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B-17 Gunner RE-Completed PICS

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  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
B-17 Gunner RE-Completed PICS
Posted by wing_nut on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 3:15 PM

Well I have my 1st figure under my belt.  And I have gained a lot of respect for those of you that primarily do figures.  OMG that's a lot of painting.  I wish I had a dollar for every color change and brush cleaning.

I touched up the gunner a bit with the light gray at some wear points.  I don't know if I did enough but was afraid to over do it.  The straps and other light colored stuff is washed out in the pics becuase I forgot to undo an exposure setting from something else.

Comments and critiques welcome (Just in case I ever do another figureSmile [:)])

 

Marc  

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: United States
Posted by ww2modeler on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 4:16 PM
 I think you did a great job. Better than what I paint. The wear you did with the grey turned out fine. BTW is that 120mm? Keep up the good work and good luck.

On the bench:

1/35 Tamiya M26 Pershing-0%

1/144 Minicraft P-38J Lightning-50%

Numerous 1/35 scale figures in various stages if completion.

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Essex, UK
Posted by FingersEddie on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 4:26 PM
Great work, Marc. It looks fantastic, well done man.
"Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country is doin' to you!" "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." "Say 'NO' to censorship, it leads to a dictatorship!" http://public.fotki.com/paulyrichard/
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posted by m1garand on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 6:19 PM
It is so.... beautifully done. Boohoo [BH]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 7:00 PM
The wear looks good. Remember, these guys were supposed to rotate out after 25 missions. I don't know if the coats were recycled. On on hand, it would make sense, but then I'm not sure I'd want someone else's coat and whatever karma, ju-ju or bad energy might have been accumulated by the previous owner. I like the rivet work you did on the outer fuselage, nice touch.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:32 PM

Thnaks all for the comments

 

WW2 M  Yup that's the 120 MM kit

Nah... I don't think I would want to wear someone elses gear.  You never know what else may have been in the suit after seeing a dozens of 109s, 190, etc.  On the other hand, if you are getting from a guy that made it through 25 missions...

Marc  

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 6:24 AM
Wow!
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Thursday, May 3, 2007 3:07 PM

I had the gun mounted wrong and the ammo did not fit.  After getting the gun right, the ammo can on and some spent shell casing strewn about, I decided to go with the anti-skid flooring and like the look better than before.


Marc  

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, May 3, 2007 3:29 PM

Looks great.  Who makes the figure/base?  I like it and may have to get one for myself.  You have done a great job on it.

Also, I thought the .50 cal ammo was in a wooden box mounted onto the side of the fuselage and was belt-fed from a feed chute?  At least it is that way in all the B-17s I have seen and the one restored B-17 I flew in.  Anyone know for sure?  Or was this a later set-up, etc.?

 

EDIT: Disregard, found it.  Verlinden: "Bandits! 2 O'Clock"

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Thursday, May 3, 2007 6:52 PM

Gino you are correct in that was the way it done the vast majority of the time.  Bigger box, more ammo, more shoot time before reload.  I did come across a few photos of this set though so it is technically accurate.  My 1st idea for scratch building the feed chute was a horrible disaster so for now he just has to reload quick and not get his butt shot off.

http://ww2ky.moreheadstate.edu/images/B_17_WAIST_GUNNER.jpg

http://www.ww-iiheroes.com/Asmussen_files/image024.jpg

 

 

Marc  

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Thursday, May 3, 2007 7:22 PM

Very nice painting Marc.  Well done Thumbs Up [tup].

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posted by m1garand on Thursday, May 3, 2007 10:35 PM

Marc,

When you get a chance, try to go to Republic Airport in Farmindale N.Y.  They have vintage restored WWII planes and time to time, they have B-17 that you can fly in.   Until I stepped inside of one, I didn't realize how narrow passage was (especially where waiste gunners were at). 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, May 3, 2007 11:10 PM
If you are interested in seeing or going up in a B-17, B-24, or B-25, check out The Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour.  They take the above, fully restored aircraft across the country to airshows and local airports for display and rides.  A few years ago, my wife's grandfather (who was a B-17 ball turret gunner, shot down, and a POW in WWII) and I went up in the B-17 None-0-Nine.  It was awesome and even better since he was with me.  They are great to just look at and walk through as well.  They have a bunch of other aircraft that they take around to shows too.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Northern KY
Posted by mucker on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:50 PM
Nice one, Marc.  You really nailed this on your first attempt at a figure.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Saturday, May 19, 2007 4:00 PM

Rick, M1, HArty, Mucker... guys, thanks vm.  Should have said thankss a while back... that was rudeDisapprove [V]... but I kinda went back to my old habit of just hangin' in the "things that fly"sectionWink [;)]

Marc  

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:02 PM

Great job! Looks like the box art! That must have been a lot of super glue... the Verlin 1/16 kits I have scare me...
Not to mention you've got more guts than I do messing around with the whole gun set up and ammo issue after you already finished it. I personally like the wooden floor simply for astetic color differences, but Im sure this is more accurate and Im glad you liked the way it turned out. The spent shells are real sweet! Definitly not bad at all for your first figure...
Although after all that painting and everything I wouldnt be surprised to find most of your future stuff in the things that fly half of the forum

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Thursday, May 24, 2007 3:07 PM

the Verlin 1/16 kits I have scare me...

They're okay to train on, but generally leave a lot to be deisred in pose, often very stiff and awkward. Weapons are often held in open hands in defiance of gravity. Pour plugs are excessive ond sometimes in places that will leave you cleaning up for ages. You will need to do research on exact colors and the box art is the color guide/insruction sheet. If you can find some of the older kits, they are actually much better than the more recent offerings.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: beacon falls , Ct.
Posted by treadwell on Thursday, May 24, 2007 9:14 PM
heya marcBig Smile [:D]absolutely beautiful work manThumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup] -- a pleasure to view-- now get to work on your t-34!!--- lol--really man, great job on gunner-- very impressive!!-- treadCool [8D]

   

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Friday, May 25, 2007 1:19 PM

Thanks guys

 

Ajlafleche you are right about the weapons grip.  That is really more butted aging his knuckles than anything else.

  

Treadwell I really want to start that bad boy.  My problem is I am a one-at-a-time modeler mostly and I know that kit is gonna take forever LOL.  I have to figure a way to weave it into the aircraft builds.

 

Marc  

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by SteveM on Friday, May 25, 2007 7:31 PM

Marc, that's fantastic work. I won't even say "for your first blah blah blah " (oh, but I guess I just did)... it's just simply a great piece. I, too, like the wood floors. Brings a "era" feeling to me. Does that make sense?

Steve 

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

 

CPO
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Morganton,N.C. ( Foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. ( on I-40 )
Posted by CPO on Friday, June 8, 2007 2:25 PM

 

Beautiful job I'd be happy if I could do half that good. I have two friends that flew on B-17's. one was a waist gunner and the other was crew chief and top turret gunner, both of these guys was stationed in Italy.

CPO Smile [:)]

 

Charles P. O'Brient aka CPO

CPO
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Morganton,N.C. ( Foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. ( on I-40 )
Posted by CPO on Friday, June 8, 2007 2:27 PM

 

I forgot where did you get that kit?

CPO Smile [:)]

Charles P. O'Brient aka CPO

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Saturday, June 9, 2007 6:16 AM

Steve, CPO... thanks

Yes Steve that does make sense... kind of-sort ofWink [;)]

CPO it was collecting dust at my LHS but I have seen it online so its out there somewhere.

Marc  

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