1/72 XB-40 Bomber Escort Conversion

[TheRealMrEd]

Well, as noted in the build thread HERE:



Here are the final pics of the B-17 that started to be converted to a YB-40, but ended up as the XB-40, something you may not have seen much of before!

Thanks for looking. See you next time,



Ed

 

[Wurger]

Well done.

 

[Ron Pearcy]

That's a stunner.

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work!

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice one Ed.

 

[nsmekanik]

Had a read through the construction, you did an excellent job all round I'd say.

 

[TheRealMrEd]

Thanks for the kind comments, gents.

As stated in the build thread, I sort of took the long way 'round to bring 'er home...

Ed

 

[ian lanc]

Interesting build you did, end result is a model B17 which I've never seen before.

Noticed you used a knife to enlarge the hole! Have you ever thought of buying model reamers ?
Really sharp high quality reamers made for making correct round holes.

 

[ian lanc]

Reamers look like these! Maybe one for your tool kit if you haven't got one.

 

[TheRealMrEd]

I've got reamers, grinders, sanding rolls and porting, polishing and relieving tools. The knife was just there and very quick, while all the tools were out in the garage.

Also, the sandpaper on a stick roll allowed me to dial in the hole as needed, in case it was not centered perfectly (which it wasn't).

Ed

 

[rochie]

What a great conversion, well done

 

[Johnny Curedents]

OK, I'll be the dummy here. What are the differences between the YB-40 and the XB-40?

 

[TheRealMrEd]

XB had non-staggered waist guns, semi-retractable ball turret, small side nose windows, and the added upper turret was sort of nestled into the turtledeck to streamline it a little, which also severely reduced the firing arc forward. The four front pitot tubes seem to be unique and the shape of the front turret seems to be a little different on the bottom. At various times, some of the radio antenna were different than the YB 's.

The most important factor however, remains the fact that Mickey Mouse adorned the XB, while everyone else suffered from it's lack, you silly boy!

Ed