As others have said and I agree, it's a real pleasure to view your Works In Progress.

I hope the fundamental strings of which everything is made vibrate in such a way that life for you and Mrs. Toshi becomes even more meaningful and less harsh.

Greg

Model is looking good, Toshi. Good to see you back at one of your famous WIP threads.

It's just great that you have a good little helper in Ezra.

 

Your friend, Toshi

Model is looking good, Toshi. Good to see you back at one of your famous WIP threads.

It's just great that you have a good little helper in Ezra.

So sad for you my Brother Toshi.  God can change this situation and I'm praying that He will do so.

Gamera

Looks neat Toshi.

And great seeing you have a modeling buddy there in Ezra!

 

Your friend, Toshi 

Looks neat Toshi.

And great seeing you have a modeling buddy there in Ezra!

BrandonK

This has been a real enjoyable build to watch you work on. I've been quietly lurking in the background.  . The Belle is a great bird and I would love to build this one. She is looking very good, Toshi. Thanks for taking us along.

BK

 

Your friend, Toshi

This has been a real enjoyable build to watch you work on. I've been quietly lurking in the background.  . The Belle is a great bird and I would love to build this one. She is looking very good, Toshi. Thanks for taking us along.

BK

Here is the B-17.  After Ezra and I AB the kit, Ezra attempted to paint a few things of course with my help.  lol!  It will need to be cleaned up.  So far so good.  Next step is to clean up and redo a few things.  Ezra did a fantastic job for someone his age.  I can’t wait to see him.

Thank you fellow forum Members for your support and well wishes.  I had no intention to just disappear nor scare FSM Forum Members.  When I found out Mrs. Toshi had another brain tumor, my heart fell and my mind and body was in great pain.  As many of you know, I had a work related accident.  One of my many issues are that of my concussion of which affects my mind. 

I normally take anti-depressant drugs to ease my depression.  But when I heard this new news, I fell into a deep depression and literally gave up on everything.  Hence my absence from the forum.  I will do my best, and continue my repoire with you all.

Please accept my apologies for my absence from FSM Forums.  I will continue to persevere in this situation and to the best of my meager abilities continue to build my B-17 with my grandson.  Once again I want to thank you all for everything.

Now that’s out, I’d like to introduce to you the youngest up and coming modeler.  My grandson Ezra.  He is 2 years old yet he knew how to handle a AB and to utilize Tamiya extra thin cement and glue a few things together.  This is our next generation of modelers, and as such, we must teach them at a young age to nurture them.  

We did actually assemble this kit together and he can’t wait to build more.  Once again here is the next generation FSM Forum Member.

scottrc

Thinking and praying for you brother.

 

Toshi

Thinking and praying for you brother.

To my fellow forum members,

I want to thank you all for your concerns in regards to the Toshi family!  It has been very trying and is taking a great toll on my psyche.  Mrs. Toshi has another mass on her brain and we don’t know if it’s cancerous or not.  Either way, she has to go through a PET MRI scan.  We both don’t know as of yet in which direction this information will lead us.

If I could change this situation, I will have the tumor and let the love of my life not suffer.  Thank you all once again!

Yours truly,

Toshi

Gamera

Lookin' good Toshi!!! 

 

Though if you want to build another B-17 in 1/72nd the newer Revell/Germany kit is fantastic, way better than this kit. Word of warning though, there's the new kit and an old Revell kit, just be careful you know which one you're getting. 

And Airfix has a new 1/72nd B-17 too, which I've heard may be even better than the new Revell/Germany kit. 

 

As for another B-17F in 1/72 sounds like fun, but I have 4 B-17’s.  I think for now I’ll skip getting a B-17.  But yes I will and am interested in the near future as I’ll build another Bomber.  Maybe a Super Fortress!  lol!!  I’ll look into it.  You see what you did!  Now you got me started with the Big Bomber Fetish!!!!!  lol!! 

Your freind, Toshi

Lookin' good Toshi!!! 

Though if you want to build another B-17 in 1/72nd the newer Revell/Germany kit is fantastic, way better than this kit. Word of warning though, there's the new kit and an old Revell kit, just be careful you know which one you're getting. 

And Airfix has a new 1/72nd B-17 too, which I've heard may be even better than the new Revell/Germany kit. 

This was done last night, my 2 year old grandson helped me AB “Belle”.  I think he did a fantastic job.

Your freind, Toshi

First B-17 is loaded wth PE this is a Monogram kit.  It was an original.  This kit was called, Visible B-17G.  The Scale is 1/48. It is painted in silver metallic to represent a natural finish.  The Second kit was a B-17G as well.  It was in OD (Olive Drab).  And called Chow Hound.  The third B-17G is OD and is a 1/144.

Tanker - Builder

Toshi ! 

 Do What I do . Rest your wrists on the workbench edge gently with a towel or computer wrist pad under the arms . Then a lot of the shaking can be controlled. 

Also , I discovered that when you think about the build or what step is next more clearly , by concentrating on that , the brain lets the instability ease off . Why ? the computer ( Brain ) is otherwise occupied !.T.B.

 

Thank you Tanker Builder.  This information is very precious to me.  Once again, thank you.

Your friend, Toshi

As you all know, I had issues with the right wing.  So after assembly, I used some Tamiya White putty.  Now comes the sanding.

Toshi ! 

 Do What I do . Rest your wrists on the workbench edge gently with a towel or computer wrist pad under the arms . Then a lot of the shaking can be controlled. 

Also , I discovered that when you think about the build or what step is next more clearly , by concentrating on that , the brain lets the instability ease off . Why ? the computer ( Brain ) is otherwise occupied !.T.B.

Justinryan215

 

 

Toshi

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it’s a very fun project to build.  I try to be a humble individual at best.  And I respect every Forum Members ideas.  I try to make my threads interesting and educationanle.  That‘s just my own theory, have some fun while learning something new everyday.  Life is too short to be angry.  lol!  

 

As for the scale, I was surprised by how small the B-17 was.  I’m so used to building in 1/32.  I have two 1/48 B-17‘s, one is a original Monogram Visible B-17.  It’s painted silver.  It is totally loaded with PE.  My second B-17 is a Revell 1/48.  It’s painted OD.

Thank you so very much for following my threads.  I greatly appreciated!

 

Your friend, Toshi

 

 

 

 

 

Toshi, usually I'm just a lurker, admiring the builds on this forum, especially yours!  I had to comment on this build as the fortress is probably my all time favorite aircraft! If you notice, my avatar photo is of the nose of the B17 used in the 1993 film Memphis belle....

I'm sure this will be a show stopper when you are through with it!  

I actually have this kit in my stash, and can't wait to see what it can become!  It'll have to wait, though as we are coming up to the next year of cub scouts and we have many, many wonderful trips and events planned!

What I wanted to say, though, was in regards to your collection of different scales of this big beautiful bomber....to display these big girls, you could hang them all from a ceiling in a forced perspective position tof appear as though there is a line of bombers returning to the airfield after a bombing run...just be sure to leave some room for that 1/32 scale b17 at the front of the formation!

 

I find it very wonderful when a fellow forum member has a particular kit in their stash that’s being build on the forum and can glean some information as thus.  As for your Cub Scout expidition, I wish you and your scouts a safe and very enjoyable time. 

As for my collection of B-17’s, I have them hung on my wall with the rest of my builds.  Thank you sir for taking the time out to contribute on my threads.  I greatly appreciated!

Your friend, Toshi

Here is Chow Hound

Toshi

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it’s a very fun project to build.  I try to be a humble individual at best.  And I respect every Forum Members ideas.  I try to make my threads interesting and educationanle.  That‘s just my own theory, have some fun while learning something new everyday.  Life is too short to be angry.  lol!  

 

As for the scale, I was surprised by how small the B-17 was.  I’m so used to building in 1/32.  I have two 1/48 B-17‘s, one is a original Monogram Visible B-17.  It’s painted silver.  It is totally loaded with PE.  My second B-17 is a Revell 1/48.  It’s painted OD.

Thank you so very much for following my threads.  I greatly appreciated!

 

Your friend, Toshi

 

Toshi, usually I'm just a lurker, admiring the builds on this forum, especially yours!  I had to comment on this build as the fortress is probably my all time favorite aircraft! If you notice, my avatar photo is of the nose of the B17 used in the 1993 film Memphis belle....

I'm sure this will be a show stopper when you are through with it!  

I actually have this kit in my stash, and can't wait to see what it can become!  It'll have to wait, though as we are coming up to the next year of cub scouts and we have many, many wonderful trips and events planned!

What I wanted to say, though, was in regards to your collection of different scales of this big beautiful bomber....to display these big girls, you could hang them all from a ceiling in a forced perspective position tof appear as though there is a line of bombers returning to the airfield after a bombing run...just be sure to leave some room for that 1/32 scale b17 at the front of the formation!

Hodakamax

Wow! Looks to be a fun project Toshi! You are always a fun participant in modelling to follow. Keep up the good work!

Maxie

PS...Good scale too. My 1/48 B-17 was fun but  got a bit large I must say.

 

As for the scale, I was surprised by how small the B-17 was.  I’m so used to building in 1/32.  I have two 1/48 B-17‘s, one is a original Monogram Visible B-17.  It’s painted silver.  It is totally loaded with PE.  My second B-17 is a Revell 1/48.  It’s painted OD.

Thank you so very much for following my threads.  I greatly appreciated!

Your friend, Toshi

Wow! Looks to be a fun project Toshi! You are always a fun participant in modelling to follow. Keep up the good work!

Maxie

PS...Good scale too. My 1/48 B-17 was fun but  got a bit large I must say.

To my fellow forum members,

We just move some furniture so as to creating a huge play area for my grandson Ezra.  He is staying with us an extra day.  I thought that I could not complete “Memphis Belle”.  Luckily, my son took him to Hudson for catching Pokémon.  Now that the house is quiet, I took the liberty to work on my B-17 kit.

Assembling both wings went very well.  Again, no issues and or concerns!  The left wing went together like a breeze, everything on the left wing was great including the landing gear, this tells me that everything else would go together very smoothly.  Ya right!  When it came time to attach the right wing a major issue was shown.  

The attachment became a nightmare, the right wing tab was too big for the assembly to the fuselage.  I had to use a file and a blade to widen the attachment area.  I then shortened the tab of the right wing in order to slide it in the hole of the fueselage.  I got it to hold, so that was a good thing.  Why did this happen, I know not.  At the very least, those of you Forum Members that plan or have it their stash to build this kit, you’ve been enlightened to this issue.

Just to let you Forum Members know I purchased this Vallejo paint kit for my TBF Avenger.  The Avenger had the wrong address, so now it’s on its way back to China!  I wrote via email to the seller to send it back to me as I still am or want that kit.

Your friend, Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

I’m sorry in that I took almost a month before I started up on the “Memphis Belle”.  But a very active grandson who is two, can keep our home in a total mess with toys everywhere.  Absolute CHAOS.  lol!  He finally went home yesterday evening, now Mrs. Toshi and I miss him!  lol!  

As for the “Belle”, I had sometime to paint the interior Model Master Chromate Green.  I then applied a green wash all ready to go by Vallejo.  Next up?  Applying the tiny windows, and then I closed “Belle” up.  No issues nor concerns (Gaps), besides some light sanding of the seams.  Here is where “Memphis Belle” stands at this moment, I’ll let the Testors liquid cement cure before I take the tape off.

rangerj

25 missions. It does'nt sound like much, but approximately 80,000 B-17 crew members died trying to get 25 missions and go home. So, when the Memphis Belle crew got their 25 missions it was a big deal. The Belle was rotting away in Memphis and the government reclaimed her about 10 years ago. She was recently put on display in the USAF Museum after having been meticulously restored. 

Cheers to Col. Robert K. Morgan (USAAC/USAF), the pilot, and his crew. Note that the "Belle" married someone else and not Col. Morgan. 

Just outside Stratford (on the Avon river) England (Shakespear's home town), is a cemetery where the only flag that flies over the grounds is the American Flag. There are white crosses as far as the eye can see. Many of the men there are B-17 bomber crew members. There is an RAF air base not to far away that was a B-17 bomber base during WWII. The Belle is a very special lady. Do her up right Toshi. I know you will.  

 

 

I take it you are reffering to the cemertry at Madingley. Its not near Stratford but Cambridge, in East Anglia where the 8th AAF was stantioned. Stratford is to far west. This area is covered with former USAAF bases, throw a stone in the air and there is a chance you will hit one. In fact theres one about 15 mins walk from wher ei am sitting and 2 more within 15 mins drive. When i drive to my mums in Norwich, about an hour, i pass by a dozen. Trust me when i say they have not been forgotten.

The 8th AAF suffered half the losses of the USAAF in WW2 with 47,000 caaualties 26,000 of those being killed.