1/48th Boeing Fortress MkI (B-17C) Koster / Revell conversion
I've been working on this on and off for the last few months and have finished it off this week.
I've used the classic Revell 1/48th B-17F kit and coupled it with Koster's vacformed beautiful early Fortress conversion set. This comprises a new rear fuselage with the distinctive 'shark fin', a new early nose and cockpit transparency as well as other various vacformed clear parts, along with some additional air intakes for the early oil cooler set up - all in all a very comprehensive conversion set. You have to undertake other mods to the Revell kit such as shortening the nose (the later Forts had a longer nose due to the heavier rear fuselage needing to be rebalanced), add additional seats to the flightdeck as well as reshaping the later paddle-bladed props to the earlier 'needle' type. The cowl flaps have to go too, as these weren't introduced until the D-model.
I started with the Revell F-model kit rather than the Monogram G-model as the nose is far easier to modify - I just needed to blend in the larger cheek windows and then open them up in the shape of the smaller windows seen on the earlier models. Using the G-model would have meant lots of additional surgery to remove the chin turret and fairing, remove and replace the bulged cheek windows and remove the astrodome on the roof of the nose. With the F-model I was over half way there already.
I decided to do a later scheme used by the RAF on their Fortress Is which was slate / extra dark sea grey uppers with PRU blue undersides. I used my favourite Xtracolor enamels with generic Xtradecal codes and insignia to cobble together a 90 Squadron machine which was operated out of Polebrook in the Autumn of 1941.
The fit of the Koster parts was exceptional - once they were removed from the backing sheet and sanded correctly it was like working with an injection-molded kit. In fact, the Koster parts fitted better than the Revell kit! The only tricky area was the nose transparency - this was a little too large to fit the Revell nose, but some careful trimming and careful blending with Milliput solved the problem.
I'm now trying to get hold of the 1/48th Privateer conversion, but now Koster kits are OOP I'll have my work cut out - and they're currently going for silly prices on eBay!
Regards to all,
Tom
10 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Tom Cleaver said on April 24, 2020
Nice work as usual Thomas. I really hope that the discussion I'm hearing about a 1/48 Sharkfin will pan out. Your effort on this conversion should do to push the rock over the top of the mountain.
All you need to do with your desire for a 1/48 Privateer is exercise your ability to delay gratification for about 18 months. You will then be able to experience instant gratification, without all the hacking and whacking.
And yes, if I told you more I'd have to kill you. Trust me, just breathe deep.
Bill Koppos said on April 24, 2020
What's this "discussion" about? I'd kill for a 1/48 "sharkfin"
Tom Cleaver said on April 24, 2020
Refer to final sentence above. 🙂
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
I’m intrigued, Tom.
I shall take your advice and wait to see what emerges.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 24, 2020
That's a perfect model/conversion, Thomas. A LOT of quality work. I am deeply impressed.
All the best!
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Many thanks - although as I said above the quality of the Koster parts means it’s a relatively simple conversion project.
John Healy said on April 24, 2020
Wow! That’s really nice. Great craftsmanship on my favorite B-17 variant.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Me too John - I live the elegance of the early shark-finned Forts.
Walt B said on April 24, 2020
Very nice, I have built that conversion in the past and was in general very happy with it. Yours turned out very nice, and I really like your paint scheme. Nice work, on what I know is a effort to get done!
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Walt. The paint scheme certainly makes it more interesting in my view - the RAF schemes do suit this aircraft so well.
Bill Koppos said on April 24, 2020
Absolutely fabulous job. Great work on what I know is not easy work. Been playing with one of these since 2005, it never seems to move forward. Love this airplane always had forlorn hope for a mainline kit in 1/48. People say I'm crazy... You have hit it out of the park.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
The story of my life is usually me building a conversion such a this or vacform, and then low and behold an injection kit appears!
dale travis said on April 24, 2020
Great job on my favorite version of the B-17. This plane was used in making the Warner Bros. movie "Flying Fortress" starring Richard Greene. It's possible the underside color of this was deep sky.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
I’ve seen that film, Dale - it’s a true classic.
There is a bit of debate about the underside colours - some were Azure blue, others were a darker blue closer to PRU blue. I’m don’t think we’ll ever know for sure.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Paul E. Owens said on April 24, 2020
Stunning Fortress Thomas!
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Paul!
Louis Gardner said on April 24, 2020
Beautiful work Thomas. Having a B-17 like this one you scratched together in 1/48 scale right out of the box is very high on my "wish list"... as is a Privateer... and a G3M "Nell".
Great job !
"liked"
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Well according to Tom above, we may be treated soon!
Robert Royes said on April 24, 2020
Excellent conversion! Looks great in this scheme.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Robert.
George Henderson said on April 24, 2020
Very, very nice
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Appreciated, George.
Tom Bebout said on April 24, 2020
Nicely done Thomas, really looks good in that camo scheme.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Agreed, Tom. I was considering a USAAF scheme but the RAF scheme is so pretty!
Doug Humphrey said on April 24, 2020
Incredible job! I've seen a couple of the Koster conversions done, and the fit of the front glass piece in the front is the smoothest I've seen so far.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Doug. As I explained above the fit wasn’t great here, so some careful trimming and filling was required.
Colin Gomez said on April 25, 2020
Museum quality model work, Thomas. It is striking to see a B-17 in RAF colors, which are more like FAA colors for this version. I would find it nerve wracking to mask vac clear part that are integrated into the model. Must be very easy to distort them when pulling the masks away. I haven't tackled major conversions like yours yet myself. Yours set the standard in quality results.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Thanks, Colin. The vac parts are a little more delicate than injection pieces, but once glued to the model are perfectly robust enough for masking and the like. The quality of the Koster clear parts is second to none - a big improvement over the original Revell offerings.
Haslam Yeoman said on April 25, 2020
High quality result. I really like the shape of the early B-17's so I hope Tom is right.
Thomas Probert said on April 25, 2020
Me too - I’d be tempted to get another as I’d like to do an early natural metal USAAF machine with the striped rudder. That’ll be a real looker.
Bryan W. Bernart said on April 25, 2020
Exceptional work.
I have built the Privateer-was my first vac anything. You should have no problems.
Greg Kittinger said on April 27, 2020
Very nice - those thin-tailed B-17's always look odd go me, but shines up nice in Brit clothes! Well done.