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TOTAL SCRATCH BUILD OF THE FRONT END OF A B17G


Fozzy

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Good afternoon to you all!

After over 2 years of heartache and over 2.13GB of information collected in photo form...

I would like to present to you all my scratch built front end of a B17G!

Why just the front end I hear you cry?...well I have always been fascinated with the "Fortress" ever since I was a young boy...in particular ,what was inside the fuselage!.I have been wanting to build a project like this for many years and thought about doing the entire aircraft!...but I wasn't sure if I could pull it off.....I mean this was going to be in 1:20 scale (a scale I like to scratch build in)

The project would mean scratch building absolutely everything! .....and so I thought that maybe I should start with just the front end showing the Bombardier/Navigator section....the Cockpit right back to the Upper Turret before the Bomb compartment....and then if it turned out okay ..then maybe I would continue down the fuselage!

The materials I used to build this B17G were Balsa wood/hard wood...plastic/wire/ paper/the aluminum from coca cola cans/and loads of other stuff I found useful in the kitchen waste bin!!

It wasn't all plain sailing I have to say....many an hour was wasted re constructing parts that I just couldn't get right but with loads of patience I got there in the end!

For those of you who are interested the entire build with all the blood,sweat and tears can be found on WIP

A little information on the B17G 'Fuddy Duddy" I chose to build (info taken off an internet site http://www.johnweeks.com)

Delivered to USAAF as 44-83563 on April 7th 1945.

Fuddy Duddy was built too late to see action in WWII. She was retired in the mid-50's, and changed hands a few times until be purchased by Columbia Pictures in 1960. After a short movie career, Fuddy Duddy was converted to air tanker service. She flew as an air tanker until 1986, which she was acquired by the National Warplane Museum and converted back to her warbird look. The museum has continued to restore and improve Fuddy Duddy over the years, and she is one of the finest looking B-17s in the air today.

I have made a makeshift base to display the model for taking photos...I will build a proper stand later!

Quite a few photos so bare with me! ;)

Here are some photos of the overall model.....interior shots to follow!

 

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I will now have to post these photos as too many for one post (as you all know!!)....I'm gonna make a cuppa tea and then post the rest of them!! ;)

Edited by Fozzy
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So here is Part 2

These photos show just some of the detail that I put into this project....couldn't get all the detail else there would be hundreds of photos!! :o

Some of the photos were taken during the build as you will see........

 

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Well that's it chaps!!

My thanks for all the support I got from some of you when I was building this over the years...you don't know how much it helped! :) and thanks to all for looking in ;):)

Until the next time and model................

Cheers

Fozzy

Edited by Fozzy
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Hi Fozzy,

all the superlatives have been exhausted during your WIP which, if I am not mistaken, was started shortly after VE day...

So there is nothing I can add that hasn't already been said, except: Chapeau bas! like we say where I come from!

and... CONGRATS...

JR

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Holy mother of Bob! Nice build.

I've strayed out of my usual AFV territory and stumbled across this post and to say the above comment is an understatement is putting it mildy!

The idea of a scratch build of the whole thing is phenomenal, so I'm about to go and have a look at the WIP

thank for sharing - it is simply stunning!!

Andrew

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I rarely comment on this forum just pop in now and again to make sure your all ok.

But I have too express my admiration for a master class in our hobby, sir this is way out there with dedication and skill in spades.

Thank you for showing us the way.

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Fozzy,

"Well done!" doesn't even begin broach the surface of compliments on your fine artistry exhibited here!

[but I'll say it anyway]

Thanks to the likes of you my taste for building box kits is nearly ruined and I am casting my hat back into the ring to scratch-build. (Again) Years ago I got into building balsa planes, which turned quickly to scratch-building -- then turned to rocketry and hi-power rocketry, that too turned into scratch-building.

Thank you for being part of the inspiration to return to those roots. Your work is a confidence builder as is others who have displayed the same initiative -- to go beyond the box, leading with imagination. That's just plain fun!!

I might say thank you too to Britmodeller for providing this forum as there is so much GREAT talent displayed here (among all the contributors); so much to learn from -- a feast for the eyes.

[insert standing ovation here]

Well done!

PR

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