B-17 Flying Fortress

[Isaac]

Originally Posted by missileer

In the 1960s, I read an article about a B-17 that was used as a test base for new bomber engines. They had removed the greenhouse for the navigator and extended the nose a bit to accommodate a 5th engine! It was a strange looking beast. It was the same article that got me interested in the Hybrid B-17/B-24. At the time, I had planned to modify a plastic B-17 kit as soon as I finished the Hybrid. When I didn't like how the hybrid nose turned out, I scrubbed the follow-on project.

It was a flying test bed for a turboprop engine.



I went inside it when it was at the Windsor Locks Air museum at Bradly field Connecticut in 1979 just after the hurricane damaged it and other planes. I
. Picture from a local newspaper after the hurricane.


Interesting ,but ugly plane.


Isaac

[missileer]

Isaac,

Thanks for the photos. I don't suppose that it was ever restored?

[Swampfox]

Yes it was restored as Liberty Belle and flew at air shows for many years until it caught fire and made an emergency landing in a field somewhere in the Midwest, I'm not exactly sure where it landed, anyway the crew got out but the '17 was pretty much a total loss. Maybe the engines were salvaged.


Sad day for the warbird world.

Swampfox

[John Dell]

Shane, I'd be very interested in seeing any B-17 blue prints you get. Are you getting them from the Smithsonian? I hear they are very pricey from there.

Here is a couple nice links on the fifth engine test beds. There were two of them and they were officially designated the Boeing 299Z. Some of the engine mounts were pretty ugly, others didn't look too bad.

Boeing 299Z B-17G

History You Can Model: Boeing Model 299Z - the Amazing Five-Motor B-17


I always thought the one from Connecticut should have been restored as a 299Z instead of a B-17G.

And speaking of "Liberty Belle", she will rise, like a Phoenix, from the flames.

Aero Vintage Books

[elliott]

Thanks for the third link especially John. Fascinating thread and great pics.

[missileer]

John,

I too thank you for the links. I certainly received more information than I had hoped for.

[whulsey]

John, thanks for the links. Remember when it crashed and the photos of it. Thought the most would be some pieces to use on other aircraft.

[John Dell]

There is a lot of interesting stuff to find on the AeroVintage website and forum. I’ve gotten a lot useful information there, especially from one gentleman who is working on several B-17 restorations.

The kit of B-17F “Ole Puss” is now available at Ecardmodels.

https://www.ecardmodels.com/index.php/1-48-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress-ole-puss-paper-model.html

If you build it. Please give me your impressions. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

I’m now finishing the kit of B-17F “Tinker Toy”. As I was putting the finishing touches on the kit, I hit a slight snag. Knowing it has a chapter on “Tinker Toy”, I got out my copy of “Claims to Fame: The B-17 Flying Fortress” so I could write up a short history. Thumbing through the book I came across a photo of “Tinker Toy” that I had completely forgotten about. It is a photo of one of her crews standing near the tail showing the vertical stabilizer. Well, the markings on my kits vertical stabilizer didn’t quite match what was in the photo. I’ve attached a before and after thus far. I’m sure there will be some more tweaks. I also still have to confirm some of the colors, especially the fuselage squadron codes. For the 381st BG, they were usually painted white but they look very dark in the photo. So dark, it is hard to make them out.

So this kit may be delayed a couple of days while I sort things out.

[Cami]

Your models are incredible John and a your attention to detail is fantastic!

Cami

[Don Boose]

Glad to be able to follow the sage of this latest of your bombers, John.

Don