[skydriver]

I am finally able to post these pictures and my thoughts on this part of my collection.

When I first saw this, I said I had to have it but with a retail price of around $150.00 it was more than I wanted to spend. I finally got one on sale for $112.50 including shipping and went ahead and picked it up. It is definatly much bigger than I thought, and I was very impressed with the amount of add ons it came with, such as a lucky rabbits foot, a whistle, and side arm pistol with 2 addtional ammo clips.

Putting everything together was fun, but I was not able to use everything including the watch and ammo clips. Initially, I was unable to get the figure to stand correctly until I realized that one of his legs had been put on backwards at the manufacturing facility. After rotating the leg 180 degrees, that problem was solved. Also, the head set does not fit that well. It would have been nice if the head set had wire running through the top so you could mold it to fit his head, but it does not. I am still debating if I want to just use some fishing line to hold it in place.

The gloves are probable the biggest dissapointment. They are too big for the both the figurine and to fit onto his hands and into the machine gun handle. Thus they do not grip the machine gun well. They are also in the shape of a mitt and not a glove which also adds to the diffuculity.

The main things I like are the little things such as goggles, a full oxygen face mask, as well as an oxygen bottle and and tubing to connect to the oxygen bottle.

I would have preferred if the gun mount was tighter, because if you do try to move it, the gun will fall out of place. I am debating on adding a little elmers glue to hold the gun in place, or maybe I can figure out some other way. Also, any movement of it will cause the gunner to fall over. I am thinking of adding a little velcro to both the bottom of his boots and the steps to try to hold him in place. Also, I am thinking of again using fishing line or maybe some black thread to try to hold his hands in place on the maching gun since they do not fit well.

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase, especially since I now see them priced at $200.00 or higher, and not even available where I bought mine from. It definatly is a conversation piece, but due to its size, it has to have its own separate placement location.

I hope you find my review helpful.

[flyXwire]

Congrats to your new B-17 Waist Gunner dio set, skydriver! Now, you can start to add more details to it just like b24man's setup below. Btw, the sunglasses that your figure came with
is a pair of "Oakleys" which is not the correct shades for the time period. If you want to get rid of it just send it my way. My modern jet pilots could use one more.

[STARMAN 352ND]

That is a very nice looking set......I would like to see that ball gunner next.
JP

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

That is a very nice looking set......I would like to see that ball gunner next.
JP

John, a friend of mine from another forum made a "Ball Turret" project for his collection:

B-17 Ball Turret Finished (for now) - Combat Engineers - Briefing Rooms - THE SIXTH DIVISION - Message Board - Yuku

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

John, a friend of mine from another forum made a "Ball Turret" project for his collection:

B-17 Ball Turret Finished (for now) - Combat Engineers - Briefing Rooms - THE SIXTH DIVISION - Message Board - Yuku

Now that was a cool project! Sharp bit of modeling involved.

[skydriver]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Congrats to your new B-17 Waist Gunner dio set, skydriver! Now, you can start to add more details to it just like b24man's setup below. Btw, the sunglasses that your figure came with
is a pair of "Oakleys" which is not the correct shades for the time period. If you want to get rid of it just send it my way. My modern jet pilots could use one more.

Joey, I really like the spent shell casings on the floor and the parachute. Do you know where they came from?

As far as the "Oakley" sunglasses, I did not even relize they were not the correct time period as I did not even use them, so there yours. Send me a PM with your address and I will mail them out to you with my compliments.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by skydriver

Joey, I really like the spent shell casings on the floor and the parachute. Do you know where they came from?

As far as the "Oakley" sunglasses, I did not even relize they were not the correct time period as I did not even use them, so there yours. Send me a PM with your address and I will mail them out to you with my compliments.

Sky, the .50 shell casings came from a DiD (Dragon in Dreams) figure set. The parachute harness is a customized item and the chute pack is from a BBI WWII Airborne soldier set. These items
may still be available at The Monkey Depot except the custom parachute harness. Btw, thanks for letting me have the sunglasses. I will send you some stuff in return to put on your WG dio set.

[Hornchurch]

I'm not 'big' on figures, at all....... but I gotta say.......

That "B.17 Waist" set-up looks excellent !!!!!!!!!

So unique & different from ANYTHING else I've seen.

Plus, it's a subject close to my heart (& Geographically).

I'm impressed.

[skydriver]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Sky, the .50 shell casings came from a DiD (Dragon in Dreams) figure set. The parachute harness is a customized item and the chute pack is from a BBI WWII Airborne soldier set. These items
may still be available at The Monkey Depot except the custom parachute harness. Btw, thanks for letting me have the sunglasses. I will send you some stuff in return to put on your WG dio set.

You have got a deal. Thanks.