Revell 1/72 B-17F Flying Fortress

[Dermo245]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to try my best with this one, Revell's older issue B-17F Flying Fortress which I think dates from the '60s. So expect moving parts, working features, glass chips for canopies and all the rivets in the world. I think the last time I built a multi-engine this big, I was a wee nipper!

After seeing this print by artist John D. Shaw on the Valor Studios website (and reading more about the story behind it), I knew that it would make a fitting build for the GB.

Image used for illustrative purposes only and no claim on copyright intended

Decals are available for this Fort in question, "Ye Olde Pub" and I'll try to build the kit as best as I can; that is, with some scratchbuilt detail to the interior, maybe some aftermarket pieces (but on a limited budget) and my own limited modelling abilities.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your builds.

Dermot

[Smiffy]

I was wondering if someone was going to do this bird. I thought about it myself actually.

It's a great story. Although, there are a fair amount of myths surrounding it.

Look forward to this one.

[wellzy]

Nice one another Fort and one with a lot of history with it .

wellzy

[Dermo245]

Hey everyone,

There are some cracking builds already on this GB. And great kits. I fear my build may be neither of these!

Just back from family holiday and back to the bench. I picked this kit because I wanted to try something different (I seemed to have built a lot of single seat fighters & small helos lately) And I fancied doing a Fort for this GB. Unfortunately, current funds didn't stretch to me buying Revell's great new issue kits so I had to turn to this old chestnut from the stash. Anyway, enough of the whingeing, here are some pics!

Some sprue shots...it's very green...

The clear parts....oo-err!

These decals will be replaced by the set ordered from Kits World via the good people at SBX

Engines already complete on the sprue!

She's packed with detail!

But she does look like a Fort...

Just need to do something with those rivets

And I managed to find all these reference bits accumulated over the years, which will be a help too..

So here we go. Wish me luck - I think I'm going to need it.

Thanks for reading and enjoy your modelling.

Dermot

[mungo1974]

Wow, good luck with your build.

I built afew of these as a kid,id forgotten how basic it was.

looking forward to the next update.

[Bertie McBoatface]

Steampunk rivets! They could hold the Titanic together.

[Dermo245]

Hi everyone and here's the latest on this one.

Have started sanding back the rivets on the fuselage to something a bit more reasonable. Man, this plastic was tough!

It's hard to tell in this one but the top fuselage is mostly sanded, the bottom one still to do..

As this Fort' will be built and displayed in flight, I started recreating some battle damage. I wasn't happy with how the major damage on the fuselage turned out, so I cut out the panel and will replace it with thinner plastic sheet or aluminium which should be more workable..(fingers crosed)

And since some interior areas will be visible in the kit, I've started by adding some detail in there. It's not 100% accurate and probably a little "heavy" in scale but once painted up and weathered (and viewed from 6 feet away) should be ok.

I know, I know - there are great B-17 kits out there right now so why am I busting a gut on this one. I suppose I thought I could give this old girl a new lease of life.

Next job will be some compartment bulkheads (head scratcher that) and floors for the cockpit, nose, radio room and rear fuselage.

Thanks for reading and enjoy your modelling!

Dermot

[AnonymousDFB1]

Nice work Dermot

[Smiffy]

Nice start.

Personally, I quite enjoy working on an older kit and bringing it up to scratch. There are times when it's much more satisfying than just banging out the latest state of the art tooling.

Keep up the good work.

[wellzy]

Looking good Dermot keep it going

wellzy

[Arniec]

Great work sofar.

[Dermo245]

Quick update on my build.

Have made some internal bulkheads which will be mostly hard to see but need to have them there. Still a bit of work to do on them and sorry for the cr*ppy picture quality...

Also took a hacksaw to the rear left tailplane which was badly damaged on "Pub"...before

And after with some ribs added too..these will get covered with something to represent fabric (tape most likely)

Looks better when on!

Started drilling out the top turret too...just the left side done for now..

Last Friday 17th August was the anniversary of the first USAAF raid on Schweinfurt & Regensburg which proved so costly to the heavy bombers and their crews...you can read more about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweinfurt%E2%80%93Regensburg_mission

Thanks as always for reading.

Dermot

[phat trev]

Try covering the ribs with decal paper, painting the airframe as usual and then using a knife and any other sharp instruments to create battle damage. When you are happy with the damage then 'weather' up the damaged areas with lighter and darker hues to create bent metal and ripped saggy fabric!

[buttoncup]

Thats looking good, i cant belive how basic the kit is compared to the new Revell B-17G I am building now.

I spent 2 hours today making and painting 4 engines and yours are already done!

[Dermo245]

Try covering the ribs with decal paper, painting the airframe as usual and then using a knife and any other sharp instruments to create battle damage. When you are happy with the damage then 'weather' up the damaged areas with lighter and darker hues to create bent metal and ripped saggy fabric!

Cheers Trev - when you say decal paper, do you mean the stuff my decals come on? I have some used paper (don't ask me why) lying about somewhere here...

[AnonymousDFB1]

Nice work

[AndyC]

I didn't realise the old 1/72 Revell needed so much work - what you have done is great so far! You have my sympathies with that plastic!

[Deacon]

Man this kind of building is beyond any attempts I make.

Great work so far sir. Please keep at it as it ie really interesting to watch come together.

Deacon

[Dermo245]

Sorry for not posting on this in a while - have been away from modelling due to a run of bad health lately.

Am enjoying the great builds here and will try to post something this weekend.

Cheers,

Dermot

[Smiffy]

Don't worry. Life happens. I've been tied up with other stuff myself.

Look forward to seeing your progress.

[philp]

Good start.

Also, while the Revell rivets are a little big, the plane was definitely not smooth.

Took this one of Aluminum Overcast when I got to fly on her last October.

[wellzy]

Sorry for not posting on this in a while - have been away from modelling due to a run of bad health lately.

Am enjoying the great builds here and will try to post something this weekend.

Cheers,

Dermot

Hi Dermot know how you feel cant use the right hand atm ,Hope you feel

better soon.

Les

[Dermo245]

Hey everyone,

Well it's October 4th and unlike the B-17F "Ye Olde Pub" who made it back, i'm just not going to make it in time with this build. A combination of about 3 weeks lost to being ill and the usual work/life issues has all added to that.

To be honest, I'm gutted as I really wanted to finish this one on time for this GB but it just wasn't to be. As I'm displaying her in flight, I needed a crew and converting/painting them probably held me up too. And scratching an interior. And replicating damage.....

Trust me, I will keep going with this build and will post over in WIP as I go. Thanks for all your words of support, thanks to Welzy and Smiffy for hosting and well done to all who finished their USAAF builds.

Cheers,

Dermot

[Smiffy]

Love the crew figures.

I'm disappointed not to have got my Mossie finished in time. Like you, other stuff stopped me from getting to the workbench and the build turned out to be not as straight forward as I'd hoped. Oh well, stuff happens.

Keep the build going. I'm very interested in seeing this one get done.

[Dermo245]

So trying to get this one finished this year, after failing miserably to do it in time for the USAAF Europe 1942-45 GB! Here's the latest progress..

The kit cockpit framing is a little on the thick side (it is a 60s era kit after all) so decided to replace it with a spare Academy canopy I had in the stash. The before pic..

And after...still needs some tidying up in places (over-eager cutting ) but looks much better.

Work on the interior continues - most of this won't be visible when finished but once I got started, I found it hard to stop. The lump of sprue in the bombay is a stiffener and won't be seen. The radio room also needed a "spacer" to fill in a gap...

The pilots are coming along well - am happy how they look and that they have some movement to them, These are from Airfix (newer boxings) and have had arms and heads modified in the process..

I'm not trying to copy the original painting but am using it as inspiration..

Thanks for reading and enjoy your modelling.

Dermot

Edited October 10, 2012 by Dermo245