My Review and Build of Mongram's 1/72 scale Kit #5707,
B-36 Peacemaker Strategic Bomber
Last updated: December 2, 2015 - Out of Box Review
Introduction - Convair B-36 Peacmaker Strategic Bomber
The initial genesis for the design of what would becomae the B-36 Bomber traces back to the dark days of 1941 as it became clear that the United states would have to become directly involved in world War II. In those days, before Pearl Harbor, there was the very real prospect that Germany would defeat Great Britan and thus control all of Europe. In that event, the United States was going to need a bomber aircraft that could perfrom missions all the way across the Atlantic. The long range heavy bombers then in operation, or actively being developed, the B-17, the B-24, and ultimately the B-29 did not have that type of range. All would fall short.
In the event that Great Britan fell, the United States needed a bomber that could fly unrefueled, perform its bombing missions, and then return to the United States until such a time as America could gain a foothold in Europe. The roundtrip from the potential fields in New Foundland to Belin was approximately 6,000 miles. But the US wanted bombers that could also take off from fields in the continental United states in the event they were required. On April 11, 1941, eight months before Pearl Harbor, the American trans-oceanic ranged strategic bomber design competition started. It was seeking a 450 mph top speed, a 275 mph cruising speed, a service ceiling of 45,000 ft., and a maximum range of 12,000 miles at 25,000 ft. After significant industrial review, these initial requirements proved too demanding and on August 19, 1941 the specifications were reduced to a maximum range of 10,000 miles with a 10,000 lb bomb load, a cruising speed of 240+ mph, and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft, which was above the maximum effective altitude of all of Nazi Germany's typically deployed anti-aircraft Flak guns.
As the war progressed, and the tide of war turned in favor of the allies, production of vast numbers of B-17s, B-24s, and then B-29s took top priotity in order to exceed attrition rates and continue the massive bombing campaigns against Germany and Japan. Just the same, the Army Air Corps kept pushing for a new long-ranged bomber to reach Japan from its bases in Hawaii. So, the development of the B-36 resumed in earnest. The US Secretary of War decided to waive normal army procurement procedures, and in July 1943 ordered 100 B-36s before prototype aircraft were ever built or tested. The first aircraft delivery for this order was to be in August 1945, with the last being in October 1946. The first aircraft was unveiled by Convair on August 20, 1945, five days after Japan surrendered. With the immediate emphasis reduced, this aircraft did not fly for the first time until August 8, 1946.
She was a huge aircraft, as well she would have to be to meet the requirements.
She has six massive pusher piston engines mounted on a wing that spanned 230 feet. To this day this is the largest wingspan of any mass produced combat aircraft in history. The massive wing was seven and one-half feet thick and had a service pathway to the piston engines internally that allowed the engines to be worked on by the crew while in flight. The aircraft dwarfed the B-29 Superfortress which was the largest World War II bomber aircraft and which had delivered the nuclear bombs to Heroshima and Nagaskai that ended World War II.
Intially, the cockpit was designed similar to the B-29, being flush to the cigar shaped fuselage.. Here is a picture of a B-29 compared to the intial B-36:
After World war II, relations with the USSR soured rapidly. Even though the US and her allies had worked together with the USSR to defeat Nazi Germany, the USSR itself developed into another brutal dictatorship that had visions itself of formenting communist revolution throughout the world and ultimatly controlling the world. Once the USSR developed nuclear weapons of its own, the need for the B-36 became paramount. Now, the massive weapons load, the tremendous range, and the relative high speed and high atlitude of the B-36 became the natural tool to deter the Soviet Union.
The United States formed the US Air Force as a separate, indepenedent setrvice branch in 1947 and all B-36 bombers were immediately transferred to the USAF. Modifictions were made to make the aircraft suitable for the new task of deterring the USSR. Her cockpit was redesigned and placed atop the fuselage. She got more powerful engines. In her new role of strategic deterrance, she became operational in 1949 and more orders were placed with production runs that would continue through 1954.
The confrontation between the US and her allies (The West) and the USSR and her allies (The East) was named the "Cold War," after the Berlin airlift of 1948, and particularly after the Soviet Union's first successful nuclear bomb detonation in 1949. The B-36 was the only American aircraft with the range and payload to carry all of the United States nuclear inventory from airfields on American soil to targets in the USSR. In order to carry the largest US nuclear weapons, the bomb bays had to be combined and the modification to allow this was called the "Grand Slam Installation."
Soon, B-36 bombers were available in numbers and operating from US air baises in the United States and from air bases of allies in Europe and the Western Pacific.
Despite its capabilities, the B-36 was designed in the era of piston enjines driving propellers. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, the jet age was ushered in. The "jet age" actually started towards the end of World War II when the *** introduced the first production jet fighter, the Me-262 twin engined fighter. But it began in earnest at the end of the 1940s and into the 1950s. In order to increase speed and range, the B-36 underwent a transformation that brough it into the jet age. In addition to its six massive psiton engines, four jet engines were added. These were house outboard of the piston engines in a single nacelle on each wing which housed two of the jet engines.
Because of its unique nature with so many piston and jet engines, the crews of the B-36 often indicated that the had, "Six tuning and four burning."
Despite this, as time progressed in the 1950s, the B-36 was rapidly becoming obsolete. It was too slow and as time went on, was simply not capable of penetrating growing Soviet defenses with the high degree of success required for its nuclear delivery requirements. However, it's first jet rival, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, which became fully operational in 1953, lacked the range to attack the Soviet homeland from North America without aerial refueling and could not carry the huge first-generation Mark 16 hydrogen bomb.
So, the B-36 served on, and General Curtis Lemay, the head of the US Air Force Strategic Air Command, kept the B-36 force, through intense training and development, an effective force to deliver nuclear weapons. During this time, the B-36 was the heart of the Strategic Air Command force. Its maximum payload was greater than any other bomber in the US inventory, including the newly developed B-52 which entered service in 1955. Although the B-36 was slow and could not refuel in midair, she could fly missions to intercontinental targets and stay aloft for up to 40 hours at a time. In addition, through the mid and late 1950s, the B-36 maintained a phenomenal cruising altitude which made it possible for her to fly above the capabilities of most Soviet interceptors of the day, as well as their ground-based anti aircraft guns.
Nonetheless, the introduction of the B-52 in 1955 changed everything. This was clearly the aircraft that would replace the B-36. The B-52 was faster, it could fly as high and higher, and it could be refueled in mid-air giving it essentially unlimited range. Through the late 1950s the B-52 fleet grew, supplanting the B-36, and in 1959, the last B-36 strategic bomber aircraft were retired.
In addition, supersonic intercontinetal bombers were being developed, including the Mach 2 B-58 hustler, which went into service in the 1960s, and the even faster, higher flying and very exotic B-70 Valykerie, which was canclled.
with the advnet of Intercontinental Ballist Missiles (ICBMs) beginning in the 1960s, aircraft like the B-36 were rendered completely, irrevocably obsolote. The newer, faster jet bombers served on due to America's desire to maintain a triad of nuclear deliver options, but the B-36 had seen its day.
Charcteristics/Specifications:
Crew: 13
Length: 162 ft 1 in
Wingspan: 230 ft
Height: 46 ft 9 in
Wing area: 4,772 ft²
Empty weight: 166,165 lb
Loaded weight: 262,500 lb
Max. takeoff weight: 410,000 lb
Powerplant:
- 6 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-53 "Wasp Major" radials, 3,800 hp each
- 4 × General Electric J47 turbojets, 5,200 lbf each
Performance:
Maximum speed: 435 mph
Cruise speed: 230 mph
Combat radius: 4,000 mi
Ferry range: 10,000 mi
Service ceiling: 43,600 ft
Armament:
Guns: 2 × 20 mm M24A1 autocannons in aremotrely operated tail turret
Bombs: 86,000 lb
Jimmy Stewart Military service (including the B-36)
I have had this model for some time but did not intend to build it for a couple of more years. However, over the Thanksgiving break this year, I once again watched the old movie, "Strategic Air Command," starring Jimmy Stewart. The movie features the B-36 heavily and I was moved to go ahead and move up the B-36 in my build queue. I am writing this part of my model review as a tribute to Jimmy Stewart.
Many people do not know it, but in addition to Jimmy Stewart being one of my favorite all time movie stars, he was also a great American patriot and military hero.
Though already a very successful movie star when Wolrd War II broke out, he was also a very successful aircraft racer. It was one of his hobbies and he was very good at it, winning numerous races, medals, and honors in the late 1930s.
But he came from a patrriotic family, where his grandfathers and father had served in the US military. So when it became apparent to him that war was inevitable, he went down and inlisted in the US Army in March 1941, over eight months before Pearl Harbor. He did not ask for any favors thoiugh he had a college degree, was 33 years old and was very well known. No, Jimmy Stewrart enlisted as a simple private.
Jimmy Stewart enlists and is sworn in
When it was learned that he had significant flying experience, in addition to a college degree, he was transferred to the Army Air Coprs. At 33 years of age, he was already six years older than the maximum age for new pilot recruits, but because the need was great, and because of his experience, this requirement was waived and he was inducted as a pilot. He was commissioned a Lt. in the USAAC in January 1942, one month after Pearl Harbor.
He wanted to go fight, but because of his age and noteriety, he remained state side, training others. In that role he was steadily promoted through Captain and to Major. But he continued to put in for combat duty, and finally, in 1943 it was granted.
He was transferred to England in command of the 703rd Bomber Squadron, flying B-24 Liberator bombers against Germany. while flying for the 703rd, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts leading major bomber raids against the heavily defended 3rd Reich. He was promoted to the Operations Officer for the entire 453rd Bomber Group and continued flying combat missions.
Jimmy Stewart with one of his crews of a B-24 Liberator
In January 1944 he was prmoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned to the 2nd Bomber Wing as the Executive Officer, the second in command of the entire bomber wing. While commanding, he continued to seek out and fly comnbat missions. He was very much liked by the flyers, who recognized in him an individual who did not have to serve, and who set aside his noteriety for the better good and put himself at risk just like the rest of them. During 1944, as a result of his actions while flying against the enemy, Jimmy stewart earned a 2nd Distignusihed Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre from the French.
Jimmy Stewart being presented the French Criox de Guerre
He also earned the Air Medal with three Oak Clustrers during this time. In March 1945, he was promoted to a full colonel and in May 1945, he was given command of the entire 2nd Bomber wing in England of the US Army Air Coprs. He was one of only a few people who rose from the rank of private to that of Colonel in four years time. In all, he successfully flew 20 combat missions against the Germans.
After the war, and returning home, he remained in the reserves. He became a US Air Force reservist when the US Air Force was created in 1947...but Jimmy Stewart, though back acting, was not done serving his country. Throughout the 1950s, as a Colonel, he served and became qualified to fly the B-36 Peacmaker. This was the largest US bomber ever created, and the heart and sole of America's first line defense and deterence against the Soviet UNion in thoughout the 1950s. But Jimmy Stewart was an excellent pilot and had proven his capabilities as a decorated combat verteran.
Jimy Stewart with a crew of a B-36 Peacemaker
When the new jet bombers began coming out, with the B-47 being the first, he bacame qualified in that aircratf as well. He flew those aircraft for the Strategic Air Command as well, and as a reservixst he would have been ammong the first called up to combat in the event of war.
Jimmy Stewart in the cockpit of a B-47 Stratojet
In July 1959, Jimmy stewart was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He continued to serve, and continued to qualify. He became qualified to fly the B-52 Bomber, which became operational in 1955, and still serves as a part of the US Air Force bomber arsenal today.
In fact, Jimmy Stewart's last official military flight, was a combat mission in the B-52, where he flew as a US Air Force command observer in February 1966 over Vietnam on an Arclight mission against the North Vietnamese. As was his nature, he sought no accolades or press for this action. Very few people knew about it unitl much later. He was, afterall, a very successful, well known, and popular actor at the time. But this did not stop him from continuing to put his life on the line for his country.
Jimmy Stewart with the crew of the B-52 he flew with in 1966 over Vietnam
Jimmy stewart retired from the US Air Force as a General in 1968, after 27 years of service to his country.
I include his brief military history here because he flew the B-36 Peacemaker, and because he was a truly great American, in addition to being a wonderful and talented actor.
What's in the Box
Tamiya began building large, 1/350 scale model vessels back in the 1980s and has been doing so ever since. They make OUTSTANDING 1/350 scale model kits for naval vessels.
Monogram has historically been one of the better model builders in the United States.
They put out several versions of the aircraft in 1/72 scale, and this version, kit number 5707 is my favorite.
It is the largest 1/72 scale aircraft model ever made, and is a truly momouth model. It comes with seven sprues (six molded in gray and one in clear plastci) with about 150 parts. The two fueslage halves are separate parts.
There are a number of nice features and details. The props can all be built to turn, the guns (in the noce and tail) can move, the bombay can be shwon open with a significant conventional bomb load. One issue is that the long connecting tunned between the nose cockpit area and the after sectrion which includes the tail gunner and a rather large crew area, is missing. So if you want to be accruate yyoul will have to scratch build that. I intend to show the bombay open with some nuclear weapons ands the long tunnel that traverses through it.
The parts have a decent amount of detail, including the cockpit area. There is very little flash (although the model I have was produced in the 1980s). I purchased couple of sets of aftermarket decals from Warbird. Number 72003 which gives the standard maintenance stencils and walkway stripes for the B-36 including all of the stripes and warning markings for the aircraft, and number 72032 which includes aircraft markings for the "Broken Arrow" aircraft (which I will not model), and the "City of Ft. worth" aircraft, which I intend to model.
These are excellent decals and each shee has a MRP of $14.99. I found mine on ebay for $8.99 each.
Here is the model with its box, the parts, the decals and the instructions:.
The Build - Cockpit, bombay, and guns - December 5, 2015
SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of November 30, 2015
- By Dec 31, 2015: Complete USAF B-36 Peacemekae in 1/72 Scale
- By Jan 10, 2016: Complete RN Merlin Helicopter in 1/72 Scale
- By Jan 20, 2016: Complete Complete RAF Typhoon in 1/72 Scale
- By Feb 14, 2016: Complete French Rafael M in 1/72 Scale
- By Apr 10, 2016: Complete USS Hornet, CV-8 in 1/350 Scale
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62 (which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06 as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG was completed and is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91. I also built the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, and the French Aconit D612 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These four vessels round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase it and add it to the CSG. One day, when the models come out, I will purchase two 1/350 scale Mistral Class LPDs so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
The completion of the Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter, a Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDG, Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN, the new Yasen class Russian SSN, and the Zevzda Oscar II SSGN, all in 1/350 scale.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I built the model as the Sao Paulo and thus started a Brazilian group. I will need to find a 1/350 scale Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use which are not available at present. I did purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers and built those as a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD