  I had to move some things in the house around to accomadate it, which was fine by me, and hubby will eventually get used to it, lol.  I'm hoping the 1/48 B-17G kit I have to build eventually will fit on the bottom portion of that stand.  I may be pushing my luck though. 

Well, Rocker, I have the same kit in my stash along with some other B-17 kits. I'm going to go to school on your build so when I get around to my kit build I'll know the ins and outs of building this airplane. I think there are three different ways to finish this kit. Any ideas yet?

Keyda81

Pfft, that's not big!  Try the Revell 1/48 kit!  Lol.  J/K.  I know what you mean about running out of room.  I recently had the same issue.  Now I don't have a display case for my models, my living room doubles as a scale aircraft museum, lol.  Once I got to around 30 models I started to run out of room, sort of.  I didn't want it to start looking cluttered.  Maybe it already does, I don't think so though.  I recently brought home a shelf my Dad made around 30 years ago.  He originally made it for a 55 gallon fish tank, but converted into a shelving unit.

So this has bought me more space.  I had to move some things in the house around to accomadate it, which was fine by me, and hubby will eventually get used to it, lol.  I'm hoping the 1/48 B-17G kit I have to build eventually will fit on the bottom portion of that stand.  I may be pushing my luck though. 

 

Your friend, Toshi

Keyda - You're right, a 1/48 scale Fortress would take up WAYYY more space! Good call on that fish tank shelf- I bet a big B-17 would fit just fine on the bottom of it. I like what you did with the Marauder, Mitchell and Hercules on the wall. Seeing as how my new puppy LOVES to chew on anything within her reach, I might have to start hanging some of mine!

Fotofrank- Yep there are some awesome decal/paint schemes for this kit! Honestly I'm torn between building it as "Little Miss Mischief" or "False Courage" which has a BTO radar unit in place of the ball turret. I am leaning heavily towards the former however!

The new puppy I mentioned spent all day (and all of tonight) at the vets getting spayed/recovering. I took the day off from work to take her in with my fiancee, and when I came home I decided to hit the workshop. I managed to get the first step in this build completed: the bomb rack! Everything went together very smoothly. I'm hoping to do a bit more work once I get my little buddy back from the vet's office tomorrow. 

Keyda81

Pfft, that's not big!  Try the Revell 1/48 kit!  Lol.  J/K.  I know what you mean about running out of room.  I recently had the same issue.  Now I don't have a display case for my models, my living room doubles as a scale aircraft museum, lol.  Once I got to around 30 models I started to run out of room, sort of.  I didn't want it to start looking cluttered.  Maybe it already does, I don't think so though.  I recently brought home a shelf my Dad made around 30 years ago.  He originally made it for a 55 gallon fish tank, but converted into a shelving unit.

So this has bought me more space.  I had to move some things in the house around to accomadate it, which was fine by me, and hubby will eventually get used to it, lol.  I'm hoping the 1/48 B-17G kit I have to build eventually will fit on the bottom portion of that stand.  I may be pushing my luck though. 

 

How did you mount the kits on the wall like that. I like it!!

rocker286

Keyda - You're right, a 1/48 scale Fortress would take up WAYYY more space! Good call on that fish tank shelf- I bet a big B-17 would fit just fine on the bottom of it. I like what you did with the Marauder, Mitchell and Hercules on the wall. Seeing as how my new puppy LOVES to chew on anything within her reach, I might have to start hanging some of mine!

Keyda - thanks! I've heard Goldens are notorious omnivores, glad to hear he doesn't go after your models!  

I spent a bit more time down in the workshop tonight with my fortress. I've completed half of the radio operator's compartment. I used a technique I read about in an older issue of FSM (I can't remember which issue in particular) to simulate the wood grain on the R/O's table. It's amazing what a file, tan enamel, artist's oils and a stiff brush will do! I painted the radios black and dry brushed them with aluminium. I know I'm probably wasting my time with all of these interior details- I won't be able to see them when this thing is sealed up anyways. But hey, it's good practice! I dug through an old box of photos for reference, as well. I'm sure I speak for a lot of us when I say that I'll never forget the first time I walked throught a Flying Fortress. All of those old photos I took at those airshows when I was twelve paid off! 

On an unrelated topic-  while I was down in my workshop tonight, our new pup ate a winning scratch-off ticket my fiancee got at a Christmas party today.....that pup now owes her four dollars.

Looking good! 

He's an awesome dog, just wish he wouldn't eat things!  We have a Husky as well, and he's not very lovable, more like not at all.  So the Golden balances things out, lol. 

I seen my first two B-17's just this year.  I got to walk through the one and took a bunch of picutres so I would have plenty of reference when I got to build the Revell kit I have. 

haha it's always good to have balance in the househould- that's part of the reason we got another cat last year in fact! Although with 5 pets, do I live in a household or a zoo exhibit? 

It's been busy on my end with all the lake-effect snow we've been getting. When it snows, I'm at work plowing sidewalks and spreading salt so that means lots of time away from my workbench. Today I got lucky, we didn't get more than an inch of snow last night AND it's a holiday! So I've spent most of this first day of 2018 completing the cockpit of my B-17. It all went together pretty easy, and I really dig the tiny decals for the seats. 

I've been working more on the interior compartments of my Fortress. It's coming along nicely but with any kit there's been some minor issues. Part #4- there are two of these - are tricky and have to be placed in exactly the right position before you glue them in.  I wish I had known this before I glued them on  Oh well. If you're like me and you're building this kit AND you didn't think to test fit the bomb bay into the fuselage with both part #4's un-glued on the bomb bay assembly, you'll have to sand the sides of both part 4's and the inside groove of the fuselage that I've marked off in the photo below. What a hassle. 

The cockpit went together with no issues, but of course I didn't think to sand down the instrument panel before I applied the decal, so I had to really lay on the setting solution to get the decal to sit right. 

The Bombardier and Navigator's compartment went together with no issues. I used the "simulated wood" technique that was written about in an older issue of FSM to create plywood. If only I could find a small enough map decal for the Navigator's table! 

All three compartments are now joined together, and I've done lots of test fitting inside of the fuselage....let's just say I'll be making good use of my sanding tools and then my clamps when it comes time to seal this bad boy up! 

Some good progress going on! 

Thanks Keyda! 

I've managed to complete a few more steps in the building process. I've attached a few windows, completed the radio room, attached the bombsight, and glued every compartment I've completed so far into the right fuselage. I test-fit the other half of the fuselage and I'm still experiencing some gaps. Guess I'll have to break out my sanding sticks and putty when it comes time to close this thing up! I'll be working on the waist guns, ball turret and tail guns next. 

I really like how your build is coming along. Seeing what you've accomplished, it reminds me of being on hand when "909" and "Liberty Belle" were being built at Tom Reilly's facility when he was still in Kissimmee. Your Fortress is looking really good.

Very nice details.  You did an excellent job assembling everything together.  Keep up the good work!

Your friend, Toshi

Thanks fotofrank and toshi ! I've been working on my B-17 a bit more this week. I've installed the waist guns, their windows, and ammo boxes/belts. Tonight I also started painting parts for the ball turret. 

your build is coming along nicely. I especially like the wood grain effects you've achieved. Looookin  Goood Man

Is this B-17 kit one of those that the gun barrels attach on the outside so the exterior can be painted and detailed without breaking off and losing the barrels? I recently acquired the Revell/Monogram B-24D kit and I'm wondering about that. I haven't looked at the insturction sheet for the kit yet to know.

Just wait until you run out of space for the models AND the display cabinets, which is my predicament. 

Jay Jay - Thanks man! It's amazing what kinds of tricks one can pull with a file, tan paint, artists oils and a stiff paint brush! 

fotofrank - Yep, this kit allows you to put the barrels on AFTER you're done painting! It's such a great design. The .50s for the top turret are (so far) the only guns that are molded in one piece...although I suppose there's no real danger in breaking those off in the painting process because they are somewhat flush with the fuselage and don't stick out.

Mike - When that day comes for me, I suppose I'll have to start hanging my planes from the ceiling ! 

Between wedding planning, enjoying unseasonably warm weather and then a subsequent snow storm, I've somehow managed to log some hours in with my B-17. I also received an Eduard masking kit in the mail for the Revell B-17G kit. Keep in mind this is the Pro Modeler (from Revell) kit, so I took a bit of a chance ordering the kit...however that gamble paid off. Every mask fits (so far) the windows that they're supposed to cover up. There's a typo in the masking instructions - two masks are called out as the same number..but they're not the same! So make sure the mask fits the appropriate window if you buy the masking kit! I've also put together both the ball and top turrets, and I'll be painting the former soon. I figured I'd paint the ball turret first before anything else, because once it's in the sealed fuselage it'll be rather difficult to paint!

On the topic of the fusealge, I've had a bit of trouble test-fitting the two halves together. I've narrowed the problem down to the bulkhead that seperates the cockpit from the nose compartment. I spent quite a bit of time sanding down the edges of this bulkhead with my dremel, and still the fit is not 100%. So, I've got more work to do once my dremel battery is charged up. But I'll get it to go together, somehow! 

Looking good!  That drives me nuts when the halves won't go together properly!  There's been more than a few times that has happened to me. 

Thanks Keyda! 

I've stumbled upon a HUGE flaw in the kit's directions...one that made me assemble, break apart, and then reassemble the tail gunner's position. I should have trusted my gut that something looked fishy in those instructions.. but I figured the good folks at Pro-Modeler knew what they were doing. I was mistaken. So if you're building this kit someday, and you get to this step: 

Yup, just don't even try. Because you'll end up attaching those guns to part # 165, and you'll assume that part 165 will face the interior of the plane once you've glued the two halves of the tail position together. You'll THINK there's a seperate piece that will go on the outside that will allow you to attach the machine gun barrels. And you'll be wrong. It was right around the time I started searching the part sprues for such a piece - and found that it didn't exist- that I decided to look ahead in the instructions to see what the heck I was supposed to do. And that's when I discovered a big old flaw: 

The instruction manual told me I wouldn't have a problem fitting those gun barrels onto a CHEYENNE TURRET, despite the fact it told me in a few previous steps that I was to build the CONVENTIONAL TAIL POSITION for the B-17. Well, after letting loose a few choice words, I took an #11 blade to the seams of the tail and split it apart: 

But I wasn't mad for too long. It was easy to see how the tail position was SUPPOSED to go together. I re-attached the two halves with cement, re-attached the ammo boxes/belts, and then laid the two machine guns inside of the tail with some super glue. Part #165 was flipped and is now facing the CORRECT way, with the holes facing out. The gun barrels will fit nicely now! 

I've also completed the ball turret and it's associated machinery. I painted the turret Neutral Grey, because I figured it'd be too tough to paint once the fuselage halves are closed! 

And finally this morning, I glued the two halves of the fuselage together. Though the back end fit alright, the front end still has plenty of gaps in the seams. Even with all of that sanding I did, there are STILL gaps. Guess I'll have to break out my filler putty next! 

I've done a bit more work on the B-17 recently. All the windows are on, the nose is on, and so is the rudder and tail gunner's position. The masks are also all on, and the next step will be to flill some gaps and do a bit of sanding. Then it'll be time for wings and engines! 

Johnny- it certainly is! I'm still working on finding a new display case and/or making my own so I've got a place to store it. I really thought this build would take me forever and give me more time to find/build a case.... but it's going along rather quickly!

I completed the landing gear bays and started working on the engines tonight. The instructions were a bit tricky to follow when it came to this step...but I checked my references and attached the parts accordingly.

More progress on the Flying Fortress. I glued both wing halves together this morning. The port wing halves fit together a bit poorly, and there are quite a few gaps that'll need to be filled along the seams. The top starboard wing half was actually warped from sitting in the box for a few years. I figured that one would be a pain to work with...but surprisingly the starboard wing went together with no problems! 

Your coming along well on your B-17.  I built the Acedemy F model a while back and it looks like the ProModeler is a lot like the Academy. It has parts for the C F and G and the instructions kinda mixed things up and made the build interesting.  What is it with poor fitting narcells on all these kits anyway?

Hope the wings go on good and look forward to more updates from ya.

Scott

Johnny - I hear you on that, this thing is one huge beast! 

Scott- I don't get it either. You would think that these companies would want people to experience the least amount of stress with these models and would make things fit correctly !

Well the weather got nice up here (finally), and I've spent the last month outside building a chain link fence for my dogs...or working on wedding planning. My poor Flying Fortress and the rest of my workshop sat dormant for almost a whole month! But I finally got a chance tonight to do a bit more work on my bomber. I attached the cowlings and the turbo superchargers tonight. Let me tell ya folks, the cowlings don't go on easy. Those highly-detailed engines are so bulky that I had to sand down the interior of the cowlings a bit just to get them to fit over the engines without breaking any pieces off. A little patience pays off! Also the turbo superchargers on the outboard engines are a tad difficult to work with. Pipes run off of them and are supposed to connect with the exhaust on the inside of the engine. The problem is, they're too long and will not allow the rest of the part to lay down properly on the nacelle. The solution? Cut the pipes off. They won't be visable anyways! 

More work has progressed on my Fortress! Landing gear, bomb doors, and guns are all on. I've since primed it, and have begun to paint.