Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 1: 72 – build review

Full Review with Geoff Coughlin

Our thanks to Airfix for supplying our review sample – get this kit here now from Airfix.

Here Now in-box review…
Read my full in-box review of the Airfix Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 1:72 showing the whole kit box contents.

So what’s the plan?

This is the simple part – just build this model and try to get the best out of what’s provided in the box – no meaningful additions, aftermarket or other bought accessories. Just some simple additions like seat belts in the cockpit, aerial lines if applicable and possibly some surface riveting to provide a more interesting and visibly pleasing finish to the model. We’ll see how that goes when we get to it.

Extra focus will be on weathering and finishing this time, given that so little of the interior will be visible.

Here are a couple of photos showing the surface on the kit parts – they could look great with some riveting…

Fond memories

I have such fond memories of modelling the B-17G from many years ago when Airfix released the kit with Roy Cross box art – “Wow!”, incredible – those boxes got so may kids hooked on scale modelling. And now Airfix has produced a completely new-tool version of Boeing’s famous WWII bomber I think we just have to build it (and others in their prolific and growing range).

Chosen scheme

For me it has to be:
Option B on the decal sheet (below) is going to be the subject for my build – I built it in 1:48 scale many years ago and it’ll be good to revisit such a famous Unit: Boeing B-17G 75 BO Flying Fortress, 43-37993 ‘Mah Ideel’, 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, United States Air Force, Bassingbourn, Cambridge, England, early 1945.

HD Videos coming too…

As with all my builds these days this one will have several HD videos showing different parts of the build and highlighting tips, techniques and ‘fixes’ for anything we come across and I hope you’ll enjoy the journey. I’m really looking forward to this one and I hope you are too!

On with the build and videos…