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

What's another year....or two?

Can't say much, mine took me almost 3 yrs to finish.

Hell no, I was expecting to be done by the end of June with the whole thing, plus the diorama, but I'm guessing maybe end of july.  I want to have this thing done by October for a contest.  It'll take few weeks to get some parts and some more figures and then I'm going full speed ahead

Little odds and ends, I have been messing with here and there throughout the week....still need to weather/wash the landing gear. Got them all wired/painted though. The wheels will have dirt in the treads of the tires too....yahooty.

Looking pretty good Redman.....can't wait to see the decals go on

So I decided to just buy another fort and not worry about fixing up my old one.  This time I'll be able to go gung ho on the interior (no AM though) since I wasnt really into detaling when I started my other one when I was 16.  While I'm waiting for the kit to come (found it cheaper online than at my LHS) I was able to finish my jeep for the diorama and get everything else sorted out in order to get this project done asap.

Update:  I got most of the interior painted and detailed except for the cockpit and radio compartment.  Most of the battle damage has been made too.  Just alot of painting to be done.

Oh, and is it weird that I was excited to open the box even though I've had the kit before?

It is absolutely NOT wierd at all to be excited to open the box. I would think it wierd to not be excited to open the new box.

Team minus approximately 3 days and counting....

B-17 Guy

It is absolutely NOT wierd at all to be excited to open the box. I would think it wierd to not be excited to open the new box.

Ditto... I GOTTA get that damn plastic-wrap off as soon as it gets in the door... Occasionally, Don (the "Pop" of my Mom & Pop LHS) will allow me to open a kit in the store to check the contents... IF I'm very good and he's pretty sure that I'm buyin' that day... I've never NOT bought a kit that I've opened so far though... Wouldn't be right, IMHO... Although I ALMOST didn't buy the AFC Club M548 when I saw those damn indy-link tracks...

Glad I'm not the only one.

Interior is almost done....should have her closed up sometime next week if all goes right.  Cockpit has yet to be added as well as some details in the radio compartment and ammo belts/boxes for the nose, waist, and tail guns.  The computer is being dumb so no pics yet

I'm applying some Future to my B-17 today so that I can do some decaling in a few days. How many coats of Future do you guys put on before decaling? I forget, its been a while. I have 2 coats on now, but still see some kinda dry areas. Should I let it dry and hit it with another coat in a bit?

Redman71

I'm applying some Future to my B-17 today so that I can do some decaling in a few days. How many coats of Future do you guys put on before decaling? I forget, its been a while. I have 2 coats on now, but still see some kinda dry areas. Should I let it dry and hit it with another coat in a bit?

 

 

 Redman, I'm no expert, but this rule of thumb works for me. Generally, I apply a couple of 50% thinned coats of Future for thin decals. Heavier coats of Future for thicker decals. A smooth glossy surface is what I aim for.

Redman71

I'm applying some Future to my B-17 today so that I can do some decaling in a few days.

 

A few days???

Try a rattle-can of Testor's Glosscoat and wait 30 minutes...

Hans von Hammer

Redman71:

I'm applying some Future to my B-17 today so that I can do some decaling in a few days.

 

A few days???

Try a rattle-can of Testor's Glosscoat and wait 30 minutes...

Nah, I like to let my top coat cure for a few days before hitting it with decal solvents.

I'm simple, 1 coat of future, decals, future, dullcoat, done.

I'm simple, 1 coat of future, decals, future, dullcoat weathering, done. Dont know why some of you guys use so much future. One guy was telling me he used 4-5 coats before decals......really! why?!

Well,

It finally arrived...

I'm so happy to finally have one.. but now I just have to wait 7 weeks before I can do anything... On Sunday I'm heading away on an Instructors course... *Sigh*

Wait?....You don't have to wait, you got Friday and Saturday to work on her!

I wish!!

Sadly, I have a lot of paper work to do...

And need to spend time with Mrs. Tacan....

It's been rainy this week so not much fishing.  On the other hand I got alot of work done on the B-17.   Got the wings together yesterday and just need to clean up the pesky seams on them.  Flaps are cut out and replaced with Paragon pieces, and also elevators got cut out and will be repostioned too.  Cockpit and nose section is now done complete with ammo belts, spent shell casings, and ring and bead sights for the cheek guns.  Only thing left with the interior is to add the ammo boxes and belts to the waist section and tail guns.  I found the kit's cardboard box to come in handy when making the floorboards for the waist section.  Once I get the waist done I just gotta add the cheek gun windows and then I can close her up.  My whole tuesday consisted of detailing the engines.  Boy was that tedious!  All 4 engines were drilled and wired to simulate the ignition harness (3 hours for 2 engines) and I scratch built prop governors and wired them according to my photos of my bird.  They might not be the most accurate but they're good enough for me and the engines look great.  Sorry I dont have any pictures yet.  My internet connection at home is pretty slow and it takes a long time to download just one photo.  I'll have plenty, though when she's complete.

Well, I guess I'll go down and fix the seams on the wings and maybe paint some figures.  Fun fun fun

Got her Future coated and decaled for the most part. The aftermarket Cutting Edge decal set while limited edition, and very cool, it doesnt include the National Insignia decals for the wings and fuselage! The do offer them as a seperate set of course. The ones from my kit are 35 yrs old and pretty cashed, so I will have to order a new set of National Insignias.

While future coated, I did a panel wash (pastel chalk/water/dish soap) and some chipping to this war worn bird. Note in the pictures the windshield and nose cone are just tacked in place to see how they will look. I'm going to have fun with getting the windshield glued in place, as its slightly warped. I cant wait to get the dull coat back on, cant stand the shiny camo!

Later!

Looking good!  You doing an actual bird, or did you make up the nose art?

B17Pilot

Looking good!  You doing an actual bird, or did you make up the nose art?

Thanks B17pilot....this model is of an actual plane... "Our Gal Sal" was the queen of the "Bloody 100th" she flew 130 missions, survived the war, and was scraped at Kingman, AZ in 1947.

I've rendered the little details noted about her in my decal set and from photos. Her de-icer boots we extremely worn down to bare metal, cowl flaps had been changed and never painted remaining natural metal, as well as the chin turret. Little details unique to this particular B-17. The decal set I got a few years back is from Cutting Edge Decals "Pick your Own Nose Art" series of pin-up girl nose art sets. Very nice decals, just lacking the decals for the national insignias, and the props thats all....For $18 for the decal set you would have thought they would include those....oh well.

Would any of you guys be able to do me a solid, and measure the antenna mast on top of the fuselage? It is part number 12. I am missing that part (the only one thankfully) and am making one from scratch, but it would be really helpful to know the exact dimensions. Thanks in advance!

9/16"

That's some damn fine work you did on that 17, love the look of the older beat up forts.

Division 6

9/16"

Thank you very much sir! I do appreciate it.

B-17 Guy

That's some damn fine work you did on that 17, love the look of the older beat up forts.

...and thanks to you as well!

I have the the part number 12 antenna mast if you need it.  Just need a address and I will mail it .

Dunno why it is, perhaps it's simply because of the early history of the Group, but the "Bloody 100th" is the group I tend to follow with my Fortress builds... Your is a fine example of the "Square Ds"...

I decided to go ahead and use the National Insignia decals from the kit. Rather than drop $10+ shipping for a set....

After 35 years, they actually laid down fine and took to Micro Set, and Micro Sol just fine. I trimmed the decals to the color to eliminate any silvering. They are a little faded, but I think that works well with the weathering. I was able to piece together a matching set of decals for the props from the parts box. I re-applied a thin coat of Future over the newly placed decals. Need to let the Future clear another day, then Im going to panel wash the decals, then dull coat the entire plane.