World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
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B-17s of the 303 BG, my 1/72 builds
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 06:05 AM UTC
Thanks Jonathan, I enjoyed building it, but the masking was a real pain.
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 03:53 AM UTC
Started the next aircraft for the group this weekend. I'm using the Revell -G model. I have yet to decide on the specific aircraft i want to depict. With as nice as the new Revell kits are I have to say I am a bit disappointed with the lack of any detail in the nose of the aircraft, being the most visible of any of the interior once it is done. Also no option for doing staggered waist windows is unfortunate. Don't get me wrong, the kit is by far probably the best 1/72 B-17 on the market, but I feel they cut some corners on things they shouldn't have.











AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 05, 2015 - 09:10 AM UTC
Got the new Revell B-17G practically finished tonight, all it needs now are the propellers. I decided to name this one "Duchess' Daughter" decals are a combo of "Kits World" (Nose art and yellow T on tail), "Techmod" (National Insignias), Hasegawa kit decals (tail registry and bomb tally), and home made (radio call numbers on fuselage and triangle 'C').







And here's two shots of my most current completed builds.



AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 - 09:34 AM UTC
Slowly, but surely I'm still building B-17s. I'll have some new pictures tomorrow.
magnusf
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 1,953 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 12:03 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Slowly, but surely I'm still building B-17s. I'll have some new pictures tomorrow.



I'm looking forward to that !



Magnus
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 03:57 AM UTC
Magnus, I hope these won't disappoint you then!

As promised here are some new pictures. I now have built a B-17 using the Hasegawa, Academy, and Revell kits.

These first two are of all of them so far:





B-17F "Hell's Angels"





B-17F "The '8' Ball Mk II"





B-17F "Iza Vailable"





B-17G "Iza Vailable Too"





B-17F "The Duchess" I'm almost done with this one, just need to add the Top and Ball turrets and order a squadron replacement nose cone and she'll be done.





B-17G "Duchess' Daughter"





YB-40 "Tampa Tornado"



B-17G GN-U (this one has no name) just need to finish decaling her and she'll be done. I did this one because I liked how the tail triangle was painted over the old triangle. (see pictures of the actual aircraft here: http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-4338197-crash.html)



And lastly B-17E "Phyllis" aka "Tugboat Annie" used as the 303rd's Assembly Ship.


JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 07:43 AM UTC
wonderful show!

AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2015 - 08:22 AM UTC
Thanks Jonathan!

A little update, "The Duchess" is done except for her nose cone, it is still in the mail. I should learn how to do some vacu-forming...

And a new B-17 is joining the group. B-17F "Vicious Virgin" This is a somewhat heavily modified Academy kit. The interior is complete using the CMK kit or some scratchbuilt parts. Unfortunately silly me forgot to take pictures of the interior before I closed it up Since no decals for this particular ship exist I made my own.







And the rest of the group (minus the three I have in the display cabinet) awaiting their new sister.

(Without flash)


(With flash)
Redhand
#522
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 20, 2013
KitMaker: 1,460 posts
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Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2015 - 02:30 PM UTC
That is a remarkable collection!
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 03, 2015 - 12:00 AM UTC
Thanks Brian.

A quick update on "Vicious Virgin"









Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 03, 2015 - 02:11 AM UTC
Abram,
I've been modeling seriously on and off since the 70's, and I've never seen a collection of B-17s like yours. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Joel
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 12:15 AM UTC
I can't believe it's been two years since I've posted here. Sadly my last post is really the last work I have gotten done in those years.

"The Duchess" and "Vicious Virgin" remain in their last posted state. I graduated college with my bachelor's, started a new job, and had we had our third child all in the past two years. With the new baby I lost my dedicated modeling space and I wasn't able to build much of anything. Now that she's almost 18 months old we're starting to move her in with her sister so hopefully I'll get my room back soon.

This past week I started building two more B-17Fs, one Hasegawa kit and the other a Revell. I'm not exactly sure which ones they'll be once finished, but I think one will end up being "Luscious Lady"

I've also been so out of modeling that I didn't even know Airfix came out with a brand new B-17G last year. I'll need to buy one and compare it to Revell's offering.

Now I need to find a new image hosting site and I'll try to update the thread with new pictures.
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 02:00 AM UTC
Test, my most recent build nearing completion

AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 06:41 AM UTC
Another test, can you guys see these?

KPHB17FE
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Illinois, United States
Joined: January 12, 2015
KitMaker: 292 posts
AeroScale: 292 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 03:25 PM UTC
Yes, they can be seen and a lovely sight they are! What photo hosting site did you use?
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 10:57 PM UTC
Thanks for verifying Karl. I'm trying 'image shack' right now. I didn't see any stipulations on band width or third party links so I'll keep using them.
GidGar
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Alaska, United States
Joined: August 22, 2005
KitMaker: 47 posts
AeroScale: 19 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 - 08:22 AM UTC
Nice collection Abram, thanks for sharing. The B-17 is an engaging subject, keep 'em coming, as time allows. Congrats on the third kiddo, the BA, and almost getting your modeling room back.

Looking forward to seeing what you can do with the Airfix B-17. I picked one up earlier this year, but not ready to start building. Have visions of trying to replicate "5 Grand" with all the Boeing employee signatures on it, but imagine that would be hard to see in 1/72. Maybe time to crack open the Monongram 1/48 kit from bygone days......

Thanks again for sharing your work!
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 13, 2017 - 09:52 PM UTC
Thanks! I've got three B-17s on the bench right now, two -Fs and a -G. One -F is Luscious Lady, and the other I'm rebuilding Hell's Angels using the Revell kit. I'm not sure which aircraft I'm going to make the -G. I started building it to add an olive drab -G to the fleet.

I ordered the Airfix B-17G kit and after I do a comparison of it with the Revell and Academy kits I'll pick one to build B-17G Thunderbird.
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 - 01:36 AM UTC
Here's some pictures of the three of the bench.





AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 10:22 PM UTC


Got a second B-17 shelf up today. I've got twelve B-17s complete or almost complete. I've got one on the bench waiting for masks and paint. Then there's another I'd started to build so as to hang it on my kids room portraying a 91st BG aircraft.(modeled it with the wheels up) It has no paint and I can't find the rest of the pieces so I'm not sure what I'll do with it right now.
drabslab
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European Union
Joined: September 28, 2004
KitMaker: 2,186 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - 11:52 PM UTC
For some strange reason, I have the idea that you love the B-17

That is a fantastic collection you have there
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Monday, August 21, 2017 - 05:46 AM UTC
I do indeed love the B-17. The fascination started when I was very young (7 years old I think).

I've got one almost done, just needs the propellors. First Olive drab -G.







Except for the small X on the tail the decals were all home made. I made some mistakes, the Stars and bars on the fuselage are too big, and I should have positioned the triangle C on the tail higher up on the tail. Other than that I'm happy with how it turned out.
AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 03, 2017 - 10:05 AM UTC
The newest addition to the group.



Just applied the decals tonight. I still need to weather it and apply the flat coat.
Ronin107
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United States
Joined: September 30, 2017
KitMaker: 2 posts
AeroScale: 2 posts
Posted: Friday, October 06, 2017 - 10:59 PM UTC
Hi Abram,
I was reading your post because I truly love reading anything about B-17s! I was curious about the decals you'd used for the 303rd "Eight Ball" from the Iliad decals sheet "Stars in the Sky." I'm currently working on Jimmy Stewarts' "Male Call" made from an older Airfix B-24J. In short, would you have the "Male Call" decals left over and would you be willing to sell or trade for them? The Iliad sheet id very difficult to find, so I thought I'd ask and see if this was workable with you!

Thank you for your time with my request - and kudos on your 303rd project. They're beautiful Forts.

All the best and I'll be anxious to hear from you soon.

Ken

AbramJ
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Arizona, United States
Joined: February 07, 2015
KitMaker: 45 posts
AeroScale: 44 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 07, 2017 - 12:58 AM UTC
Ken, thanks for the kind words. I'll need to dig through all of my decals and see if I can find them. I'll let you know.