B-17 Underbelly Color.

[Airframes]

Really nice work! I love to see shapes coming together from the 'solid', and I'm looking forward to seeing this (BIG) baby finiished and airborne!

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Really nice work! I love to see shapes coming together from the 'solid', and I'm looking forward to seeing this (BIG) baby finished and airborne!

Most appreciated and thoughtful of you too! Yes, when I get things to the point of being able to bolt the wing to the fuse that would be a benchmark!!

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Hopefully I can cut better than I can lay out lines. The tires are six inches in diameter while the struts are 5/8" diameter. The cut out itself is slightly oversize of course.

 

[B-17engineer]

Absolutely beautiful!! Very nice craftsmanship!!!!

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Absolutely beautiful!! Very nice craftsmanship!!!!

Glad to hear from you and thank you very much!

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Well, what do you think folks? I believe this comes from the 8th so this would be right up your alley Airframes. I could use a color profile and markings for this one.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

 

[vikingBerserker]

NICE!

 

[Airframes]

The artwork is certainly Vargas style, although I think it might be a design for a 'T' shirt or similar, for enthusiasts, and not from an actual B17. I'll see if I can find an aircraft with that nose art, but it's doubtful. The 'usual' style would be a place name, girlfriend, the local cat house etc etc!!
I've got a few colour pics of B17 nose art from WW2, mainly natural metal B17G's, but some OD G's and F's too, if they might be of use?

 

[Coors9]

here's on i've got...

 

[B-17engineer]

Nice TBOT

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

I found this but obviously there's some conflict. I sure don't want to lose this one! I found many pics of 'Blonde Dynamite' but no aircraft associated with it. The source I found was on ebay as a 'Red Head' B-17 from the 8th Air Force t-shirt. I think it's something else. I'm starting to narrow it down to the 612th bs 401st bg.

 

[Airframes]

I've had a look in all my listings of known, named B17's from the 8th USAAF, and haven't yet found this one. I really do think it's a generic design, based on typical nose art, most of which was inspired by the Vargas calendars, and used on a modern-day 'T' shirt as 'memorabilia'.
The 'girl' herself might well have been part of some nose art, from a variety of aircraft, although the artwork appears to be too 'artistic' and precise to have been the actual image used, if it was used, on an aircraft, be it B17, B24, B26 or whatever.
I'll keep on looking though, and let you know if I come up with anything directly related, but it's looking pretty doubtful.

 

[kgambit]

This is probably flying in the face of the quest for accuracy in modelling, but that nose art is SOOOO hot that I would be tempted to say "what the f***" and use it ANYWAY!

 

[vikingBerserker]

Nothing wrong with being original. I agree, that nose art would rock!

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Well I found this. Now I do believe there was a B-17 called the 'Heavenly Body' but it had a different gal on it. I'm in a quandary folks.

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

Welcome to Wingspan Models This is a demo of the electronic bomb release system I might incorporate into my bomber. Mine is a different build than this company's but I shouldn't have any problems with it.

 

[jamierd]

i am amazed this thing is huge cant wait to see the finished article would also love to see where you would keep something that big

 

[Thebuilderofthings]

i am amazed this thing is huge cant wait to see the finished article would also love to see where you would keep something that big

My basement. It breaks down into four parts, the fuselage, and a three piece wing.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Do we get to ride in it???