The purpose is to create a site for sharing Superfortress knowledge.
A GB would be good. Those have the only sticking power at FSM.
I’d love to build a Superfortress, i don’t think my skills are up to the 1/48 Monogram kit get…But i’d definatly be interested in reference pics…
Due to the size of the B-29 a 1/144 scale kit would be reasonable to build. Minicraft has a few out.
Plus there are a few 1/72 kits as well. I’d be interested in a SIG since I have a direct family link to the plane.
Chris
Bondoman, sounds like an interesting GB. But could be limited due to the narrow nature, maybe a 4 engine (or more) heavy bomber GB would get more takers.
Either way sounds like an great thread to follow, she was a hell of a plane.
Andrew
I’m building an Academy/Minicraft B-29A for the Natural Metal Group Build. Excellent kit though it’s huge even in 1/72nd. Only real problem I’ve had with it is the loooonnnnngggggg seam along the top of the fusilage.
Let’s see here. The -29 was a four engined pressurized Boeing product, and the first of a series of derivative aircraft.
I like that fact, it would lead to the C-97, RC-97, KC-97 series as well, and on the civil side the 377 Stratocruisers.
And the B-50.
Silverplates, NACA, and even the TU-4 Bull.
Keep suggestions up, as I think a GB may work pretty well. But I’m looking for more ideas first.
You could do a WW2 super bombers GB to include the also rans XB-15, B-32 Dominator etc. I think Anigrand offers some of them in 1/144.
Only problem with this GB idea is I’d have to finish the add an addition to the home GB first. [:P]
I think we will stick to the B-29 and it’s derivatives. The first order of business is to get those who know something about the aircraft to join in so that those of us who don’t can invest a little time in research.
Here’s a good teaser…
You might want to start a list of where you can see a real B29.
First - Hill Air Force Base, outside Salt Lake City. This is one of the best aircraft collections I have ever seen.
It’s a great idea for a group build, but I’ll have to abstain and only follow with interest. The Monogram B-29 is on my list but it’s a long way off. I don’t have the room to display the finished kit, and I’m already participating in 3 other group builds, plus working through a “finish what you started” modeling resolution. I look forward to following along, though.
Best regards,
Brad
I have an interest in doing a B-29 GB since I have the Monogram kit sitting on my shelf. I would model it after my granduncle’s 73rd BW, 497th BG, 870 BS ship. I’m trying to get some other models finished first though.
There is a B-29 at Travis AFB, and another at Castle in Atwater/Merced.
the SAC museum in Nebraska is working on a restoration of a B-29 and has a KC-97 on display:
OWL
There are B-29’s in:
Pueblo, Colorado at the airport museum
Shreveport, La at Barksdale AFB museum
Tucson, arizona at pima air and space museum
Warner Robbins, Ga. at the Museum of Aviation
Lake Mead this one is underwater and only viewable with google earth for most of us!!
Those are the ones that I know and have seen just thought I would add some for anyone interested in viewing them.
I would be interested in the GB as well, I should have some free time come December to put some plastic together. I will try to pick up the Fujimi 1/144 Superfortress, all the reviews say it is a great little kit.
Another in the line-up is the B-50C, which evolved into the B-54 Ultrafortress, which just happens to be getting released in 1/144 by Anigrand this month. None were actually produced, but is a derivative of the B-29.
B-29s I have had the oppurtunity to walk around is the one located at March AFB in Riverside, the pristine example maintained indoors at Pima Air Museum, Davis-Montham and the fuesalage of the B-50 at Planes of Fame in Chino. I also saw Fifi several occasions at airshows before she was grounded years back.
Locally at the CASTLE AIR MUSEUM up in Atwater,Ca, there is a B-29, B-50, and a KC-97 on display. My first Step Father was a tail gunner on the B-50during the Korean war. He would"nt be here today if he had"nt become seriuosly ill and hospitalized for a few days. The last anyone saw of “HIS” plane, it was in a spin going down over North Korea with no survivors.
Flew as a Scanner/APU Operator in “FiFi” for over two years… Whattay’all wanna know?
Hey, for starters any decent photos are always welcome, in particular interior stuff. I just bought a collection of old “Air enthusiast” magazines, and right in the first one was an article about the development of the RCT (remote controlled turret) system. It was designed primarily to overcome the B-17s problem of toting around near as much weight in gunners, ammo and guns as bombs. And of course pressurization. They mentioned in the article that the turrets were originally designed to retract, like they did on the early B-36 before it went “lightweight”.
PM me if interested.
A copy of The Maintance and Erection manual for the B-29 is available on ebay from a guy in australia he will send you a dvd with it on there. I got it a while ago getting ready for a build in the future.