Mighty 8th GB 1-Nov-2010 - 31-Oct-2011

jbrady:  thanks!

Bish:  actually there are flaps on the cowls for both "F" and "G" models with the Airfix/Academy Forts; I actually did a little weathering by using a pinwash in them--but they are rather indistinct.  But there are flap-less cowls in the box, too.  They are supposed to be used for the early Fortresses of the "B, C, and D" types, which Academy also makes (or used to make--they seem to have disappeared from the shops).

It is a quirk of Academy to include certain parts for nearly all the Fortress versions in the same box.  In fact, you even get narrow chord propellers in the box too, plus some of the floors and bulkheads for the early versions.. It's a waste of plastic, but probably a holdover from the days gone by when oil was cheap, and they could afford to put more plastic in the boxes than needed.

It does appear Airfix did some minor tweaking.  The Airfix version has a locator mark for the RDF football, which the Academy version did not have--at least the one I built years ago.  I'm wondering now if Academy has kept the changes. 

Bish: I haven't found any problems with loading multiple photos to Photo Bucket (up to 8 or 9) as long as you resize them. I keep the size down to no more 845 pixels wide. Usually that means that you are loading about 300 or 400 kbs.

Little J, no worries, and i hope you pack all those models up well. Nothing worse than moving and then spending weeks re-paireing all the damage.

checkmate the B-17 looks great. I didn't realise the Airfix and Academy were one and the same. I had read a review about the acedamy B-17s that says one flaw if the engine colwings which don't have the flaps on the back edge. So i was looking at getting some resin ones for my F and G. Then when i looked in the box i noticed it had two sets of cowlings, one with and one without flaps, so i guessed this must have been a correction after the reviws were done. But i will look more cloely at them when i get home and see if they do look right.

You willhave to bear with me on the photos, having to use public computers means i can't download pics and then save them to photobucket. So i will do all that when i get home.

I have found that its best to add no more than 4 pics to photobucket at a time, any more than that and it freezes.

Very nice build... well done.

I added a set of crewmen by CMK.

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The 1:72 Airfix kit is virtually identical to the Academy offering that has been around for fifteen years or more, and has all the pluses and minuses associated with the earlier release.  Still I think it builds up to a good representation.  Most noticeable are the engines and engine cowlings which don't look very accurate at all.

In addition to the wheels, I also salvaged the RDF football from a Hasegawa kit since the Airfix/Academy version looks a little big and bulky to my eye, and also the Norden bombsight--which Airfix/Academy failed to get right at all (not that you can see it very well anyway).  The nosecone and the astrodome also come from the Squadron vacu-form set.  Decals are from AeroMaster.  Beyond that, everything else is out of the box.

This was an enjoyable project, and I'm working on another Fort, to use the decals for "Little Patches," also from the 91st Bomb Group.  Hopefully then I can move on to "Our Gal Sal" from the 100th Bomb Group.

Port side showing nose art (somewhat fuzzy).  I scrapped the wheels that came with the kit (Airfix's offering of the Academy original), and used Hasegawa wheels from the parts box.  Both Airfix and Academy provide wheels with covers; most B-17's didn't have them.

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More of a elevated view.

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Again, not to tempt fate, I will finish with one more post.  Thanks for your indulgence.

Hmm, "Photobucket" did jam up on me again, after the first post.

Anyway, here's an overhead view.

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Next, the starboard side, where the noseart isn't.

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View from port aft, which sort of shows the three-piece waist window position, a vacu-formed item from Squadron.

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Since I've gotten this far, I'm not going to push my luck.  I'll continue with another post.

I finished the B-17G "Just Plain Lonesome" a couple of weeks ago, but didn't post photos since my daughter is in Canada with the camera.  I "just plain" got tired of waiting for her to return, so I got out the old camera and here are the results.

But first, a look at the original 1:1 item.  First is a photo of one of the crews, followed by an inflight photo of the aircraft on a mission.

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Serial #42-39975 

Back Row - Left to Right

S/Sgt. Fred R. Honey, Waist Gunner, Detroit Mich.; T/Sgt. Gerard J. Bradley, Top Turret Gunner/Engineer, Shamokin Pa.; Sgt. Enrique (Pat) Tafolla Perez, Ball Turret Gunner, Uvalde TX.; S/Sgt. Joseph Morrison, Waist Gunner; Sgt. Clemmet D. Hester, Tail Gunner, New London Iowa; S/Sgt. Edward J. Cook, Radioman, Newark New Jersey. (S/Sgt. Tommy Cogdill, Waist Gunner. not in photo)

Front Row - Left to Right

Lt. Richard M. Carlson, Co-Pilot, Glendale Calif.; Lt. Ronald J. Nichols, Pilot; Lt. Stanley Sweitzer, Navigator, Louisville KY.; Lt. Fredric T. Neel Jr., Bombardier.

Source:  http://www.91stbombgroup.com/crewphotos/justplainlonesome.html

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I can't remember what source the in-flight photo comes from, since I've had it saved for quite a while. 

JUST PLAIN LONESOME
42-39975 B-17G
91/324 DF-Z
91/323 OR

Only four days had passes after assignment to the 91st before this plane lifted off on its first mission to bomb a V-weapon site in France on 14th January 1944. It was to be a poor start as 1/Lt.McGee was forced to abort prior to the target when the bomb release malfunctioned and accidentally salvoed the load.

Perhaps it was this first lone bomb release that prompted the choice of name, in any case, Tony Starcer was soon busy painting another of his lovely ladies onto the side of the nose. It was not long before a string of mission bombs had been added below the side windows as the plane clocked up trips to Berlin, Koln, Kassel and the ultimate-tongue-twister of Oberpfaffenhofen.

Ronald Nichols was assigned to the plane for the mission to Berlin on 8th March and he took it back to the same target on the following day. In all he would make eleven successful sorties in "Just Plain Lonesome" until he ended his tour of combat duty on 13th April by flying to Schweinfurt. Richard Burch's crew then took over the plane for another four missions but at the end of April, along with the bulk of 324th Squadron's regular aircraft, "Just Plain Lonesome" was transferred to the 323rd. This was as a result of the 324th's concentration on specialized lead missions in its new modified PFF aircraft. The first sortie with its new owners was on 1st May to the marshaling yards at Troyes and others quickly followed. Jack Collier was assigned to the airplane for the 7th May raid on Berlin and he would fly another four successful missions in the ship before Fate overtook him.

In all Just Plain Lonesome completed 40 sorties, including five attacks on Berlin, but on 3Oth May the Grim Reaper was waiting. The Junkers aero-engine plant at Dessau was the primary that day and 1/Lt.Jack Collier took the ship over the target and bombed accurately with the group.' But deadly shards of flak had found them and just after bombing Collier was heard on the VHF radio stating that two engines were out, ailerons were damaged and requesting fighter support. At that moment a series of vicious enemy fighter attacks was launched which drew all of the available fighter escorts into action to defend the formation. When the melee had subsided Collier and his crew had disappeared from the sky - only two men survived from the nine on board.

"Story taken from Plane Names & Fancy Noses, by Ray Bowden"

Source:  http://www.bombsqd323rd.com/b17-justplai.html

I'm going to continue this in a separate post, since I just had "Photobucket" jam up on me, and I lost everything while trying to put things into one post.  Sorry.

Bish,  I purchased the wash set from Flory Models.  I think he is the guy who invented the stuff.  Any ways, all my modeling stuff is pack away right now because my family and I are moving next weekend.  I hope to have every thing unpacked in a couple of weeks.  

Wash, those stangs look great. I will update the front page next time i am on as my time is running low.

Little J. i started useing Pro Modeller wash last year,got the tip from daywalker. And i love the stuff. I find it easy to use, easy to correct mistakes and go from subtle to heavy weathering. And 4 days from the UK, thats bloody quick, where did you get yours from.

Beautiful job on the Mustangs   I just received my set of Pro Modeller  wash in the mail today and it only took 4 days from the UK.   All I need is something to weather.  The dog is sleeping so maybe i will try it on him.

Thanks, Rick. You must have painted the antii-glare panel and stripes first then?  I've read that metalizer finishes don't take masking very well.  I've not used them myself.

The NMF on the Tamiya Mustang is Alclad applied with an airbrush.  I primed with Rustoleum Flat Black Primer.  The Alclad covered great.  By the way the Alclad airbrush cleaner is the best solvent I have ever used to clean up enamel paint.  That stuff made my paint bottles look like new again.  Now does anybody know where I can that stuff in the bulk.  Anywho, after laying down all that pretty aluminum, I'm covering up a good portion of it with invasion stripes. I hope it's worth the effort.  Rick

Wabash, these are outstanding Mustangs.  I like the pre-shading you've accomplished on the OD version, and the NMF is great on the other.  What did you use for the NMF?  Is it a metalizer or a paint?  It appears very smooth and even.  Nice job.

Bish,  Well,  I still wanted to log in my subjects for my P-51B dual build.  I started the build a couple weeks ago, but now know the identities of the two birds.  I'm doing  Captain Duane Beeson's "Boise Bee", 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron.  It will be in OD over Neutral Gray.  It is a Revell-Monogram (1996) 1/48 kit  The other B  is an NMF version of the "Missouri Mauler", flown by Captain Willard Millikan,  4th Fighter Group, 336th Squadron.  It is a Tamiya 1/48 kit.  I'm giving this one the full invasion marking treatment.  Against my better judgment, I'm applying the Aeromaster invasion marking set rather than painting them.   Rick

checkmateking02

Thanks, Clebode.  I like to "collect" different shades of OD and neutral gray, for variation in USAAF planes.  I've never tried those brands of paint before--nor any acrylic type paint, so I was interested in what you're using.

Not only is the paint scheme and your application of it impressive, the markings make it look outstanding too.

Years ago I built Hasegawa's 1:72 Lightning--it was a chore.  You've done a magnificent job.

The P-38 is looking great. And you can never have to many shades of OD.

I am restricted to useing the public computers for the moment, and i am not sure if i will be able to use my laptop for the rest of my time down here. That mean i am restricted to 45mins a day and also means i won't be able to post any completed builds on the front page.If this situation does not change, then i will catch up on every thing when i get home.

Thanks, Clebode.  I like to "collect" different shades of OD and neutral gray, for variation in USAAF planes.  I've never tried those brands of paint before--nor any acrylic type paint, so I was interested in what you're using.

Not only is the paint scheme and your application of it impressive, the markings make it look outstanding too.

Years ago I built Hasegawa's 1:72 Lightning--it was a chore.  You've done a magnificent job.

checkmateking02

Clebode:  this is a great looking Lightning.  Maybe I missed it, but what paint did you use?

CMK--The gray is straight Mr. Surfacer.  The OD is Mr. Color FS34087 with a few drops of  Mr. Color mahogany added.  Glad you like it.  These are the solvent based acrylics.

Clebode:  this is a great looking Lightning.  Maybe I missed it, but what paint did you use?

All--Here is a progress photo of my 20th FG P-38 J, "Jeanne".  I am waiting for a second sheet of decals as the plane had the sharkmouths on both sides of the nacelles.

Bish

Will be glad to have you on board. I think someone is currently doing a WiP build on the aircraft forums, so might be worth you checking it out.

Hi Bish:

I found the build blog you mentioned and have decided I'll do something else ... my wife knows I've a ton in the stash and being a WW II air buff, plenty of 8th AF ...

I'll pull something ut tomorrow and give you a shout back ...

pepper

Will be glad to have you on board. I think someone is currently doing a WiP build on the aircraft forums, so might be worth you checking it out.

Bish

 If you plan on building it this year and useing 8th AAF markings, feel free to join the GB

.

Hi Bish:

I have decals for an 8th AF B -17 and will join the group when I have the kit in hand ...

I'll shoot and post WIP and 'finished' pictures as I go ...

pepper

I am sure a few people would love to see some pics and hear some thoughts on this kit, seem to be alot of good things being said. Would like to see how it compares to Acedamy. If you plan on building it this year and useing 8th AAF markings, feel free to join the GB. If you just want to review it in the box for now, might be a good idea to do it on the aircraft forum, that would get a wider audience. You could also just do both.

Hi All:

I just read a review in SAMI, of the new Revell 1/72 B-17 kit ...

It features all brand new tooling and the reviewer simply raved about it ...

He noted a suggested price of $41.00 here in the Colonies ... I have one on order from my LHS and will be happy to add my comments after I have the kit in hand ...

pepper

Sounds like a nice little build. Send me the details and i will stick it on the list, you got any photos of the build.

Put me down for that little pill! The thing is like 4 inches long! This is not what I have come to expect from Academy. The first thing i noticed was 4 typos. I already built it in like 20 minutes. Just got to paint it and do decals and weathering. I was thinking about doing a small diorama but not sure yet. Probably not. There are no wheels on the thing.

Thats a new one on me. I would imagine it would would come with 8th AAF decals, but keep us posted when it arrives. First time i have heard of anything in that scale.

Has anyone built that tiny 1/240 academy b-17? I just got it and was wondering if it came with decals for a plane in the 8th. If it does, i will do that along with the liberator. I am still waiting on it so i dont know what to expect.

No worries John, hope things are not to serious and get better soon.