What's a good memphis belle kit?

Merideth,

The Belle was a B-17F, and the only kit in 48th representing an "F" is the old Revell kit. It's been reissued several times over the years, and usually has markings for the Belle.

It is an old kit and does show it's age, and it's not as nice as the Monogram kit. But it is workable, and should be a nice build with a bit of work.


Fade to Black...

I agree with Mr. Blackwolf.
I built that kit many a moon ago, along with Monogram's B-17G, which is the superior kit. You could modify the Monogram kit to an F and get some aftermarket decals!
The old Revell kit isn't terrible, though.
Looks like the Belle to me!
Didn't they put out a 1/72 version, too? That might have been an E.

I am building the Revell as we speak. All painetd essentially, just waiting for finishing touches and clear coat and so forth.

I just was disappointed at the lack of detail. There is hardly any detail on this one. I was hoping something would come along and replace it. The B17s were such hosses! They deserve to be well represented.

hmmm...thanks for the tips y'all. maybe i'll put this one on the back burner until i'm a little surer of my skills...as it might be worth it to try to modify the monogram kit...especially as nsclcctl the monogram kit isnt very detailed

thanks so much guys!

Hi merideth If you do decide to convert the Monogram B17 to "the Belle" not only is the chin turret not on the Belle but the tail turret MAY be different as the G model had 2 types. I don't know which one is on the Monogram kit but it is worth checking, also the last i heard the original Memphis Belle was on display in memphis, Is she still there? . and that web site of yours is exellent i would do one if i knew how.Nice one.....Greg

The standard Monogram "G" kit had the same tail turret as the earlier "E" & "F". The ProModeler kit included an extra sprue with parts for the Cheyenne turret that was installed in later "G" airframes.

There would be many things to change on the Monogram kit in order to model the Belle, or any other B-17F. The aforementioned chin turret removal and consequent slight re-shaping of the forward fuselage, also the supplemental window framing (gun windows) protruding from each side of the nose would have to be removed.

The perspex domes of the "F" & "G" were of totally different shapes. (Except very early "G"s which had the same dome as the "F") The top turrets were also completely different units for both variants and the upper-mid fuselage gun mount is also different. I'm not totally sure about the waist gun windows, but i believe that the Monogram kit has a different configuration than that of the "F". (Staggered?) There are also many subtle differences which only a rivet counter would care about!

Lotsa work to convert the Monogram kit to build a Belle, so perhaps you're wise to put it on the back burner 'til you get a bit more confident. I sure wouldn't want to do all that... But then I'm lazy.


Fade to Black...

Hi merideth, Just thought you would like to know, Fligjt Journal mag has a nice 1/2 page article on the Belle. It is being restored at the former Naval Air Station in Millington, Tn. There is a picture of the B-17 on a flat bed trailer minus wings & tail.(would'nt that make a nice dio.?) LATER, Mike

gregers thanks for the compliments on my site! graphic design being my first love, it was a fun project to combine it with this new hobby? habit? obsession? And yes, the belle is still in memphis. As pointed out by mike it's being restored at the NAS Millington before being moved to it's new location. For years it's been located on Mud Island, a tourist attraction/museum in the middle of the Mississippi river. It's been protected only partially by a structure that had a roof but was open to the weather. Unfortunatley, that location has brought about some deterioration that has to be repaired.

blackwolf you've sufficiently scared me away from trying to change one airplane into another...at least for a lonnnnnng while ;-)

mike thanks for the tip on the mag article...i'll see if i cant hunt it down...or might you be convinced to scan and email to me?

Next time i'm home i'm planning to take a trip out to the Belle and take some walkaround shots with my digital. Hopefully I'll come up with a good resource for anyone looking to build her.

If your heart isn't completely set on the 1/48, you should check out the Academy 1/72 "Memphis Belle" kit. It's not the greatest as far as interior detail goes, but I have seen an aftermarket kit for it that gives you the full interior from the movie, complete with small B-17 wood carving! It would also be a good one to practice on, as it is VERY accurate externally.

demono69

What about the Hasegawa 1/72 B-17F Memphis Bell kit. I have one but haven't built it yet. Is it any good? It looks OK.

Hi Merideth and Mike Thanks for the info on the Belle. If i ever get to the States a visit to Memphis is on the cards as well as the desert boneyard at Davis Monthan A.F.B in Arizona, i heard the base tour is a real eye opener. I am planing to build a model of the Belle too in 1/72 so thanks for the info on the Acadamy kit Demono69 ...CHEERS....Greg

Merideth, I don,t have a scanner so that option is out. You ought to be able to find the magazine at any book store.There,s a great article on the best WWII fighters by Corky Meyer, the first civilian Naval Aviator. He was a test pilot for Grumman in WWII. and flew just about every fighter (Allied & Axis) involved in the war. Later from Cajun Land, Mike

DOGSBODY
I found the Hasegawa 1/72nd B17F to be an excellent kit. Not much for interior detail[not even a bomb bay]. But how much can ya see anyway?
It went together well and sits just right. By that I mean it sits up high on its mains like a B17's supposed to, unlike other Fort kits I've built in the past.
I didn't build it as the Belle though...I named it after my wife. That way I get to display it in the living room!!!!i

Just an interesting side note, the B-17G "Sally-B" stationed at Duxford, Cambridge, England, was the ship that played "Memphis Belle" in the movie. In early May I returned to Duxford and for some reason they had it repainted in the "Belle's" colors. Have a bunch of pics of it, in both paint schemes, from different visits to Duxford.

flyguycaa

hey y'all! thanks for the tips on the 1/72 kits...perhaps i'll give one of those a try. And flyguy that's some great info on the Sally/Belle...do you have your photos posted anywhere?

Don't have them posted right now, but I will see about getting a few up somewhere.

flyguycaa

There was an F model flying around in Memphis Belle's markings that I believe was owned by warbird collector David Tallichet. I thought that was the one that starred in the movie, but I could be wrong. I saw her a number of years back (around '95) at the Cleveland airshow.

Hi Folks. It was definitly Sally B that starred as the Belle. most of the filming was at RAF BINBROOK in Lincolnshire. whilst filming a French registered B17 was lost during takeoff, it swung off the runway and burst into flames the aircraft was a total loss but the crew got out ok. I think that the Sally B suporters club has a web site. i will post the address when i find it ....Gregers

Just letting you all know. The Sally B web site address is www.deltaweb.co.uk/sallyb/ it isn't much good for detail shots of the aircraft but it's well worth a look ...Gregers

merideth....

You might want to check out this ebay auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3134305523&category=1189

Hi Merideth i don't know if you are interested but Scale models international did an article on Sally B and B17s in general it is in the august 1989 issue. ...Greg

Merideth,

Hello. If you like, I have some old photos of the Memphis Belle that I could e-mail you copies of. They are from when she was sitting next to the Memphis International Airport in a field alongside a restaurant, which I believe was called the "91st Bomb Group", or somethign similar to that. The Belle was in extremely poor condition at that point (around 1986). It used to sit in the grass at the airport back in the late '60s and early '70s next to the Tennessee ANG flight line. I used to climb around in it when my dad would take me with him on Guard weekends (this was around 1973 or '74), and had a great time. At the time (I was about 10), I knew it was a B-17, but I had no inkling of it's historical significance. And it was in terrible shape!! The instrument panel was still there, but all of the holes where the instruments should have been were filled with bird's nests. I guess vandals and government needs took the instruments. If I had only known then what I know now....................... I now live in Indianapolis, IN, and kinda miss seeing the Belle out on Mud Island. Anyway, if you're interested in the photos, just e-mail me at the below address. Looking forward to hearing from you.