B29 Build Progress

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

Joe

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

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

-BD-

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

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

Toshi

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

I honestly just don't have the words. 

Outstanding!

Mike

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

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.

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

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

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

Well done.  =]

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.  :)

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

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

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

What a beuatiful memorial, great job!

Toshi

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