Ryan,
You have my attention on this build especially on your plan to motorize the props.
I likey!!![Y]
How did you do that?
Thats something I have always wanted to do. But I still haven’t tried it.
Might try it on my next prop build.
jetmodeler- you should try it. It is a lotta fun. I can’t wait to see mine finished. hopefully it turns out well.[:D]
Ryan,
That’s great work! Very clean, simple circuit design!
What size engines were those? They look like the perfect fit for the nacelles.
That’s the exact same kit that I’m going to build. I’m going to do the Tamiya Ki-84 “Frank” fighter as a smaller test case first. Hopefully I’ll get to start the TU-4 by the end of the year.
Looks like you’ve got a lot of folks interested in this build! Take some good notes!!
Cool video, a word of caution though, if you can set the engines to their lowest setting, do so, the spinnning blades will melt if spun at too high of rpm for too long. While I haven’t done a spinning prop yet (key word there is yet [;)]), I’ve seen pictures where the plastic prop was destroyed by an electric motor when it was spun to fast.
Just a word of caution.
Nice build going on here, btw!
That’s MY own biggest nightmare…
I build this awesome model (awesome in my own mind that is! 
). It’s sitting on a display table at Nationals (Hey it’s my dream!! Angelina Jolie’s my date to the contest too) and the judges are oooohhhing and ahhhhing over it. All four engines are spinning at max RPMS when all of the sudden, CA-CHING!!
Prop 1 flies across the room and takes out an M1A2 SEP. Prep 2 buries itself in a nearby B-17G. Prop 3 shears the fuselage in half and prop 4 is surgically removed from the forehead of the head judge.
Yeah, that’s where I got my inspiration for the B-29 / TU-4. I’m just waiting for me EE degree to come in from my online degree from the University of Bengaladesh!
I’m not going to do lighting though, just the props and maybe some sound if I can tie it into the first engine only. I want some music to play as you throw the first switch!
Maybe Ryan can show us how to do that too!!! [:D[
Hopefully The props don’t go flying off! [whstl]they will be glued on though, and at the next IPMS Nationals they won’t be on all the time, there will be a control panel at which the spectators can turn the engines on. I think that would be better than leaving the engines on for the entire show.
Stop!! You’re stealing all my ideas!!! [:'(]
Start putting together an article or maybe a blog about this! It already looks like you’ve got enough of a fan base! I’m putting together a PowerPoint presentation to be given at my local model club on applying non-slip surface to modern armored vehicle models using terra-cotta spray paint. You definitely need to do one on this!!
I do hope to see this one at Nationals!!
I agree Slusher. A power point presentation, or an article in the FSM may be in order.
Go for it Ryan. I want to see a WIP on this thing in the Fine Scale Modeler (preferably Jan 2011. This would be an exelent kick- off to the new year[;)])
I also have an unfinished B-29 collecting dust that I wired for all 4 engines, interior and landing lights. I detailed the interior and then decided to cut out the left panel aft of the cockpit where the navigator sat to show off the interior detail as well as the right side of the aft central gunners compartment detailed with radar bombing equip rack and table. These are flush fitting removable panels made from another scrapped B-29 my brother had. Never got it glued together. Was debating on doing the flaps down. I used a “dip” switch in the left engine gear bulkhead to “program” what engines I wanted turning. Used a sub minature plug to attach external power source. I used this method to wire up a B-26 Marauder with landing lights and engines. The dip switch was external disguised as a tool box. I used two crewmemers in the bomb bay performing last minute checks to hide the wires going up through them to two sub minature jacks in the bomb bay. I really need to dust off the B-29 one of these days and finish it. Good luck with your build! Looks great!
I would love to get an article in FSM. Also I have a couple of questions about future floor polish. I have heard about it for a while and have never used it before.
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for canopies and other clear parts do you dunk or airbrush it onto the piece?
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I want to spray the finished model an overall coat of future to give it a shiny look is ther eanything important I should know about it before airbrushing?
I’d say go for it Ryan. The worst they can say is “No”
I’m not too sure about Future, other than there have been several articles on it in the Scale Auto and FSM.
Just dunk the canopy pieces into future. put it on a paper tower to wick the excess off. Then put it on another piece of paper towel to dry.
Go for the article submission to FSM, they are great guys to deal with. Just remember they pay for the rights to your article/pictures upfront - which is great, but it also means they may not publish it for a while. May be a month, may be a year.
My advice on Future is, “Use it on floors”…
It has little use other than decaling or for a high-gloss overcoat (which wouldn’t be the case on an operational aircraft)… Some guys dip their canopies in it, but it just adds one more layer stuff you need to see through in order to see any interior detail. It does NOT make a canopy “clearer”… I stick with clear coats from rattle cans, and don’t have to mess with the airbrush… But that’s just my opinion…
I might suggest though that you remove the sliding panels on the pilot and co-pilot’s side windows. This’ll make your interior detail easier to see. As for mounting it on it’s wheels, I’d also forego adding any weight to it and mount it on a base… The nose wheels are quite adequate to trap a machine screw in one of the halves, then drill a corresponding hole in the display base, and add a nut & washer to the screw to hold down the nose. However, if you want to add weight, aft of the cockpit bulkhead and the engine nacelles are your best bet… Don’t worry about the landing gear, they’re rugged enough to hold it as long as you don’t “taxi” it around on the floor, lol…
Another thing regarding the “Sleeping Quarters”… The bunks are simply not there on most operational Superforts. That area was taken up by all the radar equipment in most of the bombers… They aren’t installed on “Fifi” either (I was on Fifi’s Flight Crew for two years as a Scanner/APU Operator). “Fifi’s” flight deck isn’t quite accurate for a wartime B-29 either… The turret basket isn’t installed, sticking down where you will run into it every time you try to get to rear compartment and the controls aren’t installed in the bombardier’s station… The kit turret baskets are the right shape, but you’ll need to encrust them with little bits & pieces for wirng, tubing and relays…
The quilted soundproof padding is installed throughout the cockpit and waist, and was indeed there on wartime Superforts. Although the aircraft was pressurized, the crews went on oxygen and into the heated underwear and leather suits before reaching enemy territory, de-pressurized the aircraft, and remained that way until they were on the way home. That way if they were hit during the bomb run, the aircraft wouldn’t explosively decompress or force the crew to suit up during an attack. After the switch to low-level night bombing over Japan, it was back to a “Shirt-sleeve environment” for the crews and pretty much stayed that way until Korea, when it was back to high-altitude bombing.
Thanks for the additional info on the padding, Hammer! I’ve found a piece of diamond-stamped foil from the seal in a can of almonds that is just about the right size to replicate that padding.
No problem, Pard… Some photos show the padding removed, and it was relatively easy to do. It has grommets all the way around it and the pads were mounted by hanging them on these little tabs that twisted 90 degrees to hold them in place. You’ve probably seen the same type of fasteners on other equipment, especially military vehicles that have tarp roofs, like 1/4-tons & M880s … I don’t know the exact nomenclature of 'em though…
Hey thanks guys for everything!
Another update:
I drilled out a hole in the top of this tube for the wiring. I’m not sure what it is called but the crew used it to get from the front of the plane to the back.
I cut out a hole in the floor for the wiring to go through.
The wires are going to come out from the front landing gear to the switch box.
I took a big step and I glued the motors in place.
Time to run some final tests on the engines!