B-17G Little Miss Mischief 1:48 Build

[John Dell]

That old “B-17 In Action” cover painting is a real curiosity. There are all sorts of things wrong with it. I wonder what the artists reasoning behind it was? What is even stranger is that on the back cover there is a profile painting of another 91st BG B-17G that has the 1st Division markings correctly painted red. It is still an excellent book though.

If memory serves me right, the first issue of the old Monogram 1/48 scale B-17G kit included an IPMS painting guide sheet for several different B-17Gs (other than the ones included in the kit). I think this erroneous LMM paint scheme was also included on this sheet.

Up until recently, it seemed to be assumed that LMM had the Cheyenne tail turret. I was prepared to add it to my model until I came across a photo showing otherwise. It will be on the next B-17G I do.

[Swampfox]

This newest release of the B-17G "Little Miss Mischief", consists of 19- 8.5X11 PDF files that are formatted to be printed on a home Ink-Jet printer. This means that you can play around with the scaling and print this kit to as large a scale that your printer can handle. I tried out my old Epson Photo Stylus Printer and using 11 X 17, 65Lb cardstock was able to print out a 1:32 B-17!! I don't know where I'll display it, if I ever actually build it but it should look awesome.

You can also have the files printed at a Professional Printing business, the scale will depend on the size that their printer can handle and how deep your pockets are $$$.

(Click to Enlarge image)
Here is an image of some of the parts sheets included in this kit.

Several of the sheets need to be spray glued onto different weights of paper or light corrugated stock. With a Scale wingspan of just over 26", this model needs little extra wing spar thickness to keep the wings from drooping after hanging from the ceiling.


From left to right. Small piece of 65Lb printed sheet, spray glued onto a 2nd piece of 65Lb.

Middle sheet is 65Lb printed sheet spray glued onto a piece of grey Cereal box flat scrap. Good for wing spars, wing airfoil shapes and bulkheads that support lighter card/paper items.

Sheet at far right is the "Optional butt joint tabs", sheet 19 in this kit. Printed on 45Lb card stock. I've never completed a model this complex using the Butt-Joint technique, so this should be interesting.


This kit has an alternate set of "Butt Joint Tabs" that can be used in place of the pre-attached style. I'd never really tried using them because I just never did. Now, I don't know if I'll ever build another paper model without them!

I'm taking many pictures of this build. I'm at 708 at this point and will probably take that many more by the time I'm finished.

IF YOU HAVE SOME specific detail, ask, and I'll see if I can come up with a view that will help.

Thanks.
SFX

[Don Boose]

Excellent narrative of the build, SFX. I am going to enjoy following along and watching you built this one.

Don

[Swampfox]

Hi watchers, sorry for the slow start, but I think I've finally got myself settled.

John Dell generally designs his kits to be started on sheet 1, building the parts on each consecutive sheet to the end. And this kit is no different.

I start on page 1 and continue until finished, so I find it natural to build similar to the way he designs.

I'm going to try a different format for this build. I'll see what comments are made and make changes as needed.

Front Plexiglass nose:



These images show in sequence, the steps I take to get a piece removed and prepared to use


Now, how to I shape it from this,

to this?
That's next...................Hint's below

SFX

[Erik Zwaan]

Great nose job Swampfox, the trick is indeed embossing!

Erik

[Swampfox]

Embossing. I didn't know that what I was doing had a name. Until I'm informed differently, it's Embossing!! Thanks Erik.

While taking the original images it was hard to emboss and take picts at the same time.

So later, my wife took the picts and I did the embossing on Nose Plexiglass piece.

>>>>PLEASE NOTE<<<<
The pad that I'm using is an old, beat up, flexible, (fairly soft) Computer Mouse Pad, it doesn't have to be new.

If you don't use a flexible surface, you will break the Hand tools, as they are made of wood and the smaller ones are very easy to snap.

These sticks with the balls on the ends are made by, Kemper Tools, they are actually a Doll making supply company. They are supposed to be "EYE SOCKET" makers!!

I'm trying to make an animation of this process and I came up with this poor-mans version. This posting should have loaded about 30 images. I reduced them to 10-13K each and hopefully loaded ok.

Click on the first one and keep clicking "NEXT" at the bottom of the pop-up picture, to see this "Mini-movie" and hopefully get some idea of what I'm trying get across.

PLEASE, it takes a moment for these images to all load. Wait until they have all loaded before you try the "Movie". PLEASE have patience.




I am allowed 20 images per post and to keep this to 1 posting I skipped some of the last frames

IF this 'movie' works for you, I'm glad to hear that. If not say so and I'll see if there is something I can do to help.

All for now,
SFX

[MacSongLi]

That is a great little tutorial. Thank you!

Gary

[elliott]

Got your point across perfectly well. Thanks for the info on the tool you use to do the embossing. I was wondering what they were and where to get them. Never would have thought of doll-eye-socket-makers.

[JohnO]

Clever way to show the process. Do you eventually pick up the piece and finish in the cupped palm of your hand? That is a great tool also.

[Don Boose]

Wonderful thread, as always, SFX. It is due to one of your previous threads that I obtained a set of doll eye sizers that often come in handy.

I intend to save the key images and narrative of this thread in hopes of trying my hand at one of my substantial collection of John Dell WWII bombers some day.

Don