Hi, Gents

Normally I am a AFV modeler but. how it happens, I was commissioned with an aircraft! The kit provided: Revell / Monogram 1/48 B17G Flying Fortress.

Requirements: OOB with slight improvements, olive drab / grey color scheme (Chow Hound, as opposite to El Lobo II), flaps up, minimal weathering. Perhaps for many of you it sounds laughably simple, but for me it is quite a challenge: I never used chromate green, for instance! I will relay on your help, please, for getting this done. Thank you in advance.

Perhaps the kit is all to known in modeler's community, with its ups and downs. From what I understood reading a couple of reviews, the molds are quite good, except some soft interior detail and some flash. I can confirm that. Raised "old school" detail seems to be also a problem for some.

Well, I started working on it:
First, I deepened the engine air slats on the top of the wings:
Before:

After:

That is one of the "small improvements" I was talking about.

I needed to test first the plastic (a little soft to my taste), the primer / paints adhesion and the decals. I found ideally to experiment on the bomb cart, an extra feature provided with the kit but not required by customer. Besides, I felt more in my comfort zone in doing so.

The assembly is very simple, and it was an afternoon affair, excluding decaling and chipping:


Flawless clear decals:


Overall view with a figure added for scale reference (figures also not required, but I guess I will give it a go, if time allows)


A first taste of chromate green:


And first finished sub-assembly:


Thank you for commenting. Any help / suggestion will be very much appreciated.

Cheers,
Gabriel

Hi Gabriel,

being a AFV modeller doing Wingythings myself this moment I guess I wont be much of help.
But principle of Plane modeling and AFV modeling are the same. I guess with planes you will get to work away more seam lines.
Also a good tip is that the cockpit tend to get pretty dark with canopy on it. This means you can be a bit more "agressive" with the highlighting of the cockpit parts. Take a look at my build blog you can see that even tje quite heavy higlighted panels falls away once installed in the cockpit.

I hope this helps you... for now I can see nice model and paint skills so I am sure you will venture well.

gr TC

@Twentecable: Thank you for the tip. I discovered myself that clear coats darken the original color; so does the canopy, I guess. I noted it: "more aggressive" contrast for interior.

Thanks again,
Gabriel

Gabriel,
Now this should be an interesting journey for all of us that are more then willing to lend a helping hand.

As far as GZC goes, I generally just use FS34151 interior green. I've become a big fan of Black Basing but have modified it to suit my own needs. That being said, the blotchy black primer will add all sorts of natural wear and tear to light coats of top color without having to physically weather it. Seal, then a overall dirty wash, and seal with flat or matt. and you're home free.

One thing I found is that a clear gloss coat darkens, while the reverse is true of Matt or Flat coats.

Joel

Neat project, I will enjoy watching this one. One thing you might want to consider: The interior of B-17G's was not painted. The cockpit had cloth covering the sidewalls and aft bulkhead, but the rest of the interior was bare metal. Some of the Douglas birds were painted but even then it was a darker green than what the model paint manufacturers are selling.





In this photo, taken inside the "Memphis Belle" before any restorations (1979), you can see a bit of the fabric covering. The off white material is the insulation that was glued to the sidewalls. In the F, the nose and radio compartments got this same treatment. It was discontinued in the G models except for the aft bulkhead in the nose.



Here you can see the interior of the nose in the G with the unpainted, uninsulated fuselage but the aft bulkhead has the insulation/fabric covering. One interesting thing in this photo is the ammo boxes for the cheek guns are there, but the cheek guns and windows have not been added. This is most likely an early G and the cheek guns were added at a mod center.

Hi Gabriel.

For an armour modeller you certainly did a superb job with your Chev vs Hemi builds, so I am sure you are more than capable of handling this project!

As Joel said earlier, there is an endless supply of helpful advice from the good folks at Aeroscale as well.

Good luck with the build, I will be following your progress.

Cheers, D

@Damian. Thank you for hospitality and kindness.
@Karl: Very useful pictures and information. Please read the following and correct me if I am wrong.
@Joel. Thank you. I think am using a reverse method, letting the washes do the job (see following interior picture).
Now, Karl raised a very interesting question regarding the inside painting. The manufacturer recommends a two tone interior. Chromate green should be applied only where are molded ribs, the other surfaces should remain silver - I was startled at the beginning, but after Karl's intervention, it make sense. Meanwhile, I ran into a Squadron walk around, and I haven't seen chromate green at all: there is only medium green or olive green. Anyhow, I started this way and is sort of late to go back:

The first finished bulkhead (the simplest one )

Also, I have done the payload (they finally will be inside the aircraft, so not much weathering / detailing needed)


The actual stage: painting the cockpit floor and detailing. In the same time, I go with the landing gear, needed to assembly the wings. I'm thinking if I really need to add hydraulic lines" I guess so, since the pump is there and so are the stems on the wheels


I found only two wartime photos of Chow Hound.
The older one shows the airplane in flight. It seems to be during the 11th mission, or after the tenth, if the mission markings are correct.

What I noted: the contrast between the underneath gray and OD is quite faded. I guess the paint was well worn off (compare to black on the deicing boots or to white triangle on the tail). Also, a good amount of smoke weathering can be seen under wing.

The second one:

shows the aircraft after 15th mission and with 2 enemy planes claimed. Very good reference for nose art and weathering.

Main question: Based on references, should I go for a washed out, brownish OD as top color?

Thank you for your support

Cheers,
Gabriel

Hi Gabriel, the color of faded OD will bring you a lot of answers. The paint Boeing (Chowhound was a G-15-BO) used seemed to fade worse than what was used by Douglas or Vega. It seemed to turn a brownish color. I used Model Master Field Drab on this version of "Our Gal Sal" which I built for her first pilot. The fuselage and inner wings were painted that color while the outer wing panels, the vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizers were painted with something else that I (sadly) no longer recall. The beauty of it is it is open to interpretation so go with what you like! EDIT: the other color may be "ANA 613" from MM. I know I used their "Faded Olive Drab" for the fabric control surfaces.

This will be a pleasure to watch come together. I am a big fan of the Fortress and the 1/48 kit.



Joe

I'm glad to see another one getting built too. That one in the last photo by Karl looks fantastic!

Gary

I also look forward to this build -- even as I gnash my teeth at the slow progress of my B-17F (Still working it folks!! Post coming soon).

I will also follow your build, Gabriel, as I intend to build (or at least start) my B-17 G (same kit) in 2016. Okay, I have plans for so many builds next year ....
Karl, thanks for these interesting photos of the interior. In fact, I didn't know that the B-17 wasn't painted on the inside. So now I would go for something like aluminium ....

Happy modelling!
Torsten

Torsten, it REALLY depends on the particular aircraft lot and block. In the same way that wartime manufacture did away with exterior camouflage in favor of natural metal, so also on the interior there was a WIDE variety. Some spaces were finished, others not. Karl Hauffe is our resident expert on this, IMO.

@Karl: Beautiful finish on "Our Girl Sal". I was thinking to something similar, maybe a dash darker. It's hard to predict any final appearance, before even the first coat of primer, but you gave me a very good direction. Thanks! And, man, how many hours you spent studying Flying Fortress?

@Joe. Thank you for interest. I have a feeling I will become a fan too.

@Gary. Yes, indeed. And I was following Brian's build on his "F". I almost feel like an impostor among you, guys!

@Brian: I not even dare to think of reaching your skill, sir! You shown magic hand on Luscious Lady, that's for sure. Comparatively, my build is a pitiful OOB against the clock! I feel honored having your landing in my blog.

@Torsten: Thank you for stopping by. For sure is going to be a very interesting project.

Progress report: I fiddled with some parts: landing gear, chin gun, seats, stabilizers - all in different stages of assembly / painting but nothing worthy of pictures. Anyhow, bits and pieces start bunching up in recognizable shapes.

Thanks everyone!

Cheers,
Gabriel.

Hi, Gents.

Time for (small) update:

Chin turret finished. Manufacturer recommended not to glue the gun to the turret. Yeah, right!

The flame dumpers were drilled - not sure how much can be guessed from this pic.

"Cheeky" Joe enjoying himself. Painting almost finished.


"Cheeky" Joe, imaginary whip in hand, playing "Jerry, I'm coming, you bastard!" The spanner from his right hand broke. It will be replaced with a "danger" flag, as soon I find a thin steel rod (perhaps a fine sewing needle?) for handle.


More updates Friday. I painted few other details, but no other sub-assembly ready yet.

Se you soon,
Cheers, Gabriel.

Wow, great work on that figure!

Thanks, Gary. I try my best.

Warm Regards,
Gabriel

Figure looks great.. and that on 1,48!
gr TC

Thanks, Lars. I think I found an easy method... after I killed couple of 1/35 figures, of course!

Cheers, Gabriel

Hello, Gents

Another (painfully slow) progress report.

The first check mark on my list: the bomb cart and figure are ready and good to go. I have modified slightly the figure replacing the broken spanner with a "danger" flag (I think). If would be my model I'll go for a deuce and a half as towing tractor, for sure. Anyhow, there are the pics:









I almost finished the front cockpit and flying bridge. Scores of small details, but I think it's deserved.









I need "couple more" touches for the front cockpit and it will be done. All bulkheads are primed and base coated - detail painting follows. Moved now to the bomb bay (I know, it will be invisible with this version of the kit but feels good to know everything inside is in good order)

Thank you for following, posting and, above all, for your help.

Cheers,

Gabriel

Very nice OOB build so far. Seriously! I like the light weathering you are doing and the fact that it is apparently going to be a "clean" build. One accuracy tip on the chin turret. I have seen color photos of B-17 G's that show the flash suppressors at the end of the chin turret barrels painted insignia red. Same with the tail guns. However, here is a picture I have in my stash showing the chin turret gun flash suppressors painted a kind of silver like yours, and the tail gun flash suppressors painted red on the other aircraft! Probably best to study closely the picture you have and make a judgment whether it is a "bright metallic" or dull, which could mean red.



I am continuing my labors in the B-17 F nose and will have at least the starboard side bulkhead "repapered" in olive drab tonight. Hope to have a pic of that up tonight too. Needless to say, you don't need to tell me how "painfully slow" building a quarter inch B-17 is.

Looking good Gabriel, like Brian says, these things take time. It is amazing sometimes when you put in hours of work and then look back and wonder what you accomplished ! Keep plugging away!!!

Hello, gents!

@Brian: Well done in slapping my wrist for not checking my references. I have published myself a picture with the real aircraft earlier in this blog. As one can see, the flash suppressors are dark color, perhaps gun metal or black; by no means silver! Thank you for the poke!

@Karl: Thank you, sir. I knew for the good beginning I'm going to engage into a losing battle against details... but I won't give up! Now, if you are so kind to have a look at the following post, I would appreciate very much your input on the base color matter. Thanks.

Cheers!
Gabriel

ALEA JACTA EST!

I had a conversation last night with the commissioner regarding the interior painting and, after I exposed to him all the possibilities, he decided that the whole interior will be dark green (in attempt to replicate the lining Brian is building meticulously on his F) except the tail section, after the last bulkhead, which will remain silver. I think is a wise choice.

Progress report:

Bombs loaded


Another bulkhead finished. The decals are off the mark, but I think the result is OK


I couldn't stand the gaps from locating tabs and I put myself in (a lot of) trouble:


Who said Vallejo acrylic primer is not sandable? Another self-inflicted headache:


Those two props needed little refinement:


First application of base color. I think on the fuselage it will be a dash darker, because I have no intention to use Vallejo acrylic primer; I am going to use medium gray enamel.


Thank you for following and slapping my wrist when I'm going strange.

Cheers,
Gabriel

Hello, gents.

Progress report:

1. The interior was painted dark green. I just used craft acrylic. The following washes and clear coats will change the appearance to darker and duller


2. Color was applied in thin diluted coats, this way having a little 3D effect:


3. Detailed the side panels:


4. Painted and decaled the props. I tried some silver weathering but I was unhappy with the result. I "deleted" the "scratches" for the moment, awaiting better inspiration


5. Finally decided over the main coats. Any input will be appreciated


6. Radio room finished. Quite pleased with the result



7. Finished dealing with the gaps. The painting looks a little "patchy" and "rough" but at least the cavities are hidden.



That concludes basically the internal modules assembly and painting. Focusing now on fuselage interior detailing and (yeah, I got to do it, man) the hydraulics on main landing gear.

Preliminary test fit shows few alignment issues between halves, but less scary some reviews made be believe.

Thank you for following, posting and any suggestion / additional info.

Cheers,
Gabriel