Scratch Build of B-17G 43-38083 "Happy Valley Express"

[cvairwerks]

Looking at the tan screen shot, how come the 2nd and 3rd frame from the right are sunken so much below the 1st and 4th frames?

[FoCoB17G]

Looking at the tan screen shot, how come the 2nd and 3rd frame from the right are sunken so much below the 1st and 4th frames?

Those are stations 2A and 2B. They have cutouts in the top for the astrodome. From the right hand view it looks like they are shorter, but it's just because the tops are cut out.

[FoCoB17G]

I'm hoping that someone might have the BAC-1603 spec sheet, needed for some pulley blocks (as cable guards). Thanks.

EDIT: I am also in need of drawing 85-3513 (pilot's floor assy.).

[MAVERICK]

Check with Champaign Aviation Museum,Randy. They have all the drawings and specs for the B-17G.

[FoCoB17G]

I haven't posted an update for a while, so here is a picture of the current assembly. I have been working on the pilot's floor, and the beams/structural supports between bulkhead 3 and 4. I appreciate how obvious the changing radii in the circumferential stiffeners can be seen- One aspect often brought to the attention of model kit designers, and equally often ignored.

WebsiteImage-9-13-17.JPG

EDIT: Another image, this time through Imgur because it's too big.

[FoCoB17G]

Added in an outboard nacelle bulkhead and mock oil tank to get some perspective on the assembly size relative to wings.

An almost isometric view:

Front view, orthographic (no perspective added):

[FoCoB17G]

Started some quick work on bulkhead 6, and added it into the assembly. The rear section is complete, but the forward half (with web, etc...) is only partial.

[terveurn]

Eli

Trying to find the mount for the load adjuster

Supposed to be near the data case, but can not find anything in the IPC or SRM for the mount

do you have anything on your end


Dave

[FoCoB17G]

Eli

Trying to find the mount for the load adjuster

Supposed to be near the data case, but can not find anything in the IPC or SRM for the mount

do you have anything on your end


Dave

Dave,


Short answer, no.

Long answer, I looked for any indication for the load adjuster in the drawings, but my sets are incomplete, especially around the cockpit (where I assume it would be, I haven't dealt with the data case yet).

If you could give a physical location, I may have it. For example, aft of bulkhead 3 on the right hand side of the cockpit. I have a lot of "loose" parts, it may be one of them.

-Eli

[FoCoB17G]

Reorganized the main assembly, so that I have the forward and rear assemblies rather than just lumping it all into a big mess.

[FoCoB17G]

Started work on the cockpit enclosure!

[terveurn]

Just wondering why you are not doing this as sub-assemblies like Boeing built them.

Navigator compartment was a sub assembly, cockpit was a separate sub assembly

The upped deck was a complete sub assembly -- etc.....

[FoCoB17G]

I am. You are looking at the full assembly. The path to the cockpit enclosure is MainAssy>ForwardFuselage>CockpitEnclosure>VariantParts>SubAssemblies (such as the 4 pane windshields with rubber seal). Of course, in the actual model I use the Boeing drawing numbers. I'll post an image of the feature manager tree expanded when I get a chance.

Many sub assemblies aren't done- I'll have to go back and finish them eventually. For example, bulkhead 5 is only half done, but it has enough to give shape an dimension to the main assembly.

"Navigator Compartment" or similar aren't sub assemblies I'm aware of. Perhaps for equipment installations, but the actual construction is based off of "Forward Fuselage" assembly, which spans BLK 1 to the front half of BLK 6. Now, within that assembly are hundreds of smaller ones- "Navigators Floor" "Pilots Floor" "Control Cables Pulley Inst" "BLK 3" "Skin Inst." "Forward Long." etc etc...

In my post before last, on the left, are 3 items. Clicking the arrow next to them expands them so you can see what they contain, so on and soon until the individual part level is reached. 55-7330 has probably 30 subassemblies which also contain subassemblies, as specified by the Boeing drawings and assembly sheets. The actual hierarchy is laid out by which parts belong to which assemblies, who belong to which higher assemblies, and so on.

[FoCoB17G]

Here, look at the left. It is a folder hierarchy, opened up to a specific assembly:

(Link if it's too big, my screen is larger than most normal computers): https://i.imgur.com/6Kjo9gd.png

[FoCoB17G]

I haven't posted an update in a while, so here it goes...

Gallery is here for full size images (the overlay image is 5000 pixels wide, allowing for zoom): https://imgur.com/a/XvYCt


Far forward, not much new


The overlay image. Tried to align it, and got pretty close.


Recent catwalk render, thanks to Desert Rat for the drawings


Early catwalk render, again thanks to Desert Rat. There are some key issues with the model at that point


Overview main assembly. New additions in the rear assembly, with most notably bulkhead 7, which has a part dealing with rear gear