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

Count yourself in. Nice to have another P-38, and will deffo look forward to the B-24, thats one i have in the stash for part of my Norfolk Airfields project. Nose art is the Princess if i remember right.

I think I'm gonna drop out the P-51.  I havn't bought it yet and I dont think I will.  I'm just realizing that I have too many things I want to get done and one less plane would help a little.

Plus, the fire for my first love of model railroading has just been re lit and I'm following in my fathers footsteps of collecting trains while in college.  However, this is 2010 and locomotives dont cost $20 like they did in 1978.  Saying that I bought one yesterday for $80 and dont really feel like throwing out any more money right now, especially for a tamiya kit

So I'll just be building the B-24 and P-47 for this group build

My plans for this build was to build a B-24H S/N 42-95258 which my grandfather was the bombardier on when they were shot down over Magdeburg Germany on Sept 11, 1944. The picture that was found of this aircraft shows the nose art being "What A Sack." I have been in contact with the pilot and he says that his crew used 3 different planes and he did not recall that being one of the planes they used. The only one he remembers is a J model called "Nancy Lee" but this is not the plane they went down in. I assume the crew must have changed the name of the plane after the picture I have was taken. Back to the old drawing board.

No worries guys. Red, i have taken the P-51 off. Hook, i will leave it as is, i am guessing the unit and and location will be the same any way.

I'm considering, not 100% sure, but I might get the Revell Memphis Belle kit depending on how long it takes to build the P-38. It looks like Revell is reissueing it.

http://www.revell.com/germany/aircraft/80-4297.html

ww2psycho

I'm considering, not 100% sure, but I might get the Revell Memphis Belle kit depending on how long it takes to build the P-38. It looks like Revell is reissueing it.

http://www.revell.com/germany/aircraft/80-4297.html

Yup, they reissued it earlier this year or late last year

I know the start date is right around the bend but I probly won't get to my build till last december because of school and my other 3 year old b-17 project

No worries red. I have 3 builds to finish before i start mine and i am off to the Falklands again in Feb. So i don't expect to start until May. I think its nice to have builds start at various points of the GB rather than all get built at the beginging.

Pictures of B-24s in action show the waist gun positions with large openings.  I cannot find a photo that shows how the inserts for those openings are stored.  One photo I have located and posted below seems to show the inserts are completely removed for combat.  Can anyone confirm this is the case?

These pictures show the windows simply folded up into the fueslage....the instructions for my 1/48 B-24 suggest this configuration if you want the waist open

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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.