Scratchbuilt 1/32 B-17 Diorama

[richcarrick]

Hi guys - this is one I finished last year. It's a 1/32 Fortress, scratch built and based on the old Combat Models vacform. Total construction time was 18 months. The HK Models kit was released about a year into the project, and my build features a couple of pieces from that kit (like the tailwheel) ut 99% is built from scratch. The entire model is skinned in pewter sheet. The trailer is scratchbuilt, the Diamond T wrecker is from the Accurate Armour 1/35 kit and the jeep is Tamiya 1/35 with Eduard etched detail set. Figures are cannibalised from Zoukei Mura and the spares box.

The dio took a gold medal at last years IPMS UK Nationals. I haven't had chance to enter it in any more competitions due to the logistics of getting it there (I don't drive and the dio base alone is 3 feet by 1 and a half feet).

The diorama was also featured recently in a two part article in issues 55 and 56 of AIR Modeller Magazine - both issues are still available in paper and digital format here:

http://www.mengafvmodeller.com/air.html

The following images are a selection from those which were professionally taken for the magazine, and I've waited until I had them in my possession before creating an article here as they are much better than any I could take.

Finally, you can check out the whole build article here:

http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=38905

I wanted to show you lot what can be achieved with the help of the experts on this website - for example I heavily subscribed to the Duxford B-17 restoration thread.

Thanks for looking!

Rich

[wendovertom]

Wow - that is great work! It is really very impressive especially the amount of small detail there.

Tom P.

[Michel Lemieux]

Wow like Tom said....uterly....impressive.....

It does scale down your own craftmanship......

Tks for sharing!!!!!!

[Mark Allen M]

Rich that is really amazing artwork. Thanks very much for posting. Spectacular indeed.

M

[richcarrick]

Hi guys - many thanks!

If you happen to be at the IPMS UK Championships at Telford in 2 weeks time, barring a disaster you can hopefully see the diorama on the 32SIG table

[tom d. friedman]

wow talk about a labor of love!!!! right down to the dirty windshield on the jeep!!

[Maxrobot1]

Excellent diorama. However, the machine guns would have been among the first items removed from a wreck. Ditto for the bombsight.

[Mark Allen M]

Excellent diorama. However, the machine guns would have been among the first items removed from a wreck. Ditto for the bombsight.

Not entirely true. As you can see there was a great deal of research done to be quite authentic. The modeler did his homework. Fantastic job. A true piece of artwork.
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... 7-diorama/

[JANDMBEAR1109]

that is FANTASTIC!! you are truly an artist sir!

[richcarrick]

many thanks guys - and thanks for posting that third picture Mark, never seen that one before!

[p51]

WOW...
Two details jump out at me:
I love the way the Jeep is set up, without jeryr can or spare tire. Many Jeeps are lacking these in period photos. The modeler even put the jerry can holder strap in the model. Generally, the axe and shovel would be missing, too, but a great detail hardly any modeler ever includes.
But the .50 cals sure would have bene removed long before this point.
Nitpicky, I'll admit, but that machine gun thing leaps out at me.

[richcarrick]

thanks for the comments

[SteveY]

WOW, that is a lot of work. My hat is off to you.

[richcarrick]

Thanks for looking!

[Cripes A Mighty]

Yeah, I saw this a while back on another modeling site........totally unreal. May be the best model/diorama I have ever seen! Wish I was this good lol.