Hasegawa 1/72 B-17G 'Blood n Guts'

Perhaps aside from the UK, if one thinks of strategic bomber and world war II in the same thought, then most of the time 'B-17' will pop into one's mind. It is true that the Fortress got the most press and thanks to the general availability of them post war, most bomber war movies will have them in it. And why not as there are still about a dozen of them flying about the US and UK every summer, much to the delight of all who see them. Those who can afford $500 for a short flight will enjoy the thrill of riding in one of these babies as well.

Hasegawa's kit of the B-17G is not a new mold. In fact, it very much goes back to what I'd call the second round of Hasegawa molded kits. This is where the plastic is no longer a foot thick and the detail level has improved. However, it doesn't yet have engraved panel lines, though to be truthful, I can't think of many who refuse to build a kit just because the detail is raised.

Many major companies seem to have done a 1/72 B-17 of some version.  Revell, Airfix, Academy and Hasegawa all come to mind and all of them have produced kits of varying degrees of difficulty and detail.  From most accounts, the Hasegawa kit is still one of the better done.

Interior is predictably basic with two generic seats, two control wheels and a pair of pilots (both with large sink areas in their chest). The instrument panel relies on a decal for detail and there is a navigator/bombardier's position that has seats, a map table and a bomb sight. Gunner's positions have some interior detail and a pair of guns to stick through the side windows. These rear windows are staggered and the aircraft has a Cheyenne tail gun. Reinforced cheek gun positions are also part of the kit. What this means is that this kit is pretty well limited to late war aircraft without some major modifications to the fuselage.

There are the usual ejector pin marks on parts that will need cleaned up. The most obvious ones are on the inside of the hinged flaps. None on the gear doors though!

Instructions are well done using Gunze color references. Some colors have options (such as the primer shades as Hasegawa wasn't sure which was correct). There are detail diagrams to attach parts with no attachment slots and for some alignment. Markings are for two unpainted metal with OD anti-glare panel aircraft. First is the box art plane, 'Blood n Guts', which was assigned to the 401BS/91BG in 1945. Lots of red on this one. The other is from the 615BS/401BG. Unlike the first option, this second one has de-icer boots for the wings and tail planes, requiring some careful masking. Both also have OD inner upper quarter engine nacelles. The decal sheet is superbly printed and should be as good as any aftermarket sheet. Modelers using the fin decal for the main option will need to match that color. Fortunately, Hasegawa provides the markings free from the fin decal for those who want to paint that as well.

I know a lot of folks are saying 'ho-hum, another old kit'. But the truth is that these older kits do not have the zillion alternate bits and pieces of newer kits. Despite the old school detailing, I dare say that this one will not be fiddly at all. While I cannot vouch for, nor do I care, about absolute accuracy, this one certainly looks the part and by all accounts is superior in many ways to the newer Academy version.

July 2008

My thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the review kit. Get yours at your favorite shop or ask them to order it for you.