Jump to content

HT's Academy B-29 'Old Battler'


Hardtarget

Recommended Posts

I think ill start this off with a B-29 that flew out of India.

 

I havent chosen a scheme but it will be one of these.


1. US Army Air  667 BS, 444 BG 42-6251 CBI Theatre | 1944 | Old Battler FS34084 FS36320; ;
2. US Army Air Forces 794 BS, 468 BG 42-93828 CBI Theatre | 1944 | Monsoon Goon FS34084 FS36320; ;
3. US Army Air Forces 794 BS, 468 BG 42-6242 CBI Theatre | 1944 | Esso Express FS34084 FS36320; ;
4. US Army Air Forces 770 BS, 462 BG 42-6223 CBI Theatre | 1944 | Lady Boomerang FS34084 FS36320; ;
5. US Army Air Forces  45 BS, 40 BG 42-6254 CBI Theatre | 1944 | Hump Happy Pappy FS34084 FS36320

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

welcome aboard with a biggie for sure!

 

It's not often we get to see B-29's in a GB, plus most people don't know about these earlier operations from India, so it's nice to see.

 

Good luck with the build, another interesting one to follow.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Ok let get started.

 

Box and sprue shots.

 

44461106734_ab2263fc57_h.jpgDSC_0013 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

44461106034_6e4e5a7388_h.jpgDSC_0015 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

45134154242_392fcf4b75_h.jpgDSC_0016 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44461105044_d544fd23c2_h.jpgDSC_0017 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

45134152792_68fe6990cd_h.jpgDSC_0018 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44461104054_08f12ccc68_h.jpgDSC_0019 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

45134151352_02fe7ce06e_h.jpgDSC_0020 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44461103194_066bb88a4f_h.jpgDSC_0021 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

45134149732_ca470917ac_h.jpgDSC_0022 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Extras

 

45134155512_897496d2a7_h.jpgDSC_0014 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What's not to like about this build? A huge Super Fort, an equally large Eduard PE package, all painted up in lovely OD and stickered with what appears to be a lovely decal sheet. This promises to be something very special. There appears to still be some viewing space left so I might take up a seat as well. 

 

Cheers.. Dave. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wow, that's a nice looking kit, a big improvement over the old Airfix one.

 

You don't often see a B-29 built in a GB so this is really one to sit back and watch.

 

I like the big beast in the background in one of the photos!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Ok i made a start on this big girl on friday after my Harvard flight from Headcorn, perfect weather and beautiful flying.

 

Anyway onto the build.

 

I started off with the cockpit as usual, cementing sections  together and replacing/adding the PE parts where suggested.  The bombardiers position had its mount completely removed and replaced with the PE stand.

 

44560360445_373f8f8f0d_h.jpgDSC_0034 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44560363525_f01196135a_h.jpgDSC_0035 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Next was the rear compartment. no issues here.

 

44560366935_69fb551829_h.jpgDSC_0036 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44560370005_96ee05bf35_h.jpgDSC_0037 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Some radio equipment and other parts also had some PE replacements

43656950540_0d0a3a0fb1_h.jpgDSC_0038 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Port equipment added.

44749300224_55459d0a63_h.jpgDSC_0039 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

All internal parts painted US interior green primer.

45474599731_06ccb00892_h.jpgDSC_0040 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

As did the fuselage.

44560356285_7de40e1ec2_h.jpgDSC_0041 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Whilst drying i cemented the wings together with top and bottom halves and the rear flap extensions.  The needed a little persuasion to stay put so that the internal wheel well bulkheads sealed up.

45474575261_5132046da0_h.jpgDSC_0042 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Shot of the wing with the trailing edge parts in place.

44560383685_3ab904a241_h.jpgDSC_0043 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Just started assembling the engines where there is some new PE parts to be added.

45474574331_9994e1be63_h.jpgDSC_0044 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Engines fitted to the wings, no real issues apart from the usual seams requiring a little fettling to mate to the top and bottom wing surfaces.

45422825102_f1fbe5a820_h.jpgDSC_0045 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Back to the cockpit and the seats were painted and all areas were given a little grey brown wash.

31599837478_eb46c6a462_h.jpgDSC_0046 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

44560381425_86e1db88c4_h.jpgDSC_0047 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Still a bit wet in this photo. but i also added the Starboard radio equipment.

44560380455_67f56ee57e_h.jpgDSC_0048 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

45422820212_186364992b_h.jpgDSC_0049 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

The crawl way was airbrushed aluminum and test fitted with the front and rear sections.

 

44560375495_0180b173d4_h.jpgDSC_0050 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Here they are fitted in place along with the bomb rack.

44560372305_156b5cf225_h.jpgDSC_0051 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Shot of both fuselage halves prior to cementing up.

30534249537_067851e81f_h.jpgDSC_0052 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Oh bombs! A lot of them but all got a couple of coats of Olive drab.

44560357655_9af5033d87_h.jpgDSC_0053 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Fuselage halves cemented together, no fit issues although getting the internal part to light up to the locating bas inside each half is a pickle.

43656938060_9ccea68c00_h.jpgDSC_0054 by stuart wellard, on Flickr#

 

And a kit wouldnt be complete without a little bit of filler doen the seam line would it?

31599820548_49e2ef01a6_h.jpgDSC_0055 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Firstly Wow has it been that long since i posted an update.  Well progress has been very good so here is an update up to decalling,

 

Tail was assembled with no issues.

45724075884_354db5078e_h.jpgDSC_0079 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Tail was then cemented to the main fuselage. fit wasnt 100% but got there in the end.

45724075664_64acbaea50_h.jpgDSC_0080 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

The next step i chose was to fit the PE for the exhaust areas. These re a massive improvement over decals.

32574769678_8be16c8580_h.jpgDSC_0081 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Wings mated to the fuselage, dont recall any issues.

45724075284_e6599f9217_h.jpgDSC_0082 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Some prep and painting of the cowls and engines.

32574768648_231154d066_h.jpgDSC_0083 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Sitting already for primer.

32574783918_ceb1a4a96e_h.jpgDSC_0085 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Glazing fitted with PVA

45724086314_b32883fd39_h.jpgDSC_0109 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Then masking all those windows aided via the eduard masking set. Much Needed!

32574784318_9d7bc32675_h.jpgDSC_0110 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Internal primers airbrushed.

45724086854_36d8ca9ed2_h.jpgDSC_0111 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

After priming i gave her a coat of dark OD. This was then faded with a lightened faded bottle from Vallejo MA

46447040571_204e83fb30_h.jpgDSC_0112 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

45724087474_3885a5ad1f_h.jpgDSC_0113 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Close up of the faded contrast

46447040981_7ecbfde423_h.jpgDSC_0114 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Now the bombs and the weight!! Note there is no mention in the instructions and there is no where to put some during fuselage construction and she will need a lot. I decided to use the bomb bay and not affix all the bombs instead using the gap to fill with lead and then use the bombs to cover it up.

45534349535_ee1d27e238_h.jpgDSC_0115 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Lead weight location

45724085214_b199b38329_h.jpgDSC_0118 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Rear compartment

32574782818_8ae82dc6f4_h.jpgDSC_0119 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Neutral grey applied to the cowls. these were left off as i thought lead in the rear sections would be enough, it wasnt. tyres were also painted.

45724085774_d1e9d86b8e_h.jpgDSC_0116 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Added some lumps and bumps

45724084734_ee8fa95bd6_h.jpgDSC_0120 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Props painted with yellow tips and decals to be painted/applied.

32574782308_87f4a23f90_h.jpgDSC_0121 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

Ready for decals sitting on her wheels.

32574783408_8e1e90d7f4_h.jpgDSC_0117 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was wondering what happened with this build, but I can see you've been really busy!

 

She looks awesome!! Well done with the paint job, the finish is great, and it's a bit different to the NMF we normally see a B-29 in. I perfect spot for the weights, not a place you'd be normally looking in anyway.

 

It looks like you should be able to have her done in time, great work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...

Hoping the final version is 42-6251 Old Battler as this was my fathers aircraft. He was dual trained  as bombardier and navigator. The captain was Otto Buenting who set the speed record from Honolulu to Washington DC in a B-29 at 285 MPH while carrying the Japanese surrender papers to Truman flying the Lady Marge. Old Battlers last mission occurred the day before Thanksgiving 1944 having lost an engine from a Japanese fighter attacked. They landed at a forward fighter base in China along with 4 other B-29’s over running into a rice paddy. Old battler was recovered and sent back to the US to be used as a trainer. Dad’s crew was the only crew to ever fly her in combat. There was also a poem written called the “saga of Old Battler”. 

Edited by Drk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...