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

AlaskanWW2

Curious how could i get a set of these decals??   Im goning to build "Sentimental Journey"

You have to make the Sentimental Journey decals yourself.

Vary nice work I love forts that like this. They have so much more meaning when u have a relitvie that served on one. Would love to see some more pictures.

Hello, Since this is the never ending B-17 group build, I thought I would submit my B-17 build from about 3 years ago.  My grandfather flew 11 missions as the ball turret gunner on this plane "Cash and Carrie" serial number 425915 of the 390th Bomber Group/ 570th Bomber Squadron).  He was shot down on the Munster Raid of October 10th 1943 and was POW'ed at that time. 

This is the product of about 5 years of research.  Carrie was a Lockeed Vega B-17 F with a somewhat unusual nose configuration (at least from what I could tell).  I took the 1/48 Mongram B-17G and removed the chin turret then reworked both cheek areas.  I fashioned a new nose and gun station since Carrie had a single 50 caliber protruding here.   I was able to find nose art for Carrie through the 390th BG website for which my graphic designer friend made for me.  Unfortunately I have since found out the stars and bars should have had the red border.  Here she is:

Curious how could i get a set of these decals??   Im goning to build "Sentimental Journey"

Nice!

I LOVE night fighters and thought it would be cool to see what a b-17 would have looked like if it would have ever flown night missions. 

So this is the vary first B-17 i ever made as a madder of fact this was the second model i every made. As you can see it was fare from anything thing nice. I got tired of looking at it all broken up so im fixing it up with a little twist 

redraider56

Loos like you have much better luck with yellow than I do

Are you spraying it or brushing it?

I would also say no, but it depends on what your spraying, a 1/2 oz bottle is not enough for a 48th scale B-17.

Ghostriderp-47

I love the paint what brand of paint is that

It's this, good stuff but it does require work. I sprayed it with the snj paint, then buffed it with aluminum powder, the really shiny parts were done with a dremel.

http://www.hawkeyeshobbies.com/snj-spray-metal-paints.htm

I would say no because its always better to have extra. You never know what tip of problems your going to run into. When you are air brushing or useing a spy can.

About how much paint is required to paint the fuselage? I have a 1/2 oz of Olive Drab but I feel as if it isn't enough.

Loos like you have much better luck with yellow than I do

I love the paint what brand of paint is that

B17Pilot

bigfoot01:

I guess I missed something. what happened to the "D"?

 

OK, I'll recap. I got it off of ebay a few years ago broken in two.

 I glued the two fuselodge pieces back together and discovered it was missing its bath tub gun turret and it developed these holes:

 So I started at the nose and am working my way back to the tail fixing everything that needs to be fixed.  I've added additional seats that are in the shark tail versions of the -17, but not in the E-G models (see previous pages).  I am now on the waist gun section making it look like it should.

Thanks for bringing me up to speed!

bigfoot01

I guess I missed something. what happened to the "D"?

 

OK, I'll recap. I got it off of ebay a few years ago broken in two.

 I glued the two fuselodge pieces back together and discovered it was missing its bath tub gun turret and it developed these holes:

 So I started at the nose and am working my way back to the tail fixing everything that needs to be fixed.  I've added additional seats that are in the shark tail versions of the -17, but not in the E-G models (see previous pages).  I am now on the waist gun section making it look like it should.

Thanks Sparrow, it looks like thats the route I am going to take.

I have a simple way to fix it.  First glue the tail end of it together, but the back area only.  Don't put any glue on the front half.   Then let that dry overnight and the next morning do the front at use some extra strong elastic bands and/or clamps to hold it down while the front dries overnight as well.  This should force the fuselage half to conform to the proper edges and shape.  I did this with a couple of kits with misaligned  fuselage halves and it's always worked for me.

bigfoot01

Well, my project just got ugly. My plan was to build a "visible B-17" in the markings of Liberty Belle. I am at the point of getting ready to close up the fuselage. To avoid doing anything to smear up the transparent half, i have been using the extra opaque part for dry fitting. Well I decided to test fit the transparent part, and found it is terribly warped! I can get the nose end to line up perfectly OR the tail end, but not both! I am afraid of messing up the clear half or the already painted other half by gluing and clamping as I go, so I need to un-warp it before I close it up. Any ideas that won't wreck the transparency? Here you can see the warped clear half versus the nice and flat half it is suppossed to join with:

 

HELP!

Well, my project just got ugly. My plan was to build a "visible B-17" in the markings of Liberty Belle. I am at the point of getting ready to close up the fuselage. To avoid doing anything to smear up the transparent half, i have been using the extra opaque part for dry fitting. Well I decided to test fit the transparent part, and found it is terribly warped! I can get the nose end to line up perfectly OR the tail end, but not both! I am afraid of messing up the clear half or the already painted other half by gluing and clamping as I go, so I need to un-warp it before I close it up. Any ideas that won't wreck the transparency? Here you can see the warped clear half versus the nice and flat half it is suppossed to join with:

HELP!

B17Pilot

Well the weather's been playing havoc with my other projects, so more time on the B-17D.

The holes have been filled, need a couple of more swipes with the sanding stick, but that's no big deal.

I guess I missed something. what happened to the "D"?

Damn fine job your doing bringing that D model back to life pilot!

Well the weather's been playing havoc with my other projects, so more time on the B-17D.

The holes have been filled, need a couple of more swipes with the sanding stick, but that's no big deal.

B-17 Guy

Bigfoot, I'd wait to do any final finishing on the fuselage till you have it glued together. This kit doesnt go together like a tamiya kit. I promise you will have to do seam work on this kit. Always better to paint the fuselage after its assembled, windscreen installed etc. The windscreen alone is a pain in the azz. Trust me.

I learned that on the first B-17... Lucky me I was able to fix it but live and learn..

Thanks for the advice B-17 Guy. I did a dry fit with the opaque fuselage half and it fit perfectly, I did a dry fit with the transparent half and it definitely has some alignment issues. It was challenging trying to modify the tail with the Cheyenne tail gun. I used the opaque half to experiment, then used it as a template to cut the transparent piece. It is a challenge not to mess up the transparent half.

Bigfoot, I'd wait to do any final finishing on the fuselage till you have it glued together. This kit doesnt go together like a tamiya kit. I promise you will have to do seam work on this kit. Always better to paint the fuselage after its assembled, windscreen installed etc. The windscreen alone is a pain in the azz. Trust me.

I'd go with a gloss or semi gloss.  Metalics look better that way.  And they are more realistic when shiny.  I usually use Chrome Silver Model Masters enamel spray, over a black primer.  Speaking of which, does anyone have an online source that has black primer?  I ran out and can't find any except acrylic primer.

Rich

bigfoot01

 

pzl66:

 

Very nice bigfoot! What paint did you use on the fuselage?

 

 

Thank you! I used Testors Gloss Metalic Silver in a rattle can. It gives a similar appearance to the finish of the restored Liberty Belle (rest in piece). Now i just need to decide glosscote or dullcote for the final finish,

pzl66

Very nice bigfoot! What paint did you use on the fuselage?

Thank you! I used Testors Gloss Metalic Silver in a rattle can. It gives a similar appearance to the finish of the restored Liberty Belle (rest in piece). Now i just need to decide glosscote or dullcote for the final finish,

Very nice bigfoot! What paint did you use on the fuselage?