Round 2 (AMT) 1/48 Beechcraft G17S Staggerwing

Jeaton, I had no idea. I just couldn't get past the beauty of the airplane to notice the differences. I did pick up a Roden UC-43 at Modelpalooza today.

This is my AMT G17S Staggerwing incorrectly done up as a UC-43:

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I do have another AMT kit in my stash that will be built up as a stock Staggerwing at a later date.

I see. And the Roden kit is a D17S. Great drawing, thanks.

I see what you mean about the mill. I found one at Rollmodels, will consider.

But then, there's that shallow wheel well.

Yes, the AMT kit represents the post war G-17.  As I remember only the cowl needed work, it was not tall enough.  It should fair smoothly into the windscreen, as is it will have a step there if the bottom cowl is properly aligned with the bottom of the fuselage.  Since the cowl comes in two parts you can put a pie shaped sliver on each side, and then do a little work to fair the lower part into the cowl front ring, which is part of the upper cowl. 

As to the kit being accurate, it looks pretty close to me, but I haven't blueprinted it.  I did use an aftermarket R-985 from Engines and Things, the kit engine is pretty weak.  The car interior is great.  Make sure you use Mohair for the upholstery.

Here is a decent three view of the G-17S:

So the AMT kit is a last production model of the aircraft? The kit is accurate? But the cowl to fuselage joint needs work?

I think I get it, so long as the greenhouse is more or less correct.

fotofrank

This is an OK kit. Not great, but OK. I built mine as a UC-43 Traveler, O.D. and gray. I have another one in the stash. I can't decide if I want to build a stock Model 17 or this one:

 

The Staggerwing is one of the most beautiful airplanes to ever come out of Wichita!

If I find one at Modelpalooza this weekend, I'll get the Roden kit just to do a comparison.

 

Frank, no G-17's were ever in the service, all 20 were built after the war.  D-17S's and earlier were called UC-43's.  There actually were a lot of differences throughout the Staggerwing production run, not including the first few with fixed gear.  The wing was changed to a different airfoil on the retractable gear airplanes, then I think during the D-17 series the fuselage was lengthened.  There were different cowlings depending on which engine was used, and the G-17 cowl was notable because it faired into a new windshield and the fuselage smoothly with no accessory fairing between it and the fuselage.

This is the most outrageous example, the A-17F with a Wright R-1820.  There was also one A-17FS which had the same engine with 20 more horsepower.  They had 700 hp, much less than the same engine in the later B-17 from Boeing.

Yeah, AMT, Bill.  So far as I know it'sthe only G-17 in 1/48.

Used to be one in the museum in Hood River, but the owner put it up for sale and they couldn't get enough together to purchase it. 

Always loved the looks of that aircraft.  And it was faster than most every fighter/pursuit plane of the day.  Want to get a Roden kit one of these days.

Those are sweet.

John- I assume you are referring to AMT.

Don- Great build.

No doubt the Roden kit is better, AMT is what I have in the stash.

Here are a couple of shots of my Roden build.

I've been wondering which was the better kit of the two.

Looking forward to some in-progress shots.

Bill, the cowl needs some work if you want it to look like a G-17S.  I had some work to do to get the upper wing to fair in to the aft fuselage.

As I recall I put a sliver in the sides of the cowl so it would mate up to the windshield properly.

Oh ;

  Wings of stagger , bear me away ! Without a doubt one of the Most beautiful Bipes ever built and Definitely the most beautiful to come out of Wichita . Now I built one years ago that I swear was 1/48 or larger .Maybe even 1/32 It was molded in a paler yellow and looked like it had a battery box and motor originally . It was accurate on the outside though.

 Had the priviledge of flying one about forty five years ago .One of the sweetest flying Prop driven planes I had the luck and chance to actually fly .   T.B.

BTW, Roden makes a staggerwing kit. I thought it was one of their better kits.  I have never built the AMT kit, so I can't compare, but I thought the Roden one quite good.  Especially good interior.  It first came out with only military markings, so I made my own civil markings.  As soon as I completed my kit they came out with a second kit with civil decals.  

That is a beautiful airplane.  Looks fast just sitting there in the hanger.

A Beech I never knew existed. Neat aircraft.

This is an OK kit. Not great, but OK. I built mine as a UC-43 Traveler, O.D. and gray. I have another one in the stash. I can't decide if I want to build a stock Model 17 or this one:

The Staggerwing is one of the most beautiful airplanes to ever come out of Wichita!

If I find one at Modelpalooza this weekend, I'll get the Roden kit just to do a comparison.