B-17 Flying Fortress/44-83735 ~ the Duxford resto thread

[b29flteng]

is the top turret of the B-24 the same as the one used in the B-17 or are there fundemental differences? I know the ball turrets were almost identical on the two aircraft types.

I've also noticed from my research that there are often small differences between B-17 top turrets, no doubt as the construction was sub-contracted to various companies?

The B-17 had a Sperry A-1A

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... p?id=15667


The B-24 had a Martin 250
http://www.twinbeech.com/martin_250ce_upper_turret.htm

[richcarrick]

thanks guys - the model I'm building is a B-17G with the later turret. It does look an awful lot like the martin turret in the link above though..

What I should have said was - is all the internal gubbins, the gunner's platform etc the same for both the fortress & liberator? In several shots I have of B-17 upper turrets, there are mounts for 6 ammo cans, but in the shots I have of a B-24 top turret they are absent. That's one difference I have noticed....

[B-17 guy]

Hey rich, you post some pics of you B-17 in the modellers gallery. I'd love to see it.

[richcarrick]

D/C/W - thanks again for your great pics of the top turret

if possible would you be able to get some more pics of it? Specifically the view you have whilst standing in the turret - all the stuff in front of you / behind the hand controls, like the feed mechanism for the guns, the cogs and motors underneath the gunsight, the frame & mounting for the gunsight itself?

I know it's a big ask as you've already helped me out....but it's very hard to find images on the net of this area

I'd really appreciate your help! It's one of the few places on the fort that I don't have adequate reference photos

thanks

B-17 guy - I will try and get a build thread going in the modellers sections ASAP

[D/C/W]

Duxford Tuesday June 12th:

Today saw two engines hung on the Duxford B-17G:







A start has been made on the stencilling:

[The Inspector]

Lookin' Fine!!

[D/C/W]

Duxford Wednesday June 13th:

Another look at '735 with Nos 2 and 4 now fitted. 1 and 3 and the chin turret still have some work in progress:



Here's No.4:



Both outer wing leading edge sections have now been refitted:



The wing joints remain exposed for now:



The Bomb Bay:



A lot of research went into giving the Data Block a period look:



Colours look very different in the new surroundings, and seem to change with the ambient lighting conditions:



Port outer wing leading edges were also refitted today:

[mustangdriver]

The plane lookd beautiful. Great job guys. I find myself hoping that they do decide to put nose art on it, even if it is the same nose art again.

[The Inspector]

If they did that, then they would have to revert back to 4231983 from 4483735 or it would become the defacto third MEMPHIS BELLE, leave it factory fresh-

[mustangdriver]

Actually you could leave the real serial number on the tail honoring her real identity, and put nose art on it. At Grissom we have Miss Liberty Belle that way. I always like the very simple yet attractive artwork it carried.

[APG85]

I agree. Keep the actual tail number and put on a simple nose art representative of the time. Put markings on the plane for a unit at Framlingham. Did someone say I had a vote in this?

Last edited by APG85 on Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Dobbins]

It's a strange decision considering that they want Duxford and the AAM to be focusing more on 'people stories' and the base's operational life. My choice would be to paint it as B-17G 42-102937 'Ready Freddie', which crashed into Duxford's 83rd barrack block in 1944, killing all on board, though I believe that was a natural metal finish.

[shrike]

It's a strange decision considering that they want Duxford and the AAM to be focusing more on 'people stories' and the base's operational life.

But in a more generic scheme it becomes "everyman's" airplane representing all of the stories, rather than just one crew.

[B-17 guy]

I agree with shrike, leave it factory fresh. No nose art, group/squadron markings etc. Just what is already there.

[The Inspector]

I agree with shrike, leave it factory fresh. No nose art, group/squadron markings etc. Just what is already there.

Sure glad I mentioned it first-