1:72 B-17F Flying Fortress front interior

The forward part of the interior of the B-17F Flying Fortress in 1:72

An Eduard photo-etched set concentrated on the forward section of the fuselage of the Boeing B-17F in a small scale. It therefore deals with the area most in view on a model, because the nose and cockpit glazing uncover it.

What hides in the nose of the Fortress

The forward part of the aircraft was packed with work stations. Side by side there were the positions for navigation and bombing, above them the pilots' compartment, and between them narrow passages the crew had to squeeze through in full gear. It is exactly this cramped quality that reads on a model as soon as the bulkheads and the equipment are thin enough.

Tips for fitting out the nose

• Protect the glazing with a mask before you start spraying anything.
• Always finish the nose space before the cockpit above it.
• A lighter shade deep in the space will visually enlarge its volume.
• Test the fit of the parts repeatedly, because the smallest overhang will keep the fuselage from closing.

Whom the forward set suits

Modelers who want to invest effort where most of it will be seen and do not want to buy fittings for the whole fuselage. It is at the same time a good way to try working with metal on a smaller scope before embarking on a complete aircraft interior. The scope is manageable enough not to slow the build by weeks, and the result you will see every time you pick the model up. Anyone building a whole line of Fortresses will appreciate that the same approach can be taken with each of them and a uniform level of detail kept.