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

Just saw this build...Hope you don't mind me inserting myself.  I posted yesterday on the news of the new Revell B-17G.  I want to get one of these and build it for this group.  Looks like I have some time.  I want to model one from the 303rd Bomb Group.  I want to model one of their aircraft that flew on Mission 229 over Wiesbaden on 15 August 1944.  I have emotional and professional attachments to Molesworth and some of the areas that received the bombing in Wiesbaden (Lindsey Air Station).

Bish and redraider56:

maybe you are familiar with them already, but there is a Czech company (CMK) that makes 1/72 figures useful for aircraft dioramas; normally they are standing crew types.  Squadron sells them.  They are resin.  The faces are sometimes appalling, but the rest is usually pretty well done.  Still, as pointed out, they too come usually three to a set.

Preiser from Germany also makes some WWII aircrew, but they are scaled for HO size railroads, so are a little on the little side.

I have used Airfix (soft plastic) heads remounted on the bodies of hard plastic seated pilot figures, like Hasegawa, Airfix and others provide in their kits.  That way there's a variety of head gear.

If I can borrow my daughter's pricey camera again, I'll try posting some pictures, although you can barely make out the crew in the cabin of the Memphis Belle I posted earlier in this thread.

The problem I had with figures is that with the sets in production now, manufacturers think a bomber crew consisted of only 4 people.  Teknics produced a 10 figure 1/48 set but went OOP when meteor productions went under a few years back.  I was finally able to track one on ebay this past summer and win it, but that was a very very hard find. 

Thats the main reason i stick to 72nd aircraft, as all my builds are as Dio's. But even then, it isn't easy when doing US aircraft. The only figures are the Airfix set and a few resin sets.

I almost thought about doing a diorama with the B-24 but then remembered how fun those 2 or so years were trying to piece together enough figures for a B-17 diorama

Sounds, good really hope you can pull this off. I wouldn't mind being able to make my own decals. I am sure somone here must be able to help, have you tried a post in the decalling forum

The part sprues were all nicely enclosed in plastic bags.  Looking at it more closely, it might have cracked when it came out of the molding machine, since the plastic feels a little on the thin side.  On the other hand, it might have happened during transit.  The box says "made in Korea," which probably then shipped to England, then on to Canada, where I got it through ebay; then over to the states. 

I sent off the little replacement coupon to Airfix this morning, so hopefully the wait won't be too long--otherwise I'll dig out another one from the stash.

It's good to see all the other starts now for this build. 

Bish--You have it right.  I am building it for the bombardier/navigator.  His name is Jaqua.  I buit a C-47A for a friend of his who flew them over the "Hump" in '44-'45.  I found some good color shots of aircraft in theater and got a good match on the faded OD paint.  Marking up the C-47 was pretty easy as the crews did not have assigned aircraft but flew what was loaded and ready when their turn came around.  I just needed a tail number from his log book to model a theater aircraft he flew.  Jaqua saw the Dakota and sent me the info on "Bottoms Up".  The plane was natural metal and i have a photo showing the tail markings clearly. My quandry will be recreating the nose art.  Does anyone know an artist who can produce a reasonable replica that I can turn into a decal?

DoogsATX don't you hang around, you get straight in there. Looking good.

Off to the races!

Fit is decent. I can see that the wing roots are going to cause some grief. The cowl also doesn't really want to "lock down" onto the fuselage. But I'm sure some CA will fix that right up...

I know I've been planning to do this almost totally OOB, but have to admit, the blast tubes are horrendous. I've got a set of Master's turned brass tubes for my Tamiya Razorback, so I think may steal it's plastic tubes and replace. Not sure if I want to go through the hassle of correcting the horizon alignment yet or just stick with the kit's locations.

Also made a start on the office, spraying it with White Ensign Dark Dull Green (or Dull Dark Green, I can never remember which it is). The entire tub is one piece, and fits perfectly into the fuselage, but I think it's going to make detailing something of a pain. Still trying to work out how I'm going to install the lap belts...

Clebode Ok, i have added your 3rd entry, i have assumed its 1/72nd. So, let me get this right, you are building this for one of the crew.

Bish

The build official starts tomorrow, but feel free to start building straight away if you wish. 

Think I'm going to be kicking off the P-47 tonight. 

I'd been planning to push through and finish off the Commies, but a series of unfortunate events culminating in Hobbytown being closed at 4:45 on a Sunday have left me without some necessary supplies. 

Looking very forward to this old Jug. Built the exact same kit - box art and all - something like 17 years ago. So this'll be a nice nostalgia build, hopefully with some upgrades in skill and ability!

Bish--Put me down for a B-17G, "Bottoms Up", 7th Squadron, 34th BG, Mendlesham AFin addition to my other two.  This is a request build for her B/N.  This is the Revelle with the clear port side.  I'll fill the inside with PE from Eduard.  Now I have to find an artist to recreate the nose art.  Here's what it looks like in B&W:

The B/N is in the back row, second from the right.

I have the Hasegawa B-24D "Princess" started.  PE office is in as is the detaill in the waist.  Fuse is closed.  Can't see much in the waist with her closed up.  Just finished masking the nose and office windows.  I hope you can see the office detail when the nose is closed.  This is a very fine kit and I highly recommend it.  I got it on sale a while back for under $30 from Dragon USA. 

ww2, no worries, the build run for a year so you go plenty of time. Will be nice to have the builds spread out through the duration, rather than all done at the start.

checkmateking02 Nice to see you have made a start, but what a bummer.  Was the kit lose in the box rather than being wrapped in plastic. I have noticed that in the past when i used to build Airfix.  Hopefully they will sort it out fast.

I started by cutting pieces off the sprue and washing them in detergent, but to my dismay, the front part of the left fuselage had a large crack in it from the nose to near the cockpit.  This is distressing, since now I have to write Airfix and get a replacement for it.  On the plus side, there's plenty to do before I get as far as needing the fuselage.

I'm probably not going to start until work slows down a bit. I just worked 20 hours of overtime this week alone, with more coming next weekend probably.

Ok, lewbud have added the new one. Would i be right to assume this is also 1/72nd, and have you decided on what kits you are useing.

The build official starts tomorrow, but feel free to start building straight away if you wish. I am really looking forward to seeing the progress, i now we have some great model builders in this GB. And most important of all, have some fun.

Bish,

Put me down for Anderson's Old Crow.  357th FG out of Leiston.  Maybe down with  a couple more D's as that will finish out the sheet.

Little J, its just a case of letting me know what kit you wish to build, and in the case of this GB, what unit it belonged to and where it was stationed, as you have done. Alot of GB's do allow already started kits into a build, but it usually depends how far along they are. How much of the B-26 have you built. You can add more than one build if you wish, as you can see others have done. The important thing about the build is to post as many pics as you can, and in the case of this GB, give a bit of background history into the unit and station.

I am currently building a hasegawa 1/72nd B-24. They are pricey, but very nice kits, if a bit over detailed for some people. The best bit for me is that the front section, from the cockpit forward, is all in clear plastic. This was ideal as it made it easier for me to back date my J to an H. As for B-17's, i haven't built any yet, but i have 3 Academy ones in the stash as i have heard they are the best B-17's. I will see when i start mine in May.

Psycho:

I've built Hasegawa and Academy B-17's and Academy's B-24's.  Building is pretty straight forward, but I'd advise test fitting the pieces as you build, since sometimes they don't quite fit and need a little filing and sanding, especially to get the fuselage to close around all the bulkheads and turret rings.

For B-17's, I'd say that Hasegawa's are less "fiddly," but they don't seem to be in production run right now.  Academy's (reboxed by Airfix) require you to cut out the starboard waist windows, depending on the version you choose to build. 

Hasegawa's B-17F can only be built as an early model, since it doesn't have an astrodome over the nose.  Academy's B-17F can be built as a later model, since it does have the astrodome.  The dihedral on the Academy's wings seems a bit overstated, also.

The Academy/Airfix release B-17G can be built with open bomb bay and some versions have a choice of tail turrets.

One thing I do remember about the two Liberators I built is that, once assembled (top and bottom), the wings don't fit into the fuselage very well without some sanding to thin them down.  It's also difficult to find a way to weight the nose so the plane rests on its tricycle landing gear.  I just drilled a hole in the back somewhere and glued in a straight pin to keep it from settling to the rear.  Otherwise, Academy's Liberators build up pretty well.

I posted a few pictures of a couple of my Fortresses in some threads here, so if you do a search maybe you can find them.  I posted my "Memphis Belle" earlier in this thread.

In summary, either the Hasegawa or Academy/Airfix planes are all pretty nice.  Revell's older B-17 is quite old and shows its age, with lots of raised rivets and movable control surfaces and poor renditions of windows.  I think Revell Germany recently re-released it, but it dates back to the middle 1960's, and is much inferior to more contemporary versions.  

I have not built Hasegawa's newer B-24, since I think they're a bit pricey, and the Academy Liberators are cheaper and look just fine.

Anyone who is building a 1/72 B-17 or B-24 please let me know how the kits are. I've never built a 1/72 scale kit but I'm thinking of getting one and making it for my nephew to hang from his bedroom ceiling.

i might as well stay with the heavies, as I have to finish my B-17 first.  I'll plan on building the 24 first then

Agreed on the Lib, though I'm starting out with a Jug so who am I to talk?

I vote B-24, a lot of fighters already being built, so a bomber would change it up a bit at the start.

cant wait to start this GB.....should i start with the P-47 or B-24?

O ye, good old google. Why is it we enevr think of the obvious. Cheers red, found some real beauties on both types.

Just search google and you'll find alot of pictures of interiors of both the B-17 and B-24...thats what I do

The instructions for my Hase 1/72nd B-24 also show the windows folded up, as do the Eduard ones.

I wish i had seen thos pics before i put my B-24 together, they are great. But it looks very different to what i have.  Neither the Hase or eduard includes those yellow bottles ( i am guessing oxygen)  and the Eduard kit has two large ammo bins for the ball turret, or could they have been removed from this aircraft. But i will deffinatly keep those in mind for my next B-24. I don't suppose you know of any similar pics for B-17, or a site that would be useful for both B-24's and B-17's.

Theres just over a week to go before this Gb starts. If i have missed anyone from the front page, or missed any details, please let me know. Seeing as the 1st Nov is a Mon, if anyone wants to start over next weekend, i.e. the 30th 31st Oct, feel free. I won't change the start date, but if you want to make the most of the weekend, go ahead. But, remember this GB does run for a year, and i know alot of people, me included, are in other GB's, don't feel you have to start straight away.

During the GB, if i miss anything due to not being able to get on for a bit, especially when i am away between end of jan and satrt of May, please feel free to point me to what i have missed with a GB. I will be posting a pic of each completed model on page 1 and at the end of the GB will do a build round up on the Aircraft forum.

Redraider--Thank you!    I had considered that configuration too but was put off the right track by the photo I found.