Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => 2018 Clear your workbench GB => Topic started by: finsrin on February 01, 2018, 05:26:25 PM

Title: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 01, 2018, 05:26:25 PM
Plan is using kits in attachment picture.  Concept for these is a B-17M (Max).  For Europe and Pacific.
Minicraft 1/72 B-17 fuselage with Lindberg 1/64 B-17 wings.  Revell 1/72 B-26 engines on the wings.  Result is all around higher performance B-17.  Engines up from R-1820 to R-2800 with four blade props.  Tried various B-26 engines.  Revell is best fit.  Thanks to Lindberg's foresight Boeing upsizes wing 15% to accommodate more engine power, more fuel, more lift.
Remaining kit parts must be useful for builds yet undetermined.
After last builds model room is a mess.  Needs much clean up before starting.

see attachment
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Dr. YoKai on February 01, 2018, 11:01:59 PM
Inspired concept - makes me wonder what other 'box scale' mismatches are possible... Good luck with the build.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: taiidantomcat on February 02, 2018, 01:09:02 AM
Excited to this develop!  :smiley:
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 02, 2018, 02:31:40 AM
Thats odd...the attachment opens sideways for me? ::)

Good idea though.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 05, 2018, 09:56:57 AM
For those who like hearing/seeing the details:
As dig deeper into kit mixing.  Find MPC B-17G fuselage is better starting point.
>> More secure wing to fuselage mounting.
>> Finish of lines & rivets match better.
Due to different model company design-feature approaches to engines.  Combination of B-26 engines and cowlings mounting to Lindberg 1/64 wings more complex than first appeared.  Extra plastic surgery steps involved.
Always discovering and learning when doing kit bashing.

Nothing cut or glued yet.

>>> Question: <<<
Many of you want to have small step posts as issues are shown and dealt with ?
To much detail, don't want to be bothered by it ?
Just post major step completions ?
Thanks.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: LemonJello on February 05, 2018, 08:13:58 PM
I always enjoy the small steps and showing how issues get addressed - gives me inspiration and new ideas to try on my own projects.

Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 05, 2018, 08:23:06 PM
Thanks,,,  then here we go
Now done first cutting to test fitting.
Cut back mounting slats at root of wing to fit into slot on fuselage.  Top of wing contour along fuselage wing root is perfect match - Yippee..
Unlike C-47H where extended fuselage transition flair into wing rearward.  Will do abbreviated version where rear edge of wing goes straight to fuselage like newer B-24 B-29 butt against fuselage without flared in taper.  Need to fill-n-fuss that area.  Underside vertical mismatch of wing depth is where filling adjustments must be made.  Good news is thatz on underside.  Keeping away from top side messes.
See attached.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: apophenia on February 08, 2018, 08:09:32 AM
Looking good ... and a very cool concept  :smiley:
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: kitnut617 on February 08, 2018, 10:02:18 AM
What I've done in the past Bill, is to cut a part of the wing root chord out and then move it. Then fill the cut out with card (in white). Here you can see I shortened the wing root chord but you can do the reverse and lengthen it.  The thin white strip you see is some card the same thickness as the saw blade. Top pic is as it was, bottom pic modified
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 09, 2018, 09:40:45 PM
After 1/1 hot rod build and other distractions am back on this.  Thanks for postings.
Looked at B-26 propellers from Frog and MPC, sticking with Revell.  Cuz of way three companies parts go together, engine builds are first.  Then wings, then fuselage.
Revell's bit different B-26 engine mounting approach being mated to Lindberg wing requires labor intensive mods x 4.  Hope it all works.
More later........
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 12, 2018, 06:15:16 PM
Figured out engine to wing stuff. Is going well.
Turns out USAAC specified 20mm tail guns.  Boeing had to make 15% increase in tail gun position to accommodate guns and ammo.  Same percentage as wing size increase.  Changing to 20mm in other positions (increasing size) was not practical as it was to enlarge tail gun position.  Sting of 20mm range and hitting power would be nasty surprise for fighters accustomed (if you can call it that) to B-17s twin 50 cals.  Result is more survivability.

Attachments show difference in original tail gun position and larger one from Lindberg kit.  Found German 20mm metal barrels for tail guns.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 15, 2018, 04:24:36 AM
Details:
Did tail gun position.  Made a back plate and 20mm are in place.  Lindberg kit does not have clear parts for tail gun.
Painted engines, props, interior (green).  Prepared wings to accept B-26 cowlings which will not be removable as on B-26 kit.
See attachments
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Acree on February 15, 2018, 04:45:58 AM
 :D
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on February 15, 2018, 06:20:23 PM
Oh dio mio to say it in gentlemanly language;  fuselage assembly of MPC B-17G is a bugger.  Specially upper turret.  :(
Deja vu,,, yup was SOS last time.  With 3 hrs Exacto trimming and emery boarding and fitting re-fitting ad nauseam, old memories came to roost.  Now its time for pin vise cuz is no hole where directions promise there is.  Broke part of plastic over cockpit - another deja vu.
Something I wanna check is cutting off chin turret and gluing fixed (non-rotating) to Revell B-17F to designate B-17G.  Its rivet finish good match for Lindberg wings like MPC is.
Appears polystyrene dragon is nearly slain.  Am continuing.  Keeping Revell option at hand.
Is a newer Revell B-17G kit have not looked at.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: taiidantomcat on February 16, 2018, 01:11:29 AM
Doh!  :-X

If its any consolation, I would kill to have 3 hours just to break things  ;)
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Brian da Basher on February 16, 2018, 05:00:32 AM
My goodness you're doing some very interesting things I'm not sure I'd have either the confidence or skill to pull off!

I especially like those details on the tail gun!

Already looking forward to more,

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on March 02, 2018, 04:02:29 PM
Pesky fuselage problems with Airfix-MPC kit.  Particularly MPC.  Started over with Airfix fuselage.  Is an improvement.  That plus 1/1 car work, house repairs delayed build.
So here we are with B-17G and B-17M WIP nose to nose showing wing size difference.  B-17G has 104' wingspan B-17M has 117'.
See attached.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Old Wombat on March 02, 2018, 07:29:32 PM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 03, 2018, 04:54:55 AM
I like how well the new wings fit and makes me think of a high-altitude bird.

Definitely one to watch!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on March 29, 2018, 04:09:06 PM
Finally some progress.  B-17M with 1970s built B-17G.  More to do.
See attached
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: kitnut617 on March 29, 2018, 05:13:58 PM
That does look very, very interesting Bill   :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:  Are you going to use spinners too ?

It's got me thinking again ------
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Brian da Basher on March 29, 2018, 05:18:38 PM
Wow that's coming along great Bill!

I really like those engines topped off with the four-bladed props! Looks very powerful for this bird!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Robomog on March 29, 2018, 06:39:17 PM
Seconded!

Mog

Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 30, 2018, 02:06:43 AM
B-17M...M as in Monster!
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on May 02, 2018, 04:14:35 PM
B-17M now a clear work bench build.
All you done super figuring out and building Allies '46 aircraft.  Liking them all - honest. :smiley:
Talent at BTS is tops.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Camthalion on May 03, 2018, 07:58:01 AM
looks good.  Nice work
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Kerick on October 20, 2018, 11:39:28 PM
Nice work! The art of kitbashing at its finest.
I built that B-26 kit a long time ago. Very nice!
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on October 21, 2018, 03:03:21 AM
Thanks.  Getting back to build after summer of 1/1 car work.
Cleaned up cluttered model room enough to resume building.  Doing shortening surgery on engine nacelles right now.
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Kerick on October 21, 2018, 03:39:22 AM
We will be looking forward to your further progress!
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Brian da Basher on October 21, 2018, 05:37:37 AM
We will be looking forward to your further progress!

Ditto!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: finsrin on October 27, 2018, 01:25:35 PM
Took B-26 cowlings off to remove cowling ring of R1820s.  Engines were too far forward and match to engine mounts is better.  Need putty to smooth it out.  Cut off cowling ring is in front of wing.

see attached
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: Brian da Basher on October 27, 2018, 05:55:03 PM
It's great to see more progress on your excellent B-17M project, Bill!

I like your mods to the engine nacelles. Shortening them was a great call and makes the new engines and props look like they belong there.

Great stuff and I look forward to your next update!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: B-17M
Post by: The Big Gimper on October 27, 2018, 08:34:43 PM
William Edward Boeing would have been very pleased with your reworking of the B-17  Bill.