GB-40 1/48 Boeing B-29A Superfortress - Heavy Hitters III

[Donivanp]

1/48 Boeing B-29
Username : donivanp
First name : Don
Category : intermidiate
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Monogram Models
Extras : True Details 48032 B-29 Wheel set
Eduard 48743 B-29 Undercarriage, 49617 B-29 seat belts, 49634 B-29 rear interior, 49616 B-29 interior, 48744 B-29 exterior and EX367 B-29 mask
Kits World KIW48083 Warbirds Decals B-29-40-BW 42-24614 "Joltin" Josie, The Pacific Pioneer"

 

[Donivanp]

Designed to destroy the enemy's ability and will to fight. They included light bombers designed to carry one or two bombs such as the SBD Dauntless and the Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers, the B-25 and Wellington twin engine "medium" bombers, often thought of as tactical bombers but used often in strategic role. The large four engine B-17 Flying Fortress and Lancaster strategic bombers with the range and payload to reach far into the enemy's heartland and hit their ability to produce anything.

Of all the bomber aircraft designed and built during the war, none were as heavy a hitter in range and payload as the B-29 Superfortress! Based upon the United States need to fly combat missions from extreme range to hit Japan, this aircraft became the largest and most expensive war production effort by the US. Flying from airstrips in China the huge aircraft was proving a dismal failure as it could not reach but the furthest southern reaches of Japan from these airfields and the bombing accuracy was far from effective. Also the cost of flying in everything to support the aircraft was time consuming and slow.

After capturing the Marianas Islands of Guam, Tinian and Saipan, the US created airfields within the needed range of the Superfortresses to reach all needed targets. 12 October 1944. Joltin' Josie, the Pacific Pioneer, became the first of a long line of Superfortresses to land on Saipan. Flown in by BG Hansell Haywood, the new commander of the new XXI Bomber command, neither Haywood nor Joltin' Josie would see out to the end of the war. BG Haywood would be fired by Gen Hap Arnold for not getting the results looked for and be replaced by MG Curtis LeMay, and Joltin' Josie would crash on take off during on April fools day 1945 exploding in a ball of flames and killing the new crew taking off on their first mission.

In spite of this mishap the B-29 would help end the war with the 509th Bomb Group's Enola Gay and Bockscar delivering the two atomic bombs.

The kit was originally produced by Monogram Models in 1977 with the markings for "Thumper", "Enola Gay" and Bockscar, it is a very large model, both for the 1977 standard and even by today's standard. The kit is full of details without any additions but as a fool I've elected to get several Eduard additions for interior and exterior details. How much I'll use I don't know. I also picked up Kit's World decals for Joltin Josie. The kit includes a full load of 500 lbs GP bombs and both the "Fat man" and "Little boy" atomic weapons. It is designed to build a B-29A models as it comes from Monogram.
(Below photos were downloaded from various web sites)

The below aircraft is on display at the USAF Basic Training parade grounds, Lackland AFB Texas. It is WB-29A 44-62220 recovered from a bombing test rand and refurbished and placed on display around 1982. Painted to represent T Box 5 (Joltin' Josie).
(Photos are my own.)

 

[Wurger]

 

[mikewint]

A great choice. I love those BIG models. All those hidden interior details vanish once you close it up. I used a razor saw to make cut-outs in mine

 

[parsifal]

this will be good...….looking forward to this

 

[rochie]

hey it comes ready painted

 

[Donivanp]

Reference material include.

 

[SANCER]

Wow Don! This is a monster and with all the arsenal you have to use, your process will be very interesting.

 

[Airframes]

Ooh, that's a big one - as the actress said to the Bishop !
Should be a good one Don.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looks like you're going all out on this one Don. Looking forward to it!

 

[Donivanp]

So my first issue is weather to install the aircraft insolation or not. I can't find many in combat interior shots. I do have some of the Boeing interior for tech use all showing the insulation covering. The two flying aircraft, Fifi and Doc don't have the insolation installed. USAF Museum's Bockscar

and the Smithsonian Enola Gay have it installed as does Museum Of Flight in Seattle WA. MSVR.US Photo Sphere Viewer - http://vr.museumofflight.org/b29_cockpit
Eduard gives it for the forward cockpit, but my issue is would the insolation have been removed for weight savings?
If so then no install, if not then got some cutting to do. !

Intorior shot of Bockscar curtsy National Museum of the USAF. Boeing B-29 Superfortress > National Museum of the US Air Force™ > Display

 

[destrozas]

great, great, huge choice ...
and with everything that you are going to add it will be great b-29 to 1/48 enormous how much room you will have to place them .....

 

[mikewint]

how much room you will have to place them .....

Compared to 1/48 P-51 and a B-24

 

[Donivanp]

Thanks for all the inputs. As far as how big this is, I've done four in the last 30 years and three B-36's and four or five B-17's. I'll probably donate it to the local CAF or VFW.

 

[Wayne Little]

This should be REAL cool......

 

[Micdrow]

Cool Don!! Should be a beauty

 

[Crimea_River]

.....Compared to 1/48 P-51 and a B-25

Never saw a 4 engined B-25 before.....

 

[mikewint]

Never saw a 4 engined B-25 before.

OOOOPS....Old Age...Altzheimers...I were off by one

 

[Donivanp]

25, 29 what 4? Yeah it's a BIGG'N but I have a 2600 sq foot 5 bed room house with just me and the wife, a cat and a dog and a lizard. I'll find room! Damn I have four of them in the box.

 

[N4521U]

What are you Thinking??????
Do you live in a warehouse???????
Gorshk. Gonna be a bigun.
Can't wait to see it being built!!!