Anybody have any suggestions, tips, techniques or experience converting the 1/48 Revell-Monogram B-17G:
and
Thanks in advance for any help!!
If I remember correctly there was a conversion kit to make the staggered gun version. I know I saw one build but it could have been scratch build I am not to sure. As for building a nice F model you are on the right the right track. The old Revel F kit is crude compared to the Monogram G kit. I have buld both and for the Revell F I stole almost all of the interior grom the Monogram kit. The Revell interior is completly lacking in detail. Some ofthe G details may not be 100% correct for the F but they still look better than the blank pieces from the revell F kit.
Soulcrusher
There was a group build over on Hyperscale in the not to distant past where I believe someone did a similar project.
I would think as long as you have sufficient reference material the conversions would be pretty straight forward as a project goes. The waist gun windows would requiring creating plugs to fill the old ones then cutting in new ones along with the associated rib details inside.
The nose graft would require a bit more skill to keep it ‘squared up’, but selecting the right panel line to make the slice on both models and reattaching one can be done pretty easily…much like I did with my 777 kitbash.
I punch out some diamond shape styrene ‘teeth’ to cement around the inside radius of the fuselage. This gives you a gluing surface that allows you to line ‘square’ the two mating pieces. Then once it is set into place any filler can be accomplished using stretched styrene and liquid solvent.
Once you have the outside cleaned up and smooth, the ‘weld’ between the to halves is strong enough you can remove the ‘teeth’ from the inside and replace the inner detailing as you deem fit. Using putty or CA could fail by shrinking or if dropped it would be the weakest part of the fuselage…styrene welding makes it stronger and shrinkage free. IMHO
Of course you’ll do each fuselage half separately if you intend to do the inside detailing. This allows you better control of keeping the center seam straight…but you need to repeatedly test fit the two halves to ensure eveness and continuity of fit.
HTH
I’ve done two staggered-waist B-17Gs, and both turned out pretty good. The method I used was simple- first, figure out where the relocated window was located (pretty easy- just move it 2 fuselage ribs forward), and then mark it and cut it out. Then, add a .010 styrene filler on the INSIDE of the fuselage for the old window. then, add a couple layers of styrene until the opening is almost flush with the outside of the fiselage, and then use your favorite filler to finish the job. (alternately, you could just use more styrene and liquid cement). As for the -F conversion, it should be pretty easy to do. simply cut off the nose along the same panel lines on both kits, and swap 'em! The molds for both kits are pretty much identical, so the new parts should fit just fine!
HTH
Thanks all for the input! I really appreciate it!
Here’s a couple of tips for the nose graft, which worked for me- tail graft too- converting a DC-6 to a C-54. Work with the individual halves: I masked right at the cut line with tape, and sprayed gray on the discard side. I cut with a razor saw abt 1/16" into the gray, then sanded back in a square jig (the bed and fence of my chop saw) until all the gray just went away. And frankly, I’m not sure it was worth the trouble to use the jig. It seemed a little odd, but I glued the front/back sections together first, using tabs, and let it dry on a flat surface. Then I glued the pieces for the other side together, taped to the completed side for alignment and length. In my case theres no interior so I left the tabs in place. Worked great. Then last, glued the halves together.
A whole lot easier than train cars and locomotives, which don’t come apart in halves!
Good luck!
Koster made a vacform set (Kit No. 4) to convert the Monogram G to a C/D/E, or late model G. The instructions detail how to do the staggered waist gun by moving the right side forward, and also supplies the window parts and the Cheyenne tail turret and its different window arrangement which also was usually found on G’s with the staggered waist guns. If you make an F by grafting on the Revell nose (I would tend to just make the changes to the Monogram nose instead) pay close attention to photos of the particular airplane you are modelling because there were a lot of gun and window mods done in the field. Also, the upper turret is different on the F, it is a lower profile than the G, and there were at least two different frame patterns on the F if what I’m seeing in photos is correct. I don’t think the Revell turret is correct for any picture I have seen but it isn’t too far off.