Pour me an XB-38 . . .

[clipper1801]

Not so strange a request, the Army asked to try a B-17F converted to Allison engines, easy to do in resin, just take a B-17F, lop off the engines and add an Allison engine and cowl, but from where . . .



Ahh, used some mold putty to make a mold over the engines of a Lightning . . .



Then to do the magic pour . . . twice!



Prep the B-17F



Add the new engines . . .



Final filling and filing . . . and its off to the paint room! : )

[Jager]

Really; why??? If you're going inline for the B-17, use Merlins.
Karl

[Flying Helmut]

To quote Yoda freely:-

"Do, or do not...............there is no 'why'"

[Diamondback]

Heck with just any Merlin... either specifically the latest upgraded Packard Merlins, or... why not Griffons?

I wonder how the What-If bastard child of a B-38 and a B-40 might have done as far as not falling so far behind the bomber stream?

Let's see...

	B-17E	XB-38	Diff	B-17F	YB-40	Diff	38/40 Bastard
Eng HP	4800	5700	+900	4800	4800	+0	5700; +900
Gross	51000	64000	+13K	56500	63500	+7000	64000
Vmax	317	327	+10	325	292	-33	???
Vcruise	226	226	0	160	196	+36	???
Ceiling	36000	36600	+600	37500	29200	-8300
R-ferry	3200	3600	+400	2800	2260	-540	???
R-combat	???	1900	???
Payload	4200	6000	+1800	8000	none	-8000	none
Guns	1x.30@ 8x.50@ Ttl ???	1x.30@ 8x.50@ Ttl ???	none	11x.50@ Ttl	14x.50	-1 mount +1 twin turret	???

[clipper1801]

Meanwhile back at the Clipperarium . . . or is it the Clipperdome?



Looks like it should fly much faster . . .







This makes my B-17 population 14 . . . yikes! Maybe a XB-15 next . . .