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

Hans von Hammer wrote:

Well, one thing to keep in mind is that the kit came out in the mid-70s... So it, along with most all of Monogram's "Super Scale" series of the era had some canopy fit-issues of one kind or another... But they're still strong among my favorites... Hell, if every kit fit perfect every time, half the fun would be gone in building these kits.. Issues such as these are what separates builders from assemblers... Were the Fort to be done by another manufacturer, like Trumpeter, for instance, they might make it fit perfect all the way around, but it would cost over a C-note to buy as well...  After all, look at their C-47.. 100+ bucks for it and it didn't even include any crew & paratrooper figures like the Monogram offering... They went whole-hog on interior detailing that's 90% hidden from view.  Monogram was able to get two versions of the Gooney in one box and then later, got a DC-3 and AC-47 out of it ...

B-17 Guy wrote:

The nose cone fits for crap! I recomend a vac form replacement, that's what I'm doing. Or like hans said, you can shim the nose seams, I had to do this on my F model beacuse of the cut and paste nose section. Shimming was a pain in the @ss BUT....I also found that it helped the cockpit windows to fit much better, it looked so much better that I went back and cracked the already glued and painted upper seam of the nose on the G model and shimmed her to.

Well, at least I know I'm not going insane

breaking it apart to shim is not an option at this point.  I've already modified too many other pieces to get it to fit thus far.  I already shaved off all of the locator pins.  Whoever R&D'd this thing, never thought to try and build it with the clear half, before sending it out for production.

-Fred

I found a history page about the Monogram B-17 Fort.

http://www.swannysmodels.com/B17G.html

Have any of you other Fort builders noticed any fit issues with the nose glass?  I attached the glass last night and I noticed it doesn't sit flush with the sides.  The fuse halves are together as they should be, but I'm still seeing about 1/8" of fuselage on either side of the glass.  Top/bottom fit is flush, but either the glass is too narrow or the fuselage is too wide.  But considering the other fit issues I've had with the clear side, I wouldn't be all that surprised.

-Fred

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Sorry to hear about B-17 Hans. I'd vote to see Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby to fly again!

Oh, it'll happen.. The recovery dio's too good an idea to let die...  I just hate the idea of spending all that money on another over-priced Tamiya Duece & 1/2... Oh, BTW.. The plane's name is "Bad Check" (it always gets returned)...

I might be able to salvage the 'Cat, Vetteman... It'l have to be bellied-in, the gear's shot to hell, but other than that, everything's fixable... Might save the SNJ too, but it's kinda shaky... The castor gear got hammered badly, and fixing it will entail a repaint..

Hey thanks Hans, you went and read my mind was gonna ask if you would send me a pic of it.

Himmmm smoked kitty ??? interesting idea there Bondoman

I AM thinkin' cat would make a decent fajita... They're higher in protine than dogs too.. (Learned that on MANswers th' other night..)

Here's the Tigercat WIP, Vetteman..

Here Hans I'll lend you this...

is the cat still in one piece ?

So far...  But his "package" is is going to be a lot smaller next week...   He also took out my "Ralston Trainer" SNJ and my Tigercat dio, "Feeding the Cat"...  

Hans, PM inbound.

Pilot.....Especially seeing as how she FLEW there under her own power.  

Dayton is doing the Memphis Belle at the moment, followed behind her is the only surviving B-17D "The Swoose."  I think both are being work on at the same time, but more priority is being given to the Belle.

 I am with B-17 Guy, let Shoo-Shoo-Shoo Baby fly again!  Writ-Pat as two other (very rare) Forts that will never fly again that can be used for static display. Let Shoo-Shoo-Shoo Baby Fly!

Fred, yeah very nice, I've seen that kit in the hobby shop before.  But haven't gotten it.

B-17Pilot, I to would love to see Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby fly again.  Like at the Dayton AirShow, I know the one of the 17's be restored is Memphis Bell, but can't remember what's the other ones name?

Richter111, feel free to hop aboard when you want to start your Fort's.

Ok, how about a few older teaser pics, just to whet your appetites?

This should everyone over until this weekend.

-Fred

B-17 pilot......Dont feel bad, I'm coming up on 2 years myself for my 2 forts. I mostly have little stuff to finish, this is where I always get tripped up for some reason.

FMM, thanks for the pics. I'm kinda confused, the wartime pics show her as NMF but she sits today in OD/NG, I dont get that. I must also admit that it sort of bothers me to see pics of her in the air like so few of them do anymore, knowing that she is going to be preserved statically, never to fly again. I'd almost rather see wright-pat get on the no where near airworthy forts for staic display and send shoo shoo shoo baby some where she would fly again.