I am a newbie here and would like someone’s help regarding Monogram’s B-17 G model. I want to build a tribute to my Granddad. I was wondering if the Verlinden B-17 detail set is a good one and if there are any other AM details I could add. Also, I am looking for a good reference for the 15th aircorp, as this is the unit with which he flew. I have the picture of him with his crew in front of their bird, very cool, as well as the B-17 Manual and Pilot’s training Manual. All very cool things to have. Any help would be appreciated.
The Verlinden detail set is pretty good, but I found the quality of the PE set not that good. Eduard make 3 different PE sets for the B 17 which are excellent. True Details make resin bulged tires.Squadron make vac form glazing. You might find decals by Superscale or Aeromaster for the B 17. A company called Paragon used to make some cool stuff like dropped flaps and bomb bay doors, but they have been out of production for a few years.There are rumours Paragon will make a comeback.
ted i need some information. could you tell me the name of the bird? the pilots name? there are a few of us who may be able to get more info for you maybe even some more pics for you.
just to let you know i am also working on the b-17g and there is something you need to know. the waist gunner positions are not accurate in the monogram kit. but it is a relatively easy fix. let me know about the bird and the pilot, i will see what i can find for you.
Hey Ted,
First off, [#welcome] to the family…Secondly, that is very cool indeed. I want to do the same but this would be a Tribute to my Uncle who was a bombardier w/ the 92nd BG.
As to what Fightnjoe mentioned about the info that you need, you could try asking Blackwolf aka Steve.
He is very knowledgeable and may have a few leads. Hope this helps out a bit.
Flaps up, Mike
Yes, welcome to the jungle. You’ve been given a pretty comprehensive list of what you can add to that B-17G. I don’t know what the problem is with the waist windows, but I do know that it wasn’t until the G model that they finally got the idea to stagger the windows, left and right, so that the gunners wouldn’t be bumping into each other as they trained their guns around the sky. That’s how you can always tell a G, even when the chin turret has been removed, as has happened in movies and some restorations. But, to answer more of your question, Waldron Model Products, whose ad is always in FSM, makes a fantastic set of radio fronts and placards, as well as tiny styrene shapes and detailed instructions, so you can build a complete radio room in a B-17G. I’ve used Waldron stuff for other projects, and their parts and placards are first class, but I can’t promise how well you can see this radio room once you’ve gone to the trouble to build it. I’m about to do one in an AcMin B-25G.
Tom
I would say your talking about the 15th Air Force. They flew out of the Mediterranian theatre during WWII. This site here is the place for models but if your wanting to research your Granddad check out www.armyairforces.com Go to the heavy bombers section and ask away. There is a great guy thats always there named MSgt. James S. Peters, he was a B-17 flight engineer/top turret gunner with the 15th AF in WWII. He really knows his stuff and is even more knowledgeable about the 15th and their operations!! I really suggest you give MSgt. Peters a try!!!
I too have been contemplating doing a tribute B-17. Sounds like this might be a potential GB. My uncle Adolph (bet he had a hard time with that name) was a radio gunner in the 8 AF. I have no idea which model B-17 he flew in, nor what his group or squadron assignment was. All I know for sure was that he was already in England when Doolittle took over 8 AF.
Wow, thanks for all the advice. My Granddad also was a Flight engineer. I don’t know his pilot’s name or the name of the bird. Sadly he has passed some 10 years now. I will scan the picture of he and his crew and post it tomorrow. I really want to go all out with this project, so a group build may be the ticket. I will look up MSgt. James S. Peters and see if he by some twist of luck actually knew my Granddad. This is a very cool forum. I will let y’all know what I find out.
tedium,
The tribute build is a great idea. I did a 1/72 one for my wife’s grandfather about 10 years ago. He was also in the 15th Air Force. He was a ball turret gunner who was shot down and was a POW for over 9 months. I made the aircraft in-flight with the 15th patch and a brass plate with his name and the crew number and some other data on it. I gave it to him and he loved it. He displayed it proudly and was always telling people about it. Unfortunately, he recently passed away and I have the model back. I think of him every time I look at it. Hope it comes out nicely.
I too built him a b-17 and he had it hung in his hospital room till the day he died. Even though his mind went, he still remembered those cold cold days flying. I got to read his flight diary he kept, all 50 flights. Those were brave men. I suppose this build is more for me in rememberance of him. My new 18 month old son is his namesake and someday I hope to give him all the things he left me and a really nice model of what he flew in.
Yep, you think you know something as a hard fact, and this is the place to find out you should be just a little more humble. I didn’t know there were production blocks of the G model with the non-staggered windows. Sorry to be a knowitall.
And yes, that is one very good thing you can pass on to your son. I am part of the generation that showed our contempt for that earlier generation of men and women. I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to make at least some amends for my youthful foolishness and ignorance. First, I went and read a lot of history.
Tom
Welcome to the Forums, Tediam! I too am a B-17 nut… (I’m currently building Academy’s B-17G). Blackwolf3945, otherwise known as Steve-O has a wealth of information about all sorts of subjects, so if you shoot him an e-mail I’m sure He’ll turn something up sooner or later.
You also might need custom decals. You can ask in the decals section about how to fabricate your own (I haven’t the foggiest idea how one goes about ensuring propper scale), or you can contact Swanny, since he deals a lot with custom stuff (he knows someone that churns out custom decals for a fee).
If you need any information on the B-17, just ask, and there will be quite a few people who would be more than happy to help, myself included. [:D]
Thanks for all the info. I contacted the Army Air Force web site and I am going to scan in all the information I have and provide it to them. I wish I knew his unit and such as this would aid in their search. I will let all you know what I find out and post my progress. I am very excited about figuring all this out and building that great bird.
I also will be starting a B17G in the next weeks I finally tracked down a decal sheetI was waiting for “Bit O’ Lace”. Maybe Ill wait if it looks like a b17 GB is going to shape up though.
I can let you guys know that my Granddad flew in the 15th airforce, 416th bomb squadron, 99th bomb group stationed at Tortorello, Italy. The name of his plane was Flak Happy. I ordered a book recommended to me by the gentlemen that gave me the info. It’s called “The Diamondbacks - The History of the 99th Bomb Group”. Thanks for all your help. I am going to begin my research today. I will let you know how the project progresses. Let me know if you guys decide to do a group build. This project is priority one for me.
Hey, Ted!
I did some “google-ing” for you and i found something you may be interested in
You may have seen it before, but your granddad’s plane would be Diamond Y, IV. Hope this helps a bit. [:D]
“Flak Happy”… why does that ring a bell with me? It’s like I just read an article… or… something. Hmmm… I’ll look in my recently read pile and see what’s there.
