Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:01 pm
I actually built that one as a 330th Aircraft seven years ago. Built her up., primed her.., and now I have no idea where the heck she is. It was going to be my brother's 50th birthday present. He was born in 1951.,. heck that was eight years ago.. I have to dig deeper in my storage unit!
Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:43 pm
If anyone else has opened the bomb bay doors on a Monogram B-17--you're NUTS! 
The kit really was fun to build back when common sense overcame temptation. Nevertheless, here is a progress report on the centersection of this %#@!% relaxing project.
First, the real bomb bay is circular so you have to build an upper panel to cover the turtledeck opening. Then the internal structure has to be built to replicate the former rings and stringers in the bay. Here is a rough idea of how that looked during the process. The white panel is the filler for the turtledeck area.
The forward and aft bulkheads also have to be built from scratch in order to completely plug the fuselage forward and aft. Flat covers were made to cover the wing root-to-wing junction on the inside of the fuselage, and the ears on the wings have to be trimmed so they don't impinge too far into the bomb bay. More on that area later.
Next I started fabricating the center keel truss assembly. I dug out a visible B-17 kit so I could use the keel and bomb racks for a guide, but that wasn't really of much use. Fortunately I'd taken lots of photos of TR last year and have some good YB-17 references, so the truss is starting to take shape. Here is the aft wing carry-through getting started:
And this is the forward carry-through mostly complete. The lower beam of the centerline truss can be seen in the middle of the bay. The racks will fasten to this and the top of the fuselage later.
Scott
The kit really was fun to build back when common sense overcame temptation. Nevertheless, here is a progress report on the centersection of this %#@!% relaxing project.
First, the real bomb bay is circular so you have to build an upper panel to cover the turtledeck opening. Then the internal structure has to be built to replicate the former rings and stringers in the bay. Here is a rough idea of how that looked during the process. The white panel is the filler for the turtledeck area.
The forward and aft bulkheads also have to be built from scratch in order to completely plug the fuselage forward and aft. Flat covers were made to cover the wing root-to-wing junction on the inside of the fuselage, and the ears on the wings have to be trimmed so they don't impinge too far into the bomb bay. More on that area later.
Next I started fabricating the center keel truss assembly. I dug out a visible B-17 kit so I could use the keel and bomb racks for a guide, but that wasn't really of much use. Fortunately I'd taken lots of photos of TR last year and have some good YB-17 references, so the truss is starting to take shape. Here is the aft wing carry-through getting started:
And this is the forward carry-through mostly complete. The lower beam of the centerline truss can be seen in the middle of the bay. The racks will fasten to this and the top of the fuselage later.
Scott
Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:43 pm
I can not wait to see how this one turns out!!
i am pulling for you!!
i am pulling for you!!
Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:27 am
Bomb racks:
The kit racks depict (rather generally) the later style rack with a solid web between the two uprights. The YBs and earlier production variants used the type with separate intercostals as I've built:
Here are all four racks, still needing most of the release mechanism and other details installed:
And one of the racks test-fit into the bay:
Scott
The kit racks depict (rather generally) the later style rack with a solid web between the two uprights. The YBs and earlier production variants used the type with separate intercostals as I've built:
Here are all four racks, still needing most of the release mechanism and other details installed:
And one of the racks test-fit into the bay:
Scott
Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:27 pm
Second Air Force wrote:
The kit racks depict (rather generally) the later style rack with a solid web between the two uprights. The YBs and earlier production variants used the type with separate intercostals as I've built:
Scott
So your racks are on the left or right?
Incredible job my comrade. I have a few detailed shots of the interior of one of our B-29's bombays.. really shows the mounting devices for the bombs.., if you are interested.., let me know and I will email them to you.
Cheers!
Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:17 pm
Things have slowed down with this project now that the lawns and garden need tending, but I did tinker with it a little on a couple of rainy evenings. Here is the radio room aft bulkhead partly filled in:
This will need a bunch more work (especially those nice ejector pin marks), but I'm not sure you'll ever see it through that litte entry door on the right side of the fuselage.
The connecting doublers on the keel truss are fitted and two more racks test fit in this picture. The racks still need lots of tweaking and detailing before they are ready for permanent installation:
More later.......maybe in the fall!
Scott
This will need a bunch more work (especially those nice ejector pin marks), but I'm not sure you'll ever see it through that litte entry door on the right side of the fuselage.
The connecting doublers on the keel truss are fitted and two more racks test fit in this picture. The racks still need lots of tweaking and detailing before they are ready for permanent installation:
More later.......maybe in the fall!
Scott
Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:29 am
gonna be a beauty Scott!
Cheers!
Cheers!
Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:41 pm
It's gonna be a long time before I get this one done now that I'm working on the real thing again!
Scott
Scott
Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:09 pm
Second Air Force wrote:It's gonna be a long time before I get this one done now that I'm working on the real thing again!
Scott
Well, then get your darn priorities straight.., will yah!!!!
Mon May 11, 2009 2:30 pm
OK, its been a couple of weeks.., any progress?
Mon May 11, 2009 4:12 pm
I keep watching this thread too. I can't wait to see it.
Mon May 11, 2009 4:25 pm
Well, the only time I really had to work on it was on the weekends, and now I've got my head buried in this during my free time:
I did make a little plug for where the ball turret used to be, but it isn't worth taking a photo of.
Scott
I did make a little plug for where the ball turret used to be, but it isn't worth taking a photo of.
Scott
Tue May 12, 2009 7:39 am
Wow.., those flight control connections almost look R E A L !!!! 
niiice job!!!!!!!!
niiice job!!!!!!!!
Wed May 13, 2009 5:12 pm
THat is awesome.
Wed May 13, 2009 7:16 pm
That is the left wing aft spar truss on Chuckie and it is really, really clean for a sixty-five year old Fort. Folks have taken really good care of her over the years, and it shows.
I did work on the YB model a little last night. I might get the bomb bay done if the rainy weather continues keeping me out of the yard.
I did work on the YB model a little last night. I might get the bomb bay done if the rainy weather continues keeping me out of the yard.