1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress waist section

The real subject

The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress is an American four-engined bomber of the Second World War which carried the main weight of the daylight bombing over Europe. In the middle section of the fuselage, roughly between the wing and the tail surfaces, two gunners stood facing each other at the side window openings and from there defended the machine against attacks from the flanks. The space is cramped, full of stiffeners, ammunition boxes and runs of cabling, and because the side openings are usually not covered over on a model, there is a good view into it once the build is finished.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts of thin metal sheet which replace and complete the details precisely in this section of the fuselage. Etching can render things that cannot be made in plastic: thin walls, latticework, small brackets and loops. The range of the set, the placing of the individual parts and the kit it is cut for are stated in the instructions from the manufacturer. The code of the set matches the photo-etched sets of the Eduard company for 1:48 scale.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts from the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with cutters, and sand the remnants of the tabs with a fine file. Bending is done in a bending tool or between two razor blades, always along the marked groove and in one go, so that the metal does not crack. They are glued with super glue or spot by spot with a binder for small parts. Wash and degrease the metal before painting and spray a base coat on, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surface. Paint the parts that will disappear inside the fuselage once the build is finished before you cement the halves of the fuselage together.

Terms of supply

The set is intended as an accessory to a kit. Paints, glue and a base coat are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.