JAC Modeler returns B-17G "Thunderbird" to RAF Molesworth

  • Published
  • By Major Bret C. Kinman, USA
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOLESWORTH, England --  The B-17 is the ubiquitous symbol of the U.S. bombing campaign in Europe during World War II. U.S. Army Air Corps bases sprang up all over south east England to support the fighter and bomber squadrons that would carry the fight to Nazi occupied Europe.

Only one of those many bases continues as a U.S. military base today, RAF Molesworth, in western Cambridgeshire, England. This base some 70 miles northwest of London is the home of the U.S. European Command's JIOCEUR Analytic Center, and The Intelligence Fusion Centre in support of NATO. During World War II, Molesworth was the home of the 303d Bomb Group (Heavy) a B-17 unit with a number of bases in the surrounding area. Today Molesworth is a busy military base- the Joint Analysis Center and the IFC still use the large WWII "J" type hangar as a warehouse and office space. The base is also a unique repository of 303rd Bomb Group (Heavy) history, including photos, art, written history, and a beautiful memorial to the 7,336 men who served here during the war including 882 for whom Molesworth was the last place that they ever trod the earth.

Working in and around so much history each day was inspiration to use my modeling skills to build a B-17 of the 303d Bomb Group. Of course, a B-17 is just a B-17 until it is personalized with nose art unique to World War II aircraft. For my project I chose one of the more famous 303d B-17s- "Thunderbird." "Thunderbird" has been captured in art by the well known aviation artist Keith Ferris. In fact if you have been to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. you have probably seen Keith's large wall mural "Retirement Party for Old Thunderbird".

My additional inspiration was my father, who was an artist and aviation art fan and was always impressed with the Smithsonian mural both from an artistic perspective was well as the effort it took to create the work.

The Model
The kit is Academy's B-17G (kit # 2143) and the decals for Thunderbird are from Super Scale (# 72-870 ). I utilized no other aftermarket parts such as tires, engines, propellers or aircraft interior sets. After assembling the kit, painting was next. The top coat is acrylic olive drab (Army/Navy/ Air Force), as the normal olive drab is too light. I used an acrylic flat light gray for the under side color. I then hand painted the de-icer boots, tires, machine guns and propellers flat black. Next I utilized pastel chalk to put some exhaust and dirt on the underside of the wings and engine areas. 

From reference photos on the 303d Bomb Group web page I discovered that Thunderbird had arrived to Molesworth unpainted. The photos and some captions also noted that the airplane was given a coat of olive drab and gray paint and put into action. Of course over time, weather and multiple combat missions took their toll on the paint job, causing flaking and chipping-especially on the front end of the fuselage. So I applied silver paint to replicate that wear. Finally, I applied the decals and set them with a coat of Micro-Set decal setting solution to give them that painted on look.

In all, this was a fun project, and a diversion from army tanks and armor, my normal model making area consistent with my career as a U.S. Army Artillery Officer. Doing "Thunderbird" was only a small stretch for an Army officer as during WWII it flew with the ARMY Air Corps before the U.S. Army Air Corps became the U.S. Air Force in 1947. The sons of the first pilot of "Thunderbird" recently toured Molesworth (see article at http://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123103850 )