This is my first post here on Fine Scale Modeler. So just a quick “get to know me”…I have been flying radio control models for about 15 years. When I was a little boy I built quite a few model cars and most recently, I did a Father Son project and built a USS Arizona with my son for his Christmas gift to his grandfather.
Now that we are done with the Arizona, my son says he wants to build more models. Well, about 10 years ago I got my father-in-law started in Radio Control. Over the years, he has developed a fondness for the P-51. So the plan that my son and I have come up with is this: we want to build 2 or 3 P-51s and a B-17 to give to my father-in-law for his BDay and Christmas next year. We want to set this up in a display so that the P-51s are escorting the B-17.
My question is this…from those of you who have built both aircraft or you simply have the experience I may be looking for, I would like thoughts, suggestions or any other information on what you might think is a good kit for the P-51 and the B-17 for me. I would like something that has decent detail and good fitment of parts. Accuracy is pretty important as far as appearance. There may not be a “PERFECT” kit, but from what is available I would like to know what you think. Of course both kits need to be the same scale.
I’m afraid I can’t offer much in the way of what kits are good since I have very little experience with kits of those planes. I will say that you may need to look for really small scale kits otherwise your display will be GIANT sized. I have two B-17 kits that I haven’t even built. Both are 1/48 scale. By the time you build one of theses and then add 2 or 3 P-51’s, it’s gonna be BIG. Just wanted to bring that to your mind if you haven’t thought of it.
Jim’s right. The wingspan on a 1:48 B-17 is about 2 feet. If you wanted to space your mustangs out somewhat properly you’d be looking at something really ambitious. Now the 1:72 B-17 is just over a foot at about 15 or so inches. However, the detail on interior workings begins to fall off dramatically as it’s just too small to fool with reasonably. But from an outward overall appearance I suppose you could pull that off with relative ease. Before you started worrying about different kits, I’d figure out what general size you’re trying to keep this. =]
The best P-51D I have ever built is Tamiya’s 1/32 scale recent release. Incredible quality and detail, but it’s kind of big and pricey,
I’ve also built a 1/72 scale B-17 from Revell- Germany, another well made and accurate kit, but even in that scale it’s big, about 14" wingspan. I wouldn’t go any smaller for the B-17 as you lose detail and the parts would be too tiny to work with.
A 1/72 P-51 D would be pretty small.
You could mix two scales to give an illusion of depth- say put a 1/48 P-51 in the foreground (Tamiya makes a nice one) and put the smaller scale B-17 in the background, the difference in scale would make it look like it’s further away.
Most Tamiya aircraft kits come highly recommended and they do a P-51D that looks really nice. I haven’t built any of mine yet, but you usually can’t fault them. For the B-17, if you want a G, you have the choice of Revell and Academy, if you want the F, defiantly go with Academy. There 17 kits were highly rated and I think were only just surpassed by Revell.
As far as detail goes, 72nd is not really that bad. There is always room for improvement if you want to, and you won’t see much of the inside anyway, apart from the cockpit.
Here’s my opinion. The 1/32 Tamiya P-51 is the best kit out there right now for that plane. However, it is expensive and though there is a 1/32 B-17 model, now you are talking about a kitchen table sized display and hundreds of dollars.
There are some 1/48 B-17 kits and many good 1/48 P-51s.
However, the most available for B-17’s are the 1/72. Academy and Hasegawa in particular. Tamiya, Revell, Hasegawa and others make 1/72 P-51s. Hasegawa even has a two plane 1/72 P-51 kit. Though small, that would be the most practical, best fit for what you are doing.
If I were to do this for a dipslay/diorama, I’d go down to 1/144 scale, just because of size concerns. A 48th scale B-17 and 3 1/48 P-51 escorts would be just too damn big. Displaying it would be a problem, keeping things from being broken another. big scale planes require too much space between them to make that feasable for the average house with out hanging them from the ceiling.
If you go down to 144th, you could say have a B-17 low over the english channel with an engine or shutdown and the 51’s escorting her. The waves below would be a good fixed base to mount the models as well as add depth/scale to whole thing.
I would be with the others and say 1/72 or 1/144 scale. Now I have not built any 1/144 kits, but I have built the Academy 1/72 B-17F as a gift/commision build that ended up with a gent who flew them in WWII. He loved it. I can say that that kit builds up very nicely, inside and out, and can wholeheartedly recommend it. Now as far as 1/72 P-51s go, there are more out there than easily be counted, but I am impressed by the new Airfix release- well detailed, accurate, appears to build up with no hassles, and priced very reasonably. I normally build 1/48 with some 1/32, and in either of those cases, the size required is too large to be practical for a single diorama setting.
Just to jump in here again, briefly, I agree that 1/144 would be a good option. Maybe the best option. I certainly wouldn’t go bigger than 1/72. I would even be concerned about going as big as 1/72. That scale may still be too big. But you have an idea of where this will be displayed while the rest of us have no clue.
I have actually built both the b-17 and p-51 in the 1/72 scale, the revell “Memphis Belle” b-17 and the Tamiya P-51d so I could show my nephew the difference in size of the two aircraft! They are a good scale(1/72) for a display. As far as detail goes, not much ‘fine’ detail, but very good for the size! Both very easy builds and both relatively cheap cost. Depending on how you plan to display, I would go with this scale, rather than a 1/144 due to lack of detail and also sence of realism! The b-17 does have a wingspan of about 17 inches and the mustang is about 6 inches. Hope this helps in your decision of what you would like to do.
These guys have more experience than me, but I just built the Academy 1/72 P-51B with RAF markings and camo paint scheme.
I had to use a small amount of putty on the bottom seam and where the tail piece connected. I put these together for my son to play with and I aim for accuracy but I’m not obsessed with it. The kit was small, but I was still able to detail the panel lines and hatches.
It is my goal to do a 1/72 B17 and a NMF 1/72 P51D soon, so I’ll post here if I complete them before you get started.
Perhaps this print could give you some inspiration, it’s a B-17G? of the 91st returning with a P-51B escort. I know the B is not the glamorous D version but I kind of like it better, although you’ll have to deal w/invasion stripes. I’d also agree that 1/72 might be a better scale option, good luck and keep us posted.
Edit, also found this one,it is a G with D escorts. I know Revell makes a 1/72 G w/91st makings not sure of the Pony though.
There is a nice photo available of a P-51B in invasion stripes and a Mallory canopy sharing a 301st (Y ? tail code) B-17F hardstand at an Italian base. The P-51 is parked under the wing of the B-17.
I built a B-17G in 1/72 scale. ProModeller was the brand and its a great kit. Fit extremely well, great detail inside and out. I built a P-51 and ME-262 to hang from my ceiling along with the B-17. If you are going to hang from ceiling 1/72 is a great scale. If you are going to put on a stand it would have to be pretty big.
Thank you all for the great replies. I am aware of the size of plane that the.B17 will be. Size isn’t a big deal as the RC aircraft that my father in law flies.has up to an eight foot wing span and he has plenty of room for storage. Some really great pictures as well. …I am sure they will be useful. I guess I am leaning towards the 1/72 scale. So if you have more comments on the two planes in that scale please feel free to advise me.
