"Foiled" Again: B17G Build

I just ran across this post. Ah ha!!! Another modeler has gone over to the dark side (finishing a model in foil). This is right up my alley. I can't believe that you spent all of the time to foil the model and then paint over the model It takes hours and hours to foil an airplane!!!!

Great job on the model. I love the rivets. What did you use as an adhesive for the foil? I have tried to make my own foil using aluminum foil and adhesive but it always turned out to be a mess. Instead I use Bare Metal Foil.

Oh this is looking good. you always hate those moments when you realize you’re not happy with it. Kudos to you for recognizing a different way to get the results! I think the end product is going to make you proud.

When I finished the fuselage my paint job didn't turn out like I wanted.  After mulling over what it looked like, I stripped all the aluminum off the fuselage and started from scratch.  My new idea was to paint the aluminum first, then add the rivets with my Rosie tool.  This brought out all the detail and all I have to do is touch up the olive drab paint when I'm done.  The fuselage should be done soon and I hope to have the entire plane together in a few weeks.

I also had to figure out a way to cut out all the aluminum around the windows which are clear and not the plastic ones with the kit.  So, here I am again years later.  I'm almost there and finally like what I've been striving to achieve.

You’re coming in loud and clear.

Just caught up with your build since it popped up on the first page, very impressive! Any chance you finished it? I’d love to see it completed!

Test

Seadog30,

I may have missed something, but, I have to ask. After doing such a fine job of foiling the entire plane...why paint it?

Very impressive work. I did a couple of foil builds about a decade ago, a 144-scale B-47 and a 72-scale B-58. That was quite enough for my level of patience. I cannot imagine tackling such beasts as the old Monogram 48-scale heavy bombers. 

I am looking forward to seeing your B-17 completed.

seadog30

Hi,

I'm new to the Forum although I have been following it for years.  I'm partial to building B-17's and wanted to post the project I've been building for quite some time.  I'm a long time military collector/model builder and have always wanted to do something unique.  Several years ago, I acquired artifacts from a pilot in the 384th Bomb Group.  His B-17, "Chaplain's Office", was damaged by German fighters on November 26, 1943.  When the crew bailed out, the ball turret gunners parachute got caught on the plane so the pilot and bombardier stayed behind to try and help him.

The German fighter pilots saw what was taking place and instead of shooting "Chaplain's Office" down, they escorted the stricken bomber back to a German Luftwaffe base.  The pilot and bombardier could not pull the wounded gunner back inside the plane and they crashed landed at the base.  The Germans later took several photos of the crashed bomber and it was clear to me that this would be the basis for my project.

I began with Monogram's 1/48 B-17 G and the challenges began almost immediately!  

Above: "Chaplain's Office" did not have modified windows on the port side nose. I therefore had to use an additional kit and conform the nose to match that particular aircraft. 

 

 

 

Followed with interest your project.  The pilot of the plane was my Uncle Ted.  Appreciate your having gotten the story out there. 

J. Zitnik

Just caught up with this Rick,excellent craftmanship! Looking forward to the next update!

Progress was slow but steady and I finally got time to post.  Couldn't find the parts I wanted to represent the flanges for the supercharger piping.  I finally came up with an idea and can't believe it worked-flex staws cut and glued together!  Try it!

Here's the installed straw piping.  The picture is dark but it looks pretty good installed.  Once weathered I hope to bring out the details.

Radio room gun mount ring still in progress.

Gloss coat and 384th BG decals from Mike Grant.  Bullet holes and tail damage too.

And finally the nose..........I can't begin to say how much Mike Grant helped me with the decals!!!! GREAT GUY!  I'm in the process of sealing the decals and putting the flat coat back on.

And here's the rest of the sub-assemlies.  I have never build a model in sub-assumblies before but because of the size have found it to be MUCH easier!  Right now all the large portions are compleded and ready to go.  I have to put in the windows and a few more minor interior details and will be ready for assembly soon!

Hope you like it, Happy Thanksgiving!

Rick

Very impressive

This looks really awesome.  I'm pretty certain I would not have the patience to foil a whole aircraft and then paint over it.  The results are speaking for themselves though!

Groot

Great foil work...look forward to seeing how this baby turns out! : )

Seadog, I missed your last couple of installments here.  This is starting to come together now! =]  I'm thinking about it more now about how jealous I am that your rivets are all raised.  I'm about to mount a massive campaign to rivet a B-17E but alas they will nearly all be lowered into the surface with my riveter tool.  I do plan on getting some Archer rivets to use in conjunction...but let me says "hat's off to you" bud.  You've even given me something to think about with regards to the engine nacelles.  =]

Can't wait to see more.

Story gave me a bit of a pause, and reminded me of a bit of poetry I first came across in one of my high school English textbooks -

en.wikipedia.org/.../The_Death_of_the_Ball_Turret_Gunner

Quite an impressive undertaking and fantastic story to boot.  Given all that tedious work I think I'll refer to you as "Job", because you have to have his patience.

I finally began painting "Chaplain's Office".  "Chaplain's Office" was an O.D. painted aircraft and was not left in aluminum like later in the war.  After painting the initial O.D and Gray, I LIGHTLY ran fine sand paper over the surface which brought out the surface detail, seams and panels.  Later on I'm going to use pastels but haven't got that far yet.  I've also found it much easier to work with sub-assemblies rather than the whole plane at once.  The wings and horizontal stabilizers will go on last after the windows and decals.

Starboard wing. The "blobs"are small pieces of artist gum that cover the flak hits.  When removed, the holes will be visible with the aluminum exposed around the damage. Tape pulled off my black de-icer boot color which needs a touch up too.

#4 engine.

#1 engine

Here's my tail gun modification.  I drilled out the plastic, used Miliput to form the canvas and hand made the piece where the barrels will be mounted.  Still needs some additional work but I'm getting there.  Hope to put in more time this week.  I'm at a point where EVERYTHING is a sub assembly that takes time. Thanks for looking.

Thanks. It took several attempts to figure out how to do this and make it look the way I wanted.  Then, I had to do four times.  I'm almost done with both wings and hope to be moving on the assembly soon!

This is turning out great!  Exceptional work!

I've been working on the engines, cowl flaps and engine nacelles.  Almost done and hope to start assembling the entire plane!  Here's the process, step by step.

Finished the roof of the cockpit.  Windows and other details will come later.  I'm starting on the engine cowlings and cowl flaps.  Hopefully I'll be able to do some assembly soon.......

LOL! I'm done with the foiling portion, the stores should be able to stock up again!

Vertical Stabilizer(s)

LOL! I finished my last piece of foil and can finally start putting this thing together.  You should be able to get Reynold's Wrap in the stores again! :)

Nice work on those wings.