Even with the various detail sets I’m finding myself building plenty of scratch details. I keep test fitting pieces then looking through open hatches to see what’s going to be visible then addressing each issue. First I noticed in walk-around photos that the underside of the cockpit floor was natural wood so that was the first detail.
The some framing around the access to the cockpit and some of the more obvious ribbing followed by the larger pieces of wiring. I did notice rudder cables were very visible through the nose hatch and was able to replicate those. Still need to add battery shelves and fire canisters in this area plus interior wall ribbing.
And here you can get some idea of what you would see when the model is complete and you look into that open nose hatch.
More work goes into the top side of the cockpit floor with the IP getting detailed then test fit.
The F model does not have anything in the radio room area so all that needs to be scratch built. Now you may think that nothing would be visible when complete especially with that aft turret but I plan on building this so the turret can quickly and easily be pulled allowing a good view into the radio room. Also the nose of the F kit does not include anything for the Navigator’s station so table and floor pan are scratched for that as well.
And that sums up Thursday evenings and all day Fridays modeling time. [8D]
I am so bummed that you posted these links. I was going to do an allison engined B-17 for my “What if” GB but my own rules state that there can be no living prototype. I guess I’ll just have to build it for fun and do something else for the GB. Then again, perhaps an allison engined YB-40. Perhaps it could have kept up.
BTW Where did you get your resin part for the aft dorsal turret?
Please keep the pics coming! <(:-D}
The aft turret is included in the Paragon conversion package. At one time you could buy them from Great Models but you can always buy them direct from Paragon.
What about an Allison Engined B-17 Float Plane?
[:D]
Matt, you make this scratchbuilding lark look simple. When we all know its soooo Not.
Awesome my friend.
…Guy
Its builds like these that you can really the passion that the builder has for his hobby.
Good on ya mate, its inspiring me to want to build my own kits to a faar more accurate and better degree!
I’ll be followin this build closely now for more inspiration!
Those look like one of my favorite pieces of material, good ol’ wooden coffee stirrers, am I right?
Hey Swanny…Nice job. I was planning on doing the same thing on my B-17G. It does make a big difference.
Hey Swanny…Nice job. I was planning on doing the same thing on my B-17G. It does make a big difference.
Sorry Baron but that is a flat resin piece with oil paint - looks pretty cool, huh?
Rob, without a doubt. This is my third 1/48 B-17 build but the first that I have put this level of detail into. It is taking on a life of its own. I am just a hapless spectator now.
Here is a test fit of the cockpit, what you cannot see here is the wooden flooring that runs along the very lowest point of the fuselage belly. It can be seen from the open hatch, from the nose and when looking down from the top turret which will be removable when all is complete.
Moving on to the next crew station I am now working over the Gunner’s/Navigator’s position in the nose. No bombardier here - this is a pure gunship so things are a little different than your standard B-17. The Nav. table and chair remain the same but remember, this is the Revell F kit which omitted all detail aft of the bombardier’s seat. The new aft floor section is measured and fit then attached to the forward floor pan. PE detail is added from the Eduard kit, the pan behind the nose turret bracing is the ammo box pan.
Everything is painted with drab green then hit with some interior green.
The Gunner’s seat is very different from the little office chair thing you normally see for a bombardier. I made this seat from one of the original kit cockpit chairs and this shot shows the before and after. Remember, this is a salvaged kit so the seat I reworked started out looking like the one you see here including the mass quantities of glue.
And here is the seat in place. I was looking over the pictures and thinking something looks really wrong with that interior green when it dawned on me that I had shot it with Olive Drab - DOH! Was not too late to go back and reshoot the floor with the correct color though.
And finally a footnote about the image sizes, these are purposely scaled to this size to fit into the build article.
Swanny,
It’s looking great! Keep plugging away at it! You and Rob with his B-17G are really turning out some magnificent detail.
Thanks Melgyver, but Swanny is moving along and I’m not. His work is first class and I hope mine comes out like his.
Hey Swanny…Where can I order Aires stuff? Need guns and 1/48 J-79 afterburners for a group build starting next month.
Cheers
Rob, your work is more first class than mine. I am seriously impressed with the stuff you are doing. I’m afraid that I’m going to steal your chemical toilet design and some of your waist gun details. Really like your fire extinguishers too. I got my Aires guns from Great Models. They are not always in stock so sometimes you have to wait a week or two but well worth it.
Just checked and they show in-stock, here’s the link http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcart/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=AHM4272
Boy, I’ll say! You really captured the look of the grain. It really does look like stained wood. I built a 54mm tavern table out of coffee stirrers and stained/sealed it with shellac, and your piece looks exactly like that. Well done!
Regards,
Brad
Swanny !! Your models always astound me, one day i’ll do a bit of wiring in one of my kits something i can’t be bothered with. [bow]
ian.
I have to share this:
http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=152466&st=0
Wish I had the patience…[:(]
Wow, B-17 Guy, that is another astounding build! Thanks for sharing the link. I can see that bashing the Revell -F back to an -E at Midway is going to be a lot of work, but build character [:D]
The Paragon E conversion is a real nice set - I did one as a Coastal Command aircraft a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
are you sure the float plane had Allison engines? Allison says they only built two planes and one of them crashed very early on. There was also a B17 built that had two radial engines and two TF56 turboprops on it; as well as a couple of C47s.
gary
Wow!!!
Very impressive work! This gives me the inspiration to put this on my list of things to one day think about doing. The wiring is impressive and is something that I will add to a build in the near future, your photos are very helpful in that regard. I am looking foreward to seeing the finished product.