Large Model Association Forum

Being built at Fighter HQ alongside the TA152 at the moment is a B17G, 128" from the Jan Hermkens plan. This plan dates back to the early eighties and has been the basis for the many Dave Plummer built, one of which belonged to James Ladell until it's demise at Rougham last year, so this one is destined to fill the gap in James hanger.

The kit was laser cut by Belair for a friend of mine a few years ago. He framed up the fuselage and fin before giving up. The plan, scale u/c along with the survivng tailplane of a crashed model "Bit o' Lace" was aquired by me over ten years ago from a guy up in Hinckley who had built it and lost it on it's maiden.

So far I've built both wings and skinned the topsides and now need to build in the flaps and nacelles. The fuselage is now fully skinned and the fin was skinned last night. Some glassing has also been started, today should see the making of the chin gun fairing from chemi-wood and the completion of the rudder.

Theres many parts which needed to be modified to work on this model, Leon at Belair has been able to change these by cad and cut them properly but some of them I've just has to persevere with. The biggest issues to overcome so far have been the removeable top deck just doesn't fit as the frames are not wide enough, some formers are wider oneside than the other and the worst thing so far is the plates which form the basis for the nacelles are meant to glue flush onto their respective ribs, thats fine until you put the wing onto the fuselage, at which point the dihedral kicks in and puts the nacelles on the wonk. So these will need to be packed out.

Despite it's issues and the fact that most people will say it's just a small model by todays standards, it's still a "Fort" and really looks the part.

And a couple more pics

Takes me back to my Fortress days at Goosedale, this is a superb flying model flys just like a big trainer.

Have you not finished yet

looking nice keep up the good work

I have been flying the one formarly owned by Steve Ogden for several years suitably converted to electric, even took my LMA proficiency on it at Rougham which was nice as the model is done in the scheme of Double Trouble which flew from there during the war. As you say an old design which is quite heavy by todays standards, mine weighs 32lbs and is no heavier for being electric, it weighed that with the 52 4 strokes that were in it before. You will probably come out quite a bit lighter if it has all been lazer cut and lightened, upside is it flies in a gale and with such a big wing area it is a pussycat to fly. Here are a couple of pics...........Martin

chris willis wrote:Takes me back to my Fortress days at Goosedale, this is a superb flying model flys just like a big trainer.

You one of the pair of Fort pilots used to come to Goosedale? I remember some cracking low passes....

Thats right Bob, great days.
an old shot here of mine with Dave Plumbers in the background.

Could the trip down memory lane get chris out in the shed drawing up a 1/4 scale one to add to his Willis Warbirds catalogue?

Loads more happening to the "Fort" recently. Spars are proving to be a pain to sort out but I think I've solved that now.

The hole in front of where the tailplane will be is a hatch for access to the tailwheel.

Spar challenge now overcome with some 10mm carbon tube, wings fitted for the first time earlier today. Also removed and binned the rear turret cover which I'd made from chemi-wood as I just found an abs moulded one in the box of bits, bit lighter.

Port wing ready to glass, beginings of flying surfaces. The rudder was one of the bits part built by the previous owner and had to be played about with. Also the basic construction of both port nacelles, one with the gear in roughly the right place. This model should have one of the most easy u/c installations I've ever done(don't know if I should have said that?).

and more

Bomb bay doors now made. I joined two pieces of 3/32 sheet together then pinned down over the outer skin of the fuselage, they were then glassed. Left it drying overnight, cut and fitted toady.

Hi Stewart, great to see your model taking shape, a little bit of history for you, James's B17 was built by (as you say) Dave Plummer, and was then acquired by Colin Hammond about 12/15 years ago. Colin successfully operated the model for over ten years before selling it onto James. Tony Nijhuis also built one of these fine models which he has moved onto a friend that is now a display model.

I remember Colin saying that there was an error in plan design, which Dave had found and managed to overcome and made them fly properly. It used to be great seeing Dave, Colin and Tony flying their B17 together, a really iconic aircraft that looks superb as a model no matter what size, “Nice one”

Thanks Vince, to be honest theres a lot of issues with the plan. So many of the parts do not fit and so many of the formers are not the same both sides. Looks like I'm on the home straight now, theres only 4 pre-cut parts left to fit. The port wing now has the nacelles in place and are being sheeted. The other wing is not far behind. I think if I were to build another one I'd go with foam wings.

Wow, those nacelles have been a lot more work than I thought. The port wing nacelles are done and now that wing is having the last bits of glass cloth applied, the other wing isn't far behind.
Then I'll need a dry day(whats one of those? this has to be the wettest drought I've ever seen) to assemble it outside to get a good all round view so I can line up the tail easier, I always prefer to "eyeball" things like that than just rely on measurements.

All the constrution is complete, all there is for me to do now is to fit the flying surfaces and finish the primer. I haven't weighed it yet but it feels quite light so far.

wow cant wait to see it in its entirity