PDA

View Full Version : WGS Official B-17 Flying Fortress Painting Thread



Blackronin
12-21-2013, 09:32
Here's my pair of Queens of the Sky. They're Academy and it took me more than 2 years to finish them.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117856&d=1387646388

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117855&d=1387646380

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117854&d=1387646374

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117853&d=1387646368

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=117852&d=1387646357

The original box:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43686&d=1335821981

Marechallannes
12-21-2013, 11:40
Nice B-17's wingman! :thumbsup:

A taste of what we'll get next year.

Blackronin
12-21-2013, 12:47
Thanks Sven!
You're most kind with the Rep.

Lt. S.Kafloc
03-05-2014, 06:09
124640124641124642124643124644

flash
03-05-2014, 08:23
Merged yours with the existing B.17 thread Neil. Very nice btw !

Lt. S.Kafloc
03-05-2014, 08:58
Its an academy one like Blackronin's. When I researched the squadron arriving during the attack it said they did not have any distinguishing markings and no tail markings either, hence the rather bland design.

Twisted_terrain
03-05-2014, 12:07
Lovely, lovely and lovely. What a beautiful morane. :) And with the "little guys" in shot, awesome!

Dowters
03-08-2014, 11:55
Very, very nice, already searching fot the kits!

Blackronin
03-08-2014, 12:30
Excellent, Neil!!

Lt. S.Kafloc
03-08-2014, 14:50
You have me lost there Si, are we talking about the B17 or another picture?


Lovely, lovely and lovely. What a beautiful morane. :) And with the "little guys" in shot, awesome!

Twisted_terrain
03-09-2014, 12:48
Sorry to confuse you mate. BR's 17's are on morane bases. :) Similar to your me110?

Blackronin
03-09-2014, 13:16
Sorry to confuse you mate. BR's 17's are on morane bases. :) Similar to you me110?

Oh! Those are mine. At the time I didn't have larger bases for the photos.

Twisted_terrain
03-10-2014, 00:32
Hey BR, it's my rubbish sense of humour. :)

Blackronin
03-13-2014, 15:58
;) :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

OldGuy59
05-07-2014, 07:57
Gentlemen,
I don't know if you need them, but I just finished a card set for the B-17F "Ye Olde Pub". You can find it in my WWII US Bomber Album (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=2948).

Now that I have the template, changing markings is simple. If you want cards to match your planes, let me know.

Mike :)

Flying Officer Kyte
05-31-2014, 00:35
I have only just spotted you gentlemen s B17s and a fine looking set of aircraft they are to be sure.
Both deserve some cred.
Rob.

Blackronin
05-31-2014, 01:25
Thanks dear Rob.

Lt. S.Kafloc
05-31-2014, 01:40
Cheers Rob. I must get some decals for the B17. I think my paper ones a trifle big.

Lt. S.Kafloc
05-31-2014, 02:06
Found these if they are helpful:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLYING-FORTRESS-B-17-ACADEMY-MODEL-KITS-NEW-BOX-/261488493844?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item3ce1edc514

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=175943

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Academy-240-B-17F-Fortress-2102/dp/B0009O9EVI

Zoe Brain
09-04-2014, 17:44
That Academy "1/240" that's actually 1/200 B-17F paints up very nicely. A few nylon bristles from an old brush as .50 cals, and it looks even better. Undercoat chrome, then olive drab, rub off a bit in places to give a slightly "weathered" look, keep a replacement tail section and elevators in natural metal...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10518957_10203489128402292_9009841481823832314_n.jpg?oh=65fe4db2f4257e876053168888f94728&oe=548A9369&__gda__=1417008767_167c5a7dcc93ca3972a6ee1c4c3fba6c
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10636013_10203489094641448_812183071297259780_n.jpg?oh=25a9ed20c462a0a6b0dac447a76309d3&oe=54927ADA&__gda__=1419645360_544b7bfcd5d8c98046c3ed9d4e185a3a

Schemes
142499
142500
142501
142502
142503

milcoll73
09-04-2014, 23:19
love this thread!!!:thumbsup: just remembered ive got one of those acadamy models;) guess ill have to acquire a base for it :)

Flying Officer Kyte
09-05-2014, 00:51
Lovely bird Zoe.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who balds brushes.
I often pinch a bristle out of our hand brush for radio antennae.
Rob.

CappyTom
09-05-2014, 02:37
Fantastic job! They look great.
:pint:
Thomas

Zoe Brain
12-02-2014, 03:19
"Feet Dry"

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10639528_10204060219519213_2698513662260545956_n.jpg?oh=b001349f91c6c2bc779eec968138f240&oe=550325EB&__gda__=1426170558_7d183cada7eb84c3f4a5e430eac77623

Flying Officer Kyte
12-02-2014, 03:26
Goodness Zoe, those aircraft are getting everywhere.
Very nice they look too.
Rob.

Zoe Brain
12-02-2014, 03:28
"Bomber Box"

https://scontent-b-nrt.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/67365_10204060371283007_8065780328883617036_n.jpg?oh=c461b0622f6253dd52af53f0cf8936de&oe=5501FCD5

https://scontent-b-nrt.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10404191_10204060379003200_5718795845223961063_n.jpg?oh=98e06977669c7200c49fb1530c882fd6&oe=55083566

matt56
12-05-2014, 11:13
Boy, seeing these almost makes me want to branch out into WW2 planes - gorgeous work, all! Really nice B-17s here...:)

All the best,
Matt

Blackronin
12-05-2014, 11:19
Thanks, Matt.
Thanks for the REP. You're most kind.

Barkmann
12-05-2014, 12:10
Oh I cant wait to get my hand in one of those B-17!!:minis: Really nice job guys on the Flying Fortress.. They look awesome!;)
Thanks


Nick

Blackronin
12-05-2014, 12:27
Thanks, Nick!
And thanks for the REP.

Lt. S.Kafloc
12-05-2014, 13:15
Thanks for the REP Mat.

Caveman
12-09-2014, 16:34
Is there anyone manufacturing decals for B-17's? Nose art would be nice too.

Zoe Brain
12-09-2014, 20:23
Is there anyone manufacturing decals for B-17's? Nose art would be nice too.
Working on it now. I can't print white, so you may have to paint a rough white patch underneath the nose art.

152694

Nice design - but I can't use it as it's copyrighted and not authentic.

Card designs are easier. I'm trying to see if this one's genuine.

152695

Caveman
12-10-2014, 20:34
152729152730
Those are nice, but this is what I was hoping to find. ;)

Zoe Brain
12-10-2014, 22:01
Those are nice, but this is what I was hoping to find. ;)

I suggest http://getcustomart.com/custom_decals.php

We can recreate vintage decals from modeling kits or create entirely new decals for custom builds. All we need is a good, clear, straight photo of the decals you need remade. For custom, all we need is a sketch of your ideas or an image of something similar.

We can provide printing services on vinyl, water slide, iron on, and rub down mediums.

A large portion of our business is the restoration of old military insignia, WWII nose art, and the recreation of old model kid decals. You can see here how it works...


http://getcustomart.com/getquote.php

Caveman
12-10-2014, 23:14
Hey Zoe, thank you very much. I have an old 1/48 scale set of Mount N Ride decals I can scan and have them reduce to 1/200.

milcoll73
12-11-2014, 00:47
ok guys i need some advice from you modelers/repainters. ive been working on some early b17s, one B model i wanted to do something of a fantasy paint scheme that ive always though an early 17 would look good in. the old aircorp blue and gold, blue fuselage and yellow flight and control surfaces. anyway i tried masking using some blue painters tape when i was doing the blue fuselage after doing the wings and control surfaces. the tape did not live up to expectations and bled through rather badly in places. any ideas how to salvage the paintwork?
152731152732

the other to are going to be the swoose D model and an early E model as flown into pearl harbor.

miscmini
04-11-2015, 18:45
Here's a 1/200 scale B-17D I painted for Armaments in Miniature (AIM). The model is an AIM reproduction of Ron Crawford's HBM model. I used Vallejo Model Color paints. The national insignia are from my scrap box but I think they are old True North decals. The lettering and numbering I produced at Miscellaneous Miniatures, LLC.

162472162471162473

Flying Officer Kyte
04-12-2015, 01:43
Very nicely delineated Kevin.:thumbsup:
Rob.

Blackronin
04-12-2015, 03:38
Very nice, Kevin.

milcoll73
04-13-2015, 18:32
awesome kevin!!!!

Diamondback
04-13-2015, 21:54
I've actually got a research project for "Painting and Marking the 8th Air Force" I've pitched to Keith that would mean either a massive expansion of this thread or a lot of cross-links back to it, squadron by squadron.

Three books you need:
1. The old 1970s Osprey Aircam Colors & Markings volume on the 8th AF's Fortresses (Special #14, IIRC).
2. Peter M. Bowers' Boeing B-17, published as a 50th anniversary special by the Museum of Flight here in Seattle
3. Steve Birdsall's old Squadron-Signal "Fighting Colors" volume on the B-17, which built on Bowers's work.
Bowers is the most comprehensive source, but it's best to work between all three--when I'm working up notes on painting a Group, I start with the Aircam book, then cross-check Bowers (as Boeing company historian Bowers carried much more weight) and finally rely on Birdsall for filling in certain details--Bowers doesn't talk about some of the little things like cowl colors as squadron markings.

No, I'm not building the entire 8th, but I'm willing to provide the rest of you data so that maybe between us all if we can ever hold a con of our own without a parent like Origins we can go for a record-size bomber formation of our own as a group. Think about it: reenacting "The 1000 Plane Raid" as a Record Breaker? :D

Caveman
07-28-2015, 18:37
Fabulous work Kevin. Inspiring. What was your method on the panel lines?

miscmini
07-29-2015, 04:51
Thanks for the kind words.

Caveman, I used an oil-wash for the panel lines. One of these days I need to post a tip thread for that. Kevin

Marechallannes
07-29-2015, 11:26
All this talking about WGS series 6 & 7 persuades me to buy a second B17F.

The upcoming Bf.109K and the Me410 needs some targets.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172057&d=1438194028

I checked what I got leftover on paint and decals and started to quick convert a "Bit o' Lace" into a new B17F.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172058&d=1438194028

All green parts were ovepainted with silver.

Unfortunately the siver paint didn't fit 100%.

The yellow parts are painted in red.

The numbers on the side rudder are fantasy ones but look nice in my opinion.

A chicken's head replaced the nose art of the former miniature.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172059&d=1438194028

Here's my new B17F in flight with my brand new order from Aerodrome Accessoires.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172060&d=1438194028

Flying Officer Kyte
07-29-2015, 12:05
Very nice mods Sven.
I like the whole look of those birds, especially the Chicken.:D
Rob.

Dan-Sam
07-29-2015, 12:17
By the way, do you know that yesterday was 80 years anniversary since the very first flight of the prototype of B-17? :)
There is an article (http://technet.idnes.cz/bombarder-b-17-flying-fortress-djb-/vojenstvi.aspx?c=A150726_205142_vojenstvi_erp) about it on one Czech website.

Flying Officer Kyte
07-29-2015, 14:32
Now that makes me feel old Daniel.
Only eight years before I was born.
Kyte is of course much older than that!
Rob.

Flying Helmut
07-29-2015, 14:34
Great looking fortress, Sven!:thumbsup:

Dan-Sam
07-29-2015, 14:46
Now that makes me feel old Daniel.
Only eight years before I was born.
Kyte is of course much older than that!
Rob.

They bombed Germany while little Rob cried for the first time in hospital :takecover: :surrender:

Tonx
07-29-2015, 15:01
Sven what a fantastic repaint ... Nice Work! :salute:

Teaticket
07-29-2015, 20:19
Wow, very sharp Sven!

Caveman
07-30-2015, 04:51
Thanks for the kind words.

Caveman, I used an oil-wash for the panel lines. One of these days I need to post a tip thread for that. Kevin

That would be great. I would very much like to see how you do it, as I'm sure others would too. Of course, replicating those kind of results will probably takes many attempts I imagine.

grumpybear
07-30-2015, 05:22
Nice looking planes. All of you have done a great job

Caveman
01-04-2016, 11:25
Here are a couple of Ares B-17G aircraft from the 91st BG: "Mount 'N Ride" and "Little Miss Mischief." The nose art are homemade decals reduced from 1/48 scale sets I have. The lettering and stars/bars on MnR are Shed Model decals while the LMM decal lettering was homemade. I used Model Master and Tamiya paints. MnR only flew a handful of missions, so I elected to use the darker Tamiya olive drab XF-62 on her, while the well-worn LMM received the more faded appearing Model Master FS34087. The exhaust on LMM was created using black art chalk shaved into dust and applied with a small brush, then lightly wiping off the excess.
184497184498
I have placed a few more photos in a B-17 album on my page, so please feel free to take a look.

Foz
01-04-2016, 12:18
Here are a couple of Ares B-17G aircraft from the 91st BG: "Mount 'N Ride" and "Little Miss Mischief." The nose art are homemade decals reduced from 1/48 scale sets I have. The lettering and stars/bars on MnR are Shed Model decals while the LMM decal lettering was homemade. I used Model Master and Tamiya paints. MnR only flew a handful of missions, so I elected to use the darker Tamiya olive drab XF-62 on her, while the well-worn LMM received the more faded appearing Model Master FS34087. The exhaust on LMM was created using black art chalk shaved into dust and applied with a small brush, then lightly wiping off the excess.
I have placed a few more photos in a B-17 album on my page, so please feel free to take a look.

Beautiful. I keep thinking I should do a flight of B-17s eventually.

Flying Officer Kyte
01-04-2016, 12:28
Very good decal work Dave. It finishes them off superbly.:clap:
Rob.

Caveman
01-04-2016, 12:57
Thank you gentlemen. Foz, I highly recommend you do a flight... It helps me pass the time while waiting for new Ares offerings :) . Not to mention I find it fun and relaxing.
I forgot to mention in the description, the radio man's gun was broke during the process. I drilled it out with a Micro-Mark drill and bit then cut a staple used it as a replacement.

Foz
01-04-2016, 13:05
Thank you gentlemen. Foz, I highly recommend you do a flight... It helps me pass the time while waiting for new Ares offerings :) . Not to mention I find it fun and relaxing.
I forgot to mention in the description, the radio man's gun was broke during the process. I drilled it out with a Micro-Mark drill and bit then cut a staple used it as a replacement.

I keep on thinking about cheating and getting a few of the ones from Hogan's Wings. I'm having issues painting currently. Bad hands.

Caveman
01-04-2016, 13:17
Sorry to hear that. That might be a good option until things improve and Fuddy Duddy would go well with Bit O Lace.

Foz
01-04-2016, 13:27
Sorry to hear that. That might be a good option until things improve and Fuddy Duddy would go well with Bit O Lace.

Not sure if they will improve, let alone when. But yep, a visit to my local Ebay outlet soon for Chinese purchases ahead. I have a couple of Hogan's Zeros.

matt56
01-04-2016, 14:03
These look gorgeous, Dave! Quite the inspiration to do up a couple myself - the Dark Side beckons!

All the best,
Matt

gully_raker
01-04-2016, 14:16
:thumbsup::clap::clap::clap: Beautiful work there Dave.

Flying Helmut
01-04-2016, 14:40
Super paint jobs!:sAprvd:

Caveman
01-05-2016, 08:19
Thank you for the compliments gentlemen. I'm glad you like them.

Rusty Tin
01-05-2016, 08:37
184641184642
I think that I've just attached a couple of photos of B.17s that I made for a show game in 2014.
I modelled the entire box of 20 planes for 381st bomb group flying in the lead low box during the first attack on Schweinfurt on 17th August 1943.
I'll post some more about this if the attachments work.

Caveman
01-05-2016, 08:49
Wow! What an undertaking to build an entire armada! Very nice. I bet that was a fun game.

Rusty Tin
01-05-2016, 09:04
Well that worked I think so I'll carry on.

The show game was set over Schweinfurt on 17th August. I chose to model the bomb group that had taken the greatest casualties, the 381st flying out of Ridgewell. They were part of the 1st bombardment wing.
The top photo shows the box right over Schweinfurt on the point of bomb release. A friend painted the base boards to look like recce photos. Total board size was 8 foot by 4 foot.
Players took me109, or fw190 fighters and every now and again an me110 the object being to shoot down the bombers before running out of fuel/ammo/getting short down.

The second photo shows a bomber that has taken engine damage and has fallen back out of formation. The fw190s and me109 are trying to shoot it down before it leaves the playing area when it is deemed to make it back to base. A P.47 (converted Revell bubbletop) is intervening played by an umpire. This represents the fighter cover that was available closer to home.

The photos are a bit fuzzy but they were taken with a very cheap camera during actual game play (which could include a bit of barging about).

The planes are actually rather better than they look here. I researched the aircraft available to the 381st on the day and modelled them including serials, individual call letters, squadron codes, and nose artwork as applicable. Mostly my own decals but also a wide variety of commercial letters/numbers when I could get a match.
In truth the box was not 100% correct because I included aircraft from all 4 of the squadrons of 381st bomb group but some were in another composite box.
Of the 20 aircraft on table all but 3 are positively verified to have taken part in the raid. Those 3 and a couple of game spares were available so may have taken part depending on serviceability on the day.

It's not WOWS but it could have been.

Rusty Tin
01-05-2016, 09:13
Wow! What an undertaking to build an entire armada! Very nice. I bet that was a fun game.

The research took many months since I wanted to do a proper job. As a participation game it was very well received and over the six or seven shows we attended, several hundred players took part. My club Staines Wargamers specialise in big participation games and Scweinfurt had been preceeded by Pearl Harbour and Taranto to name just the air warfare games recently.
The rules developed over the series in tune with the aspect that I wanted to concentrate on. Taranto was about trying to get a good torpedo run. Pearl had this plus dive and level bombing with some defensive fighters in the mix. Schweinfurt was just air to air combat.

Flying Officer Kyte
01-05-2016, 12:16
A very impressive group Tim. With that sort of dedication, you are not only going to fit in well here, but also get a lot of kudos from other pilots. There is nothing we enjoy more than celebrating a fellow members achievements, and looking at the pictures.
Rob.

fast.git
01-05-2016, 12:24
Tremendous work, Tim... brilliant! Please continue to share! :thumbsup:

matt56
01-05-2016, 19:00
Simply spectacular, Tim! I'm sure it was must more impressive in person...

I look forward to whatever you add as time goes forward:)

All the best,
Matt

Rusty Tin
01-08-2016, 09:05
I managed to dig out one box of B.17s so I took some quick pics of a couple, Ole Swayback and Lucky Lady.
184973184974184975

I'll do some better when I can get to all the Schweinfurt stuff in my loft.

Rusty (Tim)

Rusty Tin
01-09-2016, 03:44
I found some more pics from a show on my old camera. Here they are.185030185031185032
The photo of a Fw.190 with B.17 23180 'Forget Me Not' has the aircraft call letter Y on the fuselage just under the radio op's position. This was common on 533rd squadron (VP) on the first Schweinfurt raid but rare on the 532nd (VE) and 534th (GD) while the 535th (MS) did not carry aircraft call letters on the fuselage.
The game had 8 Fw190 and 8 Me109 available a couple are seen here having flown out of the side of the bomber box. The black b.17 shape in the background shows that 'M, Winsome Winn' has fallen out of formation.
The fortress falling in flames is Green Hornet of 534th squadron.

Rusty (Tim)

matt56
01-10-2016, 15:22
Well, I've been looking online for units that flew the B-17 in Italy, and I've found several that have suitably lovely schemes...like there was any doubt I'd find some, right!?

Looks like my FLGS will be seeing my Dark Side Heinie later this week...

All the best,
Matt

Rusty Tin
01-11-2016, 04:50
Matt,
I admit to being fortunate with my choice of 8th airforce unit for the game. There is a very good unit history to start with. Then there are the 'standards' Freeman's Mighty Eight series, Middlebrook's Scweinfurt volume, Ospreys and several other books that deal with the raid. The Luftwaffe response is covered but there is much less detail the specifics for the day to help with colour schemes. Notably Wutz Galland and Heinz Knoke feature so some of the Luftwaffe planes are OK but I had to cut corners with about half of them.
The final pieces of the jigsaw about nose art came from the 381st veterans website. I probably got the entire list of B.17s allocated to 381st from there or via there. Then I went through the acceptance dates and struck off charge dates for each squadron. That gave me all the planes possible but in the absence of engineering data I had to identify the planes from Middlebrook's book backed up by other accounts.
My clubmates complain that I get a bit obsessive with detail.

I can't help much with unit histories for Italy.

Tim

matt56
01-11-2016, 14:07
I'm looking at the 99th Bombardment Group as my unit for B-17s, Tim - nice potential, I think, for some interesting color schemes...

Searching around on the internet has turned up some suitable schemes, and their tail insignia is pretty straight-forward.

I shall share some pictures down the road as I succumb...;)

All the best,
Matt

Rusty Tin
01-12-2016, 02:41
Interesting choice of unit. Their website has far less that that for the 381st but unlike me you are not doing a particular single raid. Nose art references seem a bit thin on the ground.
I noticed that there is a unit history about the Diamondbacks but I haven't seen it myself so I can't say how useful it may be.
I picked up an interesting mention of a raid on Udine? in early Jan 44. The raiders were shadowed by P.47s flying at low level to avoid radar. These were then able to interdict the German fighter airfields just before the fighters took off. At least that's the claim. I can imagine a scenario with B.17s, german fighters ready for take off then suddenly P.47s turn up without warning at the German base line.

Rusty (Tim)

Caveman
05-02-2016, 21:58
And two more make six. The plane from the 384th BG (P) is kind of a tribute to a recently deceased father of a friend. He was a navigator and flew on 20 different B-17's during his tour195299195300195301, so I decided not to make it a specific aircraft.

milcoll73
05-02-2016, 22:48
nice! i like the "little miss mischief" in the background!

Blackronin
05-02-2016, 23:42
Excellent group of B-17's!

Teaticket
05-03-2016, 06:45
Nice flight of B-17s!

DarrylH
06-14-2016, 01:00
Colin Kelly's B-17C of the 30th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomber Group looking for Japanese shipping near Luzon, 10 December 1941. Armaments in Miniature model, Aerodrome Accessories prop discs, painted with Model Master and Vallejo paints. Decals Mehusla and home made. Added more background lighting, but my model photography is still a work in progress (although hopefully improving). Kelly did lightly damage the light cruiser Natori before being shot down by A6Ms of the Tainan Air Group; while he didn't sink or crash into the battleship Haruna (which was nowhere near the Philippines), as the American press claimed, he still more than earned his posthumous DSC by keeping his burning airplane straight and level long enough for his crew to bail out.


199136

199138

199141

199137

199140

Flying Officer Kyte
06-14-2016, 01:58
Very nice rendition Darryl, and thanks for the backstory too.
Rob.

DarrylH
06-14-2016, 02:07
Very nice rendition Darryl, and thanks for the backstory too.
Rob.

For many years, Saburo Sakai was credited with shooting Kelly down; even if he didn't, I'm pretty sure he'd have said the same thing, since he tried to get a commendation for an Australian Hudson pilot he'd shot down many years after the war, being amazed by the way his victim had flown his plane.

miscmini
06-14-2016, 04:11
Very nice!

milcoll73
06-14-2016, 10:27
Colin Kelly's B-17C of the 30th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomber Group looking for Japanese shipping near Luzon, 10 December 1941. Armaments in Miniature model, Aerodrome Accessories prop discs, painted with Model Master and Vallejo paints. Decals Mehusla and home made. Added more background lighting, but my model photography is still a work in progress (although hopefully improving). Kelly did lightly damage the light cruiser Natori before being shot down by A6Ms of the Tainan Air Group; while he didn't sink or crash into the battleship Haruna (which was nowhere near the Philippines), as the American press claimed, he still more than earned his posthumous DSC by keeping his burning airplane straight and level long enough for his crew to bail out.


199136

199138

199141

199137

199140

lovely!! i love these early 17s!!!!

clipper1801
06-14-2016, 12:36
Great model! I also love these early B-17's! Well done, like the colors!

DarrylH
06-14-2016, 12:45
I'd long thought Kelly's Fort was OD and gray until a little research proved otherwise. Not only did it make for an attractive model, but I now also have an excuse for eventually doing an early war olive drab and neutral gray B-17E :) .

brdavis
06-14-2016, 14:03
That looks great Darryl, I especially like the spinning props. Very nice!

milcoll73
11-12-2016, 02:24
finally, at long last ive gotten these guys done. the first 1 is a b-17b wearing an earlier aircorp blue and yellow paint scheme. i always though that the b-17 would look attractive in this scheme even though if was phased out a couple years before the b-17 was introduced.
211488211489211490211491211492

the next one is a b-17d the swoose that flew navigational and weather mission out of Australia before being used as a generals "hack" aircraft. it is the only remaining early "shark fin" b-17d in existence and is currently undergoing restoration at the usaf museum in dayton/vandalia ohio.
211493211494211495211496

the last is an early b-17e depicting the hapless ones that flew into hawaii during the attack on pearl harbor "unarmed and out of gas".
211497211498211499

id like to give a big thank you to our resident "war material production czar" clipper for making the lovely early shark fin b-17s, as well as cappy tom for the propeller discs, and miscmini for making me the decals that finally let me get these lovely birds done!

Marechallannes
11-12-2016, 02:32
Nice flight of B-17s, Phillip! :salute:

Flying Officer Kyte
11-12-2016, 02:37
Yes, you have certainly made a very nice job of those Phil.
Rob.

Teaticket
11-12-2016, 10:22
Very nice 17s Phillip. Love the pre-war colors.

BobP
11-12-2016, 14:21
Great photos of some really great models. Thanks

Flying Helmut
11-13-2016, 03:33
Well done - very nice result!

miscmini
11-13-2016, 18:46
Very nice!

Gotham Resident
12-02-2016, 19:26
This whole thread is filled with really great planes. Love them!

Kubajs
10-16-2017, 13:43
When my wife's father gave me the old model of B-17, I knew I want it to fly. And I knew I want it to look briliant. He got it when he was a boy from one of his relaitons. It's pretty old model (Wiking modellbau I suspect) from aviation school in Prostějov. The school worked in 1925 – 1959 except 1939-45.

I decided to repaint it as a camarad for my Bit-o-Lace: Blonde Bomber II
My father in law was really satisfied. I hope you enjoy it too.

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=235361&d=1508186469

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=235360&d=1508186469

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=235359&d=1508186469

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=235358&d=1508186469

clipper1801
10-16-2017, 16:03
One can never have too many B-17's! Excellent work!

Caveman
11-20-2017, 21:14
Nice job on the Blonde Bomber.

badlands122
11-27-2017, 15:08
Those are all VERY NICE!!

badlands122
11-29-2017, 08:00
I have "Bit o' Lace", but with all the fine work now I need at least, OOOOhhhhh - 23 more?????

pflanzer
01-06-2020, 22:44
https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=255872&d=1538948222

1/200 Academy b-17. Very early ww2 Pacific paint job. They were done with commercial automotive paints.

Caveman
01-06-2020, 23:05
Great looking aircraft Tony, I really like your camo work.

Flying Helmut
01-07-2020, 00:16
That's very nice indeed! :clap:

Guntruck
01-07-2020, 01:43
Nice job. Haven't come across that camo scheme before. Reminiscent of an Israeli scheme.

Dan-Sam
01-07-2020, 02:50
@pflanzer: Much better than the original one. I like the serface and also yellow rings on props :thumbsup:

Flying Officer Kyte
01-07-2020, 03:21
I concur. That is a very distinctive addition to the rotating props. I may well pinch that idea for my Corsairs when I add the props.
Rob.

badlands122
01-07-2020, 05:46
True, the yellow props give it a very distinctive look, adds to the great camo job!!

Future Pilot
01-07-2020, 06:01
Nice job!:sAprvd:

milcoll73
01-07-2020, 17:39
thats awesome tony!!! working on a hawaiian department paintscheme 17 myself!

milcoll73
01-07-2020, 17:41
Nice job. Haven't come across that camo scheme before. Reminiscent of an Israeli scheme.

its know as "hawaiian department" camo.

Dak21
04-16-2020, 17:07
Here is my rendition of a B17-D in the Philippine Islands, 1941. There has been a lot of great discussion regarding the gunnery on this plane over in the WWII section of the forum. The card will be coming soon! First I need to paint up the olive drab version of this plane. Looking forward to attacking some Japanese troop ships with her!

285593

zippyfusenet
04-16-2020, 17:39
Shiny! I wondered what you planned to do with the firing arc info for the B-17D/. Where did you get the model?

Dak21
04-16-2020, 17:58
Shiny! I wondered what you planned to do with the firing arc info for the B-17D/. Where did you get the model?

It’s an Armaments in Miniature model. The decals are Miscellaneous Miniatures.

camelbeagle
04-16-2020, 18:26
Looks good!

Teaticket
04-16-2020, 19:37
Beautiful.

Dak21
04-16-2020, 20:59
I'm messing around with the concept of using a photograph of the model for the card. Here is the start of a trial card using all the great information on gunnery that was shared over in the WWII section. I'm just getting started. Adding these arcs takes me a long time as I don't do it every day. I should have taken the picture before putting the prop spinners on. Because they are transparent, they picked up the high contrast background I took the picture on. This made isolating the prop shafts kind of hard. That is why they look kind of fuzzy on the card. I had to sketch them in with the clone tool. What do you guys think?

285602

fox
04-17-2020, 00:00
Really nice and not a common painting

milcoll73
04-17-2020, 01:38
lovely! i really love the early shark fin b-17s! not really suitable for combat in that era but they were beautiful aircraft!!! great progress on the card. wish i could manage that sort of graphic wizardry. ive got quite a few that could use cards lol.

Guntruck
04-17-2020, 04:58
Very nice Dave.

badlands122
04-17-2020, 05:19
Very Nice!!! Great job!!

Teaticket
04-17-2020, 07:22
Thats really cool. Must save a lot of time.

Caveman
04-17-2020, 07:40
Beautiful job on the B-17D, Dave.

Dak21
04-17-2020, 19:15
Here is my first shot at a card using a photo of the model. I'm pretty happy with it.

I took a better picture than the first version above. I put the model on a bright red cutting board in an environment of bright, diffused light. Then I put a photography lamp about six feet away pointing at it from an angle. This is what gives the shadows and glare that I work so hard to recreate on the ones I make in Photoshop. It gives the picture some depth, making it appear three dimensional. The high contrast background makes it pretty easy to extract the image from the background. The trick was to make sure I held the camera directly above to plane. This allowed me to easily capture the prop spinners as part of the image. If you look, you can see the red color bleeding through them a little. I left it because it nicely highlighted them. It was a nice shortcut to just put the damage panel as "All, A, A". It would have been tough to fit all seven of them without making each gun's damage rating too small. I'd like to hear of any of you have ideas on how I could improve this.

I think making a management card is above my pay grade on this one.

285662

Flying Helmut
04-18-2020, 02:07
Super B-17D :clap:

Dak21
04-22-2020, 19:23
Here is my rendition of the B17D on plain Olive Drab. This plane is a little less weathered than the plane metal. I like a mix of weathered, and newer looking planes. Also shown is the playing card using an overhead picture of the plane.

285970

285971

Diamondback
04-22-2020, 19:55
Useful reference on tail markings by Numbered Air Force:
https://web.archive.org/web/20030715154304/http://armyairforces.com/tails.asp

Flying Officer Kyte
04-22-2020, 23:40
Impressive card Dave.
Rob.

abovetheclouds
04-23-2020, 05:50
Very nice looking card. Thanks for sharing it!

Dak21
04-23-2020, 06:31
You’re welcome! They certainly aren’t the beautiful works of art like Mike’s cards, but they do work. I hope that when I retire and have some time, I’ll be able to focus more on the aesthetics.
Painting the models takes up most of my free time already!

Thanks for the kind words.

chee911sc
04-23-2020, 06:45
1/300 B-17F & B-17G Memoir'44 New Flight Plan

286015
286016

monse
04-23-2020, 06:51
Congratulations for the paintings and the pictures editing.
Rep points deserved

milcoll73
04-25-2020, 19:30
awesome b-17s!!!
though seeing the pic of the likely doomed b17g is a sad reminder of the losses endured by the allied airmen over germany.

chee911sc
04-26-2020, 03:57
You are right Phillip our passion for this airplane simulation game or vintage models creation should not leave us without memory of the pilots and crews of these WW2 planes

Mike C
01-26-2021, 10:44
All these pictures of Forts are an inspiration! Especially the Yellow Tails. My uncle was a navigator in the 838 BS, 487 BG (Block P). Some day I'd like to do a flight of B17G's in the dress of the 838 BS as a tribute. Can someone point a newbie to a source for bases and maneuver cards? I can probably dig up some 1/200 B17G's, that should be the easy part.

487 BG has a great web site, by the way. A great source for information on the group history, squadron and group markings, even aircraft registration numbers. A bit of trivia, Beirne Lay, author of "12 O'Clock High," commanded the 487th from February to May, 1944.

http://www.487thbg.org/

CAPTKIRK406
02-11-2021, 11:33
Just a teaser but say goodbye to 3 Memphis Belles.... Stay tuned for the remake!!!
297409297410

camelbeagle
02-11-2021, 13:46
Interesting!

Mike C
02-11-2021, 17:19
Just a teaser but say goodbye to 3 Memphis Belles.... Stay tuned for the remake!!!
297409297410

Beautiful birds!

milcoll73
02-12-2021, 09:40
cant wait to see the outcome. maybe itll motivate me to finish the trio of 17s im working on. though theyre an E, F, and a G

CAPTKIRK406
02-13-2021, 13:53
We all said goodbye to the Memphis Belle triplets. Now say Hello to the triple threat from the 379th Bomb Group, 527th Bomb Squadron...
Ye Olde Pub 42-23167 : sold for Scrap 1945
Judy 42-29963 : Lost Dec 1943 by Flak and enemy plane
Polly 42-25816 : Sold for scrap 1945
297485297486297487297488297489297490

abovetheclouds
02-13-2021, 17:54
Excellent work!! :clap:

camelbeagle
02-13-2021, 17:57
Wonderful! Love them!

Stumptonian
02-13-2021, 17:58
Those look great, Kirk.
:sAprvd:
Really puts me in the mood to start my B-17 Flying Fortress Leader solitaire game I received last week.
Spent today sorting out the counters and cards.
I need a bigger box!
:surrender:

Flying Helmut
02-14-2021, 02:11
Very smart trio! :clap:

flash
02-14-2021, 02:32
An impressive formation Kirk :thumbsup:

malachi
02-14-2021, 05:38
Love those!

Teaticket
02-14-2021, 07:01
That's a deadly flight. Very nice

Flying Officer Kyte
02-14-2021, 07:43
Excellent painting and decal work Kirk.
Rob.

Von Scharf
02-14-2021, 09:41
Love the overhead shot of those B-17s on that Deep Cuts mat. Really well done.

CAPTKIRK406
02-14-2021, 11:25
Thanks all!

milcoll73
02-15-2021, 19:08
nice combat box kirk! thats some "special K" youve got there.

CAPTKIRK406
02-16-2021, 09:27
297568

The Story of Judy and her fate on Dec 30th, 1943..

Thursday 30th December 1943.
169th strategic operation for the U.S. 8th Bomber Command for which there was no let-up at this end of the year.
The Allied High Command once again decided to hit on a great scale the Nazi industrial machine.

The target of the mission was the bombing of the IG-Farben chemical complex and the port area of the city of Ludwigshafen, Rhineland.
Distant and dangerous mission for the young American crews who will have to fly over and confront the enemy over a particularly well-defended territory.

On this 30th December 1943, at 8:00 am, 710 heavy B-17 and B-24 bombers took off successively from their English bases, assembled over England and headed for Germany.
Fighter aircraft escorted them to ensure their protection against possible attacks by enemy fighters.

The 379th Bomb Group, based in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, was designated to take part in this large-scale raid, sending a formation of 44 B-17 bombers.
Among these, the "Judy" # 42-29963.

Having completed a mission on the Focke-Wulf plant in Bremen, Germany, on 20th December and another on 24th December on the V1 site at Bonnières-Beauvoir, in the Pas de Calais, France, this was to be the 3rd mission of the crew.

Near Ludwigshafen, cloud cover completely covered the city. The German anti-aircraft artillery returned fire on the attackers in the final approach. Allied planes came under fire from bursting shells. Bombers were hit, others were slaughtered, often resulting in the death of their crews. 23 bombers and 13 fighter planes were reported missing on this raid. Despite the losses, the bombing took place at an altitude of 21,000 ft between noon and 1:00 pm.
1,400 tons of bombs were dropped on the target.

The B-17 "Judy" was hit in one of its engines over Ludwigshafen. The four-engined bomber, losing power, was gradually left behind. However, the pilot was able to maintain the flight line and tried to reach England.

Above France, flying above the department of Oise, the damaged B-17 was attacked three times by German fighters. The gunners fought back.
Both gunners, Parker and Pierce, claimed over the intercom, that each of them had shot down an enemy aircraft.
Hit again, the Flying fortress became uncontrollable. Some crew members were injured, others killed. The pilot ordered the crew to evacuate the aircraft.

Now at very low level and doomed, the B-17 "Judy" hit the treetops and disintegrated in the Bois Morel, in the territory of the municipality of Ully-Saint-Georges (Oise).

Among the wreckage, three dead bodies were found: those of the co-pilot Joseph F. Fitzgerald, of the ball turret gunner Marcus C. Pierce and of the tail gunner Robert E. Cross. Injured and having evacuated the aircraft at too low level, the body of the gunner Richard R. Giersch was found in a field near the scene of the crash. His parachute did not have time to open. The bodies of the four airmen were buried the next day in the cemetery of Boran-sur-Oise. After the war, three of them would be repatriated to the United States, at the request of their families. Only Marcus C. Pierce still rests in France, his body being transferred post-war to the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer.

Upon landing, the other six airmen of the B-17 "Judy" were more lucky. They were all rescued collected, hidden and cared for by the people of France, despite all the risks.

On 12th January 1944, in the United States, all the families of the crew members were notified by a telegram from the War Department that their husbands or sons had not returned from the 30th December mission. There was no further information. For the families then began the agonizingly long wait, in the hope that everyone had survived the crash.

2nd Lt. Glenn E. CAMP Jr..............Pilot...........................21..........Evaded and POW..........El Paso, Texas
F/O Joseph F. FITZGERALD............Co-pilot......................20...........KIA...........................Minonk, Illinois
2nd Lt. Jarvis H. COOPER..............Navigator....................23..........Evaded and POW.........Lakewood, New Jersey
2nd Lt. Edward J. DONALDSON......Bombardier.................19..........Evaded......................Dumont, New Jersey
S/Sgt. Richard R. GIERSCH...........Top turret gunner.........19...........KIA...............Cleveland, Ohio
S/Sgt. Milton J. MILLS Jr...............Radio-operator.............20...........Evaded..........Kenova, West Virginia
Sgt. Marcus C. PIERCE.................Ball turret gunner.........20...........KIA...............New Orleans, Louisiana
Sgt. Douglas J. FARR....................Right waist gunner.......22...........Evaded..........Michaux, Virginia
Sgt. Neelan B. PARKER.................Left waist gunner.........20...........Evaded..........Choice, Texas
S/Sgt. Robert E. CROSS...............Tail gunner..................24...........KIA...............Licking, Missouri

The six airmen received the help of different escape lines :
- Sgt. Douglas J. Farr, with the help of Vengeance-Turma network, managed to reach Spain on 27th January 1944, less than one month after the crash of his plane. Via Gibraltar and Casablanca, he landed at Prestwick, Scotland on 24th March 1944.

- 2nd Lt. Edward J. Donaldson and Sgt. Neelan B. Parker, with the Shelburn escape line, were conveyed to the north coast of Brittany. They were repatriated to England aboard a corvette of the Royal Navy, on the night of 16th to 17th March 1944 during Operation Bonaparte III.

- S/Sgt. Milton J. Mills Jr. was conveyed to the Pyrenees by "Jacqueline," the future Mrs. Geneviève Le Berre, of the Burgundy network. He reached Spain on 20th April 1944. Via Gibraltar, he returned to England by air on next 30th May.

Taken in charge by the Comet network, 2nd Lt. Glenn E. Camp and 2nd Lt. Jarvis H. Cooper were captured by the Germans in early May 1944, on a train, not far from the Spanish border which they were hoping to cross.
They were incarcerated in the prison of Bayonne, then in Fresnes. Later they were sent to Stalag Luft I at Barth, in northern Germany.

Stumptonian
02-16-2021, 12:28
Thanks, Kirk, for that very detailed explanation of what happened to this one aircraft and crew.
It really puts into perspective the actual human story behind statistics.
:salute: to the brave crew, and all of the others which share similar stories.

{attempted to give you rep but my 50cal is jammed}

Diamondback
02-16-2021, 12:37
Thanks, Kirk, for that very detailed explanation of what happened to this one aircraft and crew.
It really puts into perspective the actual human story behind statistics.
:salute: to the brave crew, and all of the others which share similar stories.

{attempted to give you rep but my 50cal is jammed}

However, mine is not so he gets some... and so do you for the thought.

Absurdbanipal
02-04-2022, 02:22
Hi

I've just finished a similar one:

311031
311032
311033
311034
311035

I worked on a very good model from AIM. I precise that I dont work or be sponsorized by AIM ;)

Flying Helmut
02-04-2022, 05:28
Great job once again! :clap:

REP gun still jammed... (too many beauties at once!)

Teaticket
02-04-2022, 07:39
Really nice B-17. Your posting of so many planes has jammed my REP gins too!

malachi
02-04-2022, 11:20
Wow, lots of great planes, Cedric! Well done.
REP gun jammed :mad:

monse
02-04-2022, 12:20
You are a real paint master.
Beautiful canopies.

milcoll73
02-20-2022, 00:24
rep guns still jammed. AWESOME b-17 cedric!!!

Gotham Resident
02-20-2022, 08:35
Apparently my rep guns are jammed as well. Love the story that goes with the plane.