1/72 Memphis Belle Diorama

[tonyb]

I have always liked the movie Memphis Belle and love B-17's so a diorama of this was inevitable from me really.
This is the model I will be using - the Academy 1/72



I will be displaying it in a 'dispersal' area for which I will be using a piece of plywood -



I have given this a coat of Dulux 'River Rock' paint as I like the texture it gives and will be a good base for me to add the actual finished colour.



'Earth' undercoat applied.Mixture of fine green and yellow grass will be applied over this -

[tonyb]

I bought some 1/72 resin crew figurines off ebay -



I have ordered the Airfix Jeep/Buffalo set and will be utilising the Jeep in the diorama from this kit.
I have also ordered a B-17 Interior detailing set by Legend which is part resin,part photo-etch.

I have made a start on the B-17 kit.I want to display it with the doors open.
I have cut out the bottom entry hatch -



Rear access door also cut out -


Both of these will be replaced using styrene sheet and in the open position.

Starboard side waist gunners window required cutting out also -


Not much more I can do right now until the detailing set arrives which should be any day now.
Cheers,
Tony.

[Airframes]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together. When you mention the movie, do you mean the real documentary, by William Wyler, or the ficticious movie shot at Binbrook, released in 1990?

[B-17engineer]

Very cool stuff! Can't wait for the outcome

[tonyb]

Looking forward to seeing this one come together. When you mention the movie, do you mean the real documentary, by William Wyler, or the ficticious movie shot at Binbrook, released in 1990?

Sadly I haven't seen the documentary but I will seek it out now!I know the movie was factually nonsense but I still enjoyed it.What's not to like about B-17's in action?
I will have the crew in and around the jeep and probably have some ground personnel in there somewhere too.
Cheers,
Tony.

[T Bolt]

Good idea for a diorama. I know the story is fiction, but I love the movie, and my dad loved it too and he flew B-24 combat missions in the 8th AF so it can't be too far off the mark.

[Wurger]

The build sounds very interesting. Looking forward to that.

[LA2019]

I'll be watching this thread with much anticipation.......

[Crimea_River]

Looking forward to the build Tony.

As far as the movie goes, I liked the flying action but that's about it. Corny plot and corny lines in my opinion. Typical Hollywood bunk.

[jbrady]

The movie is available for download or streaming here The Memphis Belle : William Wyler : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

[Peebs]

Hey Tony, looking forward to watching this come together. I too love the movie, and have sitting on my shelf here a 1:48 Belle waiting for some atttention!

cheers
pete

[Peebs]

Thanx for link to the doco JB!!!. If you search you tube guys there is a doco about the restorers in memphis trying to keep the 'belle' in memphis, which the airforce have ultimately removed

[tonyb]

Thanks for the link,brilliant stuff!
Not much to report except that I attacked the diorama base with the pant brush today -



Mixture of browns,greys and yellows to create a dirty and well used dispersal area (picture doesn't show it as well as in the flesh)

Once this dries,I'll get the grass mix on.

Quick question, the Academy kit has the canopy above the radio operator as fully enclosed but shouldn't this have an opening for his gun position? Any aftermarket parts for this or should I just attack with the scalpel?

Still waiting for my interior detail set.......(
Cheers,
Tony.
P.S. Where on earth are u going to keep a 1/48 Belle? That will be huge!

[tonyb]

Added the grass -



Cheers,
Tony.

[woljags]

interesting project love it,i used to be ground crew on warbirds air displays for a couple of years in the late 80's only pushing things about onto the flight line from the hangers but it also got me close up to many ww2 aircraft,i think one of the highlights was sitting in the cockpit of one of these great beasts at West Malling in Kent