Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on November 22, 2015, 10:57:14 AM
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The Boeing B-17 is perhaps one of the most recognizable aircraft of the 1940s.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/B-17E_Flying_Fortress_41-2509.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/B-17E_Flying_Fortress_41-2509.jpg.html)
Even earlier versions had that pugnacious look the bomber was famous for.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/Boeing_B-17D_in_flight.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/Boeing_B-17D_in_flight.jpg.html)
Though utterly forgotten today, a much sleeker version once took flight.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_002.jpg.html)
It all began when the U.S. Army Air Corps approached Boeing to use the prototype Curtiss Conqueror 14 V-1705 inline engine to power one of the new Flying Fortresses then starting to come off the production line.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_003.jpg.html)
Boeing was nonplussed using a competitor's engine but agreed to play ball and it's rumored the project was turned over to the clandestine Boeing Otter Works, a facility so top secret it remains under wraps to this day.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/Undisclosed%20map.jpg.png) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/Undisclosed%20map.jpg.png.html)
After a bit of fudging, fussing and outright cussing, the Curtiss Conqueror 14 V-1705s were eventually mated to a modified B-17 and the YIB (I for Inline) -17 was born.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_004.jpg.html)
The YIB-17 was envisaged as a long-range, high-altitude recon and patrol aircraft, given the anticipated, off-the-charts capabilities of the new prototype Curtiss Conqueror 14 V-1705s.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_006.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_007.jpg.html)
What wasn't envisaged was the unique aerodynamics caused by the larger inline engines. This would necessitate some small, but important design changes in the famous B-17.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_008.jpg.html)
The longer engine nacelles caused increased yaw and directional instability that was only corrected by adding a dorsal spine and a re-designed rudder.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_010.jpg.html)
The new dorsal spine would be one of the YIB-17's few claims to fame as this led to yet a larger dorsal spine (as well as fin & rudder) on the newer, still radial-powered, B-17E. This larger tail area would also provide the room for the tail gunner which would become one of the key features of this iconic aircraft.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_009.jpg.html)
However, in 1939 that was all far in the future. In November of the following year, the YIB-17 was said to have been rolled out of the Otter Works. All that is definitively known is that the aircraft made a brief flight around Mt. Rainier and then landed at Boeing Field. This was accidentally captured in a photo taken by the famous health advocate and outdoorsman, Mr Natural.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/Mr%20Natural.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/Mr%20Natural.jpg.html)
Th YIB-17 would be photographed only sporadically after that and very little documentary evidence of the aircraft survives. When briefly seen, the public typically confused it with its more ubiquitous brother, the B-17D.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_011.jpg.html)
The aircraft proved to be a superb recon platform and was instrumental in uncovering the unwanted incursion of a Canadian-Pacific Railroad survey team into the remote border region of northern Montana in 1941.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_012.jpg.html)
Unfortunately, the Curtiss Conqueror 14 V-1705 engines proved too temperamental for the aircraft to be put into production. It would spend World War II stateside performing long-range patrols and high-priority transport duties.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_013.jpg.html)
The YIB-17's other claim to fame was a brief appearance in the blockbuster 1946 film about returning G.I.s The Best Years of Our Lives.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/BYOL%20lobbycard%20no%20caption.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/BYOL%20lobbycard%20no%20caption.jpg.html)
Some of you may remember this film for a scene near the end inside the nose of a war-weary B-17 awaiting scrapping.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/bombardier.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/bombardier.jpg.html)
The YIB-17's time in the spotlight was brief, as in blink-and-you-miss-it brief.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17%20boneyard.jpg.png) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17%20boneyard.jpg.png.html)
Still, for a time it was an incredibly valuable research/recon platform that would lead to improved future Flying Fortresses. All that exists of the YIB-17 today is this tarted-up design model that was sold on e-bay for 49 cents (plus $7.50 shipping) after Boeing closed their Federal Way cost-accounting center which was rumored to be near the apocryphal Otter Works.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_014.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_014.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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Great back story Brian and a lovely little model you have created from that tiny little kit.
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Lovely build mate :) :)
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This all started with the venerable Minicraft B-17G. The example in question being the "Flak Eater" boxing.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/MI14683-2.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/MI14683-2.jpg.html)
By any modern standard even the improved (better clear cockpit part & decals) version I had was still a bit basic. Here's the only sprue shot of it I could find. I must be one of three or four guys that have actually built this kit.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/b-17%20sprues.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/b-17%20sprues.jpg.html)
Here's a shot of a build done by someone far more skilled which shows off that chin turret well nicely.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/B-17G-1_144Minicraft-01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/B-17G-1_144Minicraft-01.jpg.html)
(found on Google, will gladly give credit where due if I knew...)
Still, huge holes have never dissuaded me. I've had the misfortune to have to work with more than a few...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_017.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_017.jpg.html)
I've got a huge soft-spot for the Flying Fortress. I mean, what's not to love? Great streamlined shape, a prize-fighter's rake to the windscreen, all those guns, Twelve O'Clock High...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/Twelve%20O_Clock%20High.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/Twelve%20O_Clock%20High.jpg.html)
Well like some guys surf for pictures of pretty ladies, I surf for B-17s. Early, late, OD, NMF, no matter, it's all a great look if it's on a Flying Fortress as far as I'm concerned.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_015.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_015.jpg.html)
A while back, I came across a build of a 1/72 B-17C. In the comments, someone said they'd love to see an early B-17 converted to inline engines like the later Allison-powered XB-38.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/XB-38.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/XB-38.jpg.html)
A reply post said they'd seen this done, but in 1/144 scale. I wasn't able to find out any more about that 1/144 inline B-17C but I did some thinking. It hit me that this could be a relatively simple conversion using the Merlins from a 1/144 Avro Lancaster. Out came the razor saw to free the Merlins from their Lancaster prison and chop off the huge B-17 kit fin & rudder. I now have three of these B-17 parts which will make one awesome set of tail feathers.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_016.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_016.jpg.html)
The key to pulling this off is to cut the Merlins at just the right place so they fit on the stubs on the B-17 wings. I almost made it...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_017.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_017.jpg.html)
I also had to sand back the cylinder banks so they were flush with the B-17 engine stubs. I didn't do this until after the entire model was built and I wish I'd caught and dealt with it sooner. Luckily that steel colored paint seems to help in some surreal way...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_018.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_018.jpg.html)
I went with a dorsal spine cut from sprue to fill the gap left by cutting off the tail, not trusting my skills enough to simply putty over it as I was going with a metal finish. A new fin & rudder was made from the horiz. stab. off of a 1/48 Piper Cub. An actual blister from a pack of cold pills was used for the ventral observation blister.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_019.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_019.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_020.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_020.jpg.html)
The model is brush-painted by hand in acrylics, Model Masters Aluminum (or "aluminium" to some) mostly. The black leading-edge de-icer boots were done somewhat free-hand, using a Post-It note as a guide since my usually trusty Tamiya tape pulled up the aluminum (or "aluminium") paint in chunks.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_00_upper.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_00_upper.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_00_under.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_00_under.jpg.html)
Decals are a mix from spares. An RAF fin flash was cut to shape as the waist windows. Adding a MATS badge over some pale blue stripes provided the mysterious recon unit insignia. The re-designed rudder is because my talent for painting those 13 tail stripes failed me so I stripped it all back and used the decal from a 1/72 Curtiss P-6 E as a template which would no doubt only further nonplus the good folks at Boeing.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_022.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_022.jpg.html)
When I started this project, I had grand visions for that Natural Metal Finish. I don't do NMF very often as it tends to really highlight any flaws in the build. Also, metallic paints are notoriously bad for opacity, so it takes multiple coats. Still, I was full of high-mindedness and thought I might even paint different colored metal panels, just like on the "real" airplane!
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_021.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_021.jpg.html)
Well eventually my ambition became more manageable and I settled for just different colors for the engines and control surfaces. B-17 control surfaces were fabric-covered and while airplane dope and aircraft aluminum (or "aluminium") can appear similar, they're not really the same. So I made sure to give the ailerons and elevators a little extra attention with a custom shade of paint. The effect is subtle but I think worth the effort.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_023.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_023.jpg.html)
I had a lot of fun and a few challenges building the YIB-17 which I've been working on off-and-on over the past few weeks.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_024.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_024.jpg.html)
This last shot was taken with the flash off which makes a bit of difference. I hope you enjoyed the YIB-17 and reading a little more top-secret (Shhhhhh!!!) forgotten history.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/YIB-17/YIB-17_026.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/YIB-17/YIB-17_026.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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And yet again; combination of your extensive reference library and bash building skills brings us historical insight and one of a kind B-17 now captured superbly in styrene. :)
During my first year at Boeing I worked in wiring integration. One of "old salts" in wiring told me how he was involved in measuring and building wire bundles for YIB-17. Tedious work crawling, measuring, and recording in note book. Then on to building the wire bundles. Color codes, connector pin-outs, wire gages, bundle selves, grommets, was like he remembered it all.
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Well Brian de B-17 Basher, with this build you now own top spot in B-17 bashing.
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This is beeeutiful! Really great idea to put in lines on an early B-17. Good trip down memory lane, too. I watched "12 O'Clock High" when I was a kid and really wanted the Aurora kit of a B-17 formation from that show.
"Best Years of our Lives" is a great movie, too. A bit melodramatic, but apparently accurate WRT the immediate post-war years.
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:)
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Beautiful model with inspired backstory. I loved the "Twelve O'clock High" TV show and now have both the movie and novel it was derived from (great book if you can find it).