1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress bomb bay

The real subject

The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber of the Second World War. The F version was the most numerous variant deployed over Europe before the arrival of the G version with its nose gun turret. The bomb bay lies in the middle of the fuselage between the wings, with vertical bomb racks along its sides and a narrow catwalk down the center along which the crew moved between the front and rear parts of the aircraft.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts are thin metal pressings that replace exactly those places in the bomb bay where a plastic kit necessarily comes out thicker than reality: the truss walls, the racks, the catwalk and small fittings. The extent of the fret and the assignment of the individual parts are given in the enclosed instructions, which also show what has to be sanded off the plastic.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with nippers. Bend them in a bending tool or between two blades so that the edge is straight. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a small amount. Before painting, degrease the metal and apply a base color made for metal. Assemble and paint the bomb bay before you glue the fuselage halves together, as later you will no longer reach into it. Because once the build is finished it tends to be visible only through half-open doors, it pays to bring the details out with a dark wash and light drybrushing.

Who it is for

The set belongs in the hands of modelers who want an open bomb bay that is faithful even up close. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.