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That looks quite impressive.

As must be your stash!

Very cool kit dude.

this was 1 of the last 2 kits that had not been started yet, the other is a 144th scale Space Shuttle Atlantis w/ booster rockets

Very Cool!
Will You do it in "Visible" version?

Great Great Model !!!

Had the privilege of seeing one built and it is amazing... I have to get my hands on one of these... or maybe not since I already have 3 B-17's hihihiihih!!!

A good entry and with that aftermarket will make it a eye candy model!!! Wish all the best in your build and... shows more photos... please!!

I am leaning toward building the visible version, and will be ordering additional aftermarket kits for this build.

Corkmyster9436 wrote:I am leaning toward building the visible version, and will be ordering additional aftermarket kits for this build.

Coolness!

Nice choice

that's going to be awesome when finished.

I think that you should use the bombardier compartment as it would look cool looking through the clear part

You are a brave modeler. It's going to cost you a fortune in aftermarket or weeks of scratch building to fill out that thing!

I can always raid my spare parts box if I have to

A little info on the Boeing B-17G:

Battle testing demonstrated that even the "offensive" Flying Fortress needed more firepower in the nose. Until fighters could be developed which were capable of providing cover to and from the targets, the B-17 were forced to rely upon large formations for concentrated fire power. Once the "little Friends" (as the fighters were called by bomber crews) had to leave the formations, the German fighters swarmed in for the attack. The enemy pilots quickly learned that the Flying Fortress was vulnerable to head on attacks. Until the long-range fighter arrived, the Air Force hoped to do something about it. In August 1942 an Air Force Board headed by BG Alfred J. Lyon submitted the suggestion that some B-17s be converted into "destroyer escort" aircraft- a kind of super fighter. Instead of carrying bombs, these planes would be heavily armed and well supplied w/ ammunition and scattered through the formations. Outwardly they would appear to be the same as the other planes on the mission and thus, it was hoped to deceived the attackers.

Vega converted a B-17F into the XB-40, armed w/ no less than 14 .50- caliber machines guns and carrying twice the number of rounds of ammunition generally carried in the Fortress. In the nose, almost directly beneath the bombardiers position, a twin fifty power operated turret was installed to meet the head-on attack problem. With its bristling armament, additional rounds of ammunition, extra armor protection as well as the new "chin" turret, the B-40 emerged as an imposing challenge to the German fighters. An additional 13 B-17Fs were converted by Vega into YB-40s and placed in service in May 1943. It was soon learned that once the bombers dropped their bomb loads, they left the heavily laden B-40s behind in their dash for home. The idea was abandoned a few months later.

But the chin turret retained for the later Fs and became standard equipment on the B-17G, the last of the Flying Fortresses. The first G was delivered on September 4, 1943 and the last on April 13th, 1945, less than a month before Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies.


Specs for the B-17G

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress – heavy bomber
• Total production – 8,680
• Powerplant – four 1,200 hp. Wright R-1820-97,
nine cylinder air-cooled radial cyclone engines.
• Wingspan – 103 ft., 10 in. (31.6 m)
• Length – 74 ft., 4 in. (22.8 m)
• Height – 19 ft., 2 in. (15.8 m)
• Wing area – 1.420 sq. ft. (132 m2)
• Weight – 36,135 lbs. empty
• Maximum takeoff weight – 55,000 lbs.
• Maximum speed – 300 mph,
170 mph cruising speed.
• Ceiling – 35,000 ft.
• Range – 1,850 miles
• Armament – 13 M2 .50 caliber Browning
machine guns and 6,000 lbs of bombs.
• Cost – $276,000
• Crew – 10

Good to see you using the am bombardier's stuff

Nice work on this iconic aircraft. I see you have nice bibliography on this subject. Looking forward to see how it will come together. Keep up good work.
Cheers

That AM stuff really looks nice dude.

Some of text disappeared from the pics

While test fitting the clear half of the fuselage I found that the nose of the B-17G lines up nicely, but when I got back to the tail guns, the clear half is about 1/16th too long any suggestions on how to correct this?????? Basically everything from the bomb bay back to the tail guns do not line up.

1. Yes Yes, research, resin...smells like real love for this subject, yes?
Me likey!

2. Resin looks very nice!

3. About the "problem", Post a picture?
(So we can see whats going on)

love the resin

here is a few pics of the problem w/ the clear piece









I will be contacting Revell in the morning to see if I can get a replacement clear piece.

Bit of a pain, good luck contacting them although it is a Monogram kit so the rest of the batch are likely to be worse

You could cut it in two at the bomb bay and use the non clear piece for the rear half

ok, need some feed back. I requested a replacement clear fuselage half from Revell this morning, website said 6-8 wks for delivery if they have it. what would you do in if my shoes?

A) Continue the build using the solid right fuselage half w/ no AM resin kits
B) Start a new build w/ a Boeing B-47E from my local hobby shop
C) Throw in the towel and gear up for the Non-Military Vehicle GB that's coming up and finish B-17G when/if part get here

Gutted for you Corky, has Dan's idea got legs?

Hmm That was a tricky one!!

Simple solution and to prioritize the most important thing, to have fun!
I would put this Project to rest for now, to be re-booted when You feel the mojo and new part arrive/or not then finish it with regular fuse side.
And, get the other kit and join in again with that.
Or...still use resin/or not and use regular fuse side and still build this fine B17! (skip clear part build)

Most important, dont let this put You down!! Its all about enjoying the hobby and having fun!


If it was me, Id can the clear part, still enjoy the detailing with resin parts and build it anyway as usual!!

Id say do whatever will give the most satisfaction on completion so if you need to leave this for now do it.

Would it not be possible to extend the non clear side to match cut and extend with plasticard?

ok, I've decided to continue on w/ this build using the solid left half of the fuselage, will also be using the resin AM kits that were ordered for this to gain more experience using resin. The clear part being to long did not get me down, was just disappointed, I waited over 20 yrs for this kit to be reissued, it had been in my closet stash for the last 2 yrs waiting to be put together.

Thanks for the feed back it was much appreciated

The resin AM kits that I had ordered for this build arrived this morning, will have pics up after the wkend.

Have you considered doing a cut-away version with the standard grey fuselage? It would require some more work but you would still be able to show off the nice interior.

DesertAAModeller wrote:Have you considered doing a cut-away version with the standard grey fuselage? It would require some more work but you would still be able to show off the nice interior.

No, I hadn't even thought of that, would not even know where or how to start on that.....

this is the email I received from Revell yesterday afternoon.

Dear Valued Customer,

In response to your replacement parts request (#108501), the part(s) requested are not available and cannot be sent. The kit has either been discontinued or parts requested are no longer available. We strive to support our products for as long as we can, but in some cases we are just not able.

Corkmyster9436 wrote:this is the email I received from Revell yesterday afternoon.

Dear Valued Customer,

In response to your replacement parts request (#108501), the part(s) requested are not available and cannot be sent. The kit has either been discontinued or parts requested are no longer available. We strive to support our products for as long as we can, but in some cases we are just not able.

Nuts....

sorry to hear that, I'm running into similar troubles with detail sets for my build.

I feel ya, sorry

Damn that's really annoying.

And a real shame too.

went to plan D or maybe it was E??:

got out the saw and sand paper on both the clear and solid fuselage half, plus prep for AM canopy and got some the AM balkeds in the Bombardiers compartment glued in.

I like the look of it with the solid tail section.

Plus you wont loose much detail from this area.

they really messed up the fit off that clear half..I think the clear tail looks good if there is a lot off detail back there but I also like the look off the solid tail to don't think that's much help but with the solid tail section it would make it one off a kind..

Good thinking outside of the box! (forgive the pun), both look like a good solution, but I like the solid tail section too, but I'll leave that up to you!

I really like the solid tale section. It will, also make it a very unique and custom job.
Very excited to see your progress on this lovely 1/2 clear giant

got the flight deck and bombardiers compartment together,











My wife brought this home for me last night:

Looking sweet

Good Work So Far Corky... Im Sure That Reference Book Will Be Really Useful

Alex

well here are a few more pics of the flightdeck, painting will be done be done old school, by brush. I had to use my funds for the airbrush, compressor and paint booth to pay the vet bill for 5 dogs. Also been battling a cold that will not go away.

I used 1/32thick balsa wood for the decking, navigators table and where the Nordin Bomb site will go


Pilots seat w/ armor plating

Now to hand make a support for Bombadiers seat that will startle the hole where the chin turret sets and I have the wheel wells painted and wings should be done by the wkend