B-17 Flying Fortress - Vol. 2

It would be difficult to argue with the B-17’s prominence in the history of military aviation. Although Consolidated’s B-24 Liberator was arguably more advanced and was produced in larger numbers, Boeing big-tailed bomber captured the public’s attention, symbolized the Allied strategic bombing campaign, and it remains a popular modeling subject almost 90 years after its first flight.

David Doyle details the major production and service variants of the Flying Fortress in B-17 Flying Fortress, Vol.2 — Boeing’s B-17E through B-17H in World War II from Schiffer’s Legends of Warfare Aviation. After a very brief discussion of the plane’s origins and the weaknesses of the early models, he dives straight into the first of the heavily armed variants, the B-17E. Typical of other books in this series of premium hardcover references, the plane is described in numerous detail, construction, and service photos with detailed captions. Similar treatment is afforded the other major variants, the B-17F and G, but with photos of museum aircraft complementing historical images. Shorter chapters look at the XB-38 and X/YB-40 experimental prototypes, and the search-and-rescue B-17H or SB-17G.

There’s plenty of detail in the photos and captions to inspire and improve your next B-17 build.

~Aaron Skinner, Editor of FineScale Modeler