Matchbox 1/72 B-17G

Started by Bob Torres · 73 · 1 day ago
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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    It has been since the 80's since I've build a four engine bomber. For this build, I decided to build the Matchbox 1/72 B-17G kit. I know, there are better kits out there of the B-17 but I've been wanting to build the Matchbox B-17 ever since it was released in 1979.

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    We should all know the history of the B-17 so I am not going to go into it but to me, this was an amazing bomber.

    This is a very basic kit with the typical little details inside that Matchbox usually offers. For this build, I am okay with that. The overall shape looks close to the real one and what I planned on doing during my years in retirement is to build a collection of Matchbox, Frog, old Airfix, old Revell and added to my list, old KP kits. It comes with markings for three different B-17s, one from the ETO theater and two from the Mediterranean theater. When I get closer to painting the model, I will figure out which version I will use on this build since the decals look like they are in good condition. I also have two complete sets of Microscale decals sheets on the B-17 that I might use if the kits decals do not work out.

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    I bought this kit about 5 years ago from eBay at a decent price. This kit was started by the previous owner and from looking at the photos of the kit, it looked okay for me to deal with. To be honest that turned out to be my mistake but not a terrible one.

    I started this build last week. So far the build is moving along slowly. I had to remove the clear parts that the previous owner glued on and he or she used tube glue so there was a lot of residual glue that needed to be removed. None of the clear parts were flush to the outside of the fuselage plus glue was on part of the clear parts too. I had to then clean the contact surfaces to where the clear parts will get glued onto by doing some light filing and sanding.

    I forgot to mention that the some of the crew and cockpit was already glued together and that also needed time to take apart and clean them to make them fit right since they were not glued correctly into place.

    This kit came with two sets of clear parts. One was complete while the other was started by the previous owner. Last night I glued on the cockpit, bombardier and a few of the smaller side windows on the fuselage. Later I will work on the rear gunner section. The side gunners and rear position behind the upper turret will get glued on after all of the painting, decals and final clear coats are applied. The installation of the upper and lower turrets will be done at the end of this build.

    Once I get the fuselage halves glued together, I am hoping the build will move at a quicker pace. The fit does not look too bad for the fuselage, the wing to body fit might need some work on the gaps. I will see how this will look after they are glued together. Right now I am almost done with the cockpit.

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    Shots of some of the work done today after cleaning the inside of the fuselage halves to make the newer clear parts fit correctly, glued into place.

    11 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    On the tail plane's elevators I felt there was too much of a gap, so I glued on a thin cut strip of styrene to fill in the gap.

    4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 2 weeks ago:

    What a great Matchbox kit you have there, Bob @v1pro
    This should be a lot of fun getting it together.
    Seems like a perfect start already.

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    David Mills said 2 weeks ago:

    Great build Bob @v1pro!
    Always seem slightly sacreligious painting a matchbox kit, rather than leaving them in their funky factory plastic colours!
    Best wishes

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    Bob Torres said 2 weeks ago:

    Thank you John @johnb and David @davem. This should be a fun build. David, I have seen a few Matchbox kits completed as "naked" and some do a great job to present their builds like this but this is not for me. Since 1973, all of my Matchbox builds have been painted, plus the theme for our upcoming club meeting is a "Touch of Silver."

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    Jay Mitchell said 2 weeks ago:

    You certainly like challenges with your model projects , Bob, @v1pro ! You always are able to make those old kits look great. The Hasegawa 1/72 B-17s are my favorite Flying Fortress kits.
    It will be interesting to see your progress & final results.

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    George R Blair Jr said 2 weeks ago:

    This will be a great model, Bob (@v1pro). Sometimes it is really fun to grab an old kit and build it without any PE or resin enhancements, just like the old days. Looking forward to the rest of the build.

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    Bob Torres said 1 week, 6 days ago:

    Thanks Jay @ssgt and George @gblair. I'll see how this will go, I am looking forward to this build. So far it has been a typical Matchbox build. There are some build sequences that I will follow from the instructions. Mainly the upper, lower chin turret and clear parts will get installed at the end of the build. The main undercarriage will get installed after the wings are glued onto the fuselage.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 week, 6 days ago:

    What a wonderful entry and great progress, my friend @v1pro! Looking forward to it!

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    Jay Mitchell said 1 week, 6 days ago:

    That’s odd how they made the fuselage in sections. Do you suppose they did that so it could fit in a smaller box ?

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    Bob Torres said 1 week, 6 days ago:

    Thank you Spiros @fiveten.

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    Bob Torres said 1 week, 6 days ago:

    Jay @ssgt, Matchbox boxes some of their kits like that. Definitely to fit larger kits into a small.box. The Hasegawa B-17 boxes from the 70's are larger than the Matchbox B-17. And the Academy is even larger! I like it when it is put into a smaller box.