WymanV Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Getting the thread up so it looks like we're all really busy here. No pics yet, but I have one of my Revell F kits pulled from the stash along with Paragon's B-17E conversion set, all three True Details sets for the insides (and no, i won't be using everything in them-just the bits that apply) and some Eduard photoetch sets all together and ready to start. As soon as I get time... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 (edited) Which B-17E are you planning on doing? I'm sure you're going to have a lot of us - myself included - hanging on your every word to see how that Paragon conversion set works out. Edited December 30, 2010 by Kostucha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 I've been looking at ones that served in the Pacific early in the war. Still have to find a good story tho. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Two that spring to mind for me are "Suzy Q" and "Swamp Ghost". If you looked to the 8th Air Force, there were the B-17E's that took part in the very first 8th AF raid in August '42. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 The most famous E model in the 8th AF that comes to my mind would be yankee doodle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 I'm inclined to go with "Goonie", an 11th Bomb Group Fort that was also a Midway participant. Whatever it'll be, here's the bits: Not sure if I'm using the flaps on this one. The extra sprue is from the latest B-17G Visable Kit release. Now we'll see how soon I can get my car done so I can get started on this. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 No pics, but I had a few minutes yesterday to start grinding resin and I started with the waist upgrades. They didn't fit. The resin isn't curved enough, I'm not sure the instructions are correct and they don't cover that much of the sidewall anyway. I may just save them for a future build (a late G with the windows so one couldn't actually see much in there anyhow) and scratchbuild some detail in here. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 No pics, but I had a few minutes yesterday to start grinding resin and I started with the waist upgrades. They didn't fit. The resin isn't curved enough, I'm not sure the instructions are correct and they don't cover that much of the sidewall anyway. I may just save them for a future build (a late G with the windows so one couldn't actually see much in there anyhow) and scratchbuild some detail in here. Ken Yep, in sizing parts up, I ran into the same problem. I might not even use mine at all. Aside from 'spare parts' on the side as hangar filler, they're pretty useless to my build. I found the same up in the nose. Even though they do cover a lot, I had to sand them down really thin and push them into shape. A real PITA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 (edited) HA! Thought I was out, huh? Truth be told, I might not finish but I have a good start going. Finally. I started with the cowls. Easy enough: The fun began with the windows. Paragon recommends using the kit clear and painting the openings in the larger windows to resemble the smaller windows, but that doesn't really work for me. I started by cutting material out of the kit cockpit floor, bending them with my fingers to give the pieces some curvature, fitted and glued them in: Once they set up, I used a piece of masking tape to mark where the new ones will line up. First I did the "long" side: Then I moved it to the other half, marked the foremost window and cut out the center window in the tape. From there I moved it back to the other side to mark the center window: Then, a 1/8" hole in each with a pin drill, opened them up with a #11 blade and dolled them up with my files: And we have windows: Edited March 27, 2011 by WymanV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 (edited) Feel free to delete this post if possible. Suddenly I'm having a world of trouble posting on ARC... Edited March 27, 2011 by WymanV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Since when have we been restricted in how many pics we post? Back to the Paragon bits. I want to use the Bendix remote turret on this since it came with the set and it makes the E model unique. However, the resin mount for the turret is odd-as if it were cast backwards. It should fit in there like this to be correct: But as you can see, it isn't made that way. The opening cast into it is on the wrong side: We'll do something about that in a bit. Meanwhile, I built up the inside with strip styrene. The reference pics I've found (and forgot to bring) show the nose almost-if not-completely padded. However, that's rather boring, isn't it? So I framed it out, based mostly on the panel lines on the outside along with some common sense: It's a start. I also glued in some bits into the ball turret opening to resemble the fairing: So, we're underway. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kid Charlemagne Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Are you doing the B-17E named "Honi Kuu Okole"? It had a ball turret instead of the Bendix turret. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 I'm not doing one that had a ball turret, unless it was retrofitted and I can build it as it was beforehand. After all the research (which really hasn't been that much so far) the prototype E is in the lead. I'll figure it out. I don't need a scheme to get the build underway anyhow. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kid Charlemagne Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Honi Kuu Okole had a ball turret installed before she was shot down by a nightfighter over Rabaul. She originally had a Bendix turret. You can find decals to do Honi Kuu Okole in the Zotz B-17F decal set... Or you can do Swamp Ghost before she was shot down. Swamp Ghost did have a Bendix turret when she went down in New Guinea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 And-we're back. Got a bench set up and I'm back to detailing the fuselage. Pics now would be pointless but as soon as there's something to show I'll post 'em. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Yes! Glad to see you back here! I'm looking forward to seeing your work. Also, did you come up with an identity for your plane yet? Also, feel free to look around the rest of the build, I like seeing others opinions of my work too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 But as you can see, it isn't made that way. The opening cast into it is on the wrong side: It may be too late to fix this...but I think if you cut the resin plug off flush with the flat side of the ring, then install the part upside down from how you have it in that pic...it should sit fine. you will have the curved part fitted against the fuselage and flat surfce to mount the turret to on the bottom just my $0.02 sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 The turret is missing material that would be filled in when inserted into the bottom of the fairing as pictured. I would have to fill and sand and honestly, it was pretty easy to just make my own fairing. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Got the stringers/formers/etc. done in one of the fuselage halves and decided it was as good a time as any to take a break and build up a radio room. It's based loosely on one I robbed from a G kit in the stash and a few pics I have of the section in the E variant: I'll remove the door to the waist section once it's built up. And my kitchen floor is now covered in little bits of styrene strips... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Still sidetripping on crew compartments. I was planning on using the True Details resin cockpit, but after test fitting it and looking at pics of the E cockpit I decided to hit the scrap pile for a Monogram G cockpit that I was going to use on my Tinker Toy project. It'll need some cleanup: It's actually going to end up a mix of parts from the B-17 scrap pile. The instrument panel is from the F kit and you can add that to the list of parts that interchange between Monogram and Revell-it dropped right into the shell like it was made for it. I went with it because it doesn't have the raised detail of the G kit, and I have a very old Pro Modeler instrument panel decal set that I want to use up before it becomes worthless. It'll do for this build: I also changed the piece that fills in the bottom of the very front as the Monogram replication looks nothing like the pics I'm refering to of the E. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I like where you are going with this Ken. Speaking of inter changeability, if you have a the top turret assembly from the monogram G in your scrap pile. You can use that in place of the F turret and guns set up. Basically, put the flat E/F turret clear part onto the G model turret, giving you a E/F turret with guns that can elevate. Unlike the revell F kit set up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 I did that with my last build. It was an early production G model that had the carryover F turret. Worked out just fine Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 A little progress to report. Still making up the nose section. My pics show a couple interesting things: Armor plate behind the bombardier's seat, and the bombardier's seat itself is similar to the radio operator's seat. I'm betting the armor plate was likely pulled out in the field but since it's different than the F and G I'm putting it in. And I believe the seat I'm using is from a Japanese plane-likely a Tamiya Zero but I'm not sure. I'll make up some tissue paper cushions for it and hopefully one won't notice the difference: And I did a little something with the entryway. Nowhere near correct and it's WIP, but at least it'll "busy up" the area: And I've had enough of formers & stringers: Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Crazy good. Keep going. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 The set up you put in the nose is the same for the D model too. From what I've learned, the engine cowls are more like the D, as opposed to the F and G. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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