1/48 B-17 Group Build...ALL INVITED TO JOIN!

Question.....something I havn't been able to find.....was the radio compartment gun enclosed on all G models?  The only thing I've been able to find is when the radio guns were deleted all together.

In other words, did they all look like this?

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Hey Red,,just found out my wife's godson is working for Boeing out in Washington,,,,I think he has access to their archives I'll see what I can find out for you.....

The headphones are a nice touch....did you make them from scratch?

handiabled

All this staggered window posting brings me to my next dilemma,,I'm building a Visible fort,,but the clear side distorts the detail so much I want to cut a pretty good chunk of it away,,,,,,anyone have a good method of cutting the clear so it leaves a decent edge and doesn't look like it was chewed on by a beaver??  

Handi,  as others have said, it will take some work, and you may want to try it on a scrap piece of clear to test exactly what you'll use, but here's the way I'd do it:

1. make your initial cuts a little inside the line you will ultimately end up with.
2. use a combination of dremel with a fine stone or cutter, then file, then sanding stick, going finer and finer as you reach your finish line. 
3. finish up with the finest grit sanding stick you have (Tamiya triple sanding stick using the fine gray side) to polish the cut surface. 
4. you may want to end up dipping the part in some Future to really smooth out the cut, but I bet you get pretty close that way.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Handiabled, if you are going to cut a large portion away, why not just save the clear half and cut the opaque fuselage, it is a lot more forgiving! Gene's principles still apply.

redraider56

Question.....something I havn't been able to find.....was the radio compartment gun enclosed on all G models?  The only thing I've been able to find is when the radio guns were deleted all together.

In other words, did they all look like this?

Hmmmm. I'm not completely sure honestly. But at least in the case of what your planning to build I'd say it's a safe bet that yours would look like the pic you posted.

Thanks,,  yeah they are scratched from copper wire and styrene,,,I thought about leaving a fast food drink cup on the top of the inst panel,,,,,,,,   too much??   also thanks everyone for the cutting advice,

I'm donating this bird to a local Veterans historical Museum so I left it up to them as far as the presentation,

I tested on a couple of other clear pieces so whatever they get back to me with is what I'll do. More to come....

Looking sharp so far Handiabled

As for my radio gun question, I got it partly figured out.  Apparently the early Gs had the sliding ring mount and removable glass like the E/F and then later on the configuration in that picture I posted, came about.  Late in production it was deleted all together.  The only thing I dont know is at which production block(s) the first change was made.  However, from those pictures I posted of G-25-DLs, there is evidence to suggest they had the mount like the F...."Thunderbird" had the 3-pane glass typical of a removable configuration, and the other planes didnt have any glass in place.  In the pic of the badly mangled fort, you can barely make out a barrel tucked under the backbone.

Thanks Red,,,sounds good,,, your eyes must burn from the computer screen,,, good detective work tho!!

handiabled, I think a soft drink on top of the panel would be a great touch...I think you just gave me an idea. I've been playing around with some modeling clay that my wife uses to make her own beads....kinda borrowed some to paint parts for my Hawk T1....and started thinking that most crews would have had at least a thermos in the cockpit with them. Why not make a thermos and have that setting on top of the panel? I think I'm going to give that a try and see what happens.

Great idea !   I look forward to seeing your build as it comes along

Sadly I haven't been able to start on it yet. I'm trying to finish a few more projects before I start this one. The 17 has a special place in my heart adn I want to make sure it is done right. I'll be building two at one time. The Memphis Belle and antoher 91st BG G model. I had the oportunity to meet Robert Morgan several years ago. I thought about doing a diorama for the Belle's last mission...still working on the idea for that one...Anyone have any ideas?

Even tho this story is about a plane from the 379th bg its still a great one ,,,i've thought about doing a hanging dio of it,,,,,,,,check it out.........

http://www.waltsrchanger.com/html/b-17_f__ye_olde_pub_.html

Eighth Air Force Pilot

Sadly I haven't been able to start on it yet. I'm trying to finish a few more projects before I start this one. The 17 has a special place in my heart adn I want to make sure it is done right. I'll be building two at one time. The Memphis Belle and antoher 91st BG G model. I had the oportunity to meet Robert Morgan several years ago. I thought about doing a diorama for the Belle's last mission...still working on the idea for that one...Anyone have any ideas?

I envy you in having met Col. Morgan.  I did a diorama a couple years ago of the Belle before take off on the last mission.  I used the 1944 documentry has a guide and positioned the crew like you see in the film.  I don't have any pictures, as its in storage. I wish you well in your endevour, can't wait to see it.

B17Pilot

 

I envy you in having met Col. Morgan.  I did a diorama a couple years ago of the Belle before take off on the last mission.  I used the 1944 documentry has a guide and positioned the crew like you see in the film.  I don't have any pictures, as its in storage. I wish you well in your endevour, can't wait to see it.

Col. Morgan wasvery humble about what he accomplished during WWII. While I admired him for his service he never would agree to being a hero...I still admire that. I could've talked to him for hours and to this day regret not asking more questions. He gave me several photos and even signed the book for me. My dad got me a signed wooden desk model of the Belle and it is a beauty!    

I would love to see your diorama of the Belle! so if you ever get the chance, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of it!. I've got to read the book again and go through some of my pictures and find the one picture after she lands for the crews last mission...thats the one I want to do. I thought about the fly over, but I'm not sure I have space for that one!

B17Pilot

Eighth Air Force Pilot:

Sadly I haven't been able to start on it yet. I'm trying to finish a few more projects before I start this one. The 17 has a special place in my heart adn I want to make sure it is done right. I'll be building two at one time. The Memphis Belle and antoher 91st BG G model. I had the oportunity to meet Robert Morgan several years ago. I thought about doing a diorama for the Belle's last mission...still working on the idea for that one...Anyone have any ideas?

 

I envy you in having met Col. Morgan.  I did a diorama a couple years ago of the Belle before take off on the last mission.  I used the 1944 documentry has a guide and positioned the crew like you see in the film.  I don't have any pictures, as its in storage. I wish you well in your endevour, can't wait to see it.

I knew COL Morgan as well, and he's like 8AF said...  He was quite humble and quiet..  I met him at Midland during AirSho 98 and invaribably we got to talking about Memphis Belle it's accuracy, when he said that if I wanted to know what it was like, watch 12 O'Clock High and if I wanted to know what it wasn't, then watch Memphis Belle... On MB's accuracy, he also said that yes, the 'Belle was OD over neutral grey, and he never had tomato soup in any thermos that he remembered taking along... 

If there was NOTHING else I could've gained from being a member of the CAF, it was the chances I've had to meet those men, and then renew that meeting year after year at 8th AF Ass'n and CAF functions...  This last decade has seen the falling of far too many of these Mighty Eagles...  I know it sounds hokey to those that don't or can't relate, but man...  What a team we had!

I first joined the CAF in the late 80s, and over the next decade or so, with the advent of "The American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame" there was a "bumper crop" of these men joining up, paying their annual dues, just like the rest of us regular schmucks, and being so damned.. patient with us and our (they'd say, mis-guided) "Hero-worship"...   Paul Tibbets (who swore all us "New Colonels" into the CAF every year, without fail), Bob Morgan, John Quinlan, Tex Hill, Joe Foss, Swede Vejtasa, George H.W. Bush, Gabby Gabreski, Alex Vraciu, Butch Voris, Bud Mahurin, Jack Ilfrey, Jimmy Swett, "The Doolittle Raiders", and "The Eagle Squadrons", just to name(drop) a few I met during the first few years it opened...  Never woulda had the chance, otherwise...

A little more "Memphis Belle" trivia): On August 29, 1992 Morgan completed his "27th mission" (That's not counting his tour as pilot and A/C of his B-29, "Dauntless Dotty"). He married his wife, Linda, in front of the Belle. General Tibbets gave the bride away... Seven B-17s flew over and "bombed" the Memphis Belle Pavillion with thousands of rose petals... That one is hard to top, lol..

  Man, there's a "Memphis Belle" diorama for ya, B17P! Betcha the wifey would even let ya put it in the living room!  Might wanna use a photo-backdrop...

Hans von Hammer

 Man, there's a "Memphis Belle" diorama for ya, B17P! Betcha the wifey would even let ya put it in the living room!  Might wanna use a photo-backdrop...

 

Got to find her first

I've been following this thread for a while now and must say that I am impressed with everyone's efforts, especially in the scratch detail department. My wife bought me the Revell B-17G kit last Christmas and while I am pretty happy with my results, they pale in comparison to what others are turning out. For me, this build was an experiment platform for me to try some of the new techniques I've picked up from FSM, so nothing too fancy. This kit is pretty much straight from the box with very few additions.

The cockpit / nose compartments came first, and though I knew it would all be pretty well hidden, I couldn't help but go nuts playing up the interior. I felt the map table was a bit bare, so I printed off a map of WWII Germany about 1" square and distressed it up a bit. I also made a set of a calipers & pencil from stretched sprue. I wanted the interior to appear well-worn & a bit dirty, so most of the colors became much more subdued after a dark wash.

Most of my references came from the web and from the photos I could get of the inside of "Short Bier" on display at Hill AFB, UT. The thing is fully restored and though the hatches are open, you can't see much inside. I was told that I could take whatever pictures I could get without touching the plane, so I resorted to extending my tripod, setting the timer on the camera, and sticking the whole thing as far into the hatches as I could reach.

For exterior paint, I preshaded all the raised panel lines, then wet sanded the entire thing after adding color.

 I opted for the kit "ChowHound" decals then got stuck deciding how I wanted to weather the beast. Inspired by photos I'd seen of 17s coming back shot to pieces, I couldn't resist beating her up a bit. Unfortunately, by the time I decided on doing this, the plane was completed and it was far too late to try and thin the interior walls down where shell holes would appear in the sheet metal. Fortunately, the engine shroud from the inboard starboard engine popped loose allowing me to play with that. A hot needle, and a hobby knife created the desired holes and shot away metal. Otherwise chipped paint, a feathered prop, and smoke stains completed the build. Not all is completely accurate (for example, would the right landing gear REALLY come back down after the engine had been shot to crap), but I still love the way she turned out.

This warbird now hangs in my History classroom and has gathered some attention from my students. Probably the best compliment on the build came when they realized that I built it myself. They had all figured I'd bought it from some museum!

On the workbench: Revell A-6E Intruder

Coming Soon: Revell B-29 Superfortress

I hope my build turns out as good!! 

Hey gents,

I know the bombarier station is already raised...but has anyone had any luck with making it an authentic step up?  Also, Im seeing a ton of zinc chromate stations, has anyone been successful with creating the wood disk that was actually underneath his seat? It seems pretty prominent and im unsure of any variations.  since that station is right there behind the nose glass, I figured it would be more authentic to create that wooden floor. A good picture is on the link 20Santa%20Maria/DSC_0408%20B-17G%20N93012%20Nine-O-Nine%20interior%20bombardier%20station%20l.jpg

Not many, but the best job of representing the wooden floor and a great match for your photo is in another forum on a highly detailed build by Lancair IV.  Here are some good views of his bombardier's section  /forums/t/111149.aspx?PageIndex=28

how did you do yours?

handiabled, Thanks for the kind words!

I love what you're doing with the wiring under the cockpit floor. That is one of the few areas I got a decent shot of on "Short Bier". Dunno if you need reference photos, but perhaps this will help with your amazing scratch detailing.

Thanks Eddiek,,,  some pics from EAA's bird Aluminum Overcast I took (whenever someone's rearend didn't get into frame) thats what ended up happening in most of my pics,,,so had to fill in the blanks,,,been battling some major nerve damage to my hands,,,,so this bird has been a struggle to say the least,, especially the fine detail,,,,oh well,,,,,I really like the weathering on your fort!!  Great Job on the whole thing! Hope to see more work from you in the future!

B17Pilot

Hans von Hammer:

 Man, there's a "Memphis Belle" diorama for ya, B17P! Betcha the wifey would even let ya put it in the living room!  Might wanna use a photo-backdrop...

 

Got to find her first

I got three ex-wives that I'd be happy to give you the names and addresses of...

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Love how it turned out! She looks amazing throughout.