darren Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Firstly did the wing on the B-17F and G differ? And how would you know if the "Tokyo tanks" were installed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 From Wiki... The first B-17s with factory-mounted Tokyo tanks were introduced to the Eighth Air Force in England in April 1943, with the arrival of the 94th and 95th Bomb Groups, but in June 1943 they began to appear in great numbers as replacement aircraft, and from the beginning of July, 1943, all replacement aircraft were so equipped. All B-17F aircraft built by Boeing from Block 80, by Douglas from Block 25, and by Vega from Block 30 were equipped with Tokyo tanks, and the entire run of B-17Gs had Tokyo tanks. There isn't any external clues to Tokyo Tanks being installed AFAIK. Also AFAIK the wings were no different give or take a vent here and there but that could change by production block. But I'm by no means an expert just an avid fan! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Other than some small vents on the upper surface of the tips (outboard of the ailerons) E, F, and G wings were identical externally. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Other than some small vents on the upper surface of the tips (outboard of the ailerons) E, F, and G wings were identical externally. Not true, the cowlings are different between E and F models. But since the question was about F and G, that doesn't matter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) The cowlings aren't part of the wing. Structurally, the wing is identical.... The E also had different props, but the wing was the same. Edited January 6, 2013 by Jennings Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Semantics, on a plastic model, the cowlings are part of the wing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darren Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Thank you guys. The reason I asked was that I'm building the Revell B-17F, and the wing looks identical to the G wing. And I thought the wings were different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 No, the G was really just an improved F, with the main improvements being in armament. After the E, the B-17 was just a series of improvements on the basic design. A crew member who flew a B-17E in 1941 and a B-17G in 1945 wouldn't have found all that much different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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