B29 Build Progress

Rick:  thanks for the kindness.  It was just something I had to do before he passed away, and I am fortunate that I made it in time.  I am doubly fortunate that this Forum existed to help me along the way, because without it, I wouldn't have made it in time.  The finished product, had I worked alone, would have been very much less than it turned out.  The practical wisdom dispensed here is priceless, and saves much time and aggravation.  The members here are very unselfish.  I hope you enjoy your retirement; I am going to join you in that endeavor in about another year and I can't wait. 

cheers, Bob

Bob and others

I just retired. With Time on my hands I looked at this forum for advice on the B-29 in my stash. I can't think of greater homage than providing that lovingly-built model to your "old teacher". 

Long life and Happy Modeling to you, Bob. 

RCH73

Shipwreck and 1943Mike:  thanks, I was just happy the model could be put to some use after he had the chance to enjoy it.  They told me at the museum that there were four such B29 training bases in Kansas alone, and others in Nebraska (such as McCook AAF).  the runways were enormous, and still visible on Google Earth. 

As an aside, after I left Pratt we drove to Wichita and through the good will of the 9th Bomb Group historian, Kathy and I were given a tour of the restored B-29 "Doc", which had just made its first flight a few weeks earlier.  That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  We were shown the cockpit and the stations for the flight engineer and the radio operator.  It was amazing to me how at home I felt in the aircraft after building the model.  I knew right where everything was.  Revell did a very good job with that model kit!

cheers, Bob

 

 

RCH73

Shipwreck and 1943Mike:  thanks, I was just happy the model could be put to some use after he had the chance to enjoy it.  They told me at the museum that there were four such B29 training bases in Kansas alone, and others in Nebraska (such as McCook AAF).  the runways were enormous, and still visible on Google Earth. 

As an aside, after I left Pratt we drove to Wichita and through the good will of the 9th Bomb Group historian, Kathy and I were given a tour of the restored B-29 "Doc", which had just made its first flight a few weeks earlier.  That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  We were shown the cockpit and the stations for the flight engineer and the radio operator.  It was amazing to me how at home I felt in the aircraft after building the model.  I knew right where everything was.  Revell did a very good job with that model kit!

cheers, Bob

 

 

- Sir Winston Churchill

Shipwreck and 1943Mike:  thanks, I was just happy the model could be put to some use after he had the chance to enjoy it.  They told me at the museum that there were four such B29 training bases in Kansas alone, and others in Nebraska (such as McCook AAF).  the runways were enormous, and still visible on Google Earth. 

As an aside, after I left Pratt we drove to Wichita and through the good will of the 9th Bomb Group historian, Kathy and I were given a tour of the restored B-29 "Doc", which had just made its first flight a few weeks earlier.  That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  We were shown the cockpit and the stations for the flight engineer and the radio operator.  It was amazing to me how at home I felt in the aircraft after building the model.  I knew right where everything was.  Revell did a very good job with that model kit!

cheers, Bob

Bob,

Your act of kindness and selflessness to your friend is truly remarkable. The perserverance you demonstrated with your project is what many people could use today - especially those kids who might not know much success because they give up too soon.

I'm delighted that you gave the model to a museum - I'm sure it'll find a place worthy of its creation/creator for the public to view.

As an aside, when I was going to my second undergraduate college (The College of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas) the dean of men was part owner of a Cessna 172 and would take a few of us on rides for $5.00 in gas money when he had his time with the plane. I recall that on one such outing we landed at what seemed to be an abandoned ariport on a very, very long runway that we were told used to be used for B-29 training during WWII. It very well could have been the same airport in Pratt that now houses the museum. I do recall we were taxiing for a very long time as he touched down near the beginning of the runway .

Bob, this has certainly been a journey for you. You have every right to be proud of your model and such an honorable purpose it had and will have in the future. You finished well; and you tower above us!

All:  The saga of my B-29 Sweet Sue has finally come to a conclusion.  As you will recall, my friend passed away last February.  Two weeks ago my wife and I packed up the model from his home in Oregon and drove it to the B-29 Museum, Bombers on the Prarie, in Pratt, Kansas.  Pratt was the home of the Pratt Army Airfield in the war and many B-29 crews were trained there.  In addition, the airfield was used to complete the assembly of the warplanes, adding the machine guns, bombsights, etc.  They have established the museum to honor all their military veterans, and particularly the B-29 crews.  There is an exhibit there for the 9th Bomb Group, of which Sweet Sue was a part, and now she is there as a part of that exhibit.  She made the trip without incident or damage, for which I am profoundly grateful.

We calculated that the model has traveled 4,500 miles in our car since it was built.  By way of comparison, a roundtrip bombing mission from Tinian to Kobe and back was only 3,000 miles.

A special thanks to the museum staff, especially Milt Martin, and to the historian of the 9th Bomb Group, Rick Feldmann, for all their help and advice.

thanks, Bob

Sorry to hear it Bob. I'll keep him in my prayers. Glad to hear he gets honored the proper way for his service.

So sorry to hear of your friend's passing, but you should be proud that he knew how much he meant to you.  I love your plan to donate the model to a museum, and think that is a fitting tribute to your friend and mentor.  May the angels come to greet him and carry him to his reward.  May you and all of his family and friends know comfort and peace. 

John

What a beuatiful memorial, great job!

Toshi

I have a sad update to report to this story.  Last Monday, my friend *** Baker passed away peacefully at home.  He is to be buried in the National Cemetery in Portland with full military honors next Tuesday.  I will fly out from Virginia to attend.

He had a little more than a year to enjoy the model and I think he did.  He and I together concocted a new plan for it's care before he passed.  I will repack it in the box and drive it to Pratt, Kansas (near Wichita), where there is a small B-29 museum on an old Army airfield.  It was a training site for the crews and the aircraft were test flown there.  In the museum is a display dedicated to the 9th Bomb Group, which is where *** saw his service in Sweet Sue.  So the model will be going to a good home and hopefully can add some history to the museum, as well as to honor *** and his crewmates.

I anticipate moving the model next August, unless ***'s wife requests it to go sooner.

I thought the Forum would want to know.

Sadly, Bob

I really do not have the words for your efforts and results here. This is a true gift from the heart.

Thanks to all.  

Shipwreck, the base is a 27-inch square piece of birch plywood, with a small moulding nailed to the sides to provide a edge so the acrylic cover could sit inside and not slide around.  I stained the whole thing cherry, and puttied the small nail holes and mitre joints where the moulding came together in the corners.  The acrylic cover was made by J-Display Cases and I highly recommend them for the quality of their work; but don't be in a hurry to get it! His email is <jdisplaycase@fuse.net>.  They have been very helpful to me.

USAFASME7, thanks.  I almost had the same reaction when I dropped it...it took me about three days before I could think coherently about it afterwards.  My wife was concerned about my mental well-being for awhile.  But I got over it and tried again.  As you can see from the photo, my friend is not young and I did not have the luxury of wallowing around in self-pity for very long!

When I gave it to my friend yesterday, he went back in the back room and rummaged around for awhile, then brought out his own Distinguished Flying Cross medal in its original case from WWII.  We've spent the last day and a half reliving memories from that airplane, and that has been worth the entire venture.  The small picture in the display case is a photo take on Iwo Jima in June 1945 which shows that airplane sitting on the ground parked next to another.  I discovered that photo by accident in my research, and my friend was not aware of its existence until I shared it with him.  It adds a nice touch to the case.

Cheers, Bob

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL model...and the acrylic presentation case with medals put it over the top.

Good recovery on the 2nd bird. As I was reading this thread, I almost shat myself when it came to the part where you dropped bird #1. Ouch!

Very nice work, man.  :)

Well done.  =]

Bob, your B-29 is very impressive, but so is the presentation. What material went into that case?

What a heartwarming and generous thing to do RCH.  My hat's off to both you Gentleman.

Beautiful build.  Mustve been a moving moment to see a life-like miniature of a plane he once flew in.

After a couple of years of blood, sweat, tears, and money; I would say that you really put your heart into this project. Bob your friend has a real friend.

I think I can say this build is now completed!  I managed to deliver it to my friend in Oregon without any damage at all!  The repair kit I brought wasn't even needed.  

DSC00598 by Robert Holcomb, on Flickr

DSC00596 by Robert Holcomb, on Flickr

Thanks to all who helped and encouraged me throughout this process, especially in the black days after The Crash.

thanks to all, Bob

Outstanding!

Mike

I honestly just don't have the words. 

Glad you got an idea from my post, but I can't claim credit.  I found a nice post by Brian Leitch on the largescaleplanes.com site on packing a plane in a box for shipment.  I had to modify it somewhat because the B-29 wingspan was too long to fit in the box except diagonally, but the basic concepts are there.  I highly recommend it to you.  

So far we've gotten to Sheridan, Wyoming with no sign of damage...but then I've just peeked in the box, haven't unloaded it....

Cheers, Bob

Again......Stunning build.  Love the shipping jig.  I sell my models on ebay and you just gave me an idea to minimize damage in shipping.   Thank you.

Wow! Just...............wow!

Wow!  I just now saw the completed pics.  That is so well done!  That second effort really paid of!

That looks awesome, I'm sure your friend will be thrilled.  Wave to Modelcrazy and I as you pass through Idaho!  LOL

No Silverplate for me!  I'm gonna give B-29's a rest for awhile!  The Missus is driving now so I can catch up on mail.  Thanks for all the kind thoughts.  I hope the trip goes well and I can bring to fruition the idea I had two years ago.  

When I get back home to the workbench, next up will be a UH-1H that was my father's C&C ship in the 1st Cav in Vietnam in 69-70.  At least it won't be a natural metal finish...

Cheers, Bob

Thank you for the update!   I was thinking about this thread TWO days ago!