1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress undercarriage & exterior

The real subject

The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress was an American four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It was famous for its tough structure and heavy defensive armament, which let formations of them defend themselves even without a fighter escort. The F version was one of the most numerous and is one of the most frequently built subjects among large bombers.

What the set contains

The Eduard photo-etched set in 1:48 scale concentrates on the landing gear and the external surfaces of the model. Compared with injection-molded parts, the metal ones come much closer to the real thickness, so the fine stiffeners, grilles and handles finally look the way they should. The manufacturer's instructions enclosed with the set describe the range of parts and where each one goes; it is worth comparing them with the kit you are building.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp knife on a hard surface, not by twisting - photo-etch deforms easily at the attachment point. Make the bends along the marked grooves, ideally in a bender or between two blades, so that the edge is sharp along its whole length. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) applied in a tiny amount on the tip of a toothpick; any excess shows up under the part as a white haze. Degrease the surfaces before painting so that the primer holds, and apply the paint in thin coats.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who have worked with photo-etch before and want to take a large bomber all the way in detail. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.