Early B-17 versions?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I just finished a B-17G for my wife, and will start a B-17F very soon for her as well (the B-17 is her favorite aircraft).

Does anyone know if there are 1/48 kits of earlier versions of the B-17? Like the B, C, etc? If not, does anyone know of any after-market kits that would aid in conversion…or am I looking at a ton of scratch-building? (That and the fact that I’m almost positive I’ve never seen decals for these other variations).

Any help is most appreciated!

2

you may want to check on E-bay from time to time, i have seen a vacu-formed conversion of the B-17C/D made by Koster(?)as well as the B-17E kit made by Paragon(?) That i would say is your best bet.

Hope this helps

My best regards
Hector.

3

Try this web site as it has up date sets for older B-17s. Go to search and type in b-17.

http://www.greatmodels.com/

Richard

4

Thanks Hector and Richard. Hector, have you ever worked with the Koster parts (or has anyone else here, for that matter)?

I found some decals for an H, but has anyone seen any decals for earlier (pre-F) versions?

5

I don’t think i’ve ever seen decals for Pre-B-17F models… The best you can hope for is to find AM decals for an RAF Fortress I. Then again, most early model B-17s only had a tail number, red/white rudder stripes and the early USAAF star emblem with the red dot in the center, so you can just get some generic decal sheets… [:D]

6

I have the Koster B-17C conversion - it looks pretty good and is of good quality styrene, just under 1mm. I have built some Koster kits and have found them to be very good. Bill Koster did the design work for several Monogram kits. You can buy the conversion direct from him by emailing him at wkoster2@comcast.net. I have also done the Paragon E conversion and it is very nice but extremely hard to get.

7

Ive seen the C conversion a few times on greatmodels. Just a question though how are the panel lines on the conversion pieces? I personally dont care at all whether Ive got raised or recessed panel lines. I would however like to have the conversion match the kit. Ie. if the kit had raised lines then Id like the conversion to have em too.

If the conversion does have recessed and the monogram kit has raised what are you personally going to do Swanny? Rescribe the kit or go with a mixed bag?

Thanks for your time and all your expertise! No matter what I hope you intend to build the B-17C and I cant wait to see that!!

8

I have never worked with Koster´s and i do have the Paragon B-17E conversion and let me tell you looks intimidating, your best bet would be to do what Swanny says [:D]

sorry i cannot help you more.
Hope everything works out great, BTW let us see the pics as soon as you are done[:D]

My best regards

Hector.

9

If you don’t mind 1/72 scale, Academy makes great early B-17s. I’ve got the B, and it’s a beauty.

10

Unfortunately, I’m sticking with 1/48 (for perspective against my other models). But thanks for the idea!

11

Swanny, thanks! Just fired him off an email.