strawberry mivi Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 This build will represent a fairly well known example of one of the relatively few USAF B17's that flew at night. Painted a gloss black to reflect searchlights and minimise their effectiveness the squadron eventually dropped over 6000 tons of leaflets between October 1943 and the end of the war. Tondalayo was the personal aircraft of the squadron CO Col Aber. The aircraft was lost on 4th March 1945, a victim of ack-ack aimed at a fleeing German bomber that almost collided with the B17 over Clacton-on-Sea. Col Aber and 2Lt Harper lost their lives in the accident. All my modelling builds are loosely connected with my life. In this case my sister lives in a house that lies within the boundaries of Station 113, RAF Cheddington. One of the remaining hardstandings is yards from her back garden. The model will use the new Revell 1/72 B17G. The parcel arrived yesterday and opening it up, it looks very nice indeed. I'm not planning any aftermarket add-ons, just an OOB box. For references I have Pat Carty's 'Secret Squadrons of the Eighth' and conveniently Franklin Mint make a diecast of the aircraft. I won't be buying their model but it is nice to have a few colour photos to inspire me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Welcome and we are looking forward to your build. It must be very inspiring to live near where so many of these airplanes flew. Good luck and let us know what you think of that new kit! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 (edited) always wondered why this ship was gloss black! edit:pics look matte to semi gloss Edited January 28, 2011 by Shawn M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mungo1974 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Having watched the wreck recovery of this Fort some years ago i'll be following this build closely Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Looking forward to it as well. I've updated the list of 'Who's building what' to reflect the kit you're using, and it's hyperlinked to your build as well. This is going to be an interesting build for sure! Cheers, Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 I've spent some time today reading through my reference bible 'Secret Squadrons'. Some details that will be different to the standard B17 include: astrodomes (not sure about this one), an astro compass, a larger navigators table, moved instrument panels - probably invisible anyway, blackout curtains between nav and bombadier, 1 1/2" black strip around every window - although one photo shows Tondalayo with a silver strip around the cockpit, all unpainted metal in the compartments painted black, waist and tailgunner areas blackened, outside windows painted over - not sure about this either, flame suppressors on engines, cut off cams to prevent now blinkered gunners firing into wings and tail, flash suppressors on guns. These details were added because of the night flying. The bomb load will be cylinders representing paper containers, 48" long and 16 1/2" diameter. These were originally used to transport M17 incendiary bombs. They were known as T1 Monroe leaflet bombs. I have read somewhere the B17 carried either 10 or 12 of these but I've lost the reference. Either way, my bomb bay will be open to show these Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Almost sounds like the same mods as a Fortress III. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I'm thinking the same thing, any pics of the flame dampers for the engines in your book by chance? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 that would be great! I searched the web for this aircraft thinking I may get something on that front...nope Quote Link to post Share on other sites
krow113 Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) Hey Cool build I have the same bird in mind for mine .It will be on a 1/48 dio. I already completed the pilots fig in 120mm for the display. 50 figs ,4-5 vehicles. references are slim for the plane. I did contact the Carpetbaggers society in England and was asking about a pic I have of the plane ,there is writing around the windows like girl names and such. More refs would be: Carpetbaggers by Ben Parnell , Osprey Combat Aircraft # 18 , B-17 at war by Roger Freeman. I'll be watchin'! Here is Lt. Col. Earle Aber: Edited March 9, 2011 by krow113 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 No progress recently but I have an excuse. I can only work on one model at a time because I'm lazy and easily distracted. Well, I've nearly finished my Chinook so things may start to move on thisone. Plus June isn't all that far away now!. Another pause has been whilst I think about where to get/make 5.8mm diameter dowels to turn into leaflet canisters. I seem to remember an ice lolly with a rolled paper stick about this size and since the temperatures are warming up it would be rude not to see if I'm right. So, expect some progress soon. Probably. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Progress!!! I went lolly shopping and found the one I wanted. I thought it had a rolled paper stick but it has a wooden dowel. This dowel measures just under 6mm - perfect One lolly has enough stick for 7 Monroe bombs. The bombs need to be 16.9mm x 5.8mm. Thus: cut to length and paint black (Citadel Chaos Black) mask off to leave 2.6mm at each end and paint to simulate cardboard. I chose Citadel Bleached Bone. mask 2 centre lines and paint white, Citadel Skull White test fit into bomb bay Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 (edited) Here's a comparison with the original. edit: the photo shown here is the back cover of my 'bible', Secret Squadrons of the Eighth, Pat Carty I used Citadel paints because they are acrylic, dry quickly and I had some. Not sure what the real colours were but they suit me. Also. I did think the B-17's dropped upto 10 per trip but test fitting shows only about 4 will fit, 6 at a push. Any ideas? These containers were 16 1/2 inch in diameter. (A 1000lb bomb only has a diameter of 15 inch) Edited April 13, 2011 by strawberry mivi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 I've been slowly building the various internal sub-assemblies and now they are ready for fitting. It's a bog standard OOB build but with dark gray paint on all internal surfaces, apart from the bomb bay, which I've left 'green'. I have read that a standard B-17 would have an unpainted or 'green' interior. The 'bible' states that in these leaflet bombers all unpainted metal in the compartments was given a coat of black, to minimise reflections at night. Also instrument panels were moved (but to where?) and dials etc were given luminous paint to show up in the dark. I've left my panels where Revell wanted them but given all switches etc a coat of Citadel Rotting Flesh, a light bogie-coloured green. The compartments have been dry-brushed with dark and light colours at random, looks OK, nothing special. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dirkpitt289 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Looking great so far Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 Looking for flame suppressor info but I found this instead: http://www.bomberlegends.com/volume1-3.html The author is pictured in my book many times. Midnite Mistress was a B24 but on the same squadron. The article shows a different type of leaflet bomb and states a Liberator carried 12 - both 'new' to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 Toying with the idea of putting a crew in. So I've got the Revell WW2 RAF set and seeing if it will fit. All the men are strapping 6 footers which isn't helping - even sitting down they are too big for the seats! But I'm sure there is a mistake in the Revell instructions. Section 30 suggests that the ball turret is assembled with the circular window on part 176 at the bottom. Part 178 is a seat for the gunner to sit on. This picture shown here http://evanflys.com/yahoo_site_admin/asset...7362021_std.jpg shows the gunner looking through the round window whilst sitting on his seat. This only works if you swap the positions of parts 177 and 178, ie turn the ball the other way up. Don't worry, he does have a body, just not yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Wow trying to cram a guy into that ball turret will be just as hard as the real thing. Good luck there. There was a round window between the gun barrels. They probably just mislabeled the instructions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 Just been looking through my spares box and found an Airfix B24 ball turret gunner, all scrunched up already. Simples Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 what do you need for flame suppressor info? From what I understand they used the same ones as the RAF Forts, I have as much as I could find on them if you want it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PGB Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 (edited) I'm sure there is a mistake in the Revell instructions. Section 30 suggests that the ball turret is assembled with the circular window on part 176 at the bottom. Part 178 is a seat for the gunner to sit on. This picture shown here http://evanflys.com/yahoo_site_admin/asset...7362021_std.jpg shows the gunner looking through the round window whilst sitting on his seat. This only works if you swap the positions of parts 177 and 178, ie turn the ball the other way up. Revell's instructions are correct (even if the window mouldings aren't quite right. The windows above the circular sighting window are far too tall.) The upper half of the turret held the ammunition bins, gunsight, hydraulics and motors, etc. The illustration you linked to is not quite correct, THIS shows the arrangement a bit more clearly. A good series of photos of a sectioned example can be seen HERE. Hope that helps, PB Edited April 17, 2011 by PGB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 (edited) Thanks for that. I'm confident I've got mine close. Just painting all my crew members. Trial fits show there isn't much room for an inflexible plastic man in any of the chairs/positions Revell provide. (Many have lost weight, often in unflattering places) Edited April 17, 2011 by strawberry mivi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 (edited) . Edited April 17, 2011 by strawberry mivi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Some of the cast Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strawberry mivi Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Some more, pre-final paint Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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