[five by five]

Hello. I have read various posts about the B 17 and am confused about the tail gun/ turret issue. I looked at a picture of every Corgi B 17 I could find and can see no big difference in the tail. I also just visited the Air Force Museum at WPAFB yesterday and saw the Memphis Belle, or what was left of her. It was kind of sad to see her that way, but better than not seeing her at all, I suppose. Anyway, the Corgis all have the same tail as the Belle. So, can someone tell me which Corgi B 17's have which tail gun or turret and what the differences are? Pics would help. I just ordered the 2nd Patches and I hope it is accurate. Accuracy is important to me as long as it is close. It seems to me that the F and G model are the same, to include 2nd Patches, Bit O Lace, Mount N Ride, Memphis Belle, Miss Manookie to name a few. Any help is appreciated. I hate to think my first B 17 is wrong.

[mustangdriver]

Shoo Shoo baby has the older style B-17 turret because she is an earlier G model. Her tail is the same as the Memphis Belle. By the way, I am a NMUSAF volunteer and can assure you that waht you saw is process of restoration of the Belle. She is all there. When complete she will be the finest restored example around. later G models had the Cheyene modification to them.

[Captain Eddie]

Welcome aboard, five by five. Are you also in Ohio?

[trex0770]

Hi 5x5,
have you checked the unofficial Corgi website (www.tricatus dot co.uk)? They have a pictorial archive of every Corgi plane and you can see for yourself which tails and noses are on which B-17.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by five by five

I just ordered the 2nd Patches and I hope it is accurate.

Accuracy is important to me as long as it is close.

Hi Five by Five & welcome to the forum. !!!!!!!

I was smiling like a 'Cheshire-Cat' when I read your 1st post; as I've just bought the EXACT same model - a very spontaneous & EXTREMELY unplanned buy, as it happened !!!!!!!!!

I'd met a dealer at a Toyfair the week before & after buying a Hobbymaster Me.110 from him, we got chatting....... turns out he had (for sale !) a Corgi 'S'-Sugar 1/72 Lancaster, (round his house), that had NEVER even been out of the box (!) - part of some 'bankrupt' stock sale that he'd purchased... & he'd offered to 'put it by' for me (Top-Bloke !).

Two E-mails & a 70 mile drive later, I'm sitting in his living-room & he brings out the "Holy-Grail" for me ¬!!!!!!!!!!!

After I'd agreed to buy it, we chatted about Corgi 1/72 Bombers & he went to fetch "a B.17", as we were chatting about "Sweet & Lovely" (which I already have) & the variations in 'Olive-Drab'; the upper-surface Green paint.

Lo & behold, it's a MINT "2nd Patches" (from the same batch)..... never been out the box !

I noted it had the "Cheyenne" (later) rear-turret & how nice it looks.

Rest assured, if there was any fear of it NOT being "close to accurate", I wouldn't have bought it, but in it's 15th A.F. livery, it just looked SO DISTINCTIVE, I couldn't turn it down.....

So when I left, I got back in the car with 'S'-Sugar (at LAST !), plus, the model you've ordered "2nd Patches" & a "Barton"-Halifax for good measure.... (not to mention a seriously-depleted wallet !!!!!!!!!).


If you wanna worry about accurate, you've (much) more to fear from the VERY Dark 'Olive-Drab' paint, that looks more reminiscient of British-W.W.II AFV's, than the average B.17.

Being a 15th A.F. a/c "2nd Patches" was based in Italy, where the Mediterranian~Sun would 'Bleach' the Olive-Drab paint in Lightning quick time..... (in all probability, turning it more like Tan).

However, "artisitic-Licence" & it's distinctive markings made it an unusual buy, for me.
Couldn't turn it down, as it looked so nice.


If you get a good example... & it's even 1/2 as good as the one I bought yesterday, you'll LOVE IT.

It looks SO MUCH BETTER "in the flesh", than ever it does in pictures.

BTW, when looking at Mustangdriver's pix, the "Cheyenne" tail-turret is the one on the Left.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

BTW, when looking at Mustangdriver's pix, the "Cheyenne" tail-turret is the one on the Left.

That looks to be "Sentimental Journey" B-17 too.

Welcome to the forum 5x5 good to have you aboard.
JP

[HotTrap429]

Hello 5 x 5 and welcome to the forum. Great to have you here.

I bought 2nd Patches about three years ago and I absolutely love this plane. I've heard complaints about a gap around the cockpit area but honestly, it's no worse than what I've seen on my Mount n Ride 17 and pictures of Corgi's other B-17s. The tail turrent is as Hornchurch has stated - it's correct and well done. I especially like the shark mouth on the chin turrent. I also think you'll be pleased with your new purchase. Enjoy!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by HotTrap429

Hello 5 x 5 and welcome to the forum. Great to have you here.

I bought 2nd Patches about three years ago and I absolutely love this plane. I've heard complaints about a gap around the cockpit area but honestly, it's no worse than what I've seen on my Mount n Ride 17 and pictures of Corgi's other B-17s. The tail turrent is as Hornchurch has stated - it's correct and well done. I especially like the shark mouth on the chin turrent. I also think you'll be pleased with your new purchase. Enjoy!

Don't you agree, HotTrap........

It looks much better in the flesh & even GOOD photo's don't do it justice !!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't have given it a second glance, till I was saw it in front of me - then it was love at 1st sight !


(sad box-art though ! the join lines on the model in the box-art photo's sucks !)

[C17driver]

All of the Corgi B-17's look accurate except for AA33310 'The Zoot Suiters' and AA33312 B-17E 19th BG, Java. The reason I say that is because both have the later G model Cheyene tail turret. The 'Zoot Suiters' aircraft is a F model and the 'Java' plane is an E. Unless they were replaced due to battle damage, I think Corgi got it wrong. I could be wrong though. While were talking 17's, I wonder why Corgi decided to put waist guns only on 'Sweet and Lovely' and 'Second Patches'. It's the one item that is missing on my Belle, 909 and BOL.

[djjeffhall]

five by five,
Welcome to the asylum.

From what I recall, the big controvesy about 2nd Patches was whether or not she actually wore the shark mouth livery during the war? I recall on the old forum there being some debate and I'm not sure that anyone every came to a "satisfactory" yeah or nay? Personally, I bought one without hesitation as I think it is a fantasic looking livery and plane. You should be congratulated for your purchase and I think you'll be tickled pink.