Hi there guys! 

All done!........well not actually the whole B17 but I have finished the Radio room section and all 3 sections have now been attached. Getting the nose/cockpit section to line up with the bomb bay was a real nightmare but managed it in the end!

....and it's BIG!!......well it would be at 1:20 scale!.....in fact so far it is just over 2 feet and 2 inches long (66cm).....and of course I haven't started on the rear section yet!

When all 3 sections were secured together I had to touch up the joints the best I could because originally this project was going to be built in separate sections but realized ...too late to be honest....that it would look so much better if it was one complete fuselage. This in turn caused me no end of problems lining everything up and trying to lose at least 1.7 cm in the length. In fact in the end it will be about 5mm too long but I can live with that!

When I start with the rear section I will build it as just one section right back to the rear gunner position this will just give me the one join onto the radio room!

I managed to modify the display stands I originally built for each section and have made 2 stands which can take the weight of the model so far!

I am going to have a rest from this build now and come back to start on the rear section in a few months time.

So here are photographs of just over half the fuselage of "Fuddy Duddy" .........unfortunately taking photos of her being so big half of my house and garden get in on the act!....really difficult!!!!....WARNING! PHOTO HEAVY!

I have temporally attached the bomb bay doors on to see the effect....these will be attached permanently when the whole B17 is finished!....here are a few shots......

So there you have it guys!

Josh_the_painter

Ive just finished reading through this thread... this is absolute madness at its finest. Absolutely jaw dropping attention to detail.

Now while obviously a b17F, when I was a boy they gave studio tours at Movie World on the Gold Coast. Part of that was a Memphis Belle experience, if you will. They operated a scale studio model which must have been around 1/20. Props spinning,  all the turrets moved and fired! Large muzzle bursts streaming out of everywhere. I would love to know how they achieved that. 

Its always left an impression on me so to see you creating this work of art, gives me no end of enjoyment! 

Josh

 

Thanks Josh!...I am pleased my B17G build has given you great memories!...I also remember as a boy seeing models of the Flying Fortress and thinking what a marvel it was! 

Ive just finished reading through this thread... this is absolute madness at its finest. Absolutely jaw dropping attention to detail.

Now while obviously a b17F, when I was a boy they gave studio tours at Movie World on the Gold Coast. Part of that was a Memphis Belle experience, if you will. They operated a scale studio model which must have been around 1/20. Props spinning,  all the turrets moved and fired! Large muzzle bursts streaming out of everywhere. I would love to know how they achieved that. 

Its always left an impression on me so to see you creating this work of art, gives me no end of enjoyment! 

Josh

Hello there guys!

I have managed to move on from the shock of re adjusting the sections to fit one and other and onto the wing fillets!....a bit fiddly but got there in the end!

This is how I achieved it..................

The first job was to cut to shape a piece of yogurt pot plastic (to save using expensive plastic card)....and glue it on the bottom of the fuselage to make up the bottom section of the fillet and then to place a few ribs on the plate to secure it....

All the wiring and pipes etc were then placed in position.......the cover plate I previously made on the last post is in the foreground of the photo......

The same was then done on the starboard side.......

The front plate which was cut from plastic card... was then glued into place after first painting all the detail previously scratched....here are a few photos.......

The next task was the hardest part and that was to cut another piece of yogurt pot plastic to the shape of the top part of the fillet and glue it in position....here is the finished construction......

So all I had to do now was to paint the face plate and I attached some aluminum tape to the top of the fillet to see what it looked like.

So I am now going to do the hopefully last part of this Radio room section and that is to place the Aluminum tape over the fuselage....

Hi there

A few weeks have passed and I am a tiny bit forward with this build than I was in the last post!...and I want to tell you where I am at with this!

For a long long time now I have been fretting over how I will display this B17G when it is all done!....I felt I just had to  make a decision before I continued on what was to be done.

Originally it was going to be so simple as I was only planning to build the nose section and just put it on some sort of stand!....but of course with a little encouragement from some of my fellow modellers on this forum!!... I decided to continue with the rest of the fuselage....I mean... I really enjoyed building the nose section...lets do the rest of it!

So I then separately built the bomb bay and the the radio room (as some of you who are following this are aware) and started to build stands for them to sit on. I put the nose section/bomb bay and the radio room next to each other and it just didn't look right!....not only that , it was almost impossible to try and build a stand for the radio room section because of the ball turret hanging below!....the stand would have got in the way of the turret!

There was only one solution to the whole mess and that was to permanently attach all sections together making one complete fuselage ...as it would be on the real thing......that's when the real problems started!

Now ...because I built each section separately and now have decided to join them all together I realized that the length of the fuselage will be too long by at least 1.5cm...maybe 2 cm...this is because I built each section from one bulk head to the next (for example bomb bay was built from Bulk head no's 6-8 ....and then the radio room was built from bulk heads nos 8-10.....each bulk head is about 5 mm ....so when you put the bomb bay section to the radio room you have gained 5mm!)....and so on adding to the length of the damn thing!!.....I hope you understand my ramblings!!!

I had to lose those millimeters!...and so you can imagine what I had to do!.........

Now I can get on with the wing root detail ........here is as far as I have got so far!......

Yesterday I made these two plates that will eventually be attached to the wing root...

Afternoon guys!

This post will finish up all the interior detail I needed to do before closing both top and bottom halves of the fuselage and then I can proceed to finish off the detail on the exterior of the fuselage.

So what needed to be done was the ammunition belts from the emergency ammunition cans and the oxygen bottle for the gunner.

I'll start with the ammunition belts.....By using just paper and wire I'd thought I would show you how I went about this task ..photo by photo...

1. The first task was to cut 4 pieces of paper to the length/width of the belts....I used paper as it will bend like a real ammo belt...

2. As you can see I then cut all 4 pieces..(you will see in the next few photos why I did this!)...

3. I then got some garden metal wire twine (I chose this as it looked the right scale for the rounds)...

4. This then had to be straightened using a flat piece of metal rolled across the top of a length of wire......

5. After measuring the width of the pieces of paper I then had to cut... (loads!!).... of pieces of wire which would replicate the rounds,....laborious task!...although I don't actually mind doing it!!

6. These were the super glued onto 2 of the 4 strips of paper....

7. Then the other strips of paper were glued over the top of the rounds  This is the time that I bent the paper to the shape I needed....

8. A couple strips of paper were cut and glued to both sides of the belts to make them look more authentic and I then painted them.....

So now all I had to do was super glue one end of the belts to the ammo cans and hook up the other ends on a couple of posts....(the reason for this is that because I have exposed the top of the ball turret I couldn't glue them to the entry point of the turret!)...here are a few photos of the task complete......

So now its at long last time to place the top to the bottom!!..ha ha!

I am now getting close to the end of the Radio room section of this B17G....the external detail will now have to be thought about before proceeding......so I'll see you all the next time around! 

Hi guys

Well it's been nearly a month now since my last post what with family staying and this and that etc etc( you know the drill...getting in the way of modelling!)...but finally I'm now back at dealing with this B17G!

...and it was time to tackle the complicated ball turret hanging system!.......After looking at loads of confusing photos of the task at hand I decided that the only way to replicate it was to try and break it down into small stages.....wasn't going to be easy ...but then that's the challenge I guess!

So I started with the frame work and the bits and bobs at the bottom that fits onto the turning mechanism above the ball turret...here's a few photos......

I was about to attach the upright tube ( plastic flag stick that luckily was the correct scale!) when I noticed that I would have to adjust the walkway that goes around the turret as it was too large and I would never be able to continue with the hanging structure!.....annoying as I had to take of the glued floor carefully off and then re shape it and then replace it and make good!...any way after that problem was solved I had the next problem of repeatedly placing the top section of the fuselage.... as a dry run fit ....to see if the tube aligned up correctly with the ceiling connection!....that I have to say took some time and patience!...of course in the process I knocked of the radio ops seat and some radio stacks from the radio room floor!...I have left them off for the time being whilst I deal with this nightmare!

Now......I could have left it there!.......but I think you know me by now

It was time to attach the ammo cans to the hanging structure.......

The next task was nearly impossible to do and that was to make the lower supports for the cans.....it took ages but got there in the end!.......all I had to do now was to paint it all.....

OK

Sorry about the first two photos guys!.....I accidentally deleted them off postimage hence breaking the link!...I will re post them!!

Jay Jay

SIMPLY AMAZING ! Another thing that blows me away is that you know what all this stuff is called and used for. I am scratch building a number of parts for my 1/48 Visable B-17 but I had no idea what the stuff was until you posted this info and I am grateful for it. It's as if you actually own and fly a real B-17.

 

Thanks Jay Jay

I wish I did own a B17!!.....as for the knowledge and info on the Fort.....I have been studying the B17 for well over 5 years now so that I could have half a chance when doing this project!...and I'm pleased that I can be of some help to you!

Afternoon chaps!

Well after considering all the possible ways of how to build the structure which holds the ball turret to the fuselage just beyond the radio room I came up with some sort of plan!

I had some vac formed molds of the ball turret that were not good enough when I was constructing it........way back it seems!......which luckily I kept. I thought that as it's the correct shape may be I could cut pieces of it to fit on top of the ball turret and then add the bits and pieces on top of that?.....so I went about that idea.

I thought the best plan would be to construct it inside the fuselage above the ball turret aperture.....and then eventually feed the already constructed ball turret up and onto the structure.

Some of the shapes of the parts were a bit of a nightmare to replicate but after a few days of experimenting with different materials I managed to make the parts look half decent!!

I haven't finished the structure at all ....I have just done the basics and to show you what else needs to be done ...here is a photo of the real thing!......

As you can see these bars ...part of the structure that attaches to the top of the fuselage...have yet to be made.....

...and then of course the ammunition cans and oxygen bottle ...not to mention all the other stuff...have also have to be replicated!....got my work cut out!

I have placed the ball turret in place to check what it all looks like in the next 3 photos......

...and here it all is with paint applied!..........

So now it leaves me to figure out how to attach it to the ceiling of the fuselage.....when I sorted that out I'll be back!

Rambo

Looks awsome fozzy. If it was me instead of undoing a lot of detail i would display it separate that way you can also fully see all the detail you put into the ball turret

 

Yes I know what you mean Clint!....gonna have to think about this....it all depends on how I am going to display each section...at the moment I am steering towards each section...(ie nose section...bomb bay...radio room and eventually the rear section) seperately on a display board and not butted up against each other like a long train!....if I displayed the entire fuselage that way then maybe the Ball turret could be displayed seperately!.....food for thought mate!....thanks for your input!

Hi guys

Today I would like to show you the completion of the radio room it self.

This section of the build will still be on going as I have to get the ball turret installed and a shed loads of other details on the exterior....which brings me to a BIG problem!

As normal with scratch building ...sometimes mistakes are made!...well I will own up to my mistake and tell you that the position of the ball turrets aperture is slightly out!.....( it needs to be a tad more to the rear)... I might be able to get away with it but it means a lot of re adjusting which means destroying a lot of the detail I have already completed!

I always thought this next stage would be challenging as I am trying to get the turret installed in two halves because I am building this B17G in two halves!....I find that constructing the aircraft this way makes it a lot easier than the method of Port and Starboard construction. That is until it comes to the part whereas the ball turret is connected to both top and bottom of the fuselage!

I did think of displaying the ball turret separately but then thought that nothing else on this model is separate....at the moment!....no doubt that when I start to install it , possible ideas will float around in my head ...well I hope so else this project will temporarily grind to a halt!!...........no one said that this would be easy!!

So putting that nightmare to one side........lets get to the last of the radio room detail. 

The last rear starboard area of the radio room meant that I had to scratch 5 x Transmitter Tuning Units....a couple of hand cranks and an extinguisher........here are the hand cracks and extension bar before painting... 

A rather laborious task but here are the 5 x unpainted Transmitter Tuning Units.....

The radio room door was made from a sheet of plastic card next. There was 2 doors in the radio room one on the forward bulkhead and one on the rear bulkhead....some information and photos I have seen show that the rear door wasn't always on...this could be just for the War birds so for aesthetic reasons I have left it off!....here are parts all painted and ready to be installed.....

This photo shows the hand cranks on the bulkhead wall........

....and here is an assortment of photos showing everything in place ...including the camera door hatch....

So for me its time to put my thinking cap on and try and sort out this Ball Turret mess.....once I get somewhere I will report back!....could be some time!!!

Master craftsmanship right here!

Rambo

Very nice Fozzy the equipment matches up perfectly to the real items

 

Thanks Clint!

EQUIPMENT ON THE REAR PORT BULKHEAD 

Hi Guys

There is a lull in the good weather so I have found the time to do another posting here rather than concreting!

This will be the penultimate posting of the Radio room before I tackle the complicated mechanism above the Ball Turret!....something that's going to be a tough one no doubt!

....but first lets get to today's posting!

Not too much stuff had to be scratched...there is a spare oxygen bottle....Liaison Transmitter ....Liaison Antenna Tuning Unit and a few bits and bobs on the side wall.

So here is the Liaison Transmitter and Liaison Antenna Tuning unit before painting...............

After I painted it this is how the Liaison Antenna Tuning Unit turned out.........

....and the Liaison Transmitter......

Below this equipment a spare oxygen bottle was stowed....(this varied from aircraft to aircraft).......

This next photo is of some of the gear that could be found...I say could be found ...as once again info on the many different specs of the B17s is huge!........

This was now all installed into the radio room and as I usually do here are the photos to show this........

Looking forward now to the last part of the actual Radio room and that is all the Transmitter Tuning Units that are stacked up on the other side of the aft bulkhead.

mustang1989

Exceptional work Fozzi. I’d sure feel for that navigator sitting on a fancified pogo stick with some lap belts on it during a crash event. That’d hurt!!!!

 

Cheers mate!

I'm sure he got down on the floor against the bulkheads with the other crew who normally congregate in the radio room in the event of a forced landing!!

Exceptional work Fozzi. I’d sure feel for that navigator sitting on a fancified pogo stick with some lap belts on it during a crash event. That’d hurt!!!!

FORWARD STARBOARD AREA OF THE RADIO ROOM

Hi guys

Another week gone by and another area of the radio room complete!....and another week nearer to starting the rear section of this build!...

So a few things had to be scratched and so I started with the Command Receivers...here they are before painting and wiring up!.........

Being approx 3 cm long it was a bit fiddly...I had to drill tiny holes to accept the pins I used for the cable connectors and switches etc ....here it is painted.......

Above the Receivers there are the Command Transmitters...just as fiddly!

However the tiny Antenna Relay was a bit of a challenge!.....

So here are all the 3 units complete ...........

...and here is the Connector for the Antenna and the cables that will connect to the Transmitters and Receivers.....

The next few photos are of everything in place.........

So turning round now and facing the rear of the radio room I will attempt to build all the equipment that was found in that position.

Rambo

I'm at a loss of words on your work here. It just keeps getting better and better, I look forward to your next update.

 

Thanks Clint

THE EQUIPMENT BENEATH THE RADIO OPS DESK

Hi to all!

Here is the next episode to this never ending saga!

Before I start I want to say that I do realize that this scratch build is not 100% accurate.The interior colours I have chosen are a mish mash taken from hundreds of photos I have collected.The other problem is that it seems that The Flying Fortress's interior used different equipment and placed them in different areas of the aircraft....for example the Tokyo shut off valves. I have placed them on my model beneath the Radio ops desk ...which some of the G variants were... whereas other "Gs" had them on the aft bomb bay bulk head. This of course causes me confusion and I have to go one way or the other. At the end of the day I have to convince my self that this is my own interpretation of this glorious Aircraft and it's never going to be completely accurate and to exact scale as scratch building is really flying blind!!

Reason why I am rambling on is because this project is taking so long and at times I feel that I have bitten off more than I can chew and I have to  convince my self to carry on...regardless!

ANY WAY..............................................

I have scratched all the bits and bobs that seem to be under the radio ops table although as I said ...difficult to know what was and wasn't installed!. ....but starting with the radio ops seat...here it is ready for painting....

here's the scale.......

All painted with the seat straps fixed....

I have labeled whats what with the various equipment in the next couple of photos...the usual plastic scraps and wire were the order of the day!.............

I attached the top section and tried to poke the camera through the back end and sides to get the shots of the equipment!....

I then glued the seat in position and took a few more photos......

OK....so that's that part done! 

I notice that you post at britmodeller.com. For some reason, I cannot connect to that website anymore. If you could please go to the forum "airplanes ready for inspection". Then go to my post 1/48 P-38 Bare Metal Foil (Johnny_K) and tell everyone that I appreciate their kind words and that I can no longer connect to britmodeller.com.

Thanks

Thanks guys!

Hi,

The level of detail that your model shows is amazing