Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration

[Weaver]

Another though on the B-17 racer: after removing the turtle deck, you don't actually need to add a small bubble canopy. Instead, "just" move the flying controls into the former bomb-aiming position in the nose (it's not like you need it for dropping bombs) to get even more perfect streamlining.

[Daryl J.]

After looking at these great ideas, the act of looking at the price of 1/72 Shark Finned B-17's about brings tears.   

[jcf]

After looking at these great ideas, the act of looking at the price of 1/72 Shark Finned B-17's about brings tears.   

Have the Academy kits become that rare?  I know the pricing of the Italeri re-box is absurd,
but it wasn't that long ago I was seeing he Academy kit regularly.

Yes, I have one, no you can't have it. 

[Daryl J.]

Apparently yes they have.
Yes I have one.
And an Italeri one on the way over from Asia.
But after that, it'll be a considerable while before I repurchase another.

[finsrin]

Mental image of shark finned with pilot in nose and top and gun blisters shaved smooth is looking racer fast to me.

[GTX_Admin]

Shiney...

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Shiney...

It looks like it is going fast even when parked.

[kitnut617]

After looking at these great ideas, the act of looking at the price of 1/72 Shark Finned B-17's about brings tears.   

Have the Academy kits become that rare?  I know the pricing of the Italeri re-box is absurd,
but it wasn't that long ago I was seeing he Academy kit regularly.

Yes, I have one, no you can't have it. 

The latest Airfix 1/72 B-17 kits are actually the Academy kit, and yes I have one or two of each, and no you can't have them ---   

[The Big Gimper]

Lucky Model has some B-17s on sale:

Italeri 1/72 B-17 Mk.I FLYING FORTRESS: http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=IT%201304

Academy 1/72 G-17G FLYING FORTRESS "NOSE ART": http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=AC%2012414

Hasegawa 1/72 B-17G Flying Fortress: http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=HSG%2001961

[M.A.D]

Twin R-3350s would be cool as it could borrow the installation design from the Model 344 ...

Great stuff Jon! ... My take on a twin R-3350 Model 299

Potentially less weight and less drag?
But would it be more susceptible to battle damage? From what I have read many B-17 only made it home oe closer to friendly territory because of its four-engine configuration 

M.A.D

[GTX_Admin]

How about something totally crazy - update the B-17G with Wright R-3350s and some of the remote gun stations from the B-29?

[Cliffy B]

How about something totally crazy - update the B-17G with Wright R-3350s and some of the remote gun stations from the B-29?

Oooooo I like that!  You could say it was used as a proof of concept and/or a trainer for B-29 aircrews.  Some really neat natural metal with high gloss colors would look neat.

[sequoiaranger]

In a post far back in this thread...

>Here's a possible '46 B-17? USAAF leaders hoped the new lighter, sleeker, faster turbo-prop (one engine being more powerful than than 4 piston engines) B-17H would be able to survive.<

I believe it was done. Here is such a B-17 flying on its single turboprop (actual photo, not doctored):



But then "we" could delete the four "non-essential" Cyclones and get THIS (doctored photo):



In keeping with this "theme", I think REDUCING the number of engines (thus reducing drag) is wise--either the single turbo-prop (which, incidentally DID have more sheer horsepower than the four radials) or TWO "Corncob" engines (kind of like a radial He-177).

[Daryl J.]

Use a Sharkfin B-17 instead.    Yummy. 

[elmayerle]

A B-38 converssion based on, say, a B-17D?  That would look rather attractive.  I wonder if bits from a B-17G or a YB-40 could make a late shark-fin B-17, like a B-17D, agressive enough against fighters to survive without a tail gun position?  Alternatively, keep the shark-fin but go with a faired-in gun position like that considered for a twin-fin configuration.

[Daryl J.]

Or don't worry about most of the defensive weapons at all and have it escort the Atlantic convoys and defend the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

[Daryl J.]

Not knowing much about the Korean Conflict this could be way off base but put a mostly de-gunned, de-turreted B-17F into some sort of USN Anti-shipping role.

[GTX_Admin]

Well, I understand that some SB-17s were used in the Korean war, so maybe at a stretch some could be employed in a more offensive role.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Not knowing much about the Korean Conflict this could be way off base but put a mostly de-gunned, de-turreted B-17F into some sort of USN Anti-shipping role.

How about a night attack aircraft with radar operating at low altitude with torpedoes!  Mount the A/N APS-4 surface search radar pod under the wing or under the fuselage containing.  Might be a good idea to consider retaining some defensive weapons for the occasional strafing opportunity.  The chin turret and tail gun being the two best suited for that purpose.  Mount the torpedoes [or mines] on the bomb racks that are located between the inboard engines and the fuselage.  The Revell 1/48th scale B-17F includes the bomb racks so with a bit of imagineering you can rig the bomb racks for carriage of a torpedo.  Mark XIII (Mk 13) 22.5" (57.15 cm) Torpedo shapes in 1/48th scale can be found in the Accurate Miniatures WW2 Weapons Set (one torpedo per box), Monogram Devastator and Avenger, Hobby Boss Avenger, and the Great Wall (if you can afford it) Devastator kits.  If you want to model mines, that is an entirely gray area thanks to the shortage of good drawings, images, and other data pertaining the the mines that were carried by aircraft.  If you want to go with something different, you could try something like a pair of the Belcher Bits RAF 1,500 lb Mine shapes that are available in the RAF 1,500 lb Mine & 250 lb Depth Charge (Product No. BB11).  This set contains a pair of these these weapons shapes in addition to some RAF depth bombs. 

[Daryl J.]

Night attack and radar equipped is what I had in mind with, in fact, a 1/48 Revell B-17F.   It makes me rue the day I sold mine for $6 at the LHS a decade ago......

Rather than torpedoes, I had a pair air-to-surface missiles in mind, but effective guidance is an issue making the torpedoes possibly a better option.   And not a American torpedoes at that.  German ones.   

Note the Flying Fortress purchased yesterday at the show was a -G version...   Heh...that's another project involving a dental floss container which happens to be, well, radar shaped.   

Overall GSB or Satin Black are in the lead scheme-wise.   

[GTX_Admin]

Damn you Daryl!!!!  Now I can't get the image of an AGN-84 Harpoon equipped B-17 out of my head!

[Daryl J.]

That's about the shape I had in mind to be precise.   Either two or three of them.   

[Jeffry Fontaine]

That's about the shape I had in mind to be precise.   Either two or three of them.

I can be your enabler for the AGM-84 Harpoon shapes.  Several ESCI/AMT-Ertl S-3/ES-3/US-3 Viking kits in protective custody with missiles that have no mission.  :)

[finsrin]

Night attack and radar equipped is what I had in mind with, in fact, a 1/48 Revell B-17F.   It makes me rue the day I sold mine for $6 at the LHS a decade ago......

Rather than torpedoes, I had a pair air-to-surface missiles in mind, but effective guidance is an issue making the torpedoes possibly a better option.   And not a American torpedoes at that.  German ones.   

Note the Flying Fortress purchased yesterday at the show was a -G version...   Heh...that's another project involving a dental floss container which happens to be, well, radar shaped.   

Overall GSB or Satin Black are in the lead scheme-wise.

What store and what brand for the dental floss ?

[Daryl J.]

Oral-B Essentialfloss  50m/55yd container.  It's made in Ireland (and with their tax base, who in the world would *not* want to have a factory in Ireland?!??  It's incredibly favourable.).

Store?  I don't know.  We get them sent in by our supplier.