theplasticsurgeon Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 Signing on to build this kit as a YB-40 version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 28, 2010 Author Share Posted December 28, 2010 This is the current state of box contents - a few components painted This is my research material: And this is the Paragon Conversion set: I've built several previous B-17s, and saved spares for this project. That other chin turret is from an SB-17 Rescue Fortress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 Interesting. I have this one waiting in the closet but in 48th Scale. What markings are you going with?? Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 28, 2010 Author Share Posted December 28, 2010 martin_sam_2000 said: What markings are you going with?? That's not fully planned yet. I'll probably be scavenging and begging for numbers at IPMS and on the forum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 I have a bit of research done..But there isn't a lot around about these. I will be using spares and maybe a few home made to get mine done..I am leaning towards "Tampa Tornado" Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 Never seen that before and that is freaking sweet looking. Were there added crewmembers then or did they just shuffle? Also was it still bomb-capable? Can't wait to see it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 No new crew members..just more guns for each crew member. Chin turret, double 50's on each waist position and the radio operator got a turret. No bombs..just extra ammo. It was designed to be an escort of sorts adding extrqa protection to the formations.didn't work tho..the planes were to slow to keep up after the bombs were dropped. Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted December 28, 2010 Author Share Posted December 28, 2010 To keep you entertained - here is my gallery of previous B-17s, in order that I built them. Airfix (original) B-17G - with Superscale decals for 100BG Shilaylee. This was my first model when I returned (following college) to modelmaking in 1986. Repainted in 1996 as you see her now. Another copy of that dreadful original Airfix B-17 built in 1993. This time with kit decals for A-bit-o-lace 447BG. And another go at the Airfix kit built in 1996. 490BG Carolina Moon. Academy Coastal Command B-17E Fortress II built in 1998. This will be very similar to my YB-40 project. Hasegawa B17F Memphis Belle built in 1999. Academy SB-17G Rescue Fortress built in 2000. Spares from this could be used on the YB-40. Finally an Academy B-17D built in 2003. Additionally I have Hasegawa B-17F and G kits, right at the bottom of my stash. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 (edited) Tim, That's some great stuff! Welcome aboard, and I'm looking forward to following this build. Thanks for posting some of your previous builds, they look great! Cheers, Mark. Edited December 28, 2010 by Kostucha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted December 28, 2010 Share Posted December 28, 2010 theplasticsurgeon said: Additionally I have Hasegawa B-17F and G kits, right at the bottom of my stash. If you want to get rid of one of those kits let me know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 The first cut is definitely the deepest with this project - sufficient to reduce the entire kit to the spares box if it goes wrong. However this is the results of my razor saw session in the garage earlier today. Next the resin radio-room top was trimmed and dry fitted to the fuselage. I'm quite relieved with that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin_sam_2000 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 looking good! That really is a plunge you have to get right. Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 And this is how the cockpit looks tonight. I found my receipt for the Paragon conversion in the box. Cost me £5.39 at IPMS SMW2007 Telford. The Academy B-17F kit has a far more interesting story. In 2001 I took a lot of models to a fundraising event for http://jetagemuseum.org/default.aspx There I entered the aircraft recognition contests - and did rather well, winning quite a few prize vouchers. At the end of the day I was to select a prize from their stock of goodies, which included a few models. There was a Monogram B-24 kit, and YES I had sufficient wins for that. Thank-you very much - that will do very nicely. It sat in my stash for well over a year, and I never touched it. Not really my scale. A work colleague mentioned was given this Academy B-17F Memphis Belle kit for Christmas in 2003. Whilst he appreciated the gesture, his interests were 48 scale. He had built a beautiful Monogram B-17G, and really wanted a Liberator to compliment it. Can you guess where this is going? The deal was arranged, and an exchange took place. Shook hands and both left smiling - best of all no money was involved I've been planning for a YB-40 for a long time (probably since receiving this kit), and have accrued a lot of spares from those other B-17s that I've built. There's a bit more plastic in that box now, than Academy put there - and some of it will be needed. It's taken a lot longer than I ever thought, for me to actually start cutting plastic, but I appreciate this GB for setting me off on this build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 I've just pulled these two from the lowest point in a very large stash of kits. Each can contribute yellow tail numbers, helping me determine which aircraft I can actually build. No offers please - they're not for sale! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 theplasticsurgeon said: I've just pulled these two from the lowest point in a very large stash of kits. Each can contribute yellow tail numbers, helping me determine which aircraft I can actually build. No offers please - they're not for sale! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 I found all my spare yellow number decals in the B-17F box. I now have all the decals I need to build this aircraft 124341 - without need for code letters, or to compromise my other kits. This is the XB-40, development aircraft. It has with straight (star ahead of gun position on Stdb side) rather than staggered waist positions. White rather that greyed over stars. Splotchy airbushed camo. I've also got 2 spare part 49s. These are the twin .50s in the trough underneath the B-17D - and look ideal for twin waist guns. Might have to improvise that US ARMY underneath - copying my B-17D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Sorry to have to say to you chaps, but I'm hesitating about building 124341. It looks like the radio room turret is installed slightly forward and recessed into the hump of the fairing, and my conversion ain't quite like that. It also appears that the ball turret is slightly raised. I thought they were fixed on the B-17 family. This is the sole B-40 with the rearward stdb waist gun - rather than forward one. Opening that waist gun port is my next step - hence I'm pausing to consider. Of the combat blooded YB-40s, the serial numbers all contain digit 7 - and I just don't have that anywhere in my collection or spares. I do't really want to mask and paint digits like that - they won't match. The first batch of TB-40s all use the digit 9 which is similary absent from my stores - as are upsidedown 6s. The only other serial that I can complete is 25834, a TB-40 that remained in the USA training crews. As I've got no photos of this aircraft in service, I'm planning on building it as it emerged from the conversion process - without any side codes or other squadron markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prop Duster Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Seems like a great solution to your quandary-you can now join the "we don't need no stinking numbers" gang Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 theplasticsurgeon said: Sorry to have to say to you chaps, but I'm hesitating about building 124341.It looks like the radio room turret is installed slightly forward and recessed into the hump of the fairing, and my conversion ain't quite like that. It also appears that the ball turret is slightly raised. I thought they were fixed on the B-17 family. This is the sole B-40 with the rearward stdb waist gun - rather than forward one. Opening that waist gun port is my next step - hence I'm pausing to consider. Of the combat blooded YB-40s, the serial numbers all contain digit 7 - and I just don't have that anywhere in my collection or spares. I do't really want to mask and paint digits like that - they won't match. The first batch of TB-40s all use the digit 9 which is similary absent from my stores - as are upsidedown 6s. The only other serial that I can complete is 25834, a TB-40 that remained in the USA training crews. As I've got no photos of this aircraft in service, I'm planning on building it as it emerged from the conversion process - without any side codes or other squadron markings. I did notice that, is it possible that 341 had a retracting turret? If you are going to make another YB-40, and if you need of "7", let me know, I might have one that fits, sent me the dimensions you're looking for. But, as you mentioned, there may be a problem in making them match. I would honestly, and this is just my opinion, find a combat blooded YB-40 that fits your work with the conversion, and there are a number of ways to get you that serial number. I'm putting an order in fairly soon with Bill (Over at CanMilAir) and I could include your serial number - just need to dimensions/font/size/colour you want. If it's just the serials, then I don't foresee a high cost. Then it's just a matter of mailing them out to you. You may need to be a bit patient though (1-2 months). But, I'm just throwing that idea out there for you. Cheers! Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Many thanks for that Mark - I will PM you with details, and ask my IPMS colleagues on Tuesday. Proceeding to cut the forward stbd waist position - for YB-40 rather than XB-40. At least I have a backstop position with 25834. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Glad I could help, let me know! And I'm looking forward to seeing more progress shots! The Y/XB-40's always looked interesting, a shame they couldn't be tactically employed (due to weight). Could you imagine some of the scores those crews might have been able to wrack up? Cheers, Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 (edited) As near as I can tell, only the XB-40 had the semi-retractable ball. I presume you already have all of this information, but just in case: 42-5732 327BS/92BG 42-5733 327BS/92BG UX-F PEORIA PROWLER 322BS/91BG LG-T 42-5734 327BS/92BG UX-D SEYMOUR ANGEL 323BS/91BG OR-R RED BALLOON 42-5735 327BS/92BG UX-B WANGO WANGO MIA 6/22/43 Only YB-40 lost in action 42-5736 327BS/92BG UX-C TAMPA TORNADO 359BS/303BG BN-Q 524BS/379BG WA-P 42-5737 327BS/92BG UX-X DAKOTA DEMON 360BS/303BG PU-D 42-5738 327BS/92BG UX-G BOSTON TEA PARTY 42-5739 327BS\92BG UX-J LUFKIN RUFFIAN 427BS/303BG GN-D 545BS/384BG JD-P 42-5740 327BS/92BG UX-E MONTICELLO 42-5741 327BS/92BG UX-H CHICAGO 401BS/91BG LL-Y GUARDIAN ANGEL 42-5742 327BS/92BG UX-L PLAIN DEALING EXPRESS 42-5743 327BS/92BG UX-M WOOLAROC 42-5744 327BS-92BG UX-A DOLLIE MADISON These were the YB-40's that were actually sent to England. This infromation comes from Roger Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story". Geez, this looked better in WORD! Edited January 9, 2011 by 100th BG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theplasticsurgeon Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 100th BG said: As near as I can tell, only the XB-40 had the semi-retractable ball. I presume you already have all of this information, but just in case:42-5732 327BS/92BG 42-5733 327BS/92BG UX-F PEORIA PROWLER 322BS/91BG LG-T This infromation comes from Roger Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story". Geez, this looked better in WORD! HUGE thanks for that! Those side codes are exactly what I've been searching for. I've got that book somewhere - but can't find it when I need it. Thanks again for posting. I've asked some IPMS colleagues for help with the digit decals, and I've just opened the forward stbd waist port. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
100th BG Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 (edited) I am looking forward to seeing your progress. I have the Paragon conversion (in both 72nd and 48th - how warped is that!). Do you have the photo of the waist when they changed the ammuntion boxes and how they fed? Apparently the photo that has been published the most was a preliminary version and it changed somewhat when it went into service. I have that somewhere... EDIT number 2: Found it! Man, that had to be tail heavy... Those ammo boxes look like the ones from the tail position. Photo from the Warbird Tech book on the B-17. EDIT PS Which airplane are you going to do (If you have decided)? Edited January 9, 2011 by 100th BG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kostucha Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Wow... that's all I can muster up... wow. I want one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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