B-17G What existing Fort has BEST Restored interior?

Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:22 pm

At the risk of starting a flame war, I would like to have opinions from the WIX Gallery on whose B-17G Interior best represents that Model. Let us try NOT to slam groups that have done things in a way that you wouldn't have done it, let us just PRAISE and discuss the GOOD JOBS done, the details, and Whos, Whats and Whys! Differences between different Manufacturers and such.

I am seeing colors quite different from ship to ship and trying to get them RIGHT in my head! I know, a very scary thing!!! :shock:

I am starting a project and it will be soaking up the time to try to get it right!

Work in Progress (very early on)

Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:53 pm

Mary Alice? is that a G?

Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:00 pm

Are we talking about flying or non flying. I think they are two seperate categories as the wear and tear and practical concerns make it harder for a flying example to be as perfect as a static piece. From my experiecnes with Thunderbird I know how tough it is to add certain accurate details and pieces which may be fragile when you have several hundred people in a day walking through and touching and pulling on everything.

I do think however that the fact that the flyers are also more accesbile to the masses makes up for some of this.

I may be called a traitor for this by my LSFM brotheren but I actually think it is a tie between Sentimental Journey and Yankee Lady in the flying category. Really have no experience in any of the statics to make the call their.

Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:18 pm

Sentimental Journey used to be a lot nicer inside before they took out a bunch of the authentic radios and other original items. People were afraid that paying passengers would hurt themselves on protuding corners and stuff. Also, it is amazing how much damage occurs when thousands of people are walking through it every year. But every Fort I've been through has been very nicely done and those groups all deserve credit for busting their humps to keep them flying.

Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:54 pm

Chris wrote:Sentimental Journey used to be a lot nicer inside before they took out a bunch of the authentic radios and other original items.

That is one of the reasons I am no longer with the CAF, I was on the crew that put all of that stuff in.............

Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:59 pm

What's the interior of Shoo Shoo Baby like? Mustangdriver, do you have any intel?

Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:13 pm

ZRX61 wrote:Mary Alice? is that a G?

Yes, it's a G, and very complete it is too!

Cheers,
Richard

Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:21 am

Chris wrote:Sentimental Journey used to be a lot nicer inside before they took out a bunch of the authentic radios and other original items. People were afraid that paying passengers would hurt themselves on protuding corners and stuff.

Last Wednesday I warned ny 12yo daughter to be careful climbing into it. Once she was safely up the ladder & in the aircraft I promptly cracked my darn fool head on the very part I'd just told her to be careful of.. :roll:

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:06 am

Could break it into two catagories of flyers and non flyers. That is the problem with flyers, that in order to carry paying passengers, things get stripped out that are "in the way"! Little things like the upper turret that are mostly just an empty shell in most "restorations".

Looks like most cockpits still have the funny colored Diamond padding/insulation. Was that installed elsewhere?

Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:28 am

ZRX61 wrote:
Chris wrote:Sentimental Journey used to be a lot nicer inside before they took out a bunch of the authentic radios and other original items. People were afraid that paying passengers would hurt themselves on protuding corners and stuff.

Last Wednesday I warned ny 12yo daughter to be careful climbing into it. Once she was safely up the ladder & in the aircraft I promptly cracked my darn fool head on the very part I'd just told her to be careful of..

I'm developing quite the ridge in the center of my skull from the transition between the radio room and ball turret / waist section. It's just not an airshow if I don't wang my head on the bulkhead there.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:18 am

chico wrote:
ZRX61 wrote:
Chris wrote:I'm developing quite the ridge in the center of my skull from the transition between the radio room and ball turret / waist section. It's just not an airshow if I don't wang my head on the bulkhead there.

I know the feeling. I've skinned my bald melon on the ball turret intercostal in Chuckie a couple of times. When the Air Force had the radar stanchion removed they left some of the drilled-off rivets in the permanent structure. I manage to duck through the bulkhead door and then crack my head on those rivets.

I'd like to see the top turret mechanism installed in the flyers, but the people who have given tours and rides in them have told me that they take up far too much room for larger and less-mobile visitors. There is probably some truth to that, but the purist in me would rather install them. The airplanes were cramped places to fight a war and I'd prefer accuracy so people could see how dad/granddad went into combat.

The above is just my opinion--I'm glad to see all the airworthy Forts regardless of interior fitment.
Scott

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:30 am

I agree totally Scott! I would like people to be able to see how CRAMPED the flight deck actually would be on FiFi as well!

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:40 am

That turret tub was probably thrown away :roll:

25 years ago, Smis........

Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:24 pm

Cramped and uncomfortable, and that is without having to wear bulky flight suits and being hooked to O2! Just how much smaller were people back then!? Lets see, 10 man crew, 1200 pounds allowed for crew weight, 120 per...golly, I think I'm a bit over that!!!

Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:38 pm

I crawled through SSSB some years ago (back when NMUSAF used to do "open cockpit" events" and as I recall she was very complete. Unfortunately this was in the days before digital photography, back when I had to conserve film, so I only got a pic or two of the cockpit. I'm at work, but will post them when I get home.

As for colors, I'm not sure if "Interior Green" (actually tinted Zinc Chromate Yellow) was ever used on the insides of wartime B-17s..maybe some of the very late production aircraft. AFIAK, it was Dull Dark Green in the nose, cockpit, and radio room, and bare metal in the bombay, waist, and tail gun compartment. I'm not sure about Gs, but earlier B-17s came from the factory with a lot of padding in the nose and radio room (although I don't think it was the diamond-pattern quilted stuff) but I understand it was usually ripped out in the field for fear of fire and to make maintenance easier. On earlier B-17, the areas under the fabric padding were unpainted.

The most originally restored interior I've seen is B-17E "My Gal Sal." Of course, since she's a static restoration, they don't have to make any compromises for safety and weight considerations like operational Forts. That is in no way a criticism of flying restorations..if you're going to fly an aircraft, you want it to be as safe as possible. That means modern radios, wiring, and other systems..and as mentioned above, "touring" aircraft need to have a clear path for visitors, and extras seats for passengers.

SN