Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

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iggie
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Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by iggie »

Freshly plucked from the hands of the delivery driver, this is the new tool Airfix B-17G Flying Fortress:

The kit is in the now usual substantial corrugated cardboard box, printed in glossy red and featuring some wonderful Adam Tooby artwork depicting one of the two box schemes "Skyways Chariot" in a running battle with some FW190s.
Inside, one large polythene bag contains 9 light grey runners of parts, plus a separate bag with one of clear parts.
My immediate impression is that the plastic has lost that slightly textured feel and appearance of some of the recent new-tool kits from Airfix, which will be beneficial for producing the NMF that both schemes feature heavily.
Instructions are again as recent offerings from Airfix; principally black and white printing with red highlighting of certain components and/or previously built sub-sections; they appear to be clear and logical although I'll probably regret saying that when I do get to build this!
The detail both in terms of detail moulded into larger parts, and the detail of small components is excellent, and I would say that this will make a great finished model without any real need for after-market additions; that said, the AM stuff that is already on the market will only add to the excellence already exhibited in the basic kit.
Transfers are neat and sharp, and appear to be well printed; the carrier film is almost non-existent beyond the printed parts which should help reduce the risk of silvering.
All in all it looks to be another excellent job from Airfix. I'll leave others better qualified than I to comment on any accuracy issues that may exist....but to my untrained eye, it certainly looks like a B-17, and a good one at that! 8-)
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Best wishes

Jim
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Kevan Bailey »

Excellent work, that man! Nice looking kit. How do they do the ball turret?

Reckon you can get it built by midnight?
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by iggie »

Kevan Bailey wrote:Excellent work, that man! Nice looking kit. How do they do the ball turret?

Reckon you can get it built by midnight?
Don't push it! :-D

Extract from the destructions for ball turret assembly & fitment; fuselage is not buttoned up until stage 55 :shock: Is this a record for a 1/72 kit? :grin:
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Best wishes

Jim
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Kevan Bailey »

Ta! It's a bit like the old one really, isn't it? Except you don't get a scrunched up gunner.
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by gnomemeansgnome »

This kit looks like it's gonna be amazing.
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Eric Mc »

That is impressive.

The artwork seems to have been inspired by Roy Cross' theme for the original Airfix B-17 box art.

I've still got "A Bit of Lace" in my unbuilt stash.
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Eric Mc »

Another double post - why is this happening?
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by iggie »

Eric Mc wrote:That is impressive.

The artwork seems to have been inspired by Roy Cross' theme for the original Airfix B-17 box art.

I've still got "A Bit of Lace" in my unbuilt stash.
I seem to recall reading something to the effect that Adam Toomby deliberately followed Roy's original as a tribute to what many regard as his best work (debate!) but flipped it to maintain his own originality. It certainly is a fine bit of work, even if cgi rather than paint.....
Best wishes

Jim
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by ShaunW »

This looks very nice indeed. I have the Academy B-17G in my stash and that is a half decent kit (well documented wing dihedral problems aside) but I bet this has the edge. I am a little surprised at the lack of an OD over Neutral Grey scheme, to help out those who find NMF challenging (me for instance :ha: ) as often kit manufacturers will where possible give an alternative to bare metal. Still, that is a minor gripe and probably won't bother the majority and it's great to see Airfix providing a bang up to date kit of this famous aircraft.

The box art is indeed very reminiscent of the classic "Bit O' Lace" artwork, which is one of my favourites - though at first glance the FW-190s in Cross' original did look rather like Mitsubishi Zeros!
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by bluesteel »

What? No crew included? :cry:
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by iggie »

bluesteel wrote:What? No crew included? :cry:
Nope, I can confirm that they are awol :shock:
It seems that Airfix no longer have access to a sculptor....
Best wishes

Jim
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"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Tarkas »

iggie wrote:
bluesteel wrote:What? No crew included? :cry:
Nope, I can confirm that they are awol :shock:
It seems that Airfix no longer have access to a sculptor....
:roll: Well, Airfix just lost a potential customer unless some enterprising aftermarket people come up with a full crew -- and while they're at it, they can do one for the Lancaster!

Honestly, I cannot understand manufacturers going to all that effort to make a model of an aeroplane which can only be displayed parked on the ground! They're meant to fly :pilot:, you twits, so how about letting us make the model in that condition?

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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by rob_van_riel »

Tarkas wrote: :roll: Well, Airfix just lost a potential customer unless some enterprising aftermarket people come up with a full crew
You mean like these: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/171318- ... s-crew-set
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by Tarkas »

rob_van_riel wrote:
Tarkas wrote: :roll: Well, Airfix just lost a potential customer unless some enterprising aftermarket people come up with a full crew
You mean like these: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/171318- ... s-crew-set
Yeah, that'll do. Now, who makes the equivalent set for the Lanc?
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Re: Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress **NEW TOOL**

Post by celt »

Looks a lovely kit,but I like to put crew in my models.Airfix dropped the ball on this one,as far as me buying one that is.
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