pilot40874,
Yep, you could be right. Might just go green and leave it alone. Already have a bomber crew from Parkflyerplastics for it.

Take care -- Stacker

Hard to keep them all straight! Although right now, it looks like the B-17 comes in 3 different sizes of large foamies (and available from a variety of different distributors): 1600mm, 1875mm and 2000mm. Both the FREEWING and the Starmax look like the nicest ones, but then again, they cost over $500, too.



BIG:

FREEWING Sliver and Green versions; 1600mm (63") w/ chin turret and NICE retracts/struts, but no bomb bay:
http://www.xtremehobby.ashop.com.au/...m-epo-pnp.html

EASYTIGER MODELS (Same as HobbyKing Green version); 1600mm (63") w/ chin turret and bomb bay:
http://easytigermodels.com/index.php...roducts_id=252

HobbyKing Green version 1600mm (63") w/ chin turret and bomb bay:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dproduct=16546



BIGGER:

The 1875mm (73.8") size is produced by Lanxiang and available from a variety of distributors
http://www.rcwarbirds.co.uk/prop-dri...belle-rtf.html

EASYTIGER MODELS Silver version 1875mm (73.8") (w/out chin turret, bomb bay, or tail wheel retract):
http://easytigermodels.com/index.php...roducts_id=270
EASYTIGER MODELS (Same as HobbyKing Green version) 1875mm (73.8") (w/out chin turret, bomb bay, or tail wheel retract):
http://easytigermodels.com/index.php...roducts_id=266

HobbyKing Green version 1875mm (73.8") (w/out chin turret, bomb bay, or tail wheel retract): <-----------BEST BUY, $219 + .01 shipping US Warehouse only)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...203&aff=151412



BIGGEST:

STARMAX Green version: 2000mm (78.7") w/ chin turret and bomb bay):
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1464040

Originally Posted by stacker

pilot40874,
yep, you could be right. Might just go green and leave it alone. Already have a bomber crew from parkflyerplastics for it.

Take care -- stacker

coool!

Scalewise, I daresay the middle offering is the most accurate (aside from the panel trenches). The l/g legs are too long and them ugly oleos have gotta go. It also lacks a chin turret for whoever wants to do a G version. Furthermore the B-17F did NOT have staggered waist guns.
The 1600mm version isn't bad save the u/c legs, tiny disproportionate bomb bay & woeful wing roots.
The 2000mm starmax version is unsaveable and complete garbage unless you're happy with cartoon scale.
My 2 cents...

Vic

Vic,

thanks for that evaluation...
I am not an B-17 expert at all, so I thought I might go with the Starmax, didn't have a close look at it however.
Can you point out the issues of the Starmax?

Cheers,
Bernhard

Basically Starmax have produced a B-17 fuselage which needs a complete rebuild.
Cockpit canopy & fairing are completely misshapen, including the turret, which is a joke.
The chin turret's way too large
Nose windows NEVER extended that far back & are the wrong size & shape.
The waist gun windows are way too small & located too low (the left waist gun's where the elsan toilet should be).
The ball turret's too squashed, & has the guns sticking out the WRONG SIDE
The rear turret's oversize & looks like a greenhouse.
Landing gear's nowhere near scale
The landing lights were located ONLY outboard of the engine nacelles
The cowls are a joke, as are the superchargers
The bomb bay's too narrow & too far back
The only nice thing is the camo & decals.

Originally Posted by Vic Arcudi

Basically Starmax have produced a B-17 fuselage which needs a complete rebuild.
Cockpit canopy & fairing are completely misshapen, including the turret, which is a joke.
The chin turret's way too large
Nose windows NEVER extended that far back & are the wrong size & shape.
The waist gun windows are way too small & located too low (the left waist gun's where the elsan toilet should be).
The ball turret's too squashed, & has the guns sticking out the WRONG SIDE
The rear turret's oversize & looks like a greenhouse.
Landing gear's nowhere near scale
The landing lights were located ONLY outboard of the engine nacelles
The cowls are a joke, as are the superchargers
The bomb bay's too narrow & too far back
The only nice thing is the camo & decals.

I wondered if it was just me that noticed all this on the larger Starmax. Starmax did a pretty good job on some of their fighters in the last six months, not sure what happened to the B-17? To spend that much money on tooling and not go the little extra work to get things some what close seems crazy. The wing looks pretty good, everything else is just too far off for me. I'll go with the mid size and live with the panel lines, maybe add a nose turret. Hard to believe how many chouces there are now.

Cheers -- Stacker

A week ago I bought the 1875mm version from HobbyKing. Since it seems to be the best of the lot, my intention is to:
Sand off the whole paintjob with 400 grit wet & dry,
Fill all the panel line trenches, & sand back the whole thing
Reroute the elevator & rudder pushrods internally
Cover the whole shebang in lightweight tissue & WBPU sanding back afterwards
Modify the retracts to look more scale
Redo the whole paintjob
Luckily I still have all the decals from the old Marutaka B-17 which caters for the 'Memphis Bell' or alternatively the 'Lady Luck' (Triangle A with red tailfeathers % wingtips)

Originally Posted by Vic Arcudi

A week ago I bought the 1875mm version from HobbyKing. Since it seems to be the best of the lot, my intention is to:
Sand off the whole paintjob with 400 grit wet & dry...

I'm also considering repainting the 1875mm. Is it necessary to sand before painting, or is that only if you want to fill in the "trenches"?

Lol, the trenches are a purely cosmetic consideration in order to obtain a more 'scale' B-17. In my view sanding is necessary to lighten the airframe making for a better painting surface and to get rid of unwanted lumps & bumps, injection marks & so on. It also helps because you'll need lots more paint to cover a dark surface as opposed to a lighter one.
I was considering the use of an airbrushed light grey undercoat before application of the final camo scheme. I'll probably be doing the 'Lady Luck'

Originally Posted by Vic Arcudi

A week ago I bought the 1875mm version from HobbyKing. Since it seems to be the best of the lot, my intention is to:
Sand off the whole paintjob with 400 grit wet & dry,
Fill all the panel line trenches, & sand back the whole thing
Reroute the elevator & rudder pushrods internally
Cover the whole shebang in lightweight tissue & WBPU sanding back afterwards
Modify the retracts to look more scale
Redo the whole paintjob
Luckily I still have all the decals from the old Marutaka B-17 which caters for the 'Memphis Bell' or alternatively the 'Lady Luck' (Triangle A with red tailfeathers % wingtips)

What do you use to fill panel lines???

This one definitively has same motor (700 kv) and prop than the HC-Hobby/Erc B25 and HC-Hobby/HK Mosquito....

Seems to remember that Lanxiang somehow took over HC-Hobby, which might explain why this one is sold under the Lanxiang brand.

Originally Posted by warbirdfan2

What do you use to fill panel lines???

Regular lightweight filler applied with a squigee such as an old credit card will do the trick. If you need to or it's too thick you can thin it with tamiya acrylic thinners.

I just had to get the silver one. Just finished building it too. Super easy build.

Here's a couple of pics. Like Vic, I think it sits a little to high. Not sure how to lower the stance, but its not that huge of a deal.

Also in the pics is a pic of my Franklin Mint B-17 that I got from my grandfather. I remember looking at that plane when I was 11 yrs old.