Search the Community

Having built the HK Models B-17G a year or so ago and thoroughly enjoyed the process, I've decided it was about time to build another! This time I'm going to finish it as a modern-day 'Warbird' - I was thinking about building the YAM's 'Yankee Lady' as I went for a flight in her in 2012, but the thought of all that gleaming aluminium had me running scared. Instead I've gone for the EAA's Aluminium Overcast which is painted silver, and therefore far less of a headache to achieve a decent finish. (picture used for illustrative purposes only) This kit will need some modifying to bring up to 'warbird' standard as it's moulded as a late-war B-17G complete with all combat equipment. Therefore, some of the combat equipment will be left out of this build, and unlike wartime B-17s, will be painted interior green - most warbirds are painted in this way to prevent corrosion. I'll also be making the rear passenger seats for the waist areas as well as two extra seats on the flightdeck. Decals have been sourced from KitsWorld: http://www.kitsworld.co.uk/index.php?CATEGORY=3&SUB=1&THISPAGE=1&RADIOSORT=4&PICFILE=373&STKNR=373&STRH=3808&ORDN=2303&RNZ=384906 The first job was to remove the mounts for the crew oxygen system on the flightdeck and replicate the padding seen on the real thing from thin plastic card scribed with the stitching detail: I then scratch-built the rear passenger seats, which are the folding webbed type on the real aircraft: The rear fuselage bulkhead by the entry door has webbing to stop passengers venturing too far aft - this was recreated with Evergreen strip: The nose compartment bulkhead had the oxygen hoses made from guitar string and the cover for the rear of the instrument panel make from plastic card: The underside of the flightdeck by the forward crew entry door is lacking detail as it comes in the kit, so I have made some of the fuselage structure from plastic card and Evergreen: The flightdeck itself has had the two additional passenger/crew seats scratch-built and the guards around the control columns added: Finally, the radio room has had the camera hatch added to the floor, the table support modified, and the rear bulkhead has had the ball-turret ammunition cans removed and the structural detail added from plastic card and yet more Evergreen. All doors have been removed as these will be posed open to allow more light to travel through the model's interior. I've a few more smaller details to add before a coat or two of paint. It's been great fun so far Tom