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HK B-17E/F plus a "few" extras


pcben80

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Hello everyone,

 

Well, I think I've finally gone off the deep end...

 

After reading the excellent book "A Higher Call" coupled with the release of the HK E/F kit, I decided a while ago that my model would represent Ye Olde Pub. Initially the plan was to do a bare bones OOB build since the kit is so nice and it's not like it's a small project even by itself. However, as seems to happen commonly around here, that idea has long gone by the wayside.

 

Since I don't have the skills to depict the massive damage she incurred, I am planning on a diorama depicting the plane undergoing preparations prior to her fateful encounter with Franz Stigler. In order to do this, I've accumulated a rather large array of non-LSP items to depict the general busyness that I imagine a WWII-era airfield would have exuded in preparation for a bombing raid. Most of the items are 1/35 which I am OK with since it's the only thing out there! Also, whether it's accurate to depict all of these vehicles in a single location or not doesn't bother me. The only people who will be seeing this diorama in the flesh will be my family and I doubt they'll mind!

 

So, thanks to a recent stash purge to raise funds for this project, here is what I am planning:

 

I'm thinking this guy and his ride will be parked talking to his MP buddy (see next picture):

 

tDxOMPK.jpg?2

 

I'm not planning to incorporate the one directing traffic but I'm thinking the other chap will be sitting there talking to the guy in the Jeep. The Case tractor will be towing a used oil cart. Wasn't sure what to make of this kit when I came across it but the box art depicts B-17s in the background so I figured why not!

 

CfBNnor.jpg?1

 

AhXMICH.jpg?1

 

An AA position surrounded by sand bags with an observation post (apologies for the poor picture!):

 

OpePdc8.jpg?2

 

YBKW2pw.jpg?1

 

While the generic box, doesn't look that exciting, the contents include two lovely 1/35 Quonset huts from Masterpiece Models which will serve as a command post/maintenance workshop/field hospital.

 

qCIwkGh.jpg?1

 

A little muscle in case someone gets bogged down in the mud. This one is close to completion already - really nice kit.

 

mI5RVug.jpg?2

 

A fuel tanker standing by to gas up the planes (more on that to come).

 

ERS0G8i.jpg?1

 

A deuce and a half hauling some oil drums and extra ammo for the AA position. I got this off eBay with the Verlinden add-on set including a nicely detailed engine so I might depict this one broken down with the hood up.

 

eYf49uY.jpg?1

 

3OgiuoF.jpg?1

 

And a little something to haul the deuce and a half to the maintenance shop - really looking forward to getting started on this. Nice looking kit.

 

pJRJIwD.jpg?1

 

A Beep hauling a bomb cart over to the Pub. I picked up the Eduard 500lb bombs for display on the cart since they have a little extra detail not seen on the kit bombs that will look good on full display rather than tucked up into the bomb bay.

 

OzEERCr.jpg?1

 

SPdsIFS.jpg?2

 

To be continued...

Edited by pcben80
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So, now for the main attraction and what will be the focus of this build thread. In order to really do this kit justice, I ordered the entire Eduard line-up including the resin engines, wheels and superchargers. I also grabbed a couple of the Resin2Details sets to spruce up the cockpit a little. I have the KitsWorld decals for the Ye Olde Pub.

 

CUZY6RG.jpg?1

bi2Bh0u.jpg?1

uYFJuMS.jpg?1

 

pBqNmzx.jpg?1

 

vn7qWXN.jpg?2

 

Anyway, this was a really long introduction to what will be a marathon build. I must say that I am really looking forward to it though. One of the nice things is the variety of subject matter. I've found on my previous LSP builds that when you get to the tedious parts of the build, I sometime lose my enthusiasm. When that happens, I can just hop over and work on a wheeled thingy!

 

Now, if this diorama sounds familiar to the folks here, it should. The inspiration came from this beauty: https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=2125. If I can even come close to those results, I will be very happy. Believe it or not, I still have a few other things I want to get, including a WC-54 ambulance. I'd love to add a fire truck but I can't seem to find one.

 

 

 

Best,

Ben

Edited by pcben80
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Boy this will be mammoth! Good luck with the project and one problem I see often is modellers tend to overcrowd the diorama and it becomes confusing. Keep it simple is often the best rule.

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Good luck, Ben! I think this project is about as ambitious as they come.

Kev

 

Thanks, Kevin. Definitely going to be a while until this one crosses the finish line!

 

Boy this will be mammoth! Good luck with the project and one problem I see often is modellers tend to overcrowd the diorama and it becomes confusing. Keep it simple is often the best rule.

Some great advice - thank you. This will be my first diorama so I'll be sure to keep that in mind. The footprint is going to be huge - luckily there is an old dining table in a spare room that should work nicely for this! Edited by pcben80
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I have to agree with Maxim, less is certainly more, think of it as a short story with a simple narrative, I'd just go with the B-17 and some figures, Andy Cairns made a great set of USAAF crew, would be quite poignant given the subject.

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Very ambitious project Ben.  I will follow with interest. Please check out the picture below, the national insignia was repainted and overall appearance of the ye olde pub is fairly clean.

 

 

Thanks for checking in. As always, your picture references are always top notch and very inspirational!

 

That's good to know as I was planning to keep the weathering pretty subtle on this one.

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You are welcome, here is a picture of the part of the Kimbolton airport  at the time of war. Between May 1943 and June 1945 the airfield was the home of the USAF 379th Bombardment Group

kimboltonairfield4.jpg

 

And here is a picture of "Lost Angel" landing on the same airport, showing the overall emptiness of the place. As the guys noted already less is more.

 

kimboltonairfield3.jpg

Good Luck with your project Ben.

Cheers

Martin

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and more from the base,

Great stuff - will definitely be referring to these during the build.

 

I really appreciate all the input regarding this project. While I think I will keep the overall theme for the diorama, I have decided to remove the P-47 from the scene so that I can keep the center of attention where it belongs on the Fortress. I also figure if I was having to come up with "what if" scenarios to justify its inclusion, then I should probably just take it out!

 

Cheers,

Ben

Edited by pcben80
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