1/48 Monogram B-17G Flying Fortress

Thanks.  That's the kind of feedback I need.  Now to figure out how to make them look better.

modelchasm

Yet again, more great stuff, Rob! Nice job .... But if I may, I think that the props need a little more suttle weathering. The marks on there now just lokk like small, stiff, pencil marks. Just thought I'd share what I see....

Thanks again for the inspiration with this awesome build!

Yet again, more great stuff, Rob! Nice job .... But if I may, I think that the props need a little more suttle weathering. The marks on there now just lokk like small, stiff, pencil marks. Just thought I'd share what I see....

Thanks again for the inspiration with this awesome build!

That is just way over the top!

 This project is most spanktaculous!!! I can't wait for it to beat me off the conest table!!!!

Seriously though, I'm lovin it!!!

BTW, contest in Bay City...Feb 5 (check out ... www.midmichiganmodelmakers.com)      

I know this won't be ready by then, but you've got plenty that will raise the bar at the show!!!

Not sure yet if I'll go, but if you go, I'll go!

Spent a few hours today on the Fort.

Wings are closed after a final electrical test.

Weathered the Tires and Wheels

Weathered the Props

Cheers

Back to work on the 17.  I've been spending all my time in Grand Rapids for work and weekends at home, so today, I finally made it down to the shop.

  The Left wing is just about ready to close up.  Did a test today making sure the lights still function.

Left Nav Light Off

Left Nav Light On

Left Landing Light Off

Left Landing Light On

Main gears were drilled and a guide wide fed through the holes.  These will be the wires that will feed power from the base to the model.

More tomorrow.  I hope.

Cheers

Great job!

I am amazed to see how much work it takes to turn a Monogram Monster into a work of art.

Main gears are ready for paint, and the right gear well is ready to be closed.  Tomorrow, I'll try to get the left wing to the same level as the right.

Props are ready for weathering

Cheers

Today I started adding detail to the main gear wells, applied the decals to the props and tomorrow I will shoot the dull coat.  I decided to make one of the props a new one and the other 3 with black hubs will be weathered.

Happy New Year

I worked on the engines and props today.  One more engine to go.  You can see the pushrod tubes are screwed up in a few places.  I didn't see these until I posted the pictures, so now they are corrected.

Cheers

Last night I decided to test the packaging space of the wires in the gear well and make sure the motors still worked.  So far, so good.  (knock on wood)

Started adding small details to the engines today and added spars and started the aileron hinging on the left wing.  Wouldn't you know it, I broke my last #76 drill a month ago, and forgot to order new ones.  Now I have to wait.....-=--=--=  I also started detailing the props.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for.

Simply AWESOME Rob !! I hope one day to be skilled enough to justify a build like this one.

Very nice Rob! Those wing seams are going to be an inconvenience to fill huh?

Awesome rob, simply awesome!

      I started installing the electronics into the right wing tonight.  I started by sanding the landing light LED flat at the end and finishing with 600 grit sand paper.  I drilled a 3mm hole in the landing light pocket and secured the light with micro crystal clear.  The flat of the LED sits just over flush with the wing so I can add a bezel later.  I also painted the LED and the surrounding area black to eliminate light bleed thru.

      The navigation light is handled a little different.  A 2mm hole was drilled in the top and bottom wings skins and a fiber optic rod is installed to reflect the light from the green LED.  I added a "V" notch and will paint the surrounding area black tomorrow.

       I started detailing the engines as well.  Started by spraying metalizer paint to the jugs.

Thanks for looking

Happy Holidays

Nice work, Rob. The wing looks sweet!

Did you just get lucky on the "no prop wobble" or how did you do it?

Looking forward to more ....

Finished up the Wing Tanks today

Cheers

Back at it again.  I should have some time between now and the first of the year to get a lot of work done... Ya right!!!&8&8&8

I started installing the circuit board into the wing and because of the openings, the wiring isn't long enough to reach the navigation lights, so Clyde is sending me more wiring.  In the mean time, I installed the motors into the engines this morning.

First I drilled out the front of the engine with a 1mm drill.  I chucked the engine into my lathe and gradually opened up the hole to a #10 drill (.1935) on the back side, being careful not to go too deep.  The motor fits like a glove, and there is no prop wobble at all.

Happy Holidays

I love this build, Rob.

Call me crazy ... but I want to almost this exact build on that new 1/32 '17 that's coming out from WingScale... Gonna have to bookmark this thread and clear my calendar for about a year ... or two!

hkshooter

It's always very interesting to me to see the intimate details of aircraft I've admired since I was a kid. Thanks for posting Rob!
Now a question.
When you reworked the tanks you left of the rubber locking plugs. Is there a reason?

 

Hi hkshooter,

    I'm going to add them back on, and the filler hole.  I didn't like the way the foil formed around the pins.  Next weeks project if I can get home.

Cheers

Wow, you learn something new every day, thanks heaps for that.

It's always very interesting to me to see the intimate details of aircraft I've admired since I was a kid. Thanks for posting Rob!
Now a question.
When you reworked the tanks you left of the rubber locking plugs. Is there a reason?

Scorpiomikey

Did B-17's have aluminium fuel tanks?

Yes they did.  Aluminum shell and a rubber bladder.  The black nibs are lock pins of the rubber bladder extruding outside of the aluminum shell.   The pictures below are from the Erection and Maintenance Manual.

Cheers

Did B-17's have aluminium fuel tanks?

they look great as does the rest of the build so far!

I haven't had much time lately.  I've been living in grand Rapids and will be there most of the time this week as well.  Inbetween trips, I decided the fuel tanks looked like crap, so I redid them.  What do ya think?

Before

After

Cheers

redraider56

Lancair IV:

 

raptordriver:

 

Your not finished yet? jk

It will be very interesting to see this finished. You have probably already mentioned this, but what markings do you plan to use on this bad boy?

 

 

 

I wish she was done.  This is the longest I've ever taken to do anything.......

Right now, I was planning on B-17B-20-BO #42-31585 Mount' N Ride......I'm not 100% committed to this, so maybe I could do something different.....I'm open to suggestions.

 

Cheers

 

A couple pics if your interested...

Thank you.  Those are great pictures.

Cheers

Lancair IV

 

raptordriver:

 

Your not finished yet? jk

It will be very interesting to see this finished. You have probably already mentioned this, but what markings do you plan to use on this bad boy?

 

 

 

I wish she was done.  This is the longest I've ever taken to do anything.......

Right now, I was planning on B-17B-20-BO #42-31585 Mount' N Ride......I'm not 100% committed to this, so maybe I could do something different.....I'm open to suggestions.

 

Cheers

A couple pics if your interested...

I have to agree with Boba Fett Rob

This is at a level of epic beyond epic...