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Airfix B17


Selwyn

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Got mine today from Addlestone model shop.  Big box (Lancaster size) but takes up surprisingly little space within!  Nice touch are the nose & tail turret which are molded in clear plastic leaving you to just mask out the windows before painting.  I'm no ones B-17 expert but looks nice with plenty of interior detail.

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16 minutes ago, billneill said:

There was a bit of whinging going on over on Hyperscale of the usual 'nose looks off to me' type

They're only jealous 'cos the Revell one was wrong in the same area;)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally got my mittens on one today and it struck me that Airfix have increased the box size - the B-17G is a series 8, it has the same frontal box art area dimensions as the series 9 box (example Whitely VII or Dakota & Jeep) but is about 25% deeper than the series 9 box. Noting theres lots of empty space left over in the B-17G box, I cannot help but feel they have increased the box size purely for marketing reasons...(also to make punters feel better with the steep price increase)

 

It will definitely take up more stash space/volume especially if your like me and susceptible to ANTSCADS !

Edited by Uncle Dick
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Airfix Model World has a build of it in the December issue.

I had no intention of getting one but walked into the local art and hobby shop just after it opened yesterday and they were literally just putting some Airfix kits on the shelves and there it was. It didn't make it onto the shelf and I departed with it and a Martlet. Early bird and all that.

Like the look of it. Restored my enthusiasm. Going to compare it with the Revell kit.

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The only thing which jumped out to me that is off with the kit is the lack of panel lines on the nose - seems they have missed most of the horizontal lines, but nothing that 30 minutes of scribing won't sort out.

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On ‎07‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 22:18, Selwyn said:

Any review of this been posted anywhere?

 

Selwyn

 

As Airfix stopped all review samples the only place you find them is their own publications or forums where people have bought them and put pics up.

 

Julien

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Partly it depends on which variant you want to build.  The new Airfix kit is a dedicated late G-model with staggered waist guns and "Cheyenne" tail gun.  Revell offers an early G with unstaggered waists and either rhe Cheyenne or standard tail, as well as an early F.  

 

As for accuracy, the Revell kit has some notable issues, the biggest being the too-thick wings, which throws off the proportions and (to me) just makes it look "wrong."  The new Airfix kit hasn't made it to this side of The Pond commercially yet, but I know a guy who has one, and who knows B-17s inside and out (he used to work on a restored flying example, and had some input on the new Airfix Fort)  and he tells me that Airfix corrected or avoided most of the issues of the Revell kit.  If Airfix decides to eventually do some other variants like an eaely G or F, they could likely corner the market for 1/72 B-17s.

 

SN

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Yes.  One question from me: apart from the clearly-signalled 100 Gp Fortress are there any indications in this kit that other variants might be planned eg flashed-over waist Windows or separate tail gun installation?  Sounds like a lovely kit but as a brush painter I don't do large-scale natural metal.

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On ‎08‎/‎11‎/‎2016 at 7:35 PM, billneill said:

There was a bit of whinging going on over on Hyperscale of the usual 'nose looks off to me' type

Be surprised if there wasn't some whinging. I sometimes think that lot like to have a whinge just for the sake of it. Personally though, I won't be buying this kit. Not when the Revell kit is £10 - £11 cheaper and offers an excellent level of detail for the price. I am aware there are "issues" with the Revell kit but, I cannot tell by looking at it that it is "wrong" so, it's good enough for me. My choice of course. My partner has put the Airfix B-17 on her crimbo shopping list for me so, I might end up with one by default!!:lol:.

 

Allan

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Fair point. There are some aeroplanes where I can see any deviation from scale and some of the available kits almost hurt me to look at them - other types where I am happy with something that a real type expert wouldn't like at all. For instance, I still quite like the Fujimi Bf.110 even though I know there are more accurate kits out there, and feel very happy knowing that I can pick them up for next to nothing compared to an Eduard one. But I couldn't do that with a Spitfire.

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With this thread clearly in my mind, i walked into my LMS of choice in the hope of finding the new Martlet. Suffering a major bout of Mojo Loss, i surprised myself and picked one of these up as well. Just over a week later, i have just had a major dose of Mojo Resurrection and have spent the last 2 days placing bits next to each other that now look like a very nice and easy B-17G to build!

 

As long as you watch where the paint goes, this goes together like a dream and any seams that need seen to are down to my lack of skills alone! Mr Surfacer is all ive needed so far though!

Arabest,

Geoff. 

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