Hobby King 1875mm B-17G Flying Fortress V2

[davegee]

Hey F106DD: this is great stuff! I think I'm gathering enough information to where I can probably pull the trigger on buying the airplane kit. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you, but this is a great start, and I am indebted to you for this super info to get started.

I did some research this morning with records I had for my late father in law. I have decided to use a paint scheme used with the 351st Bomb Group based out of Polebrook England during WWII. He flew several planes, none was specifically assigned to him, being a replacement pilot who arrived in late summer of 1944. For this trip he flew a plane called HEAVEN CAN WAIT on two consecutive days on two different missions. One was to Kaiserslautern on the German-French border, the other one was to Munich identification number 43-38799 YB-Q.

A small coincidence almost 70 years later, I flew troop transport flights from Baltimore to Kaiserslautern and back for a week, with one divert to Munich, due to icy runways in Kaiserslautern. Plane was packed with military personnel and families, about 400 people each leg.

Cheers

Davegee

Hi F106DD: I'm making some progress with the B-17. I have run some tests with powering everything up and so far things are running smoothly. I'll probably use one of those multi connectors or several possibly to connect all that spaghetti wiring from the fuselage to wing connection. I still haven't got all that figured out, but I'll play with it until I get a good fit. I will definitely have to go to/from the field with the wing separated from the fuse. In time, it will all make sense.

I was wondering, do you have any template or sizes for the nose cheek window mod that you put on your airplane? If you don't, no problem, I can work on it and figure it out. We're working on a good Cheyenne turret that we'll eventually install on the airplane if it comes out ok. For the time being, I have one that I cobbled together from scratch that should work fine.

I'm going to print up the scale looking wheels for the main tires that you posted. They should look Much better than the OEM ones that come with the kit!

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

1. Sure, I can grab some later. There are 2 main options here: Tailwheel steering or castering. If you go with castering and rely on differential thrust for taxiing, you can have a less intrusive install with less weight. See this post for install details: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...ostcount=15696. I went with servo controlled tailwheel steering which involved setting the whole assembly deeper so that I could hide the steering servo. Mine was more like this, but with a cover over the servo: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...7#post37833060

2. Free scale wheel files here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=51270965. Extra detail bits here that I designed for converting one of my B-17s to a static model: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/vari...NjO2H7gXWym5wH. Take a look at the links in that description for the other detail parts.

3. I remove the wing for transport every time. I install the receiver on the top of the wing and added a multiconnector cable so that I could connect the 4 servos (Rudd, Elev, Tail retract, tail steering) with one lead: https://www.electrodynam.com/store/102.shtml

Hi F106DD: I printed up the outer half of one of the main gear wheels, but am a loss how it fits onto the model. It doesn't look like it would fit in any way to the stock 3.25" tires that came with the kit. I think you mentioned Dave Brown tires. Could you furnish any more information about how to use these printed wheels?

Thanks for any info on this.

Regarrds,

Davegee

[F106DeltaDart]

This should help for the wheels: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...ostcount=15011

As for the chin windows, here you go:

[davegee]

This should help for the wheels: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...ostcount=15011

As for the chin windows, here you go:

Nicely done, F106DD! And thanks for the info on the main wheels, too. My OEM axle on the gear is a little undersized for the wheel. I might try a small aluminum or brass tube to act as a bearing so the wheel doesn't wobble when it rotates.

Have a great day!

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

This should help for the wheels: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...ostcount=15011

As for the chin windows, here you go:

Hi F106DD: I have a plan in mind for the updated cheek windows and guns like what you did. That was fabulous work! I'll start in with them in the next couple of weeks.

Right now, I am working on the main wheels. It looks to me like Hobby King has made a parts change on a couple of parts. Regarding the 3.25" diameter wheels and tires, thy have a different hub that is glued together. I had to pretty much cut it out with my dremel tool. I have printed or am in the process thereof, of printing the main gear wheels, inner and outer hubs. They really look great and detailed.

I am going to try a little tangent from the normal upgrading of these tires. I have used Robart tires in the past on my EFlite P-51s and Flightline B-25 and Corsair planes. They worked great and I like the period cross hatch tire tread markings. So, I just ordered from Amazon two new 3.25 inch tires to see how that goes. One of the things I found with the Robarts is that being hollow, they really help every landing "kiss" onto the runway when you do it properly Maybe the foam ones that came with the HK kit do that too, and I have them in reserve for the time being.

I'll post how this experiment goes and many thanks for your great assistance and advice.

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

I've been working on the main landing gear wheels today. F106DD gave me a link to get some free prints for landing gear wheels for this model. So, I downloaded those and have two sets of detailed 3D printed wheels for this B-17 model. I had to do some sanding to get them to fit on the axle properly. But I do have one completed for today, including the C Clip to keep it fastened. I'll get the other one done tomorrow.

So, to complete the main wheels I have ordered a pair of Robart 3 1/4" diameter scale tires with the diamond tread today. They'll probably show up next week sometime.

I also used a 3/16" OD aluminum tube that I cut to proper length to act as a bushing for a tight fit and smooth rotation of the wheels. The stock wheels (mounting hole) were a bit too large in diameter to fit on the axle tightly and they wobbled and moved a bit. So, I think this will be a better solution than stock, especially scale-wise over the OEM offering.

Cheers

Davegee

[F106DeltaDart]

Looking good Dave! Those hubs were designed for the Dave Brown 3.25” wheels, so hopefully the Robart tires will still fit. I also wanted to warn you to be very careful of adding more tail weight on this model, particularly with the 3D printed tail and the 21st Century gunner. It’s got a long moment arm and might take a lot of weight to balance. Going to 4S 2200s was enough for me to balance out the tail retract. I’d consider printing it in one of the foaming filaments like LW-PLA, and maybe doing the same for the gunner. Those 21st Century guys are heavy!

[davegee]

Looking good Dave! Those hubs were designed for the Dave Brown 3.25” wheels, so hopefully the Robart tires will still fit. I also wanted to warn you to be very careful of adding more tail weight on this model, particularly with the 3D printed tail and the 21st Century gunner. It’s got a long moment arm and might take a lot of weight to balance. Going to 4S 2200s was enough for me to balance out the tail retract. I’d consider printing it in one of the foaming filaments like LW-PLA, and maybe doing the same for the gunner. Those 21st Century guys are heavy!

Very good points, F106DD! I have been eyeing that concern for some time, now. The figure I have in the tail is only the top half, I removed the botom half years ago to put in the FL B-24 bomber. When that crashed, I just kept several of these figures in a tool box until now.

I think I'll wait to put anything in the tail like the 3D printed Cheyenne Turret until after I have flown it a few times. I bought a spare fuse from HK that was on sale to cut out the foam tail to serve as a model for the sizing of the turret. If we get a good printed turret, I might install it temporarily and check the CG thoroughly. If it is still well within limits, great. But if not, I can just glue back the foam turret and not worry about having the printed part. We'll see...

Regarding the Robart tires, I think they should work. I have a lot of experience using Robarts for these foamies. They work well, and I think they will work out ok for this airplane, too. I'll keep you informed as the process unfolds.

Cheers

Davegee

[F106DeltaDart]

Sounds like a good plan Dave. My friend Thomas B put a flight on my B-17 today and I shot a few photos of it.

[F106DeltaDart]

Also took a photo of the RX mounting and multi connector for reference.

[davegee]

Sounds like a good plan Dave. My friend Thomas B put a flight on my B-17 today and I shot a few photos of it.

You did a Masterful job on that B-17, F106DD! Good photos taken, too.

I had a good meeting with my friend Dan this afternoon at his house. He is going to design the Cheyenne turret that we'll build for the extra fuselage I bought from HK. All the testing will be with this unit, and it the CG works out, I'll eventually transfer it to my flyable airplane. If it is too heavy, we'll scrap the idea and just keep the scratchbuilt turret that I cobbled together. It will be fine for the time being.

Cheers

davegee

[davegee]

Also took a photo of the RX mounting and multi connector for reference.

I'll have to get more information on those connectors that you put in. It is a real MESS trying to stuff all the wiring into the fuselage! If I didn't have to take it apart each time, that would be fine. But having to haul it to/from the field and then store at home in two pieces, that really requires something like you are showing in your photo. Thanks for posting that. I'll study it and let you know if I have further questions on using it.

Cheers

davegee

[f4u ausie]

The biiigg bomber. Looks absolutely fantastic in the air had been thinking about a bomber. . but got another al37

[F106DeltaDart]

Thanks guys! It's getting to the point where a refinish will be needed soon. It's around 10 years old now and has seen quite a number flights.

I had a good meeting with my friend Dan this afternoon at his house. He is going to design the Cheyenne turret that we'll build for the extra fuselage I bought from HK. All the testing will be with this unit, and it the CG works out, I'll eventually transfer it to my flyable airplane. If it is too heavy, we'll scrap the idea and just keep the scratchbuilt turret that I cobbled together. It will be fine for the time being.

Sound like a good plan Dave!

[davegee]

Thanks guys! It's getting to the point where a refinish will be needed soon. It's around 10 years old now and has seen quite a number flights.



Sound like a good plan Dave!

The airplane that I plan on making a replica of, Heaven Can Wait, was one of many, many airplanes that saw service on the front lines in Europe in WWII. Unfortunately, as far as I know no photos exist of this particular plane, or its nose art. But through many research books, the name comes through as the one associated with this serial number. I've got Callie working on all the markings, and they should arrive shrotly. She'll come up with something that looks appropriate with the name, as it is only a guess as to what that actually looked like painted on the aircraft. But it's the thought that counts, I guess.

Really appreciate your help with ideas and suggestions for my airplane. I have been a fan of seeing your aircraft and helicopters, especially the Sikorsky (H-34?) retrieving the Mercury spacecraft from the water. That was really impressive to see a picture you made of it! Maybe I'll get into helicopters a bit,now that they are getting so sophisticated that even someone like me might be able to avoid crashing it!

Cheers

Davegee

[tab28682]

Sounds like a good plan Dave. My friend Thomas B put a flight on my B-17 today and I shot a few photos of it.

Mike, it was an absolute pleasure to put a flight on your very well prepared HK B-17 yesterday. It flies like the proverbial homesick angel!

[davegee]

Mike, it was an absolute pleasure to put a flight on your very well prepared HK B-17 yesterday. It flies like the proverbial homesick angel!

Those excellent pics of the B-17 remind me of standing on the tarmac at the old airfiield at Polebrook, England in 2000, about 70 miles north of London. I met my inlaws there, along with several of the crew and their wives that flew with my father in law. There was a special ceremony of remembrance for all those lost during the war. It was done up first rate, and at that time, many of the 351st BG were able and willing to make the trip for this week of touring that area. It was a typical early summer's morning in England as a few hundred people gathered for the ceremony, low clouds and a little mist. As various speakers made stirring speeches from a podium, I noticed a form low on the horizon approaching our direction. As it got closer, it was a B-17! Totally a surprise and unannounced to everyone, it roared overhead a few hundred feet up, and made a few more passes, the last one with the gear and flaps down. It disappeared into the clouds and was gone.

I don't think there was a dry eye who witnessed that specatacle, and it was something none of us will ever forget.

davegee

[Elbee]

The airplane that I plan on making a replica of, Heaven Can Wait, was one of many, many airplanes that saw service on the front lines in Europe in WWII. Unfortunately, as far as I know no photos exist of this particular plane, or its nose art. But through many research books, the name comes through as the one associated with this serial number. I've got Callie working on all the markings, and they should arrive shrotly. She'll come up with something that looks appropriate with the name, as it is only a guess as to what that actually looked like painted on the aircraft. But it's the thought that counts, I guess.

Really appreciate your help with ideas and suggestions for my airplane. I have been a fan of seeing your aircraft and helicopters, especially the Sikorsky (H-34?) retrieving the Mercury spacecraft from the water. That was really impressive to see a picture you made of it! Maybe I'll get into helicopters a bit,now that they are getting so sophisticated that even someone like me might be able to avoid crashing it!

Cheers

Davegee

Dave,

Have you seen this reference?

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-39869-heaven-can-wait/42-39869/

Uncertain if this matches your Aircraft Bureau Number.

Best, Steve

[davegee]

Dave,

Have you seen this reference?

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-39869-heaven-can-wait/42-39869/

Uncertain if this matches your Aircraft Bureau Number.

Best, Steve

Hi Steve: thanks, there were several airplanes that were painted with Heaven Can Wait nose art, due to a very popular movie of the time. The one I am looking for is 43-38799 that arrived at Polebrook England in October 1944. It got a bellyfull of flying in before the end of the war with 58 missions, was retuned to the USA after VE Day, and was unceremoniously scrapped later in 1945.

I appreciate your efforts though, Steve. My father in law did not recall details of the nose art of any planes that he flew. They already had the names painted on by other crews, but as a replacement crew, they just took an airplane that was available. An airplane that he flew the most missoins in, I think 10 in all, did not have any name attached to it. There were others he flew like Dozey Doates,,Lucky Jewell, and Annie Marie, all named by previous crews who flew them.

cheers

davegee

[davegee]

I got some progress on the B-17 yesterday. Got both sides of the cheek windows/guns mods that were done on most airplanes, especially late F and all G models during WWII. It was part of the kit for the Cheyenne turret mod where they brought in airplanes to have the original "steeple chase" tail turrets replaced by a roomier and more effective gun in the tail.

I have to thank F106DD for giving me ideas on how to put in the cheek gun/window mods. I played around with the stock windows that this would cover on each side, rotated them out some from flush a little bit, filled in any gaps with canopy glue, and then attached a fairing that I made in for the raised windows. I think they came out ok, especially for a foamie. Otherwise, work continues relatively smoothly.