Flyingfortress Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 As usual, I'm wanting to know more before I buy. Not too concerned with being accurate, but wondering about fit and fiddely parts. Anyone build this beauty can tell me? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalashnikov-47 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 (edited) It's a good one, Sean! I've got 'em all, but have only built the B-17B. Went together well and looks good when done. Only thing that bothered me was a bit too much dihedral on the wings. Other than that, a real beauty! Specifically for the B-17G, on the right fuselage half, you have a choice of "normal" or "staggered" waist gun positions. Ya gotta cut out the one you want to use.... Patrick P.S. - watch for an inbound PM regarding the Air Force Museum..... Edited October 25, 2006 by Kalashnikov-47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck1945 Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 Care will get around the dihedral issue. My main gripe with the Academy B-17G (and Hasegawa's as well) is that you are stuck with the Cheyenne tail turret which rules out many of the earlier B-17Gs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I can really recommend Academys B-17. Unfortunately it comes with no interior details except for some parts for the cockpit and the front stand. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve N Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Only thing that bugs me about the Academy B-17 is the tail gunner's position. They split the part into right and left halves, leavning a nasty seam right through the middle of what's supposed to be a clear window. Fortunately, the Squadron Vac replacement canopies are fairly cheap. There are couple other nit-picks about the kits, but nothing major. SN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Here's my Academy SB-17G: Watch the dihedral, as mentioned, the completed model looks stupid if you get that wrong. The wingtips are level with the top of the fuselage - no higher. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 A decade and a half ago I halfway-built the F-version. Nice and simple, nothing fancy, nothing horrific. Never finished the darned thing...still tucked away in a box I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Watch the dihedral, as mentioned, the completed model looks stupid if you get that wrong. The wingtips are level with the top of the fuselage - no higher. WRONG! I was thinking of the B-29. On the B-17 the wingtips are lever with the top of the radio-room side window. Academy B-17 is a great bunch of kits - see http://www.modelingmadness.com/reviews/all...us/mansb17d.htm for another that I built. The most recent Airfix B-17G (the one the wasn't A Bit of Lace) was an Academy master - which made it more available (until recently). A minor difficulty with the Academy B-17 is that the instructions would have you install the main undercarriage during wing construction - making it more vulnerable during construction. This should be avoidable. And here's an Academy B-17E thet I've built: Oh - check references for individual aircraft, Academy make avoidable errors with most kits. This one didn't originally have that astrodome on the nose! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 While I know you asked about build fit issues, I would also recommend you get at least the following sets to make it that much more "nice". Quickboost B-17 gun barrels Quickboost B-17 engines Both are drop fit and a HUGE improvment over the kit parts. CMK also do an interior set (cockpit, bombardiers compartment, radio compartment) and armament set (bomb bay). If you add those to the Squadron parts as previously mentioned, you get a very nice model. The Academy -17G cheek windows are VERY thick, and the wing leading edge intakes are molded as shallow depressions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalashnikov-47 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Hey Tim - nice models! :huh: I especially like the SB-17.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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