Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => W.W.III-Between the years of 1946-1955 GB => Topic started by: Cliffy B on August 28, 2015, 04:32:23 AM
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As the title says I require assistance figuring out my entry for this build. Went to the LHS today for supplies and came away with a brand new Minicraft 1/144 B-17G. Upon spying it and thinking about this GB the wheels began turning so it came home with me ;) I'd like some opinions on what exactly to do with it though.
Currently thinking of the following scenarios:
- Arctic camo Patrol Bomber based in Greenland or Iceland.
- USN camo (tri-color or GSB) patrol bomber.
- RAF, FAA, RCAF, RAAF service doing either of the above.
Basically as the USAAF transitions to the B-29, the 17s and 24s are transitioned to patrol squadrons for the Atlantic. 24s were used in real life but 17s never were until after the war as radar birds so I figured I'll do up a 17 in navy colors 8)
Open to mods for patrol bomber service too. Currently thinking about standard USN APS-4 radar pod stuck somewhere on the fuselage or wings or maybe something bigger. Didn't want to lose any of the guns though. Thinking of employing her in a scenario where the Luftwaffe isn't a shell yet and she'll still need all of her Ma Deuces even out over the water.
Open to any other suggestions as well gents. Kit is currently soaking in dish soap. After that I'll begin re-scribing all the raised panel lines.
-Mike
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I very much like the idea of an arctic-camo'd, fully-armed USAAF version of the PB-1W! There is an AN/APS-20 radome conversion kit available from Paragon - perhaps others as well.
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B-17s were used for long-range over water patrol, by the US Army Caribbean Air Force:
29 B-17s (10 early B-17Bs, two B-17Ds, 15 B- 17Es and two B-17Fs).
- info from Latin American Air Wars by Dan Hagedorn
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Radar is a good idea but it needs something to hit hard with once it finds something. Some form of early guided missiles?
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I always love a good Arctic cammo scheme :D
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Radar is a good idea but it needs something to hit hard with once it finds something. Some form of early guided missiles?
How about some of these?
http://bathead.com/asmbat.html (http://bathead.com/asmbat.html)
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Murmansk convoy anti-submarine & anti-ship patrol (gives an excuse for an Arctic scheme) with depth-charges in the bomb-bay & BAT's under the wings? ???
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[url]http://bathead.com/asmbat.html[/url] ([url]http://bathead.com/asmbat.html[/url])
And note that Boeing PB-1 with ball turret replaced by a retractable APS-15 surface search radar radome. So, you lose a turret but the radome is a lot less intrusive than the AN/APS-20 on the PB-1W (which all had their chin and belly turrets removed anyway).
If you're basing your aircraft in Greenland, consider US Coast Guard markings.
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Maybe replace the waist positions with the blisters as were used on the Privateer.
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Maybe replace the waist positions with the blisters as were used on the Privateer.
Those weren't 'blisters', they were full power 'turrets' and the B-17 wouldn't have the room
in the waist for the installation.
(http://www.lonesentry.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/erco-tear-drop-gun-turret-erco-250th.jpg)
(http://www.air-and-space.com/20070106%20Chino/_BEL7622%20PB4Y-2%20left%20waist%20blister%20inboard%20l.jpg)
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One question Mike, you mention the "Luftwaffe isn't a shell yet" ... but as the GB is WWIII, not an extended WWII,
why would that matter?
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One question Mike, you mention the "Luftwaffe isn't a shell yet" ... but as the GB is WWIII, not an extended WWII,
why would that matter?
D'oh!!! Thanks for saying that sir! Okay well even so my plan still works, the bad guys just change a bit ;) Let's go with a we fight the Soviets after WWII scenario (details later) so while the B-29s are pounding Russia the older bombers are be switched to training, transport, and maritime patrol roles. I like the idea of an arctic bird patrolling the frozen north looking for Soviet targets but having to deal with the Soviet AF at times so it needs protection.
I like the radar in place of the ball turret and the kit actually comes with it! Depth charges and Bats, full load of Ma Deuces and an arctic camo scheme.
Thinking two basic schemes involving white, light gray, gull gray and extra dark sea gray as the possible colors.
Scheme 1 is the standard USAF meaning the top and sides are all the same pattern while the bottom is solid white.
Scheme 2 is the standard RAF Shore Command meaning top is a pattern while sides and bottom are solid white.
Any thoughts gents?
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Maybe replace the waist positions with the blisters as were used on the Privateer.
Those weren't 'blisters', they were full power 'turrets' and the B-17 wouldn't have the room
in the waist for the installation.
([url]http://www.lonesentry.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/erco-tear-drop-gun-turret-erco-250th.jpg[/url])
([url]http://www.air-and-space.com/20070106%20Chino/_BEL7622%20PB4Y-2%20left%20waist%20blister%20inboard%20l.jpg[/url])
Wow I had no idea, thanks for that. Its not something that was apparent on my old Matchbox Privateer kit.
MOD EDIT: Fixed quote! ;)
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I like the idea of a radar dome in place of ball turret, depth charges and Bats. Maybe a search light ?
How about a type of dazzle camo on the top side ?
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Remember that the B-17 (and the Naval variants - under the general PB-1 designator) did indeed fly with radar. You have multiple options with some retractable and others not:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/US_Navy_PB-1W.jpg)(http://vw1assoc.tripod.com/77234-te-7inkorea_r1.jpg)
(http://www.armyairforces.com/download.axd?file=0;102040)
(http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/images/iip/photo_Gallery/airplane_Images//PB1G%20Refueling%201950%20Print.jpg)
(http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj241/jaepton/B-17Gs96thBGwithMickeyRadar-1.jpg)
Or you can get really freaky:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/images-2_zpspp8zq6l6.jpeg)
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... and the other thing to bear in mind is that the electronics of the period were very bulky and heavy,
so, the more electro-whizbang the less room and payload capability for bang-bang.
;D