Teeny Belle

[JohnM]

My Rug Rats don't visit so often nowadays as most of them are teenagers, but their eyes are still in the ends of there fingers. So most of the temptation is packed away before they arrive now, but they do still find ways of creating bedlam. Love 'em to bits of course, but it ain't half a relief to wave 'em goodbye.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by JohnM

My Rug Rats don't visit so often nowadays as most of them are teenagers, but their eyes are still in the ends of there fingers. So most of the temptation is packed away before they arrive now, but they do still find ways of creating bedlam. Love 'em to bits of course, but it ain't half a relief to wave 'em goodbye.

Couldn't agree more! . .

[MichaelS]

This is pretty much done except for the props and all the .50 cals that make the Fort what she was.

No criticism of Bruno but the real Belle had quite a bit of dark green splotches. Contemplating how to add those before adding all the stuff that will get knocked off. A Sharpie will probably run and look awful.

One other minor point I want to try and fix --- Belle had a blue swimsuit on the left side and a red one on the right. On this kit both sides are blue. It is really tiny but my Nit Pick gene says I really should do something about it!

[Butelczynski]

I did that B-17 in other livery and scaled it up to full page format.



It was large enough to add landing gear and MG barrels.Good looking model.

I see you used wire for spar?I routinely use 1/16 wire for spars in horizontal stabilizers,just have to sharp up ends of it on a grinder.For wings I made spar much like Bruno adds to his models,just a bit longer.

[C9B]

That B-17 looks really good. Can’t believe how small it is—very clean.

[wireandpaper]

Originally Posted by Butelczynski

I did that B-17 in other livery and scaled it up to full page format.

It was large enough to add landing gear and MG barrels.Good looking model.

I see you used wire for spar?I routinely use 1/16 wire for spars in horizontal stabilizers,just have to sharp up ends of it on a grinder.For wings I made spar much like Bruno adds to his models,just a bit longer.

Nothing wrong with wire and paper!

[MichaelS]

FIni!

My 1:300 Memphis Belle. She sure is purdy in flight. I used a dark green Sharpie to add the camo splotches. I did it after I did the final matte coat so it didn't bleed thru. I also added a tiny bit of weathering - don't want to go overboard in this small size. Map stand is courtesy of Ms. Google.

One of the truly great propaganda episodes of WWII. Do some background and you will find that this whole thing was pretty much ochestrated by the US Army PR brass. Two movies and countless war stories later the fact that "Hell's Angels" completed 25 missions a week or so before the Belle is just a hidden footnote in history. After all we couldn't say "Hell" in public!

Of course, story of my life, midway thru this build I find out about a 1:100 Belle with a diorama free here: Home Page - PRmodels

If you get one of these please try to donate. If we want this hobby to continue to flourish we must support those who inspire and provide us with so many enjoyable hours.

[wireandpaper]

Very nice, you have my greatest admiration (from a micromodeler to a micromodeler)!

[smithdr]

Neat finish. I like your final presentation.

I can also see you building 10 million of these little guys (B-17s and your others) as Christmas tree ornaments. You could make a fortune!

Ok...maybe not...but they'd look neat!

Cheers,
Dan

[Butelczynski]

Very nice model.

I didn't know about PR models B-17-thank you for link.B-17 aside,landing strip will come really handy for display and photo of other models.