USAAF B-17E ‘Pacific Theater’ 1/72 Academy

The Boeing B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ was one of the USA’s main four-engine heavy bombers. It operated alongside the B-24 Liberator and the later B-29 Superfortress in all theatres of World War 2. The actual name ‘Flying Fortress’ was coined by a newspaper hack who witnessed a roll-out of the machine bristling with guns and turrets. Boeing realized this was the sort of propaganda they needed and trademarked the name. After the initial prototypes, serial production of the B-17 began with the B-17B variant and underwent a major revision with the introduction of the ‘E’. This type featured a substantially redesigned tail and fillet that featured throughout subsequent versions, giving the B-17 its iconic profile. An extra ten feet of length was added to the fuselage. Other refinements included the addition of a tail and dorsal turret, and the addition of a Bendix turret to replace the fixed bathtub type that had graced previous versions. This was found to be disappointing, and was eventually replaced with the Sperry ball turret that became a permanent feature of all future marques.

Please see the paint guide below for the manufacturer’s suggested colors.

________________________________

Product Details:

Scale: 1/72
Skill Level: 2
Parts: 75+
– Assembly required
– 10 sprues
– Molded in grey plastic
– One decal sheet
– Clear parts
– Detailed cockpit interior
– Accurately detailed panel lines and rivets
– Detailed landing gear
– Includes decals and paint guides for the following versions:

1. B-17E 41-2440 ‘Calamity Jane’, 98^th BS / 11^th BG, South Pacific, 1942-3
2. B-17E 41-2458 ‘Yankee Didd’ler’, 65^th BS / 43^rd BG, Southwest Pacific
3. B-17E 41-9227 ‘Yankee Doodle Jr’, 431^st BS / 11^th BG, South Pacific, 1942-3
4. B-17E unknown, 19^th BG after captured by Japanese Army Air Force, Bandung Air Base, spring 1942

– Illustrated instructions and paint guides
________________________________

Paint Guide:

Flat Black
Tan
Zinc Chromate Type 1 FS 34151
Silver
Steel
Olive Drab
Neutral Grey FS 36320
Burnt Iron
Yellow FS 13538
Flat White (for option D above only)
Clear Red
Clear Blue
__________________________