B17 F "knock-out-dropper" 124605
This B17 Flying fortress flew with the 41st. Combat Bomb Wing, 303rd Bomb group 359th Squadron, in Molesworth, England 1943.
She was the first B17 to reach 50 and 75 combat missions.
On inspection of the kit prior to building I noticed a lot of 'flashing' on the parts, this is due to poor moulding and is a pain in the butt.
First things first a light coat of the base colour on all 'top side' parts of the kit.
The engines were a one piece unit and could be painted before attaching them to the wings. First a coat of base colour then some detail was added in black and silver and finally a coat of wash using matt black and thinners with a tiny bit of silver to give an oiled effect. The bits where they attach to the 'sprue' would be touched up on completion.
The under carriage was first painted silver then aged using matt black and thinners (left before right after)
It was at this point I found out I didn't have any glue ! so production was stopped and I went about removing any 'flashing' from other bits of the kit.
Next a bit of weathering on the underside of the wings
The body could now be assembled and left to set.
Then the wings are fitted after assembling engine and another spray to give weathered effect.
After I removed the masking tape from the windows I found that the plastic did not like the thinners AAAAAARGH!
So now we have a B17 just before take off on a winters morning with the crew causing condensation on the glass, sorted.
Next step decals and finishing touches.
All that is required now is a final weathering of the entire model with a very light coat of paint and thinners.
The next project will be another B17 this time a B17 G hopefully in the colours of the Sally 'B' .
Below is a comparison between the 2 kits 1/72 and the 1/48 scale B17 G .
