100th BG Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Here are a few shots of the wing roots: In the right wing root upper photo, you can see the engine fire extinguisher bottles. These were later moved under the cockpit from the G-80- BO airplanes. No telling for Vega and Douglas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 For my LMM Diorama Karl, when I remove the trailing edge portion of the wing root, would that be piece No. 1 in the very last picture? If so, what would be seen between the two sections that this exposes? TIA. Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Not sure if previously posted but this website 8th AF historical Society Has a ton of info. I'm scouring it right now trying to find anything on my grandpa. Talked to mom and uncle on New Years and my uncle is supposed to be giving me some sort of diary he kept. I'm thinking the info would be in there but between the two of them they know nothing and all they know or "think" is he was in the 8th af . Well duh. I'm trying to find a complete list of crew members of 17s in the 8th and I can't find one. I'll look at every name if I have to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Does anyone have a list of the side codes assigned for those YB-40s that served in Britain. I can only find 4 of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 YB-40 Codes. I can't find any fuselage codes, only serial numbers. This is what my books say. XB-40 - 41-24341 YB-40 - 42-5732~42-5744 42-5735 Force landed in a Scottish Peat Bog out of fuel on the ferry flight from the USA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Now a question from me. On the wings of B-17's, there are either solid black lines or dotted lines indicating walkways. I've seen Boeing B-17F's and G's with the dotted lines, but also solid lines. Were the differences down to the different manufacturers, batch numbers, aircraft mark or painters getting lazy and trying to save time/paint etc. Any ideas guys? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 My opinion is that that is a very trivial thing. I wouldnt stress about that at all, mainly because I dont have an answer to the question. I would just go with red lines for an OND and black lines on a NMF plane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Not stressing, just curious. Are you sure about Red? All the OD aircraft I've seen have had black lines or dashes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I too have seen red on OD planes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Now that you mention it, i've seen both colors on the OD aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 So has anyone got any reference photos to show if the colour down to manufacturer? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Here are a few shots of the wing roots: In the right wing root upper photo, you can see the engine fire extinguisher bottles. These were later moved under the cockpit from the G-80- BO airplanes. No telling for Vega and Douglas. Anyone want to build me something similar to this to attach to the Fuselage front I'm building? It obviously won't have wings and I'm no scratch builder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 perfect chance to learn! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 excellent photos available here: http://www.luchtoorlog.be/b17-f1.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 perfect chance to learn! I don't have the tools or supplies. I'm really low on general modeling supplies as a whole. Just picked it back up middle of last year and don't have the money on hand to get everything i need/want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 ahh, I understand. FYI the last link I posted is the army training video on "How to fly the B-17" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Information on the chin turret aiming system can be found at the bottom of page 3 of the LMM build, found here, post #59 & #60 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 can anyone give me information on the trailing antenna? How long was it, what did it look like etc? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Here is the installation from the parts manual: Here is a photo of one as installed in a B-25. The one on the B-17 did not stick out this far. I don't know why they have the tube painted that strange color. The part they have painted black was a weight that helped draw the antenna wire out and stabilize it. The reel of wire was 400 feet long according to the one I have. Also, the other antenna (the straight one) is for the IFF. The B-17 had one of these also under the radio compartment towards the bombay. I can get a better location for you a little later. I'll see if I can come up dimensions for you, but it might not be until next weekend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Karl, thats perfect! Thank you for the quick response! I noticed the kit has the mechanism moulded in, I marked the exterior for the feed tube to go and now I have a good pic to build from. Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Some photos I just scanned... A stowed waist 50. Nearly complete G fuselage moves down the Vega assembly line. B-17G-VE Forts on the assembly line July 29th 1945 cutaway I found this one interesting. With caption... She was quite the looker... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) Thanks for the pics kris, the factory pics are pretty interesting, note the the first one, early G, has no enlarged cheeks windows. And the second pic shows either a late E or early F, I like the lamp that can bes seen on the bombadiers control panel. I love the production line pics like that! Anybody know a good source for them? Edited January 13, 2011 by B-17 guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 OK gang, whats THE answer to this question. What are the correct colors for the .50 cals on these aircraft? In some pics they are overall blued gun metal, in others the rear brace is grey/silver, others still show a silver/grey body and blued barrel? Whats what and whats right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 Shawn, Just from my personal experience with the .50's, the newer they are the closer they are to a black/blued gun metal. With increased usage, and age, they began to fade a little to a black/charcoal kind of colour, while along the prominantly used edges the blueing would wear down and chip off. The Barrels themselves, no matter what I did to them wouldn't lose much of their colour (but that's the Quick Change Barrel - not what the Forts had on them). As for the mounts, I've seen some models with green for the metal mount, but have yet to see an actual picture of that. The mounts themselves would be a silver, natural metal colour. Inside the .50, the feed paws were a dark natural metal, along with the top of the breach block as well, just from being worn down from usage. The spade grips were black, and back then a wooden colour for the grips themselves. Same goes for the cocking handle as well. The barrel and the body would be fairly similar in colour/wear/tear, etc. Hope this helps a little - I mean, afterall, the body is the same as it was then, just a different date stamp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Helps a lot! So I'd be safe with black base coat, gun metal dry brushing followed by dark grey wear and some silver chipping followed by a wash of black? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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