tomprobert Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I've been working on this project on and off for the last year or so, and finally applied the finishing touches this weekend. The HK Models kit needs no introduction and was for the second time, a joy to build. Having seen a few of these kits made up as war-beaten WWII aircraft, I wanted to do something a little different, and thus decided to build this version as a modern day warbird. Most preserved Forts in natural metal gleam like a mirror - something that terrified me, so I went instead for the Experimental Aircraft Association's 'Aluminum Overcast' which is operated from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which is actually painted silver rather than being in NMF. Being a Vega block 105 aircraft, she never saw combat, as it was actually built too late to see service in WWII, and instead went straight to the boneyard as 'surplus' before being bought in 1946 by Universal Aviation for aerial mapping purposes. It was sold again in 1947, this time as a cargo hauler which required numerous modifications, before once again taking on the role of aerial mapping platform in 1949, spending 12 years in the Middle East. By 1966 another sale ensued and the B-17 was used as a chemical sprayer back in the US, before its final role which began in 1966 as an aerial tanker and fire bomber. After retirement from this role in 1988, she was purchased by the 'B-17s around the World Foundation' and subsequently donated to the EAA, where a thorough restoration to WWII configuration began. She's been touring the US since 1994, and proudly wears the colours of 398th BG which flew from Nuthampstead during the war. Although she's 95% authentic in comparison to her WWII counterparts, she does carry a full, modern avionics suite, as well as extra passenger seats in the rear fuselage, radio room and flightdeck for those lucky enough to enjoy a flight in her. The upper turret is just a dome with dummy barrels fitted to improve access to the flightdeck, but the ball turret is fully operational. I carried out the simple modifications to the HK kit to bring it up to 'warbird' status by scratch-building the passenger seats, removing and filling the radome on the top of the nose compartment, adding the modern aerials seen on the aircraft and leaving out the top turret mechanism. Armour plate was removed from the pilots' seats, and the flightdeck oxygen system was also removed. I painted the interior olive green as the original, as unlike her wartime sisters she's painted internally. Wooden floors and ammo boxes were recreated using the superb HGW decals, and a final touch was a scratch-built rear access door and entry step as well as a ladder stored in the bomb-bay as often seen when these Forts are on tour. Decals came from KitsWorld, and paints were automotive acrylics. Boeing B-17G-105-VE s/n 44-85740, civil reg. N5017N 'Aluminum Overcast' DSC_0058 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0065 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Removing the nose radome: S1030377 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Interior progressing with scratch-built passenger seats etc: DSC_0008 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0082 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0087 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0092 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0094 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0101 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Part Two to follow... Tony T, SinuheH, Uncarina and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Part Two... DSC_0108 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0117 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0120 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0136 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0147 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0154 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0157 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0160 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And the picture that inspired it all: Srenco-B17 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Thanks for stopping by, Tom mywifehatesmodels, Uncarina, SinuheH and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker459 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Tom, Absolutely a great job and finish to a great airplane Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Immaculately finished. Very nice. A jump seat in the bomb bay would be harrowing. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywifehatesmodels Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Beautiful work, as usual, Tom! I had a chance (actually, for the second time), to get up close to Aluminum Overcast, over the summer. You've done a great job in capturing her great looks and details. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very nicely done Tom. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Tom Amazing build ... :clap2: Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Very nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinuheH Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 (edited) Very nice work, congrats! Edited October 4, 2015 by SinuheH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Stupendous!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Thanks awfully, chaps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phartycr0c Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Tom, she stunning. You should be justifiably proud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahman104 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Excellent work Tom! Great to see this one finished. Looking again at the overall model, your landing gear mod was certainly the way to go and makes a huge difference. Thanks for the motivation to keep mine going too. Cheers mate, Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Really fantastic result, Tom! I'd love to publish it on the website if you'd permit me. What's next, by the way? Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBrown Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Absolutely brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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