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

Very nice model, do you plan to weather it at all. I have almost completed my Chow-Hound and wondering if I should do a little weathering myself.

The finished product:

Starting the painted tail:

Hans von Hammer

Looks like ya forgot some masking on the windows...  You may be able to clean that up with a WOOD tooth-pick cut to a chisel-point, if it's acrylic...

Actually the windows are still masked. I am using a product for the first time called Bob Dively Liquid Masking Film. It goes on looking like Elmers Glue and dries clear. I hope it comes off nice and easy once the time comes.

I would love to make it down to Midland some year, my yearly pilgrimage is to Airventure every year since 1973

Looks like ya forgot some masking on the windows...  You may be able to clean that up with a WOOD tooth-pick cut to a chisel-point, if it's acrylic...

Love all the nose-art... "Pistol Packin' Mama-Lil-Betty Boop"...

That shot kinda reminds me of the flight-line down in Midland, Texas every fall...

The B-17F looks great! Wish Revell would still make it though... I have never seen the co-pilot side of that plane before, only the pilot's side. But very nice job on that one!!

pzl66, that finish is awesome! I am going to try to duplicate that on my next project, the B-17G "Liberty Belle".

Here are some update photos of the Pistol Packin Mama. Just need to do a little weathering, apply the final coats of dullcote, unmask the small windows, install all the remaining clear parts, guns, turrents and props and put her next to "Rain Check" which is a B-17G my Dad road the tail gun postion on a few non-combat flights, his regular job was Armament.

And here are some pictures of "Rain Check". I built this kit over 25 years ago as a birthday present for my Dad. I tried to be creative in the finish. I used Testors enamel and painted each panel individually using alternating brush strokes to simulate "grain" of the weathered aluminum. Since then I got smart and use rattle cans on large projects.

Now I just need to figure out were to put Betty Boop once shes done!

plasticutter

Actually, niether of the kits- the Monogram or the Revell 1/48 kits have provisions to model the kit with the landing gear retracted. You have to "scratch" the main strut attachment point to have the gear in the retracted position. As for the supporting struts on the front side of the main strut, they bi-fold up into the nacelle and are basically hidden by the main strut and wheel when retracted, so you don't really need to bother with them. But if your going to diplay it on the ground, as in a belly landing, I would't worry about the looks of it too mauch as you probably won't be able to see much more than the retracted main wheel and strut, if you even see the strut itself.

Thanks !

Model Masters Aluminum Plate after sanding:

Actually, niether of the kits- the Monogram or the Revell 1/48 kits have provisions to model the kit with the landing gear retracted. You have to "scratch" the main strut attachment point to have the gear in the retracted position. As for the supporting struts on the front side of the main strut, they bi-fold up into the nacelle and are basically hidden by the main strut and wheel when retracted, so you don't really need to bother with them. But if your going to diplay it on the ground, as in a belly landing, I would't worry about the looks of it too mauch as you probably won't be able to see much more than the retracted main wheel and strut, if you even see the strut itself.

Ha ha wise man... I mean I dont see an option for gear up... And since Im working on the tail swapped version and the other is gear down I want to portray this one on its last landing which was a belly landing

The same as on the Monogram B-17G!

Quick question, how would I have the landing gear in the up position on the revell B-17G??

Cant believe it did not come with the J piece. thank god other people used this up grad kit

jI just grinned in front of the light to get a better feel of how close i was to the other side of the foliage  

Shipwreck

Bigfoot01, I am really impressed with your 17, and brush painted too! I am not sure I can do as well with an airbrush. Do you thin your Tamyia to brush it?

Thank you Shipwreck. Normally I use it straight from the bottle. Sometimes when the bottle is sitting around for a while I need to add some water to replace what evaporated. I get the best results using a soft camel hair brush and apply in light coats. Most colors take two coats. White, silver and yellow generally take 4-6 coats to get even coverage. The first coat normally looks bad, but the second brings it all together. . I also brush from nose to tail on the final strokes so if there are any streaks it looks like weathering. Then I apply 2 coats Testors dullcote with a rattle can, apply the decals, and then two more coats of dullcote,

Bigfoot your b-17 looks great!!!

Bigfoot01, I am really impressed with your 17, and brush painted too! I am not sure I can do as well with an airbrush. Do you thin your Tamyia to brush it?

Looking good pzl66! Here is an update on BBtPPM

 I custom mixed the Tamiya olive drab to get the nice faded color I wanted but the pictures look more green for some reason. The entire aircraft was brush painted with Tamiya acrylics and sealed with testors dullcote:

Here some stuff is dry fitted for a sneak peak:

Shelf and insulation added

Canvas trimmed and painted

Ghostriderp-47

I have seen a lot of you are using the cheyenne turret. I have exhausted all of my resources trying to find this up grade kit the suppliers i have found ether do not carry it or do not have it in stock. This one bye Verlinden Productions SUCKS and is not like anything i have seen you guys using. Does any have any ides? Also Im looking for anything to do with the 339th bombardment group heavy More or less pictures. See i already asked my grand father about it and he can not remember his tail number. Mysteriously all of his pictures and documents and anything else relating to the 339th have disappeared. I have 4 pictures of B-17Gs in the 339th from the internet but nothing i can really go on.  

I believe I have what your lookin for with the tail assmb and glass still on the sprue,,,,they give both tail gun options with the Visible kit that I just completed and I didn't use the Cheyenne version,,,just a matter of finding it,,,,I'll look today thru my mess,,  if I find it it's yours,,,,,

I have a book called "Battle Colors Vol. 1" at home.  It has all the markings of the BGs that served in the 8th AF in it.  Great book to have! I'll take a picture of the 339th page and post it when I get home, if you would like.

If you can find it, Paragon makes a Cheyanne tail for the fort.  The Pro Modeler version of the kit includes a Cheyanne tail as well, but these are getting hard to find as well.

I have seen a lot of you are using the cheyenne turret. I have exhausted all of my resources trying to find this up grade kit the suppliers i have found ether do not carry it or do not have it in stock. This one bye Verlinden Productions SUCKS and is not like anything i have seen you guys using. Does any have any ides? Also Im looking for anything to do with the 339th bombardment group heavy More or less pictures. See i already asked my grand father about it and he can not remember his tail number. Mysteriously all of his pictures and documents and anything else relating to the 339th have disappeared. I have 4 pictures of B-17Gs in the 339th from the internet but nothing i can really go on.  

So I have started work on LMM tail swapped version now going to use Model Masters Aluminum Plate paint for the exterior to give the "weathered" aluminum skin look. Tested the paint on a spare fuselage I have and buffed it a little. Also started the flight deck, using real wood and canvas where called for. This is in crude form and still needs alot of work... 

Hans von Hammer

I remember this one when it first came out on regular network a few years ago.

Just thinkin' out loud, but wouldn't this make a fun diorama for competiton?  It'd drive a couple anal-retentive aircraft judges (and one former IPMS Chapter Prez) I know nuts on how to categorize it, lol...

B17Pilot

Its from Amazing Stories.  IIRC it starred Kevin Costner has the pilot

We have a winner!

Yupper, Costner was in it as was Keifer Sutherland...

Here it is, in case any of y'all are needin' a "paint-drying"  break from the B-17 you're working on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD7B0cfTXlc