Small Scale Military Headquarters

I've been hearing a lot of talk from 21C and BBI about box size, display size, price, etc.

I have a suggestion to make: How about producing the B-17 in 1:18 scale, in three separate, interlocking sections? The first section could include the nose, crews, bombs. The second, mid-fuselage section, horizontal stabilisers, and wing roots. The third section all remaining parts.

Ok, so the entire model would cost $ 300. Why not have a pre-order run and see how it goes?

And how about this bonus? An individually controlled electric motor for each engine and a sound card and speakers to simmulate that lovely radial engine noise? In 1:18, the model could come with position (navigation), landing and beacon lights. Now, that would be something else! What about it guys?

Ed

I think this was discussed before and that a B-17 in 1/18 scale would have a wingspan of 10 feet or something like that, so theoretically, the only place you could keep it would be your garage or your backyard..
Ain't gonna happen...

It would be very cool, but highly unlikely. If a 1:18 A-10, let alone a B-25 or even Mosquito, recieved a low priority status from 21c due to size concerns, a B-17 would be out of the question. It would be more likely in 1:32, and while still a large model, could have many of the same features as a 1:18 version, and perhaps not cost $300.

Still, I had to vote yes for the 1:18 B-17, for if given the option of getting one...

A problem with the 3 pieces (I always liked that idea for a C-47) is that if the paint is the slightest bit different from one to another....the plane looks ridiculous....and to release all the pieces at once would defeat the point of 3 pieces. In 1/32 would be sweet, or a B-25 in 1:18.

1/18 B-17 wingspan would be just under 6 feet. Huge but not inconceivable.

Although a B-17 would be nice, I don't think spending a few hundred dollars would make it a hot seller amongst the general public.

Well the new 1/6 hummer is at our local wal marts for 200 bucks so 300 for a giant b-17 isn’t all that unrealistic. Even though I think the hummer is overpriced. I would make room for it both in my budget and my office.

Well of course yes--that's a silly question.
Aaron

aferguson wrote:1/18 B-17 wingspan would be just under 6 feet. Huge but not inconceivable.

Physically possible, yes. Inconceivable in 1:18? Yes. Maybe in 3 years when someone releases a B-25 in 1:18 we could say a B-17 is conceivable but at this point it's just not. The wingspan is under 6 feet....but the length of the later models would be over 4 feet. The B-25 is literally 2/3 the length and width of the B-17, and in turn MUCH smaller altogether. It's not like we've seen an F-14 (yet), an A-10 (yet) the Avenger (yet).....so to say we could see a B-17 is only going to get people delusional.

That said, we don't need the whole thing - there is enough detail (and weapons) on the front end of the B-17 that just that piece would be very cool.

6 foot is RC size, not too bad.
I'd love it, but can't see it being a reality.

actually 6 foot is smaller than r/c size. I've been looking for r/c bombers that are 1/18-ish that i can add to my collection but they are all generally a fair notch bigger than that. Usually 1/16 to 1/10. Very frustrating as i have found some really cool stuff but virtually all of it too big.

Ironic.

I'd buy one!

Mike

I'd say no. Would love to see it, but not in that price range.

I'd like to see it as well but not in sections , plus I think that is getting to the size that it gets too cumbersome to handle. I would probably go for something that big in 1/32nd if it is really to get built.

Now a B-25 in 1/18th loaded with Machine Guns and a 75mm cannon in the nose is a different story. I'll take one.

I'd love to see a B-25G with the 75mm gun (if # is right) but a B-17?

Sure who wouldn't want a B-17, especially with complete crew and rigged so the entire top half comes off so you can have each position detailed. Wow.

Although I think I do have better chances on hitting the Lottery, but yea, it would be nice.

If we have this many delays on the Avenger, how many years of production delays do you think we would have with a 1/18 B-17?

TTT

Hello there fellow aviators:


I'm glad the survey and the question about a 1:18 scale B-17 prompted such a response. On the other hand, I'm surprised nobody said anything about the electric motors and lights in such a model. I've been experimenting with one particular airplane, in an attempt to add an electric motor to the prop, navigation lights, internal, low profile speakers inside the wings, a sound card, and a discrete switch for the motor. The problem has been in disassembling the airplane, which has been harder than I expected. It would be nice if we could obtain any model in its components, rather than fully pre-assembled. If that was the case, I'd even contemplate adding motors and actuators to the landing gears.

Good day!

Maybe a B-17 in 1:18 would be a little big, but the B-25 would be about 35% larger then the P-38. I'd guess that is about the same size as the A-10. That's not so big. How about the Junkers Ju-88, it is just a little smaller then the B-25.

Actually the A-10 is a bit smaller than the B-25...but the B-25 I think is still very doable.

Voted no! Sounds great, but would have to wait until I'm so fabulously wealthy that I could have a a large room of my own devoted to military toys. In the meantime my corner of the basement just won't accommodate a 10 foot wingspan!

6 foot wingspan.

I voted yes...although I'd be hard pressed to find an area to display that baby...I'd make do. The lights and sounds are a great idea too, but I'm afraid it might come out of production a little "toy-like". The one thing I HAVEN'T heard about the B-17 is not just the size...what about the weight! To make it sturdy enough for the longer fuselage and especially the wings, imagine the reinforcements needed. Better find a good roofing joist to hang her from...or that would be one large and expensive crash (wouldn't want to be standing under her!).

Actually, there is a 1:18 B-17 (or before Katrina, there WAS one) in the gift shop of the DDAY museum in New Orleans. It was a solid wood model done by an artist but it was for sale and 1:18 scale. Very cool. I think it went for $795 and was 3 solid parts.

MW

i just looked on the DDay Museum's website. No pics of the B-17 you mentioned. I looked under 'gift shop'. I also heard that the museum for the most part survived Katrina quite well. But that vandals broke in and trashed the gift shop.

I wonder if the B-17 model was wrecked. I'd love to see it....must be (or have been) a beauty.

I've got an extra engine hoist doing nothing, I could hang it from that. I'll even paint the engine hoist OD Yea, that's the ticket.......Bring on that big bad B-17. I'll even hang a few German planes around it, and a couple of P-51's and P-47's. Wow. I can fill a garage No more kids to kick out of the house to make room for toys, next would be the wife's car dumped out of the garage to make room. OK, OK, now we have a plan.

I wonder if that wood 1/18 B-17 in the DDay museum survived the looters. I can just see it, two guys trying to hide it and trying to sell it to passersby's "Hey buddy, wanna buy a B-17, cheap??".

TTT

yeh 6 feet is taller than me....ahahahhaha i wudn't pay 300 for it...But it would be cool i just wouldn't buy it until it got cheaper