1:72 Boeing B-17G Fortress Mk.III

The real subject

The B-17G is the last and most numerous production version of the American heavy bomber with four radial piston engines. The recognition mark of the G version is the gun turret under the nose, which supplemented the defense against head-on attacks. The Royal Air Force used aircraft of this form under the designation Fortress Mk.III.

What the set contains

Injection-molded plastic parts on sprues, clear parts for the glazing and the turrets, decals and building instructions. The model is unassembled and unpainted and is built by the usual routine for plastic kits. The span of the finished model works out in 1:72 scale at roughly 44 cm, so count on plenty of room in the display case.

Building and painting tips

Finish and paint the fuselage interior and the cockpit before you close the fuselage up; there is no getting to them later. Glue the clear parts with an adhesive intended for glazing, so that they do not fog, and mask them before spraying. The large areas of the wings and fuselage are easier to spray in sections before the final gluing, and it pays to fill and sand the joints on the leading edges. Assemble the engine nacelles as a unit and watch how they seat, so that the model stands straight once built.

Who it is for

The kit is for modelers with experience of larger multi-engine aircraft. The interior and the preparation of the clear parts take the most time; gluing the fuselage and the wings together is then quick. Paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.