Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 I find myself with nothing on the workbench so it's time to get cracking with the 17 build. I'm not sure where exactly the aircraft that's represented with the decals served since there is no information in the instructions so we'll just call this a general representation of SB-17s used in the Pacific. I don't think there's any aftermarket SB-17 decals either so it is what it is. Box top Contents I got this from a prominent ARC member (can't remember who exactly sorry) as I make most of my purchases on here. Came with some extra parts like the canopies and SAC landing gear. May or may not use them. Also seems to be some extra sprues in there as I have 8 props and 2 sets of stabs. Will make for nice spares. I won't spend a ton of time on the interior. 72nd B-17s are very hard to see into. This will be the 2nd aircraft painted with Alclad and the first time I'll do a 17 with it so I'll try to pay particular attention to the finish. Should be a striking addition to the shelves when done. Stay tuned. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 (edited) Since I apparently can't ever build 1 B-17 at a time I'm going to build one of my 72nd Revell kits at the same time as this one. Will probably include it's pictures here as well. If it get's too cluttered I'll do a new thread in the standard wip section. Edited June 26, 2012 by Bigasshammm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 This one(or two) is gonna be good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 This one(or two) is gonna be good! Let's hope! Cleaned up the work area after the F-16 Higgins Rescue boat is together Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Just ordered some masks from Sprue. Along with some decals for a 144 B-17 I have! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Fuselage comparison. Academy on top Revell Germany on bottom. My Revell kit was slightly started when I got it from an ARCer who seems to have disappeared. Hope he's doing well. Spattered some paint on the interior. Told you I wasn't going to spend much time on it. Also opened up the starboard waist gun window and obviously added some interior pieces. Surprisingly the Revell kit being as new as it is doesn't give you the option of staggered waist windows. Bad move by them. Also threw some paint in the wheel wells. It's all not 100% accurate but again little to none will be seen so I could care less. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Looking good Hamm!!!! Looks like the stabs are thinner and the wings are thicker on the RoG version, as well as the hump behind the radio room is more pronounced. Keep the updates coming. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 I'm not sure if the wings are thicker on the Revell but I'm pretty sure the dihedral of the Academy kit is way too severe. Which from this angle would make them look thinner. Not sure how I'm gonna tackle that yet. Got one of the wings together and drilled out all the air scoops. Have to go to work now so either more tonight or I'll get back at it tomorrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 27, 2012 Author Share Posted June 27, 2012 Day 2 update. Stayed up till 1am last night downbuzzing from a rough work evening. Got a lot done. On the SB-17 I got the gear in and the wings glued together. I also opened up all the little vents in the leading edges. Looks a lot better. Forgot to take pic of wings. Stabs are glued. Interior is complete now and all windows placed. Just have to add tail wheel and then close up fuselage. I will wait till I get the mask set so that I don't accidentally push a window into the fuselage putting a mask on. Going to be some fit issues with the fuselage. Especially with the turret plugs. Not going to be fun. Completed interior... The Revell has a very abrasive primer on most of the parts. Spent a good amount of time polishing/sanding the fuselage halves. Other than that this is what the rest of it looks like... I still haven't done any construction on it. Can't decide how I want to proceed with the interior. Probably just do it up quick like the Academy since I have another 3 of these kits and can do a full blown interior one later. I do need to smooth the primered interior though first. Fit of the Revell kit is outstanding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 28, 2012 Author Share Posted June 28, 2012 Day 3: The masks for the SB-17 arrived from Sprue Bros (less than 48 hours after purchase!) so I applied the fuselage ones. I used the different waist windows so I'll have to mask those myself. Work sludges on on the Revell. Interior painting is long and arduous. And I'm not even being that particular! I did break out the air brush to spray the green. After that everything else is brush painted. There's a ton of interior parts in these Revell kits. SB-17s fuselage will get closed up once I'm down with the radio compartment of the Revell. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Bigasshammmm, I am going to enjoy this one ..quite a nice looking Kit and model.. Good work so far...Just keep it coming Hammm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 (edited) Day 4: Here's another comparison with the completed interiors. The Revell has outstanding detail compared to all other 72nd B-17 kits out there. The Academy fuselage will be closed up today. There is still much to do on the Revell. Completed front interior section of the Revell. I modified the area where the ball turret will go as there was only a walkway on one side not both as the kit suggests. I also removed the two extra seats in the radio compartment as they were most often removed from wartime 17s. I still have the waist section to do and the Ball turret and other fiddly things before the Revell can be closed up. Gives me something to do while sanding the Academy. Edited June 29, 2012 by Bigasshammm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
-Neu- Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Wow, you're motoring right along. I watched the High and the Mighty with John Wayne last night and it had a SB-17G... kinda neat to see (it had interior shots too), given what you're building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Aanother fort !!!!!!!! You can probably build them in your ssleep by now!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 Academy is together. Had some warpage around the front and the turret plugs just don't fit properly. Most likely self inflicted I probably should have left it free and not glued it to one side before forming it up. Just means a LOT more sanding and rescribing and polishing will be needed since this is overall nmf. I never thought of using zipties before but they sure came in handy here. I have a ton of them too in various sizes so they're going to be added to the modeling supplies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oortiz10 Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 ...I never thought of using zipties before but they sure came in handy here. I have a ton of them too in various sizes so they're going to be added to the modeling supplies... Zip ties? I never thought of that either! My Corsair has some warpage and I think your zip tie idea might be the fix I've been looking for. BTW, your builds are lookin' great! Keep up the good work. Cheers, -O Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Lookee what came for me today... Tehe And this is what I did this weekend... Got a little sanding done on the academy. Not much else to tell. Boring stage with her. Haven't touched the revell in a few days. Too much work and beer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hamm, that bonfire can only be described as epic! The last time I did something similar my wife was ******!!! But I "may" have tossed a few percussion caps for my musket in the fire as well:) As for the Forts, as I've said before, you need to change your name to Bomber Hamm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmthamade Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Cripes Hamm!! More B-17s!! What markings are you going to do the Revell kit? When i did my Revell Fort i put very little of the interior in, just enough to hold the wings on. You're right, you can see nothing once the fuselage is closed up. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Haha. The bonfire was at my friends. I don't have the yard to have a fire that big. Houses are too close by. That's him in the picture hosing down the tree thats right next to the pit. We were slightly concerned. I've got about 12 Forts now so it's really not that much. Hard to tell my favorite aircraft though! The revell one I'm doing currently I'll just be using the Little Miss Mischief decals. Love the nose art and the varying colors will make it stand out. I was pleased when I saw that the pro modeler release has box art and the decals for a 483rd bg ship which is the bg my grandfather was in. Different squadron than the revell one but that's ok. Edited July 3, 2012 by Bigasshammm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 All this detail, nothing to see... The guns of the Revell are very nice. Thye have separate barrels which means no breakage! I dryfit the gun into the window and glued the ammo belt to it. Then painted up the gun and belt and installed it. Pics of that later. Nastiness at the top of the SB-17. I've since added some filler to the turret cover and will apparently just have to rescribe some of the line. Not fun. Had to do the same with the ball turret plug as well. Sigh Have to go work in a 120 degree trailer for the next 3 hours now. This may be the last you hear from me. lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 Today's lesson kids. If you're going to do a 72nd 17 get the precut masks! I bought the Academy masks for this build and I had one set of the Revell masks. I'll be getting these for every one now. The Revell fuselage and ball turret took me not even 30 minutes. Would have been days and a half case of beer if I did it myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Would have been days and a half case of beer if I did it myself. But now you're missing out on the beer! The B-17's look good! One day I will convert my Academy one to a PB-1W with the Paragon set. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted July 12, 2012 Author Share Posted July 12, 2012 Well I started this with the intention that I'd be painting them both about the same time. Then I got involved and realized how in depth the new Revell kit is so I figured the Academy would be done way earlier. Then I started fitting the Academy and... EGADS! Top and bottom! Don't worry about how bad the bomb bay doors look because that's all getting covered by the boat so I have ignored it. I'll be giving a try to the whole filler with a q-tip alcohol rub afterwards. Hope I can pull it off. Then the blending and smoothing will begin. I thought I'd be near primer stage but the Revell kit may catch up after all. As per the Revell the Ball turret is together and ready to be painted. Tail gunner position almost together. Then I just have to work the top turret and it will FINALLY be ready to be closed up. Then I have to start working on the wings which are quite extensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oortiz10 Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 EGADS! Welcome to my world. :P Seriously though, you're doing a bang-up job on these and I'm enjoying the progress. Keep it up and in regards to the seams... Cheers! -O Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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