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

Hey y'all...it's been a while since we've had some updates, so here's where I'm at.  I just shot the paint and assembled the engines on the left wing...It is Olive Drab on top of Cammo Grey.

A lot of attention was paid to the seems in the wings and the engines.  Man, those sanding sticks are absolute money!  I can't believe I'd never used them before.  I used to use sand paper, that's why I hated sanding prep so much.

I was going to use liquid mask to do the curves in the engines, but used masking tape instead. 

I know the Cammo Grey isn't...well...really all that grey at all, but I really love the colour combination.  It has great contrast but matches well. 

As you may have noticed, I didn't do the salt crystal method.  To be honest, I don't like this method.  It leaves a bit of a ridge when you remove the salt.  To be honest again...I don't know if I'm gonna wheather the exterior at all.  I've never put this much work into a piece, and I'm kinda afraid of totally wrecking it.  I may build a single engine fighter and try out wheathering...

Well, hope you guys like the progress and I hope you guys are hard at work on your Forts...I know it's a busy time of year but...FORTS FIRST...FAMILY LATER!  (just kidding guys)

Looking good, Tiny.

-Tiny- wrote:

Thanks Trexx. Have you started yours yet?

Uhh... no.

I'm supposed to knock out my Mig killers build. (Mirage IIIC)

Since it doesn't have a pilot, I may make it "landed". That will save a bunch of time because I usually obsess over detailing the driver.

...Maybe I'll work on sub-assemblies on the Flying Fortress in between stuff on the French jet?!

-Tiny- wrote:

I know the Cammo Grey isn't...well...really all that grey at all, but I really love the colour combination.  It has great contrast but matches well.  Well, hope you guys like the progress and I hope you guys are hard at work on your Forts...I know it's a busy time of year but...FORTS FIRST...FAMILY LATER!  (just kidding guys)

I'm not a big fan of the cammo gray, neutral look's better to me. That almost look's white. If your not gonna weather it, are you at least gonna paint on the de-icer boots?

Yeah I know...gotta work on mine. Havent touched them in a week. I'm gonna have pics up soon, just gotta find time and energy.

Do you by chance have any more pics of the engines, kinda curious to see what the back sides look like, I wanna see what you did with the wires. 

looking good tiny.  i'd keep her clean for now. 

mine is on the shelf to be masked for the final coat, then i've got to get all the micro assemblies(windows, turrets, etc) done. she's been put on the back burner however... 

i've got to paint and mount the light cruiser i'm building for a giftmas present.  USS Cleveland class cruiser that my grandfather served on in the pacific.  1/700 will blow your mind, and eyes after building a fort in 48th scale. :)

B-17 Guy - I know the cammo grey is lookng light, the flash on my camera intensifies anything light in colour.  That's what happened with my pics of the interior with the drybrushing.  In person, it looks so much more tame than the pics. 

I tried getting my hands on the neutral grey, couldn't find it anywhere.  Went to 4 different hobby stores.  What I should have done is just used the primer...it is super close...ah well, I'm pleased with it...may not be accurate but it's something different. 

Check this pic out... lol 

Paint the de-icer boots? Question...what are de-icer boots?   

For the wires, I used a drill bit that was just the right size so I didn't have to use any glue...the wire fits nice and snug.  I poked them through the holes and trimmed them off with a small set of wire cutters.  You'll notice when feeding the wires through there will be wire where the prop shafts go, don't feed the wire in too far so you jam up the hole with a crow's nest of wire.

The de-icer boots are the rubber boots that are on the leading edges of the wings, vertical tail and horizontal stabilizers. If you look at your kit you'll see them already there, you just gotta mask them off and hit em with flat black. The wings have em between each of the engines also. I think they'd add to the contrast on your bird. The kit instruction sheet should refference them.

I didnt take into account for the flash on the camera, plus, sometimes looking at parts and pieces of the plane doesnt give the best picture of how it will look when completed.

You really cant find neutral gray? Doesnt your LHS sell modelmaster paints? Were they sold out? Not carry it? Wierd.

Looking forward to seeing more pics tiny. 

B-17 Guy wrote:

You really cant find neutral gray? Doesnt your LHS sell modelmaster paints? Were they sold out? Not carry it? Wierd.

Neutral Gray FS # 36173  =  Model Master Enamel  Air Mobility Com Gray stock # 2035

B-17 Guy / Summit - Yah, I found it weird too that they didn't carry that colour.  The hobby shop I found in Trenton has a tonne of paint, but no neutral grey.  I could have ordered it, but I had already bought the cammo from McCormics in London...and I'm an impatient bastard when it comes to that stuff.  It's cool though, if you saw that pic of the fort I posted, the colours are pretty much a dead match to it. 

B-17 Guy - About das boots...I think I'm gonna take your advice and paint them.  I think I'll just tape them off and do em' with a nice soft brush and some flat black.  Their going to be hit with a final dullcote to seal in the decals, so if there are any streaks from the brush, they'll fill in.

All - While I'm on the subject QUESTION...When I hit my props with a gloss coat over flat black, the gloss kind of 'soaked' into the flat and didn't produce a nice sheen for the decals to sink into.  When I shot the final dullcote on them, you could clearly see the clear decal material still.  I didn't want to keep shooting gloss because I didn't want it to be to heavy and thick...am I doing something wrong?  Should I find some Future and polish it on by hand to set the decals properly?  I don't own an airbrush so if I do the future, it'll have to be done by hand...I've seen it done in the forum before, seems to work.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I don't want to get to the final stages and wreck my finnish.  thanks guys.

Once a decal that small with that much clear carrier film is silvered, it's pretty much done for Tiny...  But like I told you earlier, you don't NEED those decals on the blades... They're only on factory-new blades, they're not on blades that have been reconditioned, repaired, or repainted by maintenence crews..

this maybe an ignorant question and I know there would be some fit issues but, Has anyone considered using the True Details interior sets designed for the B-17G on the b-17F model from Revell, obviously there will be some fixing to do with regards to the nose windows but I have a couple F's stashed away and was thinking of trying this in the future and wondering if anybody had tried this yet.

Eric Strohmeyer 

I got my 1/72 Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H in the mail today.  What a beast!  What can I say, I like to build em' big.  I think once my Fort is done, I'm gonna start on the B-52G.  I got 2 weeks off over the holidays, so the Fort is gonna be done sooner than later.

B-17 Guy - Good call on das ice boots.  They look sweet...nice contrast indeed.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Got the fuselage stitched up tonight...not bad fit at all but I have A LOT of clean up to do on the seems...thank god for sanding sticks!

Hammer / All - You had mentioned Silvering...What is the best way to avoid this? 

-Tiny- wrote:

I got my 1/72 Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H in the mail today.  What a beast!  What can I say, I like to build em' big.  I think once my Fort is done, I'm gonna start on the B-52G.  I got 2 weeks off over the holidays, so the Fort is gonna be done sooner than later.

Looking forward to seeing this one built !

You had mentioned Silvering...What is the best way to avoid this?

I use a clear gloss before applying decals, then apply decal  set to the surface before applying the decal. I press down firmly on the decal, using a cloth to keep it from sticking to my finger, then apply more decal set.

TomcatVF-211 wrote:

this maybe an ignorant question and I know there would be some fit issues but, Has anyone considered using the True Details interior sets designed for the B-17G on the b-17F model from Revell, obviously there will be some fixing to do with regards to the nose windows but I have a couple F's stashed away and was thinking of trying this in the future and wondering if anybody had tried this yet. Eric Strohmeyer

Not an ignorant question, I see no reason you couldnt use those sets in the F model. Like you said, there might be some tweaking. Mostly because of difference's between the attachment points in each kit. The true details kit are nice, abit pricey but nice. I have the cockpit set and am fairly impressed, I'm not happy with the fact that there seems to be only 1 of the 2 needed control yokes and columns. And that is the way the kit is I guess, that what the part tree layout shows.

I might be more inclined to use those sets as a template and scratch my own.

Tiny.......The boots look good, I cant tell from the picture nut did you get the ones between the engines? I wanted to ask if the engines are glued on, so.....are they? If not, pull them off and paint the area behind them flat black. Just a thought. Man, I love those engines! They look great!

Hans.....PM inbound.

Eric - I just pulled out a F-model and a G-model and did a fuselage comparrison. The "G" is just a little longer (about 5 mm) but the height dimensions are the same . Should not be too difficult. Pick up a "G" model if needed for extras and refernce points. (you cant go wrong having another)

On a plus note - The "F" that I opened up had two sets of resin tires (straight & diamond tread) and a set of Aerosmaster "Forts over Europe pt.lll  decals (with a Nekid Lady - Wow~wee.....

I had forgotten all about them

Hans von Hammer wrote:

You had mentioned Silvering...What is the best way to avoid this? I use a clear gloss before applying decals, then apply decal  set to the surface before applying the decal. I press down firmly on the decal, using a cloth to keep it from sticking to my finger, then apply more decal set.

You mean, you apply more salad dressing, right, Hans? 

B-17 Guy.   Shoot...I was hoping you or someone wouldn't notice...i totally forgot to paint the inside of the engines.  They are indeed glued on...I may be able to get em' loose. I'll give it a try.  At least I can get it right on the other wing right?

The boot between the engines isn't done yet, just wanted to show you what's done so far...Cheers man.

Boy...talk about some awesome looking projects! The B-17 is by far my all-time favorite WWII aircraft. I sure wish I had one of these kits to build.  My LHS has one of the Revell Forts for $57.95 for the clear sided version.  Way too rich for my blood right now so I'm going to sit back and enjoy y'all's work instead.  Simply beautiful!!!!

PhantomPhreak wrote:

Boy...talk about some awesome looking projects! The B-17 is by far my all-time favorite WWII aircraft. I sure wish I had one of these kits to build.  My LHS has one of the Revell Forts for $57.95 for the clear sided version.  Way too rich for my blood right now so I'm going to sit back and enjoy y'all's work instead.  Simply beautiful!!!!

$57.95 for the visible B-17 is absurd. Especially considering I've never seen it for more than $35. You can easily find this kit at all E-hobby shops and even evilbay. Dont pay more than $35 for this kit. The revellogram B-17G is the most commonly found kit in existence in 48th scale. $30-$35 tops, anything more than that is a rip-off.

Hey all...I got some more work to the fort done...after stitching up the fuselage, I went over every seem with putty and sanded em smoothe.

I shot the whole bird with some primer and hit the bottom with the cammo grey...I didn't tape up the gun, so I'm gonna re-paint it later.  I like how it's turned out so far, I hope it turns out as good as the wing.

Well, that's it so far...Havn't seen any new updates from the rest of you latley...anybody got any work done to their birds?

You guys have inspired me take up a Mono Pro-Modeler B-17G.  There is some great work going on here.  Unfortunately I am computer illiterate and have no idea how to post any pics, sorry about that.  I have decided that other than the photo etch that came with the kit noting aftermarket will be used, oh except for the decals.....  I spent two evenings shape Plastruct 1/4" rod into 3/8" sections and created the cockpit O2 tanks, also finished up a throttle for the cockpit.  Radio room is getting all scratchbuilt radio equipment and a better looking desk has allready been installed.  I have forgotten what a great kit this is and if I am not mistaken I think that the molds may have been upgraded for the Pro-modeler release because they seem much crisper than the later releases, it is especially apparent when I started on the engines last night and was surprised how nice they looked for injection molded parts.  I plan on finishing it as 42-98008 "American Beauty" from the 486th BG, I have found a few photos of this aircraft on the net that shows it recieved the yellow tail and stipes of the 486th BG as well as a red band around the nose fairly late in the war, the superscale decals are going to be the starting point.  Depending on how far I get with this one I amy start another or finish up one of the many I allready have going in my own representation of the Boeing production line.  The next one may be either a SB-17G or PB-1W conversion, not sure yet, still in the research phase of those projects.  I am also planning on doing a Fort with a pathfinder dome.  If I ever figure out the picture thing I will get some posted.  Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work.

Eric Strohmeyer 

Havn't seen any new updates from the rest of you latley...anybody got any work done to their birds?

Kinda put it on the back-burner for a bit.  I got too many other irons in the fire right now that need my attention,  P-61, F7F, Kingfisher, M577, and three "Bill Mauldin's Army" dioramas to finish, plus work on a 1/35th commission diorama that involves 13 armored vehicles and around 40 figures...It'll come up in the rotation again in a couple weeks.

Havn't seen any new updates from the rest of you latley...anybody got any work done to their birds?

I'll have pics up tonight!!! I promise. And plenty of them! I'm having some issues with my camera to computer to photobucket to FS forums sequence. Photobucket is having a problem uploading them from the computer, but I WILL have pics up tonight!