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

There is something to be said for the kit parts ,I opted out of the TD stuff I got , soft details ,misalignment and thick edges wont work in the Viz b-17 . The kit parts ,about $10 of evergreen and they look ok.I did use the TD pilot seats and scratched the mounts.It looks like its gonna be a real chore getting all that in there. I was concerned with a consistant level of detail throughout the model as well. I still think the TD stuff I got ,off ebay , was a recast or black dog as it is really soft and crumbly, with poor detail. Any way the work is looking good on here and I look forward to seeing the resin parts come together.

Dang I really need to start working on my 17 again. I've gone maybe a month without touching it, but I've been distracted by fishing, working and model railroading.  I really don't have too much work to do except mount the cheek guns and add the gun windows before I close her up.  My goal is to have this whole project done for a contest in october but I'm gone on vacation for a week and then go back to college the end of august.  I really want to finish this but don't want to rush it.  Now going back and looking at some posts I see I missed out on a Teknics figure set on ebay and it was only around 70 &^$%^#%!.  O well, so goes the hobby

Rraider It was $70 for BOTH sets -ground and air crew ,I figgered you be on it.................

If I knew about it I would've.  However, if I were to acquire the set I would only be be using 1 maybe 2 of the figures, and thats what I'm telling myself to convince myself not to buy it if I come across one.  But like I said, I've been distracted and havent paying attention to much modeling recently.

Did a little bit of clean up and shot some primer on her.  I'm headed up north for the weekend, and I can't take it with me.

Cheers

Howdy, 

When I joined this site I did not know of this thread and subsequently posted in single form in New Here!! and B-17G Ain't Miss Behavin' 3 (Monogram) and in the diorama forum under Ain't Miss Behavin's Diorama if you would like to go back and see those builds. Well I'm at it again, this time I continuing the line of planes that Grandpa Bill flew in. This year I'll be be modeling Good Pickin', his training plane, and Ain't Miss Behavin', the first. Good Pickin' will be a 1/48 B-17G kit modified to be a Late B-17F with the nose wart and cheek guns but no chin turret. Ain't Miss Behavin' 1 had no nose art so I will be building her in 1/72 scale, to save space in my case as I am also trying to build one of all types of the 17. I have just started this build, but wanted to start in this thread so ya'll can see her from the start. Here she is in a photo of the original and of the nose with the chin turret flaring cut off. More to come!!!!

Thanks, James

Bomber Boy

 I am also trying to build one of all types of the 17.

I knew my idea would catch on!!

Though all mine are going to be in 1/48.  I just don't do 1/72

does anyone know how to look up the numbers of planes. im looking for ye olde pub...ive seen pictures of it in the 379th bomber group with K as the group FO as the squadron and S im guessing for the plane ID. but ive seen it with the ID of B as well. Id really like to make a b-17 from the 8th airforce 379 bomber group. Ive found one its pretty cool looking that will be my next b-17 F

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/2793731277/ it was a asslemby ship

"Ye Olde Pub" was a B-17F-30-DL s/n 42-3167. Originally assigned to the 423BS/306BG, coded [RD*Z] 4/19/43. Transferred to the 527BS/379BG, coded [FO*S/B] 6/17/43. The airplane remained with the 379th until 4/4/44. It returned to the US and was scraped 8/11/45.

HTH

Tony H.

awesome thank you tony...how did you look this up and get the unit numbers...i know there has to be some website that you can put in the tail ID and it tells you what the plane was

edit found something http://www.warbird-central.com/B-17%20Flying%20Fortress.ashx

I've been collecting books and other items about B-17's for years. So I have lists of B-17 serial numbers, B-17's named by their crews,  and some of lists of units that B-17's were assigned to.

I'm glad I could help you out.

Tony H.

Hey Toni .... would you happen to come across any information about a ship named "Tail Crazy". She was one of only a couple of Forts out fitted with a 20mm cannon in the tail and she flew with the 2nd Bomb Group out fo Italy. I've been trying to research this one for years, but haven't found much. The tail number is 238 087.

Just curious. Thanks.

Awesome Tony. If youre list is computer based could you send it to me, or just send info on what ever you have of the 8th airforce 379th heavy bomber group. Im looking for a B-17G Four of a Kind. I"d like to do a dio of it. I have a picture my grandfather gave me of Queen elizabeth visiting the airbase and she was shakeing the crews hands after a mission. it would make awesome dio. i just cant find any info about this plane. ive looked threw picture and only have the front of the plane and cant find a total side shot of four of a kind.

"Tail Crazy' was  a B-17G-30-DL s/n 42-38087 assigned to the 49BS/2BG Amendola 2/2/44. This plane was equipped with  20 mm cannon in the tail. Another B-17G-30-DL s/n 42-38090 assigned to the 340BS/97BG Cerignola 1/3/44 was also equipped with a 20 mm cannon. Named "Miss Windy City", there are a couple of photo's in Roger Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" (ISBN 1 85409 301 0).

HTH

Tony H.

Thanks Tony ... That pretty much confirms all the info that I have. Plus, I'm pretty sure that I have Freeman's book with the photos. I found it by chance on eBay a year or two ago and it's the first time that I saw photos of the ship. Just wish I had more.....

Funny story about the ship name though ... Tail Crazy didn't come from the 20mm cannon having been installed. The first crew was bring her over via Brazil. They were taxing out when the brakes malfuctioned and the ship run right up into the tail of another awaiting take off. While the ship was being repaired, the crew came out one morning and found that the native repair workers had painted "Tail Crazy" on the nose. The book says that the crew was horrified .... but the name stuck.

I have no pix of this configuration either , I wouldnt go to crazy tring to locate them,there prolly isnt many others.Cool bird to build though......................

"Four of a Kind" was a B-17G-70-BO s/n 43-37777 was assigned to the 525BS/379BG at Kimbolton 6/19/44. Squadron code then was FR*- Later she was assigned to the 527BS/379BG squadron code was FO*- In either case the individual plane in squadron letter is not specified.

I located the picture you mentioned with Queen Elizabeth. You're right, there's not much to go on as far as an overall view of the aircraft. The 379th has a website www.379thbga.org You might find something there.

HTH

Tony H.

Thank you Tony for your help. Yes I can't find much on four of kind. I'm even looking threw the book my grandfather gave me a few years ago I'm reading it its Called Shades of Kimbolton published by Newsfoto Publishing Co.

Alright, its time to sit down and do some serious work. Rain is forecasted for tomorrow (saturday) so it should be a perfect modeling day.  Should be able to close up the fuselage if all goes well and then clean up those ^#%$@ seams on the wings....I swear any time i even look at them the leading edges pop open.  Hopefully she'll be ready for paint sometime next week....hopefully

I have been working on the underside of the cockpit on my Fort.  I added a bunch of styrene to the resign parts I'm getting ready to add structure tot he ball turret.

Cheers

Lair -Excellent work goin on there!

In front of the back end of the cockpit bulkhead is an oxygen bottle rack .will yo u be adding this? I did on mine to get some more color in that area.

This pic aint so good but you can see the rack. Is yours a VisB-17?

I have extensive references for building the VisB-17 lemme know if ya need any pix.

krow113

Lair -Excellent work goin on there!

In front of the back end of the cockpit bulkhead is an oxygen bottle rack .will yo u be adding this? I did on mine to get some more color in that area.

This pic aint so good but you can see the rack. Is yours a VisB-17?

I have extensive references for building the VisB-17 lemme know if ya need any pix.

 

 

Thanks Krow113

Mine is not a visible Fort.  She'll be closed up, but yes, I'm adding as much detail as I can.  All doors will be open so if you look hard enogh, you should be able to see the Oxy tanks.  I have a lot of pics, but I can always use more!

thanks again

If ya need a specific area lemme know........

Ok, I'm starting to get a plane outta this thing. If all goes well the wings and horizontal stabilizers will be on tonight, but I dont wanna rush.  Hopefully the paint will be on this bird this coming week...I'm really excited that this project is starting to fall together.

Oh, and I'll have pictures tomorrow I promise!

whoops duplicate post

B299X

"Four of a Kind" was a B-17G-70-BO s/n 43-37777 was assigned to the 525BS/379BG at Kimbolton 6/19/44. Squadron code then was FR*- Later she was assigned to the 527BS/379BG squadron code was FO*- In either case the individual plane in squadron letter is not specified.

I located the picture you mentioned with Queen Elizabeth. You're right, there's not much to go on as far as an overall view of the aircraft. The 379th has a website www.379thbga.org You might find something there.

HTH

Tony H.

Tony can you look up another 8th Army Air Force 379th bomber group. tail Number was 19100 it was a b-17E

thanks matt

Nothing special, but I promised some pics. Right now I'm cleaning up all the seams on this beast

I t

I tried not to overdo the damage, but also had to try to model it as such that it would be 'major damage'.  Not sure what the definition of major damage is, but on the mission report, this plane recievedwas said to have received major damage after the group encountered moderate flak and 50-100 enemy fighters.  As a result, I spaced out the damage a little bit, and put a few holes here and there.  You can see that the tail has been hit by some flak and the number 4 engine has been shot out.  All said theres about 35 holes in the bird, but it seems like a lot less when looking at it, and thats what I was shooting for.

this may be a dumb question, but what is the finish on the ball turret....is it natural metal or neutral gray?

Ok raider, 2 questions, why is the ammo box for the navigator located up so high or am I looking at the picture wrong. And why did you cut off the roof to the flight deck?

As for the ball turret, technically you could go either way and not really be wrong, but I would match it to the color of the belly of the aircraft, which ever way you paint it. My thought is a NMF finish ball turret would stand out like a sore thumb on a cammo'd 17, and vice versa.

Hmm...I had seen that ammo box configuration on a couple other builds, but after looking at somepictures now, I see its incorrect and that the ammo feed came from the floor from the chin turret.  I ended up leaving that ammo belt off anyway since i couldnt get a good fit of it to the gun, and I can easily remove the box now.

As for the top of the flight deck, I sawed it off so I could get a better fit of the windshield and get those seams nice and flush.  It also sort of made the sanding for part that I cut off easier also.  There should be no evidence that I cut it off once it is on again.