1:48 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress engines

Photo-Etched Set 1:48 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress - Engines (Eduard)

This is an add-on set of photo-etched metal in 1:48 scale from the Czech manufacturer Eduard, aimed at the engine section of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. The set is not a model or a kit; it is added to a plastic kit you already have. The aim is to replace coarse plastic shapes with fine metal parts wherever molding in plastic is imprecise, that is above all in the space between the cylinders, on the covers and on the small linkages.

The real subject

The Boeing B-17G was a four-engined heavy bomber powered by Wright Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engines with turbochargers, which let it operate at great altitudes. On this type the engine nacelles are a prominent visual feature, because there are four of them and they sit fully exposed on the wing. That is exactly why every inaccuracy in their detail shows on the finished model.

Building tips

The parts of the engine section are among the smallest anyone works with in modeling. It pays to work over a tray with a high rim so that a part that springs away does not end up in the carpet. Use tweezers with fine rather than sharp jaws and bond with super glue applied with a stick or a piece of wire. If a part has to be shaped into a curve, anneal the brass briefly over a flame and let it cool; the material then gives and does not crack. Degrease the metal parts before painting and apply a primer. The engines look best when the dark base color is completed with dry-brushed metallic shades and a fine wash that picks out the cylinder fins.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building four-engined bombers in 1:48 scale
• Builders who want exposed engines without simplification
• More experienced modelers used to very small metal parts
• Competition builders, for whom detail in a visible place decides

The set is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The model, glue, paints and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.