Visible B-17, Finally Finished - new pic, last page

Awesome work there!

Mike

Excellent Build.  The interior detail is amazing.  Curious why there are no National Insignia or other markings.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks, everyone . 

One the one hand, I'm so glad it's over and on the other, I'm going to kind of miss it - all the intricate building and studying pictures.  Of course, after I took the pictures, I realized I knocked off the tail gunner's access hatch and I never took a picture of the part that took the longest - the PE flaps.  The flaps took me almost a month each, to build.  I've never seen such fiddly pieces in my life

rjkplasticmod wrote:

Excellent Build.  The interior detail is amazing.  Curious why there are no National Insignia or other markings. Regards,  Rick

Thanks, Rick.  Honestly it was sort of an executive decision.  As I was getting closer to the end, I decided I wanted it to be more of a technical representation of a B-17, than a representation of any particular B-17.  Imagine if the guy at Boeing who did the visual cutaway was tasked with making a 3D representation of it.  I figured there wouldn't be any group or NI markings as they're not important to the "what's where" guide.

-Fred

It looks fantastic, you did a really great job with the interior.

How did you weather it? It almost looks like you used a variety of the filtering technique, with the exhaust staining.

Thanks, mac .  I suggest if you get a chance, to give it a try.  It really does challenge your building skills - especially if you use the PE.  It completely changes the way you have to build.

Thanks, Randy.  I guess that would be up to the fine folks at FSM and Kalmbach .  First, I need much better pictures, though.  For some reason, these were turning out dark, even with 2 light sources and a flash.  The pictures here were heavily tweaked in photoshop to bring out the colors and lighten them up.

-Fred

Thanks, Baron.  The weathering is a combination of pre and post shading.  I used flat black for the pre-shading and Doc O'Brien's weathering powder (from micro-mark) for post-shading.  I used shades of black, grey and rust follwed by lights mists of the base color and then more weathering.  It's a simple layering effect that adds depth.  You can also use a damp papertowel to blend the colors (which I did for the exhaust).

Thanks, John.  That paint scheme actually turned out to be a last minute decision.  I started out planning to leave the side completely clear.  But then I realized that I really didn't like the unfinished seams, so after cleaning them up, I had no choice but to figure out a way to paint them.  I'm happy that the solution turned out as well as they did.

-Fred

Amazing!

Definitely eye catching. You've put alot of work into that bird and it shows.

Very impressive!

Wow - very nice job man.  Very nice detail work and weathering.  I like the way you did the cutaway part with the paint line - rather than making the line at the center seam.  I think takes it look cleaner than it would have - good idea.

Chris 

Hey you forgot to paint the left side of the fueslage!  With such attention to detail in the interior I am shocked that you could miss this!

Seriously, great build, I only hope mine turns out as well.  I have a couple of clear kits to build, I've been afraid of them I think because I think they won't fit right and I'll craze the clear parts...

Thanks again, everyone

Ross, don't worry about the clear half.  Coat it in Future and you really won't have to worry about much else. 

I find the best way to model is to just do it.  Don't worry about whether or not you think you have the skill.  Tell yourself that you can do it and before you know it, you'll have done it.  When I left the hobby some 20 years ago, there was no PE and scrathbuilding was left to the masters.  When I got back into it 2 years ago, I went whole hog with PE, resin and scratchbuilding.  I had never tried any of it; I just decided I was going to try it and it worked out.  The real skill is in the planning.  Get an idea of what you want to accomplish and work it into the printed directions.  If you want to add a particualr detail, figure out how it would affect the prescribed build and work around it.

-Fred

Excellent build Fred. Followed this from the start and your detail work is fantastic. Great to see a Visible model completed on the forums. Top marks,

...Guy

You did a nice job on this. If only they would do a visible B-29!

-Stephen

She came out great Fred.  Your giving me inspiration to get mine back on the bench.  Love the colors and weathering.  You should be very proud of her....

Cheers

Thank you again, everyone.

It's truly an honor to be appreciated by the fine people of this forum.

-Fred

Did have to use a bucket to coat the whole fuselage in Future? Did you put it on the inside and outside? Great build BTW!