Iain Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Suitably inspired (nagged!) by my 9 year old son Cameron to dig out our respective B-17 projects, I thought I ought to put a stick in the ground and post a thread here. Cam is a huge B-17 fan (especially the 'Memphis Belle) as so last year we got him the old Revell 1:48th 'F' kit. He was very excited - and then a little put off by the complexity of it all so I had 'another bright ideaTM' and suggested that if he had a go at his, I'd dig my 1:32 monster from the loft and we could build both in parallel. This weekend just gone Cam has called 'in' on the deal - so, well, here we are! No digs, or jibes about Connie et al and my ability to get majorly sidetracked - oh look - there's that squirrel again!!! Add to that I'm seeing some majorly superb B-17 projects on the go and I'm kinda thinking just how hard can it be? Plan is to make some corrections (nothing major) and, having discovered AK Interactive Xtreme Metal paint, go for 'Bit O' Lace'. OK - she's been done before - but the decals are available - and she's a well photographed airframe. Will have to 'un-stagger' the waist guns and vac some bulged 3 window waist gun positions - that's the plan anyway. Now, I wasn't going to get too much aftermarket stuff for this project - I already had the beautiful Master gun barrel set I acquired a good 18 months ago at a bargain price - but, hey, ho, you know how it is and, whilst surfing for B-17 info the other night I spotted some Brassin engines going cheap - at least engines 2,3 and 4. Now I recon that 1 and 4 are most likely identical (and a quick look on the Eduard site shows all the same part numbers on engines 1 and 4) - so the eagle eyed will spot the odd box numbering. If I mention the engines were only £8.17 each you'll understand my madness a little better! Oh - and the wheels just had to come along for company! These should dress up the model nicely - but I've succumbed to a little more today - details to follow when they arrive - but I recon main areas to concentrate on detail-wise are the cockpit and nose area. I'll be cheating a little - if it's unlikely to be seen on the final model then I'm not going to worry too much. Have a few refs. dug out so far - but my absolute fave is 'The Mighty Eighth In Colour' - full of cracking period colour images - and heaps of inspiration! Here's Cameron with his B-17F: And holding the HK Models 'G' - whilst we were trying to guage the magnitude of our folly yesterday: More soon*... Iain *No warranty given, or implied! Tnarg, Azgaron, airscale and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Looking forward to this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 great idea, looking forward to seeing both come together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Will watch this closely, Iain. Am especially interested to see your three-piece waist windows. The B-17 is my all time fave and I literally have hundreds of references. If you need any info regarding interior colours then shout - despite us regularly seeing B-17 models painted US Interior Green throughout, not a drop was ever used on the Fortress, regardless of mark/model. It's a *very* common error made *very* often! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radders Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 A model I would love to own and build but I'm dreaming!! Looking forward to seeing this get the Ogilvie touch though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Iain What a fantastic project for both you and cam. Looking forward with eager anticipation of each update. Keep 'em comoing Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmthamade Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Fantastic you're building along with your son!! What a great way to learn, from a master modeller!! I'm going to get nostalgic here, when i was a young lad not much older than your son i built the AirFix 1/72 kit with "A Bit o Lace" markings, that kit and especially the box art left a huge impression on me, helped start me building 45+ years ago. Really looking forward to this build. Don The1971Show 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormer Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Now that was a great heads up about those engines - although I had to do a little detective work to find them at creativemodels:-) All this hype on forum about the status on other B-17 builds just might be what I need to (re)kickstart my build. Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Great detective work Stormer - I would have provided details if asked... But a complete set of brand new Brassin engines at that price - plus strong Euro/£ from Denmark - are a steal IMHO! Did you order same as me - #2, #3 and 2 x #4? I've not found anything yet (including the assembly .pdfs) that shows any difference between engines 1 and 4 - and #1 was over £18. Has everyone seen David Parker's (AIR Modeller magazine) superlative B-17G build yet? Photos of his build are stunning - and it's even better in the 'flesh'. Looks like more of these are being built now - must admit I was a little put off by some of the shape issues that were found - but they really don't shout at me on finished builds as much as I thought they would... It really is a stunning looking kit! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Thanks guys - going to be fun juggling this build with Cameron's 'F' (and a pile of other stuff) - but we're both feeling inspired. Need to ask Cam if he wants a separate thread... He's still afraid of painting anything - wants to be perfect - but I keep telling him to relax, enjoy and learn as he goes - and not beat himself up if it falls below his expectations. I think youngsters can be just as interested as we were as kids *if* they are exposed to the hobby and given guidance and support. He's only 9! With his B-17 I've tried not to push him - just pick up on his enthusiasm as and when. Iain Jackson, Victor K2 and CShanne 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plane_mc Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Looking forward to seeing you put your touch on this kit. It is great that you are building with your son. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormer Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 I had ruled out the engines due to the high price (4x£20), so I just jumped at them believing your research 1 and 4 being the same. I have a lot of etch and other stuff at the ready... David's build is an absolute must as reference and although I have all the magazines I strongly consider buying the booklet with the entire build. The shape issues means nothing to me. It looks very much like a B-17, and that's enough for me. Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Feel free to shoot me when we find #1 and #4 are completely different! I'd not even considered them - but up they popped on my screen - taunting me - and I'm easily led! Suspect you got some of the last - they only had a few. They also had the four engine pack at £44 which is a good price. Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormer Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Quote: I'm easily led! We are only men... Jeff and Iain 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Looks like they still have some #3s left if anyone is looking. Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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