HK Models B17 Memphis Belle with AC Models aircrew

[LittleMicksta]

Hello,

This is my first aircraft post at LSM as I mainly build armour subjects and all help with tips and suggestions would be needed to move through this large scale aircraft project.

With receiving the base and canopy masks this week gave me the inspiration to get the Memphis Belle under way. The crew will be painted first before entering the very big box of components. The first 2 figures have been painted with Humbrol and Vallejo paints. The face and hands received a base coat of humbrol pink with oil paints over the top.

The build is being shared across a couple of armour subjects and progress may be a little slow. I have little reference on this aircraft and if anyone could provide me with some good book or web page sources it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Michael

[GusMac]

Nice start with the figures.

[coolboxx]

Welcome to LSM. Memphis belle is  one of my wife's favourite films. Great start with your figures, really like the skin tone colours. Good luck. 

[LittleMicksta]

Thanks Guys,

I agree Coolboxx the movie is pretty good. May not be historically accurate but the actors did a great job on an iconic aircraft and it's crew.

 

Michael

[DocRob]

Welcome to that place of large scale addicts, and you seem to fit in perfectly, as you have chosen one of the biggest kits available. I didn't have the courage for a B-17, I can't handle the size and decided that a B-25 and a Mossie are the max for me.
I wish you tons of fun with the 'Belle' and hope you are sharing the build with us. Nice start with the figures.

By accident, yesterday on TV there was a documentation about Pin-Up's in the european channel Arte and they showed footage of crew members of 'Memphis Belle' patting the 'Belle' on the B-17 after flight. Maybe a good idea for a dio.

Cheers Rob 

[LittleMicksta]

Hi Rob, 

Thanks , yes the board is huge and there will be a lot of rearranging the hobby room/man cave with this plane. 

The intention is to have the crew spread out on the field walking to the plane. 

Michael

[Wingco57]

This is one thread I will certainly follow for sure. I have the kit in the stash but don't know what to do with it (without sawing it apart that is)

Cees

[shark64]

Flight crew looks fantastic. The guys at my club have a group build going on with  the b17, thats a big kit.

[LittleMicksta]

Thanks Guys,

Apologies for the late reply, still working on figures 3 and 4, here is the progress so far.

 

Michael

[LittleMicksta]

Hello Again, 

It has been a few weeks, here is the next stage of the B17 aircrew. Still further work to be done. Sitting at 80% completion.

 

Michael

 

 

 

[James H]

Watching closely 

[GusMac]

Very nice. It's a real skill to paint figures realistically and those are very good. 

[LittleMicksta]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your words. 

Just received some more additions to the B17 inventory.

Whilst sourcing the external etch set from Eduard I came across 1/32nd scale 50 cal links. Wow, they are detailed.
They also release them in 35th scale. There may be another PT boat build coming in the future. 

Watching the Memphis belle youtube clip I noticed in the Bombardier's spot with the draped 50 call links out of the 50 cal. If looking from the outside into the nose of the B17 the rounds would be prominent to the viewer.

Could not help myself , had to get them. 

Here are the acquisitions.

 

[DocRob]

The Crew is looking great, ready for Rock'n Roll. Not so easy to paint that many figures with the same uniform and give them something individual with the faces and their posture, well done here.

Cheers Rob

[LittleMicksta]

Thanks Rob,

I appreciate your words.

Finally got the crew ready. The crew will sit on the temporary resin base till the large base is completed with the plane.

Here is the completed result.

Now back to finish the Famo and trailer.

 

 

Michael

[harv]

Anymore updates on the B17 ?.....Harv

[Peterpools]

Just catching up and superb work on the crew.

Looking forward to following your progress

Keep 'em comin

Peter

[Bomber_County]

Love to see more pics of the Famo. Keeping looking at doing either the Famo or Dragon Wagon. What did think of the Famo.......

Phil.

[LittleMicksta]

Thank you for your words. Apologies for the late reply.

Harv, 

Have not moved any further on the B17. The Famo and trailer have been the priority over the last few months. The transporter has been on the bench since 2013. A five year project that has taken a lot of time, more than what I anticipated.

There is a Model show over at Redbank Plains in a few weeks and with the vehicle being blogged for so long I thought it would be time to show it up close.  It will be on the table all weekend.

Here is the site with the info

https://qmhe.com/

Will clean up the workbench and contemplate moving forward on building the B17 or complete the Takom Tiger 2 repair diorama.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=257763

 

Peter,

Will show more images of the completed Famo and trailer in the coming weeks. The B17 sitting will be quietly on the sideline for the time being.

 

Phil, 

The completed photo's are not that far away. Have built the Dragon Wagon as well and the Famo was by far one of the biggest kit builds.

 

Michael

 

[Bomber_County]

Michael, just read through your Tiger II diorama, that’s one big project and then you added the 17.........

[LittleMicksta]

Thanks Phil, 

And you know the worst thing with modelling, there is always another subject that comes up and takes your attention away from what you are doing.

I failed to mention there is an Italeri schnellboot complete with Azimut resin crew manning the guns, metal barrels , Eduard big ED etch set and base sitting off in the corner ready to commence. The build blog will be posted here in the coming weeks. Will try and post some photo's of the S Boot contents when the Famo images go up .

 

Michael

[MARU 5137]

Hello Michael.......

 

WHOA Boy!!! I have to say that even though you are an Armour  modeller I THINK your first foray  into figures and Aircraft is OUTSTANDING.  I have to say that modelers who build Armour can teach US a few things about weathering etc..

Just saying.

Your  group of figures are EXCEPTIONALLY GORGEOUS. You have captured their  caricatures,gestures and stances very well and look very much like the REAL Thing.  

WOW !!!

they ARE AMAZING Looking figures. You  have one SPECTACULAR project and read through the links of your Tiger II ...SUPERB.... AND with the B-17 it will be magnificent.

Artists take time in their creative arst like Picasso    so not to worry if you are doing things slow by slow.

 

but do keep us posted. 

Thank you for sharing your lovely and action filled Diorama.

KUDOS.

[Bomber_County]

Michael, would love to see the SBoat as this is also on my wish list. Also I must admit I’m leaning towards the Famo rather than the Dragon Wagon. As you said there always another project to start............

Phil.

[LittleMicksta]

Hello again,

Thank you Maru and Phil.

You may have thought the B17 has been buried into the abyss with the length of time to reply.

With the Famo and trailer finally finished and visited the Brisbane Hobby show it is now out of the way and in the display case with the M26.

So it's onward and upwards with the B17 commencing with small steps. One of them is to start with removing all the dam sink marks inside the fuselage. I know you will not see them when it's closed up but seeing other modelers post WIP build images of the HK B17 on the internet and they are still there all I seem to do is get distracted with looking at the sink marks.

Here are a couple of images of the inside fuselage without sink marks and the tool used to remove them.

 

Still a lot more work with the Internal fuselage sanding.

 

Michael

 

[1to1scale]

I have to say I love your FAMO + trailer, I just picked one up myself and cant wait to clear the P-40's off my bench and start on it! I am probably going to make mine in desert camo.