Well I have every version of the B-17 except for the YB-40 and B-17E. I am searching for the Paragon YB-40 conversion to use on a Monogram B-17G I have in the stash. Since I am ready to go on the E I am going to punt since I can’t find the Paragon conversion. I got a Revell F cheap on e-bay thats on its way, I ordered four Ultracast “skinny” props, and I am going to modify the Bendix turret from a Revell B-25C for the belly turret. All I need to find is the proper nose glass.
Ah, you want to do an early B-17E. For the nose, which is the same as a C/D, go to Koster’s, available here:
www.swannysmodels.com/KostersKorner.html
Have you done a B model yet? You could do the only true WWII combat B model of the 28th Composite Group in the Aleutians, 38-0215. Find a 1/72 Academy or Italeri B and scale up the tunnel gun from it.
Rich, yes I have already built the Academy B-17B in 1/72. I normally only do 1/48 but had to do the B and C in 1/72 as I couldn’t find any conversions for 1/48. I did build a D with the Koster conversion, but it only came with one nose piece. I can’t afford a second kit just for the nose, I am hoping I can find just the nose somewhere. I will post some pics later of my current fleet and progress shots of the E.
Hey John, You started on the E then I’m asuming? Since your building the early model with the electric turret, dont forget to add the 4 sighting windows and clear bubble aft of the turret.
I’ve been planning to build an E model as well. I didnt realise the ultra cast has the needle props, I got a hold of 2 sets of the needle props out of revell C-47 kit’s. I’m planning on using the revell F as the basis, I hate the kits engines and cowls so I may use the G kit parts for that, just not sure about the cowls though, I know there was a difference from E to F but dont think it would be noticable in 48th scale. I’ve got the koster nose as well. If you have kosters email address, you should email him to see if you can get the nose cone. I’ve done this before with him.
Cant wait to see progress pics!
B-17 Guy, The Revell F should be here tomorrow and the props shipped today. Yes, I was looking at he Squadron B-17 in action regarding the side windows and sighting bubble. Thanks for the advice on contacting Koster, I will give it a try. I noticed the Paragon conversion does have different cowls in it, but I can not see any real difference in my reference materials. On my D I used the C-47 props as well with some help from Glen. I just saw an add for the Ultracast props, they are expensive but look really nice. I ordered them last night and they shipped today already. I will post some pics when I get underway with this project.
Looking forward to the -E. Just painted a 48 -D.
On the YB-40, might want to use the -F. The paragon set includes a chin turret, so no problem there. I suggest the -F, as the YB-40s where all converted from -Fs anyway. The cheek windows arrangement was that of -F (big one in middle on port side; some raised) or had all small windows. Some did have the navigator dome. Just suggesting to make it easier on the conversion. I going to use an -F kit when I get around to the YB-40. just my two cents.
Thank you for the advice on the F for YB-40, I will have to pick up another one on e-bay when one comes up cheap. Thanks to the link on Swanny’s Model page I e-mailed Mr. Koster to see if he can sell me just the nose or at least whole clear sheet from that conversion set.
John, instead of just getting the one nose cone for the E, or even the clear parts from the B/C/D/E conversion I’d recomend getting the koster nose job set.
www.swannysmodels.com/Koster35.html
There is alot of versatitly in that set, has the bulged cheeks for an F model, E, F and G nose cones. The F nose cones include 3 options for forward firing .50’s!
B-17 Guy, yes I contacted Bill and he suggested that set as well. Now I will have to add even more B-17’s to my collection 
. I just ordered the Kitsworld Decals for Aluminum Overcast which lives just up the road from me and was my first B-17 ride and Texas Raiders which my Dad and I seen fly in to Oshkosh back in 1975 and was the first time he seen a 17 since the war.
Now that Koster set looks very handy!
Hey John, did you by chance use the yankee doodle nose art from the koster conversion set? I’m leaning towards building her but the nose art part of the decals is smudged and not useable. As it is, I gotta get a hold of another set of that decal as yankee doodle carried the name on both sides of the nose, there isnt enough in the koster set.
Well I finally got the side windows gnawed in, just need to clean them up a bit. Not sure what I am going to do for glass yet. I heard about something called Krystal Clear to make them or may just use clear sheet stock. I am covering the ball turret opening from the inside with sheet plastic. Then I am going to attach the top turret flange from another F kit and fill in around it to make the mounting for the Bendix turret. Then finish it off with a highly modified F top turret. It is difficult to find decent pictures and diagrams of the underside of an early E. I even have the Army operators manual pages to look at and it shows just a general representation of the turret and windows, so I had to improvise.
Here are some shots of the belly turret prep. I covered the ball turret opening with card stock from the inside, then glued the new turret ring in place, then cut out the center. Then I took my almost dried out tube of Squadron green putty to fill in the gap. Still have some filling and sanding to do but did some dry fitting of the turret to give an idea of what it will look like:
Not sure if it’s worth posting, but here is the latest progress. Wings assembled and painted and fuselage is assembled and the underside painted. The finish will look better once the dullcote is applied and blends it into an even sheen. I could not find any close up photos of the Bendix belly turret, although found several drawn diagrams, all of them different. So I punted and went with my best interpretation of what I think it looked like. I am painting it in the markings of the 17’s that participated in the Battle of Midway. Here again there are no clear photos of the actual aircraft and only a couple side view drawings and a couple models I found on the internet to use as references, all of them different. Again I took them all and put them together with my interpretation of what I think it should look like.
Nice!!! Anything to do with Midway is always a great subject…
Thanks for this thread, I’m going to follow this closely. I want to build the same subject, for my collection of US aircraft at Midway. I’ve got a pair of old Revell -F’s set aside just for that purpose.
John, the old Revell B-25B kit in 1/48 had the parts for the Bendix remote turret and I used it as a resource when I did a Fortress II in 1/72 with the remote turret, here is what I came up with:
The build log is here:
Excellent job on the turret, John. It looks close to Swamp Ghost’s (41-2446) turret. Your Hawaiian Air Depot scheme looks great. For those who would like to do an E model in the HAD scheme, but don’t want to scratchbuild a remote Bendix turret, check out the early E model retrofitted with a ball turret on page 10 of Dana Bell’s Air Force Colors, Volume 3, the Pacific and Home Front, 1942-47.
Thank you gentlemen! Jeaton01, the Revell B-25 is where I got the idea to do the 17E. But after I thought about it I decided to save those parts for when I do build the 25 as none of the six I already built have the belly turret. I like to show as many different versions as I can of each aircraft in my collection. That is why I decided to use the top turret and mounting ring I had left after converting another F to D. When I was researching paint schemes I was ecstatic when I figured out I could do a Midway 17! When I was younger I read every book and watched every documentary on Midway I could find. Interestingly a dear friend, Louie Miller, that I knew for many years started to share some of his history that he never really even shared with his family. I knew he was a Marine but never said much about it. Shortly before his passing he was telling me about being on Guadalcanal. And he said “yeah, and before that they shipped us out of Pearl on some fishing boats to help out at Midway”. WOW! He was actually there during the Japanese attack manning a three inch gun on Eastern Island! I was extremely honored that he shared this with me as he didn’t like to talk much about it. Anyway, getting sentimental here, back to B-17’s
Looking good John! Interesting info about your friend. Its unfortunate that alot of these heros didn’t like to talk about their experiences. My dad said my grandfather only talked about it once with him, and there was liquor involved. Anyways, keep up the good work. I’m following your progress.
Joe