Very nice work Joe!

Another great build to follow before starting mine.

Cheers Rob.

Quite interesting. I do admire your ability to scratchbuild fairly realistic components literally "from scratch." Mostly I have started with kit or aftermarket parts and built from there, but what you do shows me possibilities I had not grasped before.

Very different build philosophy at work here, for sure! Will continue to follow with interest!

Brian

Appreciate you both looking in.



Thank you.


Joe

With some time off from work I plan to spend some time on this.

Not really going to plan as of yet but hopefully.

A brief update.

Working in the waist gunner positions. The walkway and a bit on the bulkhead. Also a bit on the belly turret frame.

Pictures speak a thousand words.





Now as for the turret framing. This is not accurate. The frame attaches differently however I am going with what I have. I had some issues with it and this is as close as I can get.




I hope to have more done in the next couple of days. (Back allowed)


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Ok through the day today some progress has been made.

Some finish work on the belly turret, (the bracket for the O2 tank) and some brackets for O2 tanks and fire extinguishers. Spent some time working on the smaller O2 tanks and the fire extinguishers themselves.






Also tackled the tail gunner position. This had to be scratch built from the get go as so much will be seen.



Now for the good news. I believe I am at the point I can begin to paint and begin to permanently install the fixtures into the fuse.

There are still things to do but some cannot be done without pieces in place. I have not tackled the top turret at all and just the framework on the belly turret.

Still so far to go but on the overall I believe I am about 50% done with the interior.


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Those fire extinguishers are beauts.
Following with interest and looking forward to seeing paint

Many many thanks, you are very kind.




Joe

Joe:

VERY impressive scratch-building skills. The waist section will help me in my own build when I get there.

Brian

I am humbled. But to be honest I have been using yours for reference for mine up to this point.



Joe

First, Thank you all for such kind comments and encouraging comments. They mean a lot to me.

An update:

Most likely my last for a week or so. Excitement abounds in the bunker. We have color. The basic base colors are now done and I can get started on the detail painting. And there is a lot of detail painting to be done.

The bomb racks (Alclad Polished Aluminum)



The O2 bottles (Alclad Polished Aluminum and Testors Light Grey)


The Fire Extinguishers (Alclad Polished Aluminum, Testors Light Brown, Testors Flat Black)


And then the wood detail work (In this order, Testors Light Brown, Testors Light Tan, Yellow Ochre Oil Paint, Raw Sienna Oil Paint, Burnt Umber Oil Paint, and Raw Umber Oil Paint)



This also signals a change in my plan of attack. I had hoped to get to the painting stage by the end of the weekend. I am slightly ahead of that. Now my goal is to be done with the detail painting and beginning to install the interior structures by Tuesday.


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

The detail painting is almost done. Just a few more little things to go but honestly I believe that the time is near to begin to piece this thing together.

The details.

The bulkheads fore to aft.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/fightnjoe/B-17G%20Cutaway/Detail-Painting-8_zps7xfs206m.jpg





And the Bomb Bay and Catwalk/Interior Racks.




There are still multiple things to take care of. A lot of little details when I start to piece this together. Still have to tackle the top turret and the interior of the belly turret. But I believe I am ready for the next step.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.


Joe

My friends I come before you with yet another boring, detail oriented, rehash the same crap type of update.

As of this update, all of the interior sections are ready for installation into the fuselage with the exception of oxygen bottles in the cockpit, the hoses and ropes for the cat walk in the bomb bay, and the guns. This does not include the top or belly turret. It also signals the point where all of the interior components including the little bits and pieces that attach to the interior of the fuselage are complete, with the exception of the ropes for the cat walk in the bomb bay, and the guns.

Pictures.












To avoid the issues with handling this too much and breaking off these parts now, the interior will be installed into the fuse once the hoses in the bomb bay are in place. At that point I can attach the smaller parts to the interior of the fuselage and move on.

Now also a decision. A few know this but here it is. This build was intended to be a detailed build and nothing more. As of this update that has changed a bit. In chatting with the editor of the same magazine the 109 is in, he showed interest in this one as well. I am going to attempt to submit this one as well. To that end once I get to the decal stage this build will go dark and I will reveal the finished build 1) If the article does not make the magazine, or 2) It does and the magazine issue has been made public. This is out of respect for the magazine.

So with that now out in the open, next up is to install the interior. I have applied some paint to the fuselage exterior (no pictures) and the wings and stabilizers are ready for filling and sanding (no pictures).

Thank you for sticking around this long winded update. Hope I did not bore you too much.

All comments, critiques, and criticism are greatly encouraged.



Joe

Man, this is looking really nice! I do like it.

Many many thanks.



Joe

Well a big day at the bench.

The Fuselage is closed up. Still need to fill and sand some but it is closed. I am going to let it dry overnight and then I can proceed tomorrow. i still need to add the nose glass and a few other bits of clear.

The interior as we had seen it.





And now as she sits.




Not a bad fit by any means but still has a seam bead and a couple of trouble spots. Overall not to bad at all.

After dealing with the seam it will be on to the wings and getting them attached.



All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Well my friends the end is coming closer.

The seams are cleaned up. They are resprayed the base colors. The De Icing boots are painted. Overspray has been cleaned up. (I think)

Some pictures prior to a gloss coat and then decals.







I do believe there will be one more update before this goes dark.



All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

Very impressive details! I like it!!

Many many thanks.




Joe

Joe,
A truly impressive build to date. Once you closed up the fuselage, the cut-a-ways really look fantastic with the interior details we can see. As for the paint and camo scheme, it looks really well done, with just the right amount of weathering. Looking forward to your next update which should have the wings on by then.
Joel

Many many thanks.



Joe

Decals.

We have markings on Chowhound. They were a bit fiddly and took several sessions with decal solvent to get them to snug down but they are on.






And now she goes dark. More will be posted following a yeah or nay.


All comments, critiques, and criticism are encouraged.



Joe

I am quite impressed. I really like the finish on the wings. Do keep posting.

Like your paint work , looking most excellent Joe




Terri

Thank you for your kindness.

I will post the finished build for sure. I just want to honor the wishes of the editor at this point.



Joe

Looks beautiful.