Dade [ KARYBDIS ] provides us with a full build review of the MPM 1/18 B-17F Nose section.

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Thanks!

Hi there

What an excellent review! I've sometimes looked at this kit in on-line catalogues and dreamed of tackling it - in the heady belief that biggest is always best... This is a sobering account of what to expect when tackling this monster!

Keep 'em coming Dade!

All the best

Rowan

Excellent review Dade!
When I first saw this had been released I thought ,,wow!
When I saw how much it cost I thought..WOW!!!
And after reading this Im quite glad I didnt go mad and buy it!
I'll content myself with looking at the pictures of your finished cockpit section.
Congratulations on getting it together and making such a good job of it.
Nige

Great review Dade. A very informative review, and some great lessons in tackling some serious issues with this build. A very handy guide to the tools and skills needed for this kit which can be used on other builds.
The finished model does look fantastic and a definite "conversation piece".
As Rowan has said I also have looked at this kit and dreamed, but after reading your build review its seems more of a nightmare.
I wonder if it is worth e/mailing your review to MPM, to see if they take on-board your advice and tweak some parts of it.
Andy

Hi guys!

Thanks for the kind words. I was also pretty interested in trying my hand at this as a personal project. I usually build Japanese, but this model was so mad, I was tempted! So when the opportunity came up to build it on commission, I jumped at the chance.

But after finishing it, and feeling like I just lost a fight with a grizzly bear, all I keep thinking is, "I sure am glad I didn't have to pay for that!"

I didn't know I would be writing a review until after I finished rebuilding the window sills out of epoxy putty (so unfortunately no pics of the splintered fiberglass). At that point I thought it might be a good idea to warn other unsuspecting modelers before they sunk so much money into it.

Andy, I've thought about mailing it to MPM, but decided not to as MPM has said this is a limited short run kit, and I believe my criticism after the fact might be seen as closing the gate after the horse has already escaped.

Thanks again, guys!

It was my idea... i've been harbouring this dream of somehow make this kit, and there you go, someone reads your mind and does it. Grr.
Time for my tinfoil hat.

(It's really spooky, by the way. Great kit; I'll have to get one.)

Excellent and sobering review. From the side view photos it's clear that the dorsal turret is not even close to a correct diameter, plus something looks fishy about the shape of the nose. I would stay far away from this one, but it does inspire me to do one right in 1/6 scale using accurate drawings, which are readily available. The B-17 is a very popular large scale radio control aircraft with loads of ready made accessories available in several scales, including turrets and glazings. It mystifies me how MPM got this one so wrong.