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1/48 Revell Early B-17G Flying Fortress COMPLETED !!!

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106 replies
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  • Member since
    September 2011
Posted by fightnjoe on Saturday, January 2, 2016 4:54 PM

Most impressive.  Most impressive indeed.  

 

 

 

Joe

Veterans,

Thank You For Your Sacrifices,

Never To Be Forgotten

Where you can find me:

Workbench on FaceBook  Google Plus  YouTube

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Saturday, January 2, 2016 7:00 AM

This B-17 build has to be one of the best here on this forum.  I anxiously await the visible B-17!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 7:38 PM
Great looking model. I like the natural metal finish. I am about to complete the same model, but mine is a faded, worn out, olive drabe war wagon. I'll post it next week.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by BrandonD on Monday, December 28, 2015 12:18 AM

Hey Brandon,

I'm late to the party on this but wanted to make sure I lolled in to say I think you really did an amazing job on this, and that was a really nice save with the Alclad.

Can't wait to see the next one!

-BD-

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Thursday, December 24, 2015 10:42 AM

Thanks Joe, I'm pretty happy overall. It turned out pretty decent.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, December 24, 2015 1:33 AM
Very well done. Nailed the exhaust staining too. Thanks for the ride on this one..

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 8:57 PM

Great NMF paint. Beer 

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 8:37 AM

Gorgeous, gorgeous build, and this was an experiment for the visable one?, WHOA NELLIE !  

i am so looking forward to that one as well !

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, December 21, 2015 9:45 PM

Whoa, she's a knock-out! Congrads!!!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: Michigan
Posted by silentbob33 on Monday, December 21, 2015 9:26 PM
Great finish Brandon! I love the chipped paint effect on the wing. I can't wait to see what you do with the visible B-17.

On my bench: Academy 1/35 UH-60L Black Hawk

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Monday, December 21, 2015 3:45 PM

Thank you gentlemen, your words are kind and appreciated. It was a fun build, mostly. I look forward to working on the visible B-17 now.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Monday, December 21, 2015 3:44 PM

Cat Daddy

Very nice. Now:

1. What aftermarket sets would you recommend for this kits? and

2. I'd love to see a tutorial or article about how you made the wing lights. They look great.

 

As far as AM parts, that's totally up to you. From what I've learned this would take kindly to just about anything you throw at it. The question is, how much work do you want to do? Personally, If I were doing another closed fuselage, I'd skip doing much (inside), it just gets lost. I'd spend my time in the bombadiar section, cuz you can see that, and on the exterior where it needs some love.

The kit desperately needs landing lights. It also needs screens over all the holes in the wings, which I didn't do, but the visible will have that. And I would make sure she had a beautiful paint job. It all depends on your level of commitment. It's a big plane and takes a lot of work just to get it painted. Plan on 5-10 times as much work as a fighter without doing anything special.

As far as a tutorial, I could work something up.

Thanks for the kind words.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    August 2015
Posted by Cat Daddy on Monday, December 21, 2015 3:14 PM

Very nice. Now:

1. What aftermarket sets would you recommend for this kits? and

2. I'd love to see a tutorial or article about how you made the wing lights. They look great.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
Posted by jelliott523 on Monday, December 21, 2015 2:50 PM

BK,

ManYesYes! She turned out beautiful, even with the mishaps you had early on with the Alclad! My hats off to you sir! Well done!

On the Bench:  Lots of unfinished projects!  Smile

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Monday, December 21, 2015 2:43 PM

Brandon, you did a great job on that B-17. Thank you for sharing your build with us.

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep and research

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 Prep and research

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Monday, December 21, 2015 1:05 PM

That is an astonishing build!  It truly is a work of art, congratulations on a job well done.  I'm absolutely blown away!!!!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2015
Posted by The Migrant on Monday, December 21, 2015 1:04 PM

Great work Brandon, a really nice result. Yes

Mike G

Western Canada

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Monday, December 21, 2015 12:33 PM

Love it! Really well done!

-Andy

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Monday, December 21, 2015 11:55 AM

Nice detail work, Brandon.  Great paint work.  Smile

Gary

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Monday, December 21, 2015 11:15 AM

Brandon, exceptional job on this B-17! Wow!

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Monday, December 21, 2015 11:07 AM

Well folks, all the bits and bobs are done. I am calling this one complete.

Some notes on special things I did for this kit.

I used my Micormark punch set to punch out the belly lights using aluminum tape which I painted over with red, yellow and green. I sized them and placed them as best I could because images of these lights are scarce. They simply stick with their own adhesive back and the chrome underneath makes them really pop. I used the same technique for the rear mounted bombing run lights.

I replaced the kit belly antenna mounts with aluminum rod and fishing line marked black with a magic marker. The kit parts kept getting bent and finally broken, these are way stronger and look the part.

I also added a secure point to the right antenna wire on the tail, as this one is longer and I believe needed some more support. I think it really makes the antenna look all the better also.

The exhaust stains were done using my Badger Sotar 20/20 and a mix of Tamiya smoke with a dab of flat black added.

The exhaust system was painted Mr Color Burnt iron and then rubbed with Tamiya orange rust pastels and then sprayed with Tamiya smoke to layer it up. I think it came out nice.

The engine cowlings were painted with Tamiya white primer and Tamiya white and flat coated with MM flat clear. I then rubbed in yellow, brown, and dark grey pastels to dirty them up a bit and sealed that in with artists fixative.

The wing that was replaced recieved a coat of Tamiya semi gloss black and Alclad Polished Aluminum over that. I then sprayed a heavy coat of hair spray over that and painted the OD from Tamiya. Once this was dry I used tape to easily lift paint in the areas I wanted to and left it in others. I did the same technique under the wing on the NG. I then used pastels to fade that colors similar to the rear plane in the photo below.

I used a 12000 grit polish pad to rub off the paint on the squadron stripe on the right wing. That went ok, but I admit not as well as I would have liked and it was quite difficulit to do. 

I also dulled the surface of all the decals using artists fixative, not flat clear. It is eaier to apply under very low pressure and dries instantly. The rest of the Alclad is not coated with any sealer at all. 

The nose art decals are from Kits World and they only include the key pieces; the regular markings will need to be used from kit decals.

Overall, this is a nice kit to build. No real problems, but plenty of room for improvments and there are some inaccuracies here and there. The only thing that seems harder about building this kit is the size. It just takes 5-6 times the work because there is so much realistate.

I hope you guys enjoyed this one. I did, except for my Alclad meltdown. Censored But, I am over it and I overcame the problem and learned a valuable lesson. Big Smile

Enjoy the pics.

PS, this bird is supposed to have a Cheyenne Tail Turret. I didn't have one so I went with kit parts.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Thursday, December 17, 2015 8:02 AM

Man those lights look cool !  Great idea on using a punch set to scratch them .

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 5:04 PM

You killed it BKBeer

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 2:19 PM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the support and comments.

I have been slowly moving along with her. I am at that point where you work for hours and don't really see much done. It's just all the little detail stuff that makes the difference now.

I didn't like the way the kit did the landing lights, or rather didn't. So, using my new punch set I began to scratch out some lights of my own and get them mounted.

I made 4 pieces for each light. The outer ring, the lenz, the reflector and the main housing. I used foil tape as the reflector and using the end of a paint brush is dented and rounded the reflector like a real light is. I then mounted the lenz and outer ring. Once all assembled it looks dang good. I then used my Dremel to open up room in the wing to house them adn resessed them into the wing. I only had to trim the outer wing lenz lightly to get a total fit. Now I am happy with the lights in the wing. A HUGE improvement, I think.

BK

The tools used.

The parts before assembly.

The lights after paint and assembly.

The wing without the light mod.

The wing with the light mod.

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 10:48 PM
Stunning work Brandon. Nice save on the NMF too...

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Sunday, December 13, 2015 11:30 AM

Thanks guys.

PJ, I agree the primer seems to be the culpret. I won't be using that for Alclad again.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Sunday, December 13, 2015 10:52 AM

BK

I just finished removing masking tape over some Alclad panels and not even a tiny particle of the Alclad came off on the tape. It was bare plastic shot with Testors gloss enamel then the Alclad. So your culprit is beyond a doubt the Alclad black primer.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Sunday, December 13, 2015 7:14 AM

It's looking great BK. No one would know about the masking mishap unless you mention it. 

It's a good idea to shoot white under yellow or red to get better coverage. You will end up using less paint too.

 

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Saturday, December 12, 2015 5:41 PM

Thanks Brandon, I dont have acess to the Tamiya XF-4 but could add a tint of  MM OD green to what I do have which is MM Cadium Yellow.  I might do a test shoot on a scrap to see how well it looks and behaves over the ACLAD.  I can always run a light coat of white primer like you did.  

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