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

Mel - Thanks for looking in, your welcome to join in any time if time permits .

Goat - Im kind of one of those "Clean Guys" also , my weathering is usually pretty tame.

Progress on the Wulf Hound got the fuse base colors sprayed. Next up will be to stencil the rudder !

Trexx - Where have you been hiding  ?

I Fix!  Here's how the props look now...

Before-

After-

just bring it down on the engines and nacelles.  i'm happy with the color overall.  i think i narrowed down the underside to a neutral grey, judging by how much was used in the jar and a eyeball color match. 

i've got a bin full of bits and pieces, a scrap yard of old models i can try and weather to get some experience.

Nice fix on the props, Tiny...

Goat, I know it's probably too late, but I'd forgotten about those cowls on the F... Last time I built it, I took a razor saw to them to open the gaps between the flaps..

-Tiny- wrote:

Summit - Are you planning on doing removeable wings?...just curious.

Adam - that is the plan. I have fiddled around with the fuse and wings fine tuning them to where the seam is barely noticed.  I really have no reason for leaving them removeable as I dont ever plan on moving again. I just did it for the heck of it I guess.....

Summit......She's looking good! Real good.

Tiny.......Props are looking alot better, very good job on the repaint! I really like the hub and spinners on those.

Goat......Care to part with any of those from the boneyard? I could even arrange a pick up! I'm eye'n that B-26, maybe even the B-25.

B-17 Guy - LOL...I knew someone would ask to pick through that bin at some point!...too funny. 

Thanks for the complements on the props...I took some sanding sticks to them...brushed on some flat black...gloss clear coat...decals with decal set...dull coat...phew!  I only have one done yet...I wonder why eh?

I am trying to duplicate the pics posted on page 2 of the post...the engine pics.  What a great resource.  I printed them out in colour so I don't have to run back and forth to my laptop.

I had to ask when I saw that pic, doesnt hurt to ask right? Plus goat is local to me, only bout 30mins or so away, I could go pick it/them up and maybe sit and BS about planes and such for a bit. Other than here, I really dont have anyone to talk modeling with. I'm hoping goat replies soon.

That's alot of work for those props, I just use flat black and brush paint one coat on each prop and decal. I might change that to paint, future, decals, dullcote, and see what happens. I dont even own an airbrush. That's one big advantage to doing 99% of my planes in camo, once a plane is painted and weather'd, as long as I did a good job with paint in the first place, it really doesnt matter to much. I can get away with more, combat aircraft are not well kept appearence wise.

Also.....tiny, if you want to add the weathering/chipping to the leading edges of the props, try using a silver colored pencil, just run the side of the pencil lead along the edges.

-Tiny- wrote:

Maybe I'll try the same, it will be so much easier to execute the paint job with the wings separated...That's how I did my B-29, but the fit wasn't that good and you could see the seems.  How hard was it to get the fit right?

Adam I did the test fitting on my "F model" before I joined the fuse sides. On the starbird side I had to take my razor saw and trim off 2mm of the front tab. The bulkhead was making contact to where the wing had a backset. Once that minor glitch was cured I looked for where the gap was the widest then looked for the offending high spot causing the diagonal miss~alingment. A few swipes with the sanding stick cured that.  I am really glad I did this before I sealed the fuse up as I feel that I would have broken the bulkhead loose trying to slide the wing all the way up. 

sorry mate, that's my childhood in the bin, and those twin engine bombers are gonna be rebuilt.  the 26 just needs glued back together. the mitchell needs a tad bit more work, including a new nose...

edit:  like i said, any time you wanna get together and talk trade is cool with me.  i've got no responsibilities this winter.  ;)

any thoughts on a pacific version of the fort?  are there any decal kits, and or was the f too far along for the pacific theatre?

B-17 Guy - Hey brother...you mentioned you're gonna try out the paint, future, decals and dullcoat. Are you plannin' on using some decal set at all?  I don't know if you have some or not, but this stuff is just awsome.  I'd never used it before my B-29...I'll never lay another decal without it again.  Try it out if you havn't already.

I don't own an airbrush either.  That's one reason I've stuck to multi-tone aircraft that can be painted with masking.  I'm planning on adding airbrushing to my skill set in the new year...I'm hoping to find a boxing week sale somewheres.  I want to bust out a mean cammo job soon...I'm itchin' for it.

B-17 Guy wrote:

I had to ask when I saw that pic, doesnt hurt to ask right? Plus goat is local to me, only bout 30mins or so away, I could go pick it/them up and maybe sit and BS about planes and such for a bit. Other than here, I really dont have anyone to talk modeling with. I'm hoping goat replies soon. That's alot of work for those props, I just use flat black and brush paint one coat on each prop and decal. I might change that to paint, future, decals, dullcote, and see what happens. I dont even own an airbrush. That's one big advantage to doing 99% of my planes in camo, once a plane is painted and weather'd, as long as I did a good job with paint in the first place, it really doesnt matter to much. I can get away with more, combat aircraft are not well kept appearence wise. Also.....tiny, if you want to add the weathering/chipping to the leading edges of the props, try using a silver colored pencil, just run the side of the pencil lead along the edges.

Hey guys, I started the plumbing on my landing gear.  I found a great hobby/hardware store a couple miles from where I'm working in Trenton Michigan.  I picked up some flexable aluminium rod for the lines.  You wouldn't believe the selection of supplies this place has...SCORE!

goat.......Well you cant blame a guy for trying. I cant find the B-26 kit in 48th anymore and I'm not wanting bad enought to pay evilbay prices for it so I figured I'd try. We'll get together one of these days and with the weather I'm not trying to go any where I dont need to. How much snow by you, I know driving on abbey usually sucks in this weather. Thank god for 4WD!!! If you dont mind me asking, how old are you? You said those models are your childhood, I built all of those kits you have there when I was 10-14ish, I'm 29. 

Tiny......If you have a hobby lobby store by in canada or even in the detroit area, they sell airbrushes. They have a 40% off coupon regurlarly, buy an airbrush there. I dont really want to get one, just seems like a lot of work, to use and maintain the gun and all it's parts, I've gotten this far without one.

Goat........forgot to answer your question. Yes, there were F models in the pacific but there wouldnt be very much difference between them and the ones in europe. There are decals for pacific F models, give me a bit and I'll see if I can find them again online. There is a set I know for sure, but it has....I think 8 differant forts and sheet is like $30......if you can find it.

32...

about the b-26... i found this link: HobbyLinc? 15.89 for the marauder, but they don't use paypal, so i don't know.. is hobbylinc.com a place folks have shopped before?

there were also a several ebay auctions that could be had for around 15-20 dollars.

Hello, all,

I have 2 Revell -F's in the stash, but I can't start them just yet .  But I am impressed by the sheer effort, skill and enjoyment that you all show in this build.

As I read all 9 pages, I realized that responding each time I thought of something in your posts was not efficient, so I opened Notepad and jotted down as I went through.

@modlvr-

"...I'm having trouble finding a 1/48 B-17 anywhere

@Tiny-Like the salt technique, though I think I would have stuck (unintentional pun ) to the leading edges of the blades.  But suum quique, I've usually drybrushed flat aluminum for the same effect (Ah, I see this was covered in a later post).

A question on your note about painting the ball turret, and masking, and using water-based paint.  Are you using a liquid mask?

On ammunition belts-I've noticed that larger-sized cable ties look like .50 cal belts in feeders, and could pass for them in 1/48th.  The ribs in the ties look like shells, and the edges are raised, like the rails in ammo feeders.

@B-17 Guy-Wow!  You have your own BG going there!  That would cover any kid's ceiling, easy!  "Do your homework, Timmy, or I'll darken the skies in your room with B-17's!"

@Freddie (fjs3)-Sorry that your uncle passed away, but it's still a fitting tribute to him, his crew, their bravery and skill.  33 successful missions!  Bravo to you, mate!

@Summit, re removing paint-I use oven cleaner, too.  It strips the paint quickly and hasn't yet damaged the plastic.  I suspect that it might, only if the pieces were left to sit for a long period of time.  But I spray it on, let it foam for a couple of minutes, then use an old toothbrush to remove the old paint.  It usually takes a couple of passes to get all of it off, but the whole process takes only a little bit of time.

And thanks for your tip about reproducing the gunmetal look, I am eager to try that.

@Hans-I couldn't read what the radioman had written on the door to his "office"   And thanks for the tip about Shep's diorama sheets-I have been tracking them down, since I lost the ones I had as a kid.

@uglygoat-Your question is close to me-I have my 2 Forts to build and backdate as B17-E's at Midway.  I don't know that they had any formation signs at all, but I don't have any photos to back that up.  I'm pretty sure that they would have the large plain stars, upper port wing, underside starboard, and on the fuselage, and the serial numbers.  But that's only based on written sources (eg, Walter Lord's "Incredible Victory"), and pictures in a B-17 book that I got as a kid from the Military Book Club.  That shows pics of Forts in Australia, so I have to extrapolate, at this point.  Lord does document that 2 of the planes had nicknames-"Knucklehead", and "Yankee Doodle", but I haven't found any photo sources yet.

Wow, what an incredible thread, all the more remarkable for the amount of info posted in such a short time!  Maybe I will break out one of the -F's and start, despite the fact that I have no space on the bench, and no space to display it.  But when has that ever stopped any of us, eh?  Well, and no good camera to take in-progress shots, too.

Thanks, all of you, for sharing, it's a great thread!

Regards,
Brad

B-17 Guy - I wish I had a Hobby Lobby near by...the closest one is 2 hours away.  I can find airbrshes in town here.  I just got my B-52G in the mail today, it is gonna be so effin' sweet.  I wouldn't mind gettin' an airbrush to rock out a sweet cammo job on her.

B-17 Guy wrote:

Tiny......If you have a hobby lobby store by in canada or even in the detroit area, they sell airbrushes. They have a 40% off coupon regurlarly, buy an airbrush there. I dont really want to get one, just seems like a lot of work, to use and maintain the gun and all it's parts, I've gotten this far without one.

someone also posted in the paint section, badger airbrushes is having a 'garage sale'  you can get a basic airbrush for twelve bucks, and better ones for about fifty.  also they have compressors for a reasonable price.

http://www.badgerairbrush.com/garagesale.htm  

they are really easy to maintain, you spray some thinner through them when you're done, and put it away.  you use less paint than spray cans, a three dollar bottle of model masters will last you a long time when you're thinning it, compared to a five dollar spray can.  ;)

@Hans-I couldn't read what the radioman had written on the door to his "office"

 "Ladies Room"... 

Hi Guys,

Been looking at all of your builds and loving it!!!! Still in the process of building mine but progress has been slow and nothing "post-worthy" yet. Hopefully in the next few days I can make some serious progress and finally jump into this thread. Hopefully you guys won't bee too critical (my skills just aren't up to par with some of yours). 

Really looking forward to seeing some more.

Thanks,

Greg

Hey guys, no thanks giving here in Canada today.  Being that I work in the States, day off!  I started on my engines today, painted them and decided to do some plumbing after studying the pictures on page 2 of the post.

I dug out my drill set that I used to plumb my car engines with.  If anyone doesn't have a set like this, I recommend it.  You could probably find them online somewheres.

I know what you're thinking...what's with the blue eh?  Well, that's all I've got right now, so once it's plumbed, I'm gonna go in with some flat black and finnish em' up.

Update - I plumbed up what I think is the oil pump line...In the pictures I have, there is an actual pump in the location where the line enters the engine.  Obveously, ther isn't one in the kit, so I plumbed it to where it is supposed to go.

Damn man! That look's awesome!! I may have to try doing that, I just gotta find wire that small, what guage did you use?

 I dont have any updates right now, plan to get some work done this weekend though. I had a very unhappy morning, I wake up and just happen to look on the floor and see what look's like a .50 cal. To my horror it was. I have an older 17 (pro modeler kit) that built 13 years ago sitting on my dresser that I'm trying to fix up a bit. I've got new props and engines and a few other little things for it. The 50's came off of it......appearently my 2yo decided to remove the waist and radio room guns. So that's gotta be fixed. I wa so mad......but he's 2, not much I can do about it, just gotta teach him not to touch what doesnt belong to him a bit better, oh well.

I'm not sure what guage whire it is, but it's gotta be close to 28 or 30.  I got it at Radio Shack years ago.  They have the standard colours, red, yellow, black, blue...I had seen the resin engine kits that have this, so I figured I'd do the same thing and not spend the extra money.  I'll admit, it is a lengthy process...that one engine took about 2 hours total.  But if you do one a day, it's not so bad.  I may do some more research and find out where the rest of the lines go and duplicate them as well, we'll see.  I just can't wait to get this thing done so I can start on my B-52...I opened her up last night to check it out...there is no interior detail at all, but the exterior details are gorgeous.  I recommend this kit to annyone.  Italeri 1/72 B-52G 'Gulf War'

Anyhoo, thanks for the complements.  If you or anyone has any more questions, let me know.  Happy Thanksgiving!

at leat the little tyke didn't try and see if the bird could fly. 

funny story, growing up my friends dad was big time into building models, but this guy loved jets.  he had a 1/72 scale b52 that was just massive, hanging in the hobby room in the attic. it hung right above the stairs.  one day we're up there, and swear to god the thing let go of it's own accord, swooped down the stairs, smashing at the bottom landing.  we all turned ghost white, knowing he'd never believe we didn't touch it!  it flew though, for a while.  only lost the landing gears and a few engines that needed glued back on.  to this day, he still swears we uncliped her.

Hans von Hammer wrote:

@Hans-I couldn't read what the radioman had written on the door to his "office"  "Ladies Room"...

LOL!  Thanks, Hans!

I tried out the whire tie ammo belt trick...I love how it turned out...Hammer, I know it doesn't look like the one you posted, but this one looks cool I think.