B17modeler
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B17modeler
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B17modeler
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jpeters140
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FYI...I was in the AZ Wing CAF from 1968-1991.
Sentimental Journey 44-83514...has a non-slip area just aft of the top turret..this was applied by the Aero Union personnel when the aricraft was a fire bomber...this made it easier to go over the top of the fuselage in order to service the opposite wing fuel tanks,and turbo oil tanks.
Also, the art work showing Bette Grabel looking over her right shoulder, is authentic...she was pregnant at the time of the original photo,and did not want it to show.
The reason for the blue tinted plexiglass on the main top turret window, was that that was the only available plastic during restoration.
Another item, is that there is a vent on the wing tips, a smaller version of the vents behind each engine...The original had two vents, (field modification), installed in the 15th AAF, to vent the outer wing tokyo tank area....the Boeing Engineers decided that a single vent was sufficient, when the modification was factory installled.
Jim :-)
James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
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25Kingman49
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Excellent detail and craftsmanship, I was wondering what material you are using mahogany or plastic? How much time is invested in each a/c on average? Is this a private collection or do you build custom orders? Thanks, Scott
post edited by 25Kingman49 -
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B17modeler
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Mr. Peters, thank you very much for responding to this! That means something to me to have someone who flew abord these aircraft comment on this. I'd love to get some more information from regarding the interior of B-17's, as far as colors go. I dont mean specific colors, what I mean is, what areas of the interior of the plane were painted? To the best of my knowledge only the flight deck had any paint, possibly the bombay being neutral gray. The rest of the interior being natural metal. I try to go with what I see in pictures from during the war, not the warbirds flying today. Anyanswer you can furnish would help out alot!
I've got the 4 in the above pics to finish plus another 5 B-17's to build.
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B17modeler
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25Kingman49
Excellent detail and craftsmanship, I was wondering what material you are using mahogany or plastic? How much time is invested in each a/c on average? Is this a private collection or do you build custom orders?
Thanks,
Scott
These are plastic model kits, painted and glued. I made the decals though. None exist for Fuddy Duddy or Sentimental Journey. Couldnt really tell ya how much time is invested in each, I dont keep track of hours. I do this as a hobby. I love the B-17 so I like building them. Private collection, but I could be open to commission builds. Havent done that yet.
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B17modeler
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Mr Peters.
I'm aware of the vents for the tokyo tanks, just not able to modify the kit wings to put theose on yet. I've got 5 more forts in the stash to build plus a few spare parts to experiment with now.
If you could help me out with regards to the interior colors question I'd greatly appreciate it.
Jeremy
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jpeters140
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Jeremy....Your question on the interior colors....painted versus unpainted...varied during the war...mainly because of the weight of paint....the less paint, the more fuel, bombs and extra ammo could be carried.
If my memory serves me correctly, the interior of the nose section was painted OD to prevent corrosion....under the sound deafening material that was glued in place in both the nose and cockpit area..the rest of the interior was left unpainted...you will find different answers...depending on the time period of the person who flew.
I flew toward the end, and at the end of the war.
One time at Harlingen Texas, (CAF HQ at that time)...I was told by the pilot of the Memphis Belle, that of several B -17s at the airshow, that SJ was the most accurately restored B-17, he had seen.
Another item of note....there were three versions of the top turret...A1-1A, A1-1B,and A1-1C......both of the first two had three ammo cans that were carrried on a rail on each side of the top turret.....SJ has the only A1-1C that is touring the country.....the ammo storage area is part of the structure of the top turret, and there is a long box on each side with the ammo capacity of somewhere around 1000 rds per gun...(out growth of the YB-40 mods).
The turret came from the Vega B-17 that used to sit atop Art Lacey' gas station in Milwaukee, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, Oregon.
The station is now closed,and the aircraft has been lowered,with the nose section being restored, so far...the rest of the aircraft is being restored as money allows,according to the latest I have heard.
Also, the bullet-resistant section of the tail turret on SJ, also came from Art Lacey's B-17.
Jim :-)
James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions 99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45 M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
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B17modeler
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Mr. Peters,
Awesome info! I love to hear this stuff! And the interior color information is very helpful. I try to look at as many pics as I can of planes during the war and try to model that. Both Fuddy Duddy and SJ were mainly modeled as they would be during the war. I know SJ's marking are fictional but I wanted to avoid having to add some of the extra's that would not be present on a WWII B-17. So between yourself and the other B-17 veterans I hop to get a good cumulative answer regarding the interior color. I'm gonna post this question in the heavy bombers section.
This you sir, and thank you for your service!
Jeremy
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Ballturret
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Jeremy, you ROCK!!!! Mailed you another B-17F, should have by the weeks end. Nice work!!!!! And being you do decal work, I have an offer for you. Drop me a PM when you get the chance.
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rideswithchuck
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I just stumbled onto this website earlier today. I did upload over the week end video I shot of Fuddy Duddy when it was in town a few years ago. I do have video of a few other bombers also. Maybe it can be of some use to you.
Ginger pills relieve motion sickness.
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333helo
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AWESOME models! cannot wait to see more of your work!
Regards
Clint
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Propwash
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Great B-17s! Nice to a see an RAF one at the top :)
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