B-17 Anti-glare panels!

shrikes,

Pictures and drawings in my trusty Squadron B-17 in Action indicate that two different systems of masking were used in painting off the anti-glare panels on the inboard side of the engine nacelles. Facing the aircraft, in one scheme the antiglare panel runs from 8 o'clock to 12 o'clock on the port (left) wing and from 4 o'clock back to 12 o'clock on the starboard. In the second, the position changes to the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. In all cases, the panel went around the leading edge of the cowl and extend aft to a location (on the nacelle only) to a location a foot or two aft of the leading edge of the wing on top. In a couple of cases where the unit painted the cowl rings a unit color, the color went over the anti-glare panel. Another thing is that you may want to check on the particular aircraft, because it seems that though the majority of the panels seem to be OD, a significant number of aircraft had them painted in black (Having access to 1941 -1945 National Geographics is great). Hope this helps a little.

Fantastic, Quincy! I couldn't get a clear shot of these panels, and i didn't even know that they differed from the inboard to the outboard engines!!! Thanks a million! Say, What page in the Squadron's B-17 in action did you see that? I went through my copy and could find anything definitive! Thanks again!!

Shrikes,

On the pack of my B-17 in action is a profile of a natural metal B-17 an you get apretty good look at the inboard side of the #4 engine - on page 46 if you look very closly at the rh pic, you can see the outlines of the four engines anti glare panel. On pages 48 and 49 if you study the inside of the nacells you can see where the paint wraps aroung the leading edge of the nacelle and based upon my experience painting air tankers, you have to wrap the painted area completly around the leading edge of the wing or of the nacelle opening or it will chip off very rapidly.

Geez! I Never thought to look on the back cover!! LOL! Okay, I'm going to be masking it off tonight, maybe I'll get some painting done too! Thanks again!