Quick B-17 question.

[B-17 guy]

I've been reading up more and more on the differences between the model's of the B-17, especially the F and G model's.

B-17 in action say's the tokyo tanks were an improvement to the F models. which makes me wonder why none of the few 48th scale kits dont have them on the kits.

So would it be safe to assume that all forts from the F to the end had the tokyo tanks? I'm thinking of adding them onto the 1 of the 2 I'm building right now (I already built and painted the wings for one of them) How hard would it be to add them, does anyone have a how to?

[Spook498]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_tanks

[DonSS3]

I don't think there's anything visible you can add. As the wiki article mentions, they were contained in the inner wing and wingroot sections. That being said, IIRC there were some ferry tanks that could be added in the bomb bay and even the radio operator's compartment, but I've never seen pics of them.

[B-17 guy]

Thanks for the link, too bad no pictures.

Don, I know they eventually added 2 vents similar to the 4 behind each engine on the outer wing tip, or tips. I know a few on here have added the tokyo tanks to the G model.

I'll google it and share what I find.

[timc]

Does this help? directly from the B-17G Erection and Maintenance Manual. As you can see, there are no vents in the wingtips for any part of the fuel system.

Edited August 31, 2008 by timc

[Huey Gunner]

I don't think there's anything visible you can add. As the wiki article mentions, they were contained in the inner wing and wingroot sections. That being said, IIRC there were some ferry tanks that could be added in the bomb bay and even the radio operator's compartment, but I've never seen pics of them.

There was a documentry the other day about Midway. There was film clip showing ground personal installing the tank into the bombay. If it's still on my dvr, I'll take a picture and post it. It looks kinda like a slipper tank. Edited August 31, 2008 by Huey Gunner

[B-17 guy]

http://www.cybermodeler.net/aircraft/b-17/.../na_b-17_08.jpg

In this pic you can see the vents that I'm talikng about, look in the red area of the wing tip. I know they were added as a fire prevention measure. The vapors from the fuel when the tanks were empty could cause fire in combat conditions.

I know someone has added them to the revellogram G, but I dont remember who or else I'd go to the source.

[100th BG]

The tanks in the diagram numbered 1 thru 9 were refered to as the tokio tanks. They were added during the F production run, I'm not at home with my references to be specific. The vents were added later as they found out that fumes would build up in the wing. I believe this was a mod that could even be done at group level. The only exterior differences would be the fuel fillers and I think most of the kits out there have them. Note that the fuel fillers on the B-17 were under a panel on the wing. The fuel cap itself was not flush with the wing surface (if that makes sense). I can get you a diagram tomorrow if you need it.

[B-17 guy]

Thanks 100BG, someone acknowedges the vents on the wing tips. I'm not worried about the filler caps though, I'm just wanting to know if anyone has a rough how to so I can have some refference to add the vents for the tokyo tanks.