1/48 B-17G Chowhound...Decals and into Darkness

Inspiration is right! That has got to be the most detailed bomb bay I have ever seen. That thing looks like it was just built at Boeing. Serious talent you have there sir. Please proceed!

I see where this one is going... Nice! Any plans adding figures inside manning the guns?

No crew for mine.  Not up to that yet.

Joe

Absolutely amazing!  It's extremely realistic, as if it just came off the assembly line.

Well I have gotten to what I am calling the final stage of my prep work for the interior of this build.  The framing.

One thing to remember, this is not intended to be an exact replica of the actual B-17G.  It is intended to give the illusion.  For that reason you will notice that I did not put every frame in.  Two reasons, the interior would be more than a bit cluttered and I do not have enough styrene strip to actually do each frame.  As it is I used three packages of strip.  Also please notice that i really only concentrated on the Port side of the fuselage.  The Starboard will not be seen as well so I skipped all but what would be seen.  After I took the pictures I noticed that there are a few places I need to add some strip and also some backing.  All in all I am pretty satisfied with how this looks.  I will tidy up the last of it and then starting with the nose the detailing will begin.  

Pictures.

Starboard side:




Port side:




Now there is no framing at the bomb bay area.  This is by design as I need to build that up and to do that I will need to do the sides as well as scratch a bomb rack.

More to come....


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Well here I am yet again.  

Time for a smallish update on what is going on.  

Work has begun to detail the Nav Station in the bomber nose.  I have fabricated some electrical panels and some of the odds and ends that are in the real thing.  

First up the Starboard side and the little bit I did, the tank holder and the Drift Meter.  Now throughout you will not see wiring yet.  I have not gotten that far.



The different panels and boxes on the Port side.



And the flooring of the station.




I will continue on this section and fill it out with the little things and then some of the major objects like the guns and such.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

I'm happy to see this coming together.  This is about where I am on my B-17 E conversion that I haven't picked up in a few years.  I sure won't mind seeing how you go about building up these areas.

Keep it coming! =]  I have no doubt that this will be good!!

Very kind thank you.  To be honest I look forward to seeing how it comes together myself.

Joe

JOE !

I thought I was the only real glutton for self punishment around here ! I did this with LINDBERG'S Coast Guard  "  Cape Class Cutter " for a commission , with one exception .The clients wanted  there to be  " Lift Off " decks instead of cut-outs.

     Why ? Well , the retiring exec at their company had been the captain of one and he was an engineer .So , full detail in that area and the underside of all decks too !  I feel for you , and watch with interest .

Glad to have you along.

Joe

I am back.

The progress will not look like much but it is one subassembly at a time and move forward.

For this update it is all about the bomb sight and the crew access area under the cockpit.  For reference the gray is kit, the white is resin (oxygen bottles and Instrument Panel) and styrene.

Wiring is getting done and some things are in place permanently.  



The Bomb Sight took a while but it is almost done.




And the crew access area both in place and out.







Moving forward I plan to keep going on the fabrication and at some point I will start the pit area.  

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Joe, that is some great detailing. What did you use to fabricate those oxygen tanks?

Incredible detail Joe .  

You sure know your aircraft.

My question is , where did you find the info on all this as to what the equipment is and where it goes ?  For example, I mean I had no idea what a drift meter was not to mention where it goes and what wiring it had.

You are very kind.  

The IP and the tanks were homemade casts from some parts that I had from a previous purchase.  

As for the information, the world wide web is a wonderful source.  I have found hundreds of photos and on the many forums there have been a number of very kind people who have helped me out as well.

Joe

Great work, Joe!

I am glad you like it so far.

Joe

Looking great Joe.  =]  I hope I can keep up with this when I get mine started.  Would you happen to have any idea what the bombardier section looked like for an E variant. I've struggled to get pictures on this.  I'm told it's somewhat different than F's and G's.

PM me your email.

Joe

I can only imagine the mountains of research you must have to be adding wiring like that!  I can't wait to see this come together!

Groot

I am glad you are enjoying this.

Joe

Me again.

Just another small, but to me kind of important, update.

This I believe will be the last picture of the forward sections without paint.  That means they should be finished the next time you see them.  

The major construction I think is done.  All that is left is to plumb it up.  So the next step is to paint.  

Pictures of the Nav Station.





And the work on the pit.  This included the seat framing, the Throttle Console, and the Bottles at the rear.  Note that the pilot frame is off a bit.  That has been fixed.  Also the canvass is in place.





Like I said not much but it is significant in that I am ready to paint this.  I hope to have these painted by the end of the weekend.  I hope to have these areas finished off in the next week or so.  


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.


Joe

Impressive. Seems a bit intimidating too.  I'm hoping you make it look easy! =]

Joe, I'm very impressed with your work.  I thought your 109 was impressive but this is amazing.

Thank you both you are very kind.

Looking from the other side this can be intimidating.  In reality it is not.  Just creating something out of plastic.  Just like with any other kit.

Bob I am humbled.  Thank you.

Joe

Looks like that one walk around oxygen bottle might be in the way of the .50 cal position on the right cheek!  Otherwise looking amazing!

You are right about that.  Going to have to fix that one.  Many thanks for looking in.

Joe

Well there has been a bit of a change.

Sometimes you guide a build, sometimes the build guides you.  At this moment the build is starting to guide me.  

I am not able to proceed the way I wanted to.  It just will not happen that way.  I need to let the build guide me as to what to do next.  To that end I am posting a small update.

I was painting and assembling the cockpit as well as some of the ins and outs of the build and hit a block.  I could not proceed without changing what I was doing.  

First the pictures.

Some long awaited colour for the front sections.








Now for the change.  I need to continue with the major construction moving toward the tail.  The Bomb Bay is next up.  I need to do the major construction.  I will be working on some of the stuff left in the sections I have been working on but the bulk of my time will be in the major construction.  Once the major construction is done I will go back to tie up all the loose ends.  I cannot do that until I am just about ready to close up the fuselage as too early and the parts will break off and the build will become incredibly difficult.

Thank you for following along with this, as always, all comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.


Joe

Nice to see some paint.  I completely understand how a build takes a turn on you.  I've felt so ADD with this last Hawk...I just work on whatever I can get work on it feels sometimes with this one.

Hang in there. =]

Beautiful work!

There's no wrong direction with this one Joe.  Looks terrific.