JayDee

Be my guest! My review will be up in a couple of days, but some pre-review photos would be nice. Thank you

Jeroen, you are a very sick person. Sick indeed. I applaud your flatulence with this project, to the detriment of all others.

I should have both new Hurricane kits here any time in the next days. Articles coming your way.

Gorgeous! My favourite of all three Do 335 box arts so far, and of my favourite version.

Can't wait to see this one! The suicide aircraft are real interesting, and posing it on the train will look very cool.

You could well be right!!

Heavy going! Finished tonight?

Great looking bird, and a superb kit too. Birdcage always looks more rugged to me.

I have a spare 'E' nose, but of course that won't help you. The E and F have a common floor though, and a number of other common parts that don't come with the 'G', meaning you might have to do some scratch building if you only get the 'F' nose shell and glass.

How were the waist guns though? Were they staggered as on the 'G' release, or inline as on this kit? There are different cockpit parts in this kit too, for the control columns and wheels. Were these pertinent to the early 'G'? A good number of internal parts differ for the waist guns too, and of course, the cowls are different I know the B-17 can be a complex beast with the block numbers etc. so I don't know if simply gluing on an 'F' nose will help you create an early 'G'.

15 to 16 new sprues mean that this isn't just a few changes, guys. Overall, there is probably around 20 - 25% new plastic parts, totalling half of the sprue count. I hope you can manage to get the sprues alone, but don't be surprised if you can't. The very reason that companies release multiple versions, and usually in the least attractive version first, is to maximise their profit over initial tooling costs. HK are a business, and will no doubt want you to purchase a full kit.

Way too cool. I wither before the shrine of your individuality and creativeness. No, I really, really do. That is awesome shit! Just love that display option. Maybe cut the metal down some to fit to base?

I quite like the Profi stuff, and want to build the Scheuchschlepper this year. Great review, and looking forward to seeing you do your stuff with this one. Dio, with the schlepper cart too

Ladies and gentlemen, Within a couple of months, or thereabouts, the new B-17E/F will be released by HK Models. I sort of get the impression that this is the one that everyone wants to see, as Memphis Belle can be built from this (and will be included in the decals), plus there will be an option to build another as yet un-named famous machine (with specific glazed part), and parts will be there to build standard E and F variants. Jeroen will be doing a more thorough assessment of the kit, along with Cees, within the next week, so my post here will just take a look at the new parts in this kit. Please remember that there is always the possibility that there could well be some refinement of the model as of yet, including the reduction of internal ejector pin marks etc. This kit contains no decals or PE parts. The final kit will have three schemes (2 x B-17F, and 1 x B-17E). First of all, there are around 15 to 16 new sprues! So, this isn't just a minor rework. The first one up is a whole new starboard fuselage. This is superbly packed in order to protect the delicate fin to rudder connection. How is this part different? Well, firstly, you will notice that the crew access door is now moulded separately, giving the modeller another display option. I couldn't understand why this wasn't the case with the initial 'G' version, and HK have obviously listened to comments. Secondly, the waist gun window has now moved in line with the one on the port-side. The old position can still be seen, but faired over. One great feature of this model is the ability to unplug the wings. To attach, you just clip them to the fuselage, and push them forward to lock into position. Here you see the chunky connector. This model needs to filler in this area, so rest-assured that this is a practical feature. New internal bulkheads are supplied. One of these is for the radio operator station, and one for the forward cockpit. These was certainly enough in the way of change to merit these being re-tooled. Of course, new parts are included to further furnish these areas. The E/F had quite a different upper turret, with a slightly lower profile, and what looks to be far more in the way of glazing panels. The turret internals are also markedly different, having built up the cutaway model for the HK stall at Telford last year. The instrument panel is also different, and here it can be seen, along with the plug that fits into the rear of it, sandwiching the instrument decal. Here we can see the earlier engine cowls that have a squarer front radius. New prop blades are also included. HK haven't simply done the most obvious in the way of changes. There are of course refinements in the original design, such as that fuselage crew entry door, but there are also new internal parts, such as new crew seats, and details that seem to be specific to the E/F, some of which can be seen in the waist gun areas. Here, we appear to see a fairing for the upper nose area of the 'F' version, maybe to convert the model to a late 'F', or perhaps even an early 'G' without the chin turret........ New internals for the E/F noses. Also included is the rear part for the new tail turret. The E/F didn't carry the Cheyenne tail turret that the later 'G' did, and here you can see that earlier tail, plus new internals for the various crew stations. New parts for the B-17E nose, inside and outside shots. And if the B-17F floats your boat, here are the specific nose parts for this, including internal shots. No less that FOUR new clear sprues here, containing new noses (although you should see another in the production kit, designed for another 'F' machine). New parts for Memphis Belle will also be tooled. Note the small astrodome for that fairing we saw a earlier. Also of note are the different waist gun windows, and the canopy for the tail turret. You can usually glean a lot about a kit from looking closely at the options, such as that astrodome. So, there you are. Expect to see far more in the next week when Jeroen and Cees will really look in depth at the whole kit, including the common sprues. Danke!!

This is about as hardcore as it gets, just plain amazing Did I mention HK are releasing a 'D' next month? .....only joking

Finished tonight?

Hihihihihihihi

Just beautiful. Nice to see it with some paint over the conversion and wing root mod.

It is a beautiful mag with some great tips. Got my copy here, and another that Ben was supposed to pick up for his father! (hint hint)

I'd rather have a downloadable manual than a disc. Like Radu, my computer (Macbook Pro), doesn't have a DVD drive, so I have to fanny about by taking the disc to work, dumping it onto a pen drive, then porting back to try Mac, and then up to Dropbox.

I have to say that I've drained the battery on my iPad down several times whilst following the on-screen instructions for the RB Models Ohka Type 22. I do prefer printed mater, but with this kit, you don't get the CD/DVD. Instead you get a download link for the manual. I have this on Dropbox so that I can follow it on iPad and on my Mac. This kit is small fry compared with the instructions on disc in the HpH releases! Those are behemoths in comparison. The first thing I do is to get them printed on A4 with laser printing, and then collate/bind the manual for use.

I never knew the V1 had so many schemes. Great looking little kit with some very nice detail. I really do need to roll my Komet and Anhänger when you do this one.

Damn, I love this kit. Just looked through the instructions. Seriously nice work, Nick.

Nick, what sort of resolution is this printed in? The stuff I've seen has fine lines that can be difficult to fully remove. This looks perfect though.

Your modelling work is an inspiration, and I hope you will find the energies to share it with us in the future too. I've really missed tuning into this project, and of course I now understand why. I look forward to seeing more of this as it progresses!