B29 Build Progress

Bob, Gary said it well. You did well! Congratulations, you finished well. Now how long will it be before you start a Silverplate conversion?

Bob, I can't say which is more impressive; your beautiful B-29 or the dedication you had finishing it (twice!?!!) and now driving cross-country to deliver it to your friend.  Not to mention the effort put into the "traveling box" you've built as well.  My hat's off to you sir!   First class all the way around!

Gary

Bob, that is pretty remarkable. And talk about going the distance...lol. I have a similar trip coming one day only it's about half as far.  Great build and helluva set up. Thanks for sharing your pic of the packing. That gives me some ideas.

I'm looking forward to your update.

Welcome back to the world of model building.  Your work and ethics are truly exceptional.  Great job.  Have a safe and nice trip.

Toshi

For those that have been following this build, I want to give a short update.  I have buildt the base, stained it and procured an acrylic cover for the bird.  See photo below of finished product:

Untitled by Robert Holcomb, on Flickr

Then I disassembled the aircraft and base, and packed each separately.  The aircraft was put in a specially built styrofoam cradle so it would not move during movement...

Untitled by Robert Holcomb, on Flickr

And in about two hours, we begin a drive from Virginia to Oregon to deliver this aircraft to my friend and mentor.  I expect to deliver it to him on next Thursday.  I will post a pic of the finished product once set up in his house (hopefully safely!)

cheers, Bob

Fantastic work! Love the way that came out. Great job!

-BD-

Thanks, Shipwreck and Joe.  Second version took less time, like most things.  Still have to drive it to Oregon, probably next summer.  Talked to my buddy tonight and his health has been poor lately.  He at least did get to see the photos I sent so he knows its done.  And his wife picked out a place to put it! About three days into the five day drive next summer my wife will start questioning my sanity...again...

Cheers, Bob

Insanely impressive.  Thanks for taking us along on the journey...

Joe

Bob, you did it. Congratulations! And a fine job indeed. And it did not take you nine months either.

Thanks, gents.  I am glad it came out as well as it did the second time around.  Now to finish the base and cover for the display.  And, oh by the way, plan for a 2,790 road trip to deliver it to my friend.  I can't even estimate how much this whole project is going to end up costing...probably would have been cheaper to restore a real B-29...the Missus just rolls her eyes at me...

cheers, Bob

Glad to see this one put back together again.  =]  Nicely done Bob!!

Wow, and I thought the B-17 was big; that thing is HUGE !! Super nice build there Sir, it looks fantabulous !!!!!  

Very nice!

thanks, Mike.  I hope he likes the model as well!!

thanks, John.  I appreciate that.

cheers, Bob

Congratulations, Bob.  It's a great model.

RCH73

Mike:  I had the earlier version mounted in a set of two fuselage vises while she was tied to a trial base of wood, and I was carrying her out to the garage.  My intent then was to mount the base (and the bird) in a vertical position so gravity could help me hold the engine nacelles level while they dried.  However, in my fear of damaging the paint where the vise gripped the fuselage sides, I did not have the bird in tight enough.  As I went out into the garage she slipped free and crashed to the hardwood floor, splitting the upper fuselage seam open and destroying the canopy glass.  It was a Significant Emotional Event for me...but I resolved to start over and built a new one.  I still have the old one (and the pieces) and if I run out of things to do I may try to salvage her for my own use.  This one is going to my WWII friend.

cheers, Bob

That's a tragedy...     I have a great deal of respect for you.  A lot of people would have thrown her out!   I hope he likes the B-29 -- I know I would! 

thank you, artworks2.  I appreciate your kindness.  Like most of us, I know where all the flaws are and so am probably overcritical!

cheers, Bob

Your work is so clean and neat the (cockpit) is clean as well vey nice.....

John:  thanks very much, I appreciate all the advice I got from the Forum members.  It kept me from making some major mistakes.  I'm glad I have it finished while he is in good enough health to enjoy it for awhile.  I will post another picture when I have the base completed. 

cheers, Bob

Bob, it is a great joy to see that wonderful piece of work completed and ready to get mounted.  I admire your perseverance in seeing this through.  You have created a stunning memorial to the crew of this aircraft.  Thank you for sharing your journey.

John

Mike:  I had the earlier version mounted in a set of two fuselage vises while she was tied to a trial base of wood, and I was carrying her out to the garage.  My intent then was to mount the base (and the bird) in a vertical position so gravity could help me hold the engine nacelles level while they dried.  However, in my fear of damaging the paint where the vise gripped the fuselage sides, I did not have the bird in tight enough.  As I went out into the garage she slipped free and crashed to the hardwood floor, splitting the upper fuselage seam open and destroying the canopy glass.  It was a Significant Emotional Event for me...but I resolved to start over and built a new one.  I still have the old one (and the pieces) and if I run out of things to do I may try to salvage her for my own use.  This one is going to my WWII friend.

cheers, Bob

I set the model up in the same configuration as the final product, to be sure I had the right size in mind for the base.  It will be 27" square, the interior dimensions of the blue tape in the photo.  The plaques on the left and right are actual size (although just printed on paper, versus the brass I will use in the final product. 

by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

The plaque on the right has his name, the aircraft identification and unit, and his medals (which are displayed in front of the bird: a Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals, along with his Air Observer wings they gave NCO radar operators).

The plaque on the left shows a photo of this aircraft on Iwo Jima the day after the raid on Kobe in which they won the Distinguished Flying Cross.  My friend is sure, because it was their only stop on Iwo in the war.

Another photo:

Untitled by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

I still have to use the clear glass paint jar to prop up the tail, but that will obviously be removed when I tie the wheels down to the base.

And a final shot:

by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

Cheers, Bob

How did you drop it?  Not paying attention or did she slip out or what?    I'm glad to finally see her just about finished!

Thanks, Groot.  I would have been happier if it hadn't required quite so much perseverance because I dropped it...but alls well that ends well.  It'll be awhile before I tackle something that large again! But I'm happy with how it came out.

Cheers, Bob

That is an enormous and beautiful bird.  Way to stick with it!

Groot

Thanks, it has been a great experience to build it.  Now for the base and cover.  Stay tuned!

cheers, Bob

Bob, that is bad-*ssed man!  Wow, what a plane!!  You have built a my-tee fine bomber.

Gary

Man, what a beautiful bird ,a very large WELL DONE !

Oh, heck.  I couldn't wait:

Another view as they dry:

by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

cheers, Bob

Almost done...Today I installed the decalls and the upper turrets and things.  Only step left is to install the four engines (already completed) and the tail gunners turret, and then I can mount it on the base.

Here is what it looks like at the moment:

Untitled by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

Here is the nose detail, with the crew's three Purple Hearts, three Jap flags for the downed planes, and their fourteen bombing missions.  Names on the side are the authentic crewmen from June 1945.

Untitled by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

And a detail from the tail section:

Untitled by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

Those who have followed this trail of tears from the beginning will realize that this is the step (mounting the engines) where I dropped the model last time and caused me to start all over again.  I am not going to do that this time...

I'll epoxy the engines on tomorrow and send another photo!

cheers, Bob