1/48 Revell B-17G

[Bzzymatt]

Wow!!! for your first aircraft build your doing great!!!

The B-17 was where some of my scratch building and such began to take effect in my building habits. Thanks to the videos that I sent you a link to.

At the time I was building only revell kits because they were cheap and close enough to my skills, but not all of the revell kits are the best ones. Their large models like the B-17 and B-29 are the ones with the best details.

For now I would try and do some more research on the type of bomber you want to build. see what sorts of details you can add to it and try to be creative. The only thing about resin kits, is removing the parts from a solid block of resin. one slip of the knife or fragile part will ruin it completely.

I have a youtube page for all my Scale modeling. Check it out sometime I have a video on preparing resin kits for assembly and painting. Kit reviews and some build videos.

youtube.com/bzzymatt

If you have any other questions or need help with some creative ways to detail your model let me know.

Matt

 

[adampolo13]

Bzzy,

I took a little leap on this and attempted to scratch build some more detail into the flight controls. The left has been modified vs. the right, not done yet. What do you think? Will this kind of stuff be noticable when the plane is all closed up?

Thanks again!

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[adampolo13]

Here they are, scratch built. It does look way better than the single molded piece. I checked some photos and they are way more accurate this way as well.

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[Bzzymatt]

That looks GREAT!!!!

How long have you been building???? what do you prefer to build???

There are also available on the market some scratch building materials called "EVERGREEN" they assortments for rods, tubes, sheets of styrene and much more!!!! small sets are around $2 to $3.

here is a link to my review on the stuff

http://www.scalemodeladdict.com/forum/index.php/topic,4108.0.html

Matt

 

[adampolo13]

Bzzy,

I have been building off and on for about 4 years. I actually started by trying to build the B-17 and got very frustrated and smashed it to bits. Then I did a bunch of cars, then motorcycles. My whole goal has been to get to a point where I could build aircraft. Well, here I am going at it.

 

[Bzzymatt]

Thats good

one way you can add details is to look for aftermarket products.

in the video tutorials I sent you it talks about the different options you have on detailing your bomber.

Fighter aircraft such as the Spitfire and ME 109 are also good starters for scale aircraft.

In my opinion, if you can build the B-17, you should go for the B-29!!!!!

 

[adampolo13]

Alright, so I am trying to upload from photobucket...

Here are pictures of my most recent work. Because of my brush marks I put a few coats of future on the bulkheads, then added the decals, then drybrushed. I also completed the ball turet. I used liquid masking tape then airbrused the medium gray on to it. So far I like the way it is coming out. I am almost done with the cockpit. Pictures of that to come after I finish the final bulk head.

Bzzy, Thanks for the links to Chuck Davinports Youtube videos. Very good tips and techniques.

 

[Bzzymatt]

Awesome job!!!!!

You can add a little extra detail to the interior by adding some wires in certain places. Use some copper wire and then paint it silver. Like you saw in the tutorial on how to detail your engines by Chuck Davenport.

 

[adampolo13]

So I was getting a little tired of sanding wings today so I decided to give the wheels a go. I airbrushed the whole wheel Tamayia black, then I lightly added primer gray to the tread pattern, then I went back over the tread pattern with a coat of Tamayia black. The result does come out well on camera because of the lighting right now. But looking at it it looks like the tire has been worn down. Also, I tried my first wash on the rims. What do you think?

During the drying of the wash..

Final result of the wash...

 

[adampolo13]

I forgot to mention that I finished the gun turret thing with the yellow tank...

 

[Quaralane]

Very nice progress here

 

[Dusky]

What did you use for the silver on the inner part of the rims? It's really shiny.
The yellow tanks are oxygen.

Here are some more links that may come in handy.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/B17-color-help-interior-m176040.aspx
http://www.air-and-space.com/200705%20Collings%20Bombers%20static.htm
http://www.95thbg.org/95th_joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=185&Itemid=311

I have a bunch of pictures of the Collings B-17G, but I don't remember my photobucket name...

I have one of the RoG 1/72 kits. I just need to get around to building it.

 

[adampolo13]

Hi Soarin,

Thanks for the reference pics. That looks great! In terms of the rims I used Model Masters chrome silver. They are very shiny. I think I may end up doing another wash.

 

[the Baron]

Wow, Adam, lots of progess and good-looking results!

I like your navigator's table, your wood graining came out very nice.

My eye was drawn to the wheel hubs, too. That was MM chrome silver? Very nice! It looked like foil. It'll be a shame to weather it

 

[adampolo13]

I'm sorry to disapoint you guys. I did weahter the rims. Although I love the nice shinny rims, I think taking of and landing flying into battle they wouldn't stay so pretty.

Baron, thank you very much for the complement on the table. I did 2 light coats of natural wood, drybrushed some gunship gray, 1 wash of brown, then another wash of natural wood. I was more playing around with washes and colors and it came out that way. Revell did a very nice job with the wood grains molded into the table. I give the kit more credit than I give myself. hahaha

 

[Bzzymatt]

I actually like the rims now that they have been weathered down I really do!!!

Back in the war, the B-17 was used A LOT!!!! Once it would return from 1 mission, they would fix it, prepare it for the next mission and it's back up in the air for another mission. And considering that most of the B-17's in WWII were taking off and landing on a dirt runway, the rims would in fact be dirty.

I weathered my rims with a mixture of testors flat black and enamel thinner it really shows all the pre molded details. and for the rubber on the tires, I use Tamiya weathering powders. I give it a light layer of mud to give it that worn down effect

 

[adampolo13]

Bzzy,

I would love to see pics of your bird some time. Do you have them posted online?

I have painted, washed and drybrushed part of the fuselage interior. I am really enjoying this build! I think I am addicted to the large birds because I have been looking at B-36's on ebay.

Oh man oh man... What to build next. Do I build my Harrier or another WWII bird?

 

[adampolo13]

Pics of the Fuselage...

I only washed and drybrushed the areas that will be visable after everything is all buttoned up. The other thing I'm noticing is that with the bomb bay doors closed there is no point in having the bombs installed. I'm already thinking that if I were to build this kit again I would open the doors between the compartments and maybe open up the bomb bay doors.

 

[Bomber Boy]

Hey Adam, you got a great looking kit here too! if you ever need info on the 17 just let me know as I have done several interviews with past crewmen and have a vast photo base. A few thing to point out are They never kept the interior doors in place they were removed at the uparmor base in Scottland as was the toilet and generator. By the end of the war and which were G models they did not manufacture the plane with said things. the original specs did not call for a glass in the Radio room but was later added as once the planes hit the slip stream at about 20,000 ft it would cause suction on the plane and suck the radio operator right out the top of the plane, got that tidbit from a friend of mine Al Winant who was the radio operator of my grandfathers plane during WWII. You can see all my stuff including my B-17's at http://s885.photobucket.com/albums/ac59/JamesHerndon/ so give a look and if you have any questions hit me up. The 17 is my special love and I have a lot of info.

Buzzy, I hate to dispute you, but the 17 rarely took off from undeveloped runways, none that I know of in Europe, maybe some in the Pacific before planking was set but it was rare even then.

James

 

[Bomber Boy]

Oh yeah for the 17s go to the end and work forward to get the proper order of the builds.

James