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THE FINAL HURDLE!... 1:20 scale scratch built B17G


fozzy

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Hi there guys

 

Time for another update

My last post was the building of the bottom half of the tail wheel section and this time its the detail above the tail wheel!....I have had a lot of trouble finding information and photos of this area as I mentioned in the last post which forced me to kind of use my imagination a bit!....Well I was photographing what I had done and decided to take it all apart because I came across a photo of a C-1 auto pilot unit that sits on a tray just above the tail wheel!(2 days of work down the drain!:() .....I have found that there seems to have been different pieces of equipment depending on the model and year of the aircraft!....this of course gave me a headache because I had to decide what I was going to place in this area ....so I went with the C-1 autopilot.

The other big problem I had was the fact that some of the parts extended from the roof of the fuselage down to the floor!....this was difficult for me as I had to line it all up so that when the upper and lower halves were joined it all connected up!...so a lot of trial and error and dry fitting took place!...the joys of scratch building!:rolleyes:

 

So the first 2 photos is of the retracting gear assembly just above the tail wheel it self....I built this out of bits of plastic and a cutting of one of my Bass guitar strings (kind of looks like the activating screw!)....

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS.jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(1).jpg

 

A few more parts now added and more Bass guitar strings!

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(2).jpg

 

The two white unpainted plastic parts you see in this next photo was the real problem lining up with the bottom section!

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(3).jpg

 

Here is my attempt at making the C-1 auto pilot unit.......

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(4).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(5).jpg

 

...and painted...

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(6).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(7).jpg

 

So after it was all painted ,here is the end result with the two halves together showing you different angles....

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(8).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(9).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(10).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(11).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(12).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(13).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(14).jpg

 

...and my favourite shots of looking down through the fuselage!!....

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(15).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(16).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(17).jpg

 

TAIL_WHEEL_UPPER_DETAILS_(18).jpg

 

I still have to place a few cables coming from the Auto pilot unit but that's basically the tail wheel area complete.

 

So I turned my attention to the control line rigging that I thought would be easy compared with the last bit....I guess it was just time consuming and fiddly!

I first made 8 x cable guides that keep the control lines away from the fuselage sides...it took me hours!!

 

CONTROL_CABLES.jpg

 

The cable guides were then put in place and then using some fishing line I pulled it all  taught from one end of the fuselage through to the rear. I did made a mistake and had to move the position a tad as I forgot to line the cables up with the cables on the front section of this B17G already built ...duhh!

 

CONTROL_CABLES_(1).jpg

 

CONTROL_CABLES_(2).jpg

 

CONTROL_CABLES_(3).jpg

 

CONTROL_CABLES_(4).jpg

 

Okay.....so now I had to turn my attention to the area between the tail wheel and the Cheyenne turret at the rear.

 

This is causing this project to come to a grinding halt! I have trawled the internet for hours and hours...looked in books and I just cant seem to find any photos/drawings/diagrams....absolutely nothing except the flooring!...There is the Elevator and hinge control cable actuated mechanisms above the floors ....but alas nothing but a few obscure photos either out of focus or just a slight glimpse of what I need!....I resorted to looking at photos of damaged B17s that have the tail unit blown off!....you kind of get a rough idea of the area but of course it's all mangled metal!....I have also written to the Lyon Museum in California who have "Fuddy Duddy" on display to see if they can help me...waiting for a response.

 

Here is the said area....

 

CONTROL_CABLES_(5).jpg

 

So if any of you great modellers have any info or photos that I haven't seen then PLEASE PLEASE give me the heads up!....but I'm not holding my breath!

 

Well that's it for now.....till the next time...

 

Cheers for looking in

 

Fozzy

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19 hours ago, dodgem37 said:

Rock ON!, Brother.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

 

I could have Mark if my band hadn't split up!!

 

 

18 hours ago, Out2gtcha said:

Really lovely work Fozz! 

 

Cheers bud!

 

 

16 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said:

Amazing realism, Martin!

 

Kev

 

Thanks a lot Kev!

 

14 hours ago, vvwse4 said:

Hi Martin,

 

Looks great really admire your skills.

 

DSCN3848

 

DSCN3849

 

DSCN3850

 

DSCN3851

 

DSCN3852

 

 

DSCN3853

 

I know these pics are taken from books but is this what you are looking for?

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much Rick!.....really appreciate you sending me these photos......a couple of them are just what I'm looking for..........I have sent you a PM

 

Cheers...Fozzy

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3 hours ago, brahman104 said:

Amazing work Fozzy!

 

I love the effect those guitar strings make..... do they naturally stay straight like that or do you have to do something to fix them? The tail section is brilliant and putting my build to shame with the speed of your completion!!

 

Cheers,

 

Craig

 

Thanks Craig......the strings are Bass guitar strings and I didn't have to do anything with them other than paint them!.....as for the speed of completion?....I have been at this build for years.....starting the front section 9 years ago! ;)

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I sent these and several others to your BM message, but in case folks here want to know as well: 

 

Yankee Lady Looking forward to where the control cables split up for rudder and elevators. Also note the V-shaped brace that the electric wiring is coming through)

123857602_124635382745609_83501080269000

 

and 

Shady Lady when it was at McMinnville. This is looking up through the escape hatch. Note how the cables go back to the pulleys on the arm that actually raises and lowers the elevators. There seems to be a canvas cover for the elevator pole on the outside of the fuselage.

123904684_124630722746075_64707171823638

 

 

Incredible dedication to this project. I've been thrilled with every update since I saw the Fuddy Duddy on the nose several years ago.

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5 hours ago, Ol' Scrapiron said:

I sent these and several others to your BM message, but in case folks here want to know as well: 

 

Yankee Lady Looking forward to where the control cables split up for rudder and elevators. Also note the V-shaped brace that the electric wiring is coming through)

123857602_124635382745609_83501080269000

 

and 

Shady Lady when it was at McMinnville. This is looking up through the escape hatch. Note how the cables go back to the pulleys on the arm that actually raises and lowers the elevators. There seems to be a canvas cover for the elevator pole on the outside of the fuselage.

123904684_124630722746075_64707171823638

 

 

Incredible dedication to this project. I've been thrilled with every update since I saw the Fuddy Duddy on the nose several years ago.

 

Once again Steve.....a huge thanks to you for coming up with these photos and also to Rick aka vvwse4...for his photos and info!

 

I feel a lot happier now that I have something to work with!;):)

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Found some drawings in my manuals:

pCCQpVs.jpg

Tail Wheel & Surface Lock Control System

 

45Xwmgz.jpg

Elevator Lock Mechanism

 

X4CpZxd.jpg

Tail Surfaces

 

1M1o3Wl.jpg

Cable Color Code Chart

 

JKkD3zL.jpg

Automatic Flight Control Equipment.

 

QRu9CYk.jpg

Tail Wheel & Surface Control Locks

 

zasg47f.jpg

Rudder & Elevator Lock Units

 

Ks6aUYJ.jpg

 

Elevator Control

 

gTUuUu5.jpg

Trim Tab Control

 

qQPiX9T.jpg

Tail Surface Details

 

oup366f.jpg

Tab Control

 

Hope this helps some.

Sincerely,

Mark

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4 hours ago, dodgem37 said:

Found some drawings in my manuals:

pCCQpVs.jpg

Tail Wheel & Surface Lock Control System

 

45Xwmgz.jpg

Elevator Lock Mechanism

 

X4CpZxd.jpg

Tail Surfaces

 

1M1o3Wl.jpg

Cable Color Code Chart

 

JKkD3zL.jpg

Automatic Flight Control Equipment.

 

QRu9CYk.jpg

Tail Wheel & Surface Control Locks

 

zasg47f.jpg

Rudder & Elevator Lock Units

 

Ks6aUYJ.jpg

 

Elevator Control

 

gTUuUu5.jpg

Trim Tab Control

 

qQPiX9T.jpg

Tail Surface Details

 

oup366f.jpg

Tab Control

 

Hope this helps some.

Sincerely,

Mark

 

Mark!....thank you so much!....these diagrams once I have sorted them out in my head will be of great use!....I have had so much help from fellow modelers...absolutely amazing!

 

Thanks again Mark!..............Fozzy 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Good afternoon everyone

 

Time for an update!

 

In the last post I mentioned that I was having a problem with finding information and photographs of the area immediately to the rear of the tail wheel tub........Well since then I have had great help with photos and info from some fellow modelers ....so a BIG THANK YOU goes out to Ol'Scrapiron ,vvwse4 and dodgem37 (Steve,Rick and Mark) for their help in sending me the photos that I desperately needed to continue with this part of the build. I also reached out to the museum that looks after B17G "Fuddy Duddy" to see if they could help me but I never got a reply!

So after shifting through all the photos and studying  them I came to the conclusion that a lot of the detail that I had already built into the area had to be changed as I was just guessing what it looked like from the photos I had!......so I carefully took pieces off here and there ready to start a fresh......very frustrating but it had to be done!

 

..................but before we get into all that I can show you some new detail that didn't need ripping out!

 

I made a fire extinguisher out of a plastic cocktail stick!......this first photo is of the real extinguisher....

 

MORE_DETAIL_TO_THE_REAR_SECTION.jpg

 

...and here is my effort....

 

MORE_DETAIL_TO_THE_REAR_SECTION_(1).jpg

 

I placed it in the rear of my model.....can you see it!!!

 

MORE_DETAIL_TO_THE_REAR_SECTION_(2).jpg

 

 

I also placed all the electrical cables on to the side walls.......

 

MORE_DETAIL_TO_THE_REAR_SECTION_(3).jpg

 

MORE_DETAIL_TO_THE_REAR_SECTION_(4).jpg

 

 

I also made a little tail wheel crank for emergency use....imagine how exhausting that was to hand crank down!

 

TAIL_WHEEL_HANDCRANK.jpg

 

 

So now to the correction of the detail in this area..............

From the new photos I noticed that there were not one but two C1 auto pilot units. In a sense I was pleased about this as the one I previously made seemed very long! After doing a bit of measuring I reckoned that if I cut the unit I made in half I could make the two I needed!...it would be just a case of adding some extra detail for the second unit and a bit of tidying up. So I carefully pulled the unit of its tray.....not easy as most of my detail I super glue in!...but never the less got it out without too much damage.It was then cut in half and made into two units........

 

CHANGING_THE_DETAIL.jpg

 

...and then carefully glued back onto the shelf.....

 

CHANGING_THE_DETAIL_(1).jpg

 

 

OMG!.......The next correction was a lot more difficult!

One of the bulkheads at the rear of the tail wheel was in the wrong position by at least 5-7mm. Doesn't seem much in the scheme of things but it was throwing all the detail that I had to do out of scale! ....here is what I mean.....

 

MOVING_THE_BULKHEAD_(1).jpg

 

MOVING_THE_BULKHEAD_(2).jpg

 

MOVING_THE_BULKHEAD_(3).jpg

 

It took me some time but adjusted it all in the end with pieces of plastic!

 

Now I was ready to detail the area with the use of the new photos. Between the two bulkheads past the tail wheel there is all the pulley system used to pass the control cables to the elevator and rudder....all very small and fiddly.......for example here is one of the many pulleys I had to make.......

 

CABLE_PULLEYS.jpg

 

So the next 6 photos show the re vamped bulkheads with all the pulleys attached .....

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(1).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(2).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(3).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(4).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(5).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_WIRES_ON_BULKHEADS_(6).jpg

 

Here is that section painted........

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(1).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(2).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(3).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(4).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(5).jpg

 

PULLEYS_AND_CABLES_PAINTED_(6).jpg

 

 

Although it set me back a week or so I am pleased that I made the correction.....I have to say it was driving me mad as I knew it wasn't correct....at least now it looks a lot better!

 

Finally the photo shot that I like taking....I know you have seen it before but there are subtle differences!....well that's my excuse anyway!

 

LOOKING_BACK_TOWARDS_REAR.jpg

 

Back to staring at photos before I attempt to continue to the rear of this B17!...Thanks a lot for looking at all this....appreciate it!

 

Cheers

 

Fozzy

 
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Edited by fozzy
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