B29 Build Progress

That is why I love this forum!  I did not know that and had never heard of that before now.  So I guess Monogram gets high marks for accuracy and not humor...

thanks for telling me something new!

cheers, Bob

You could find a printed tarmac sheet ,or simulate your own.There are companies out there that make sheets to scale.At least there were a few years ago.

Well, disaster struck yesterday.  I was moving the model to my workbench to install the engines and it fell to the hardwood floor.    Several smaller parts broke off, but that wasn't so bad.  Worst of all is it landed directly on the glass nose and the whole glass cockpit area came off and the centerline seam down the top of the fuselage cracked open.

That area. of course, is the centerpiece of the whole B-29 visually, so any flaws there will stand out like a sore thumb.  I am having a hard time convincing myself that I can repair a natural metal finish in that area and repaint it to match without it being obvious, especially since it is already decaled.  After thinking about it all night I am about ready to concede that I have to get another model and redo the whole fuselage and wings portion.  I can save some time by re-using many of the existing parts, particularly the engines which are undamaged and the cockpit.  I can also close the bomb bay doors and so avoid having to do any of the bomb bay area, which is unseen.

I feel like Churchill when he was ousted as Prime Minister in 1945.  Clementine said "Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise".  He replied "if so, it is certainly very well disguised."

If there is any silver lining in this, it is that I have nine months more experience than when I began this last time, and that I have sufficient time to recover before I am scheduled to deliver the model to my friend.  But other than that, I feel pretty lousy.  I was going to post a pic but can't bring myself to do it.

Cheers, Bob

Bob.  So sorry to hear that. You sound much more optimistic than I imagine I'd be in your shoes.  Don't let it beat you.  Next time around you'll make it better and improve on the little things.  I for one will be excited to see this monster done.  =]

Good luck! take some time to grieve. lol  Come back fresh. =]

Bummer.   If it's any consolation I'm sure most of us have been in  your shoes before.

Bob, so sorry to hear of your mishap. My last two P-51's crash landed on a hard floor in the final stages of production. Now they both rattle, but they are just fine if you do not shake them! So you put a lot of good work into this bird and she was looking real good. BTW, real planes crack up and their ground crews patch them back together again and again and again. I want to encourage you to build up more experience by repairing what you have. The aluminum panels on that plan varied, so you can take advantage of the new panel variation scheme of your repair. I can not image that any bulkhead damage would even be noticeable once she is closed up again. If all else fails, then you can buy you another kit!

Thanks to all for the sympathy in my plight; I am sure I am not the first to go through this and I doubt I will be the last.  I would like for this to be the last time it happens to ME, though!

I was not so pleasant to be around last night.  The Missus wisely left me alone to stew.  I finally decided that what I am going to do is to procure another kit and build the fuselage and wings from it, but re-utilize the cockpit and assorted interior parts to save me some time.  I can probably get the seams and paint job better this time around, so I'll focus on that now that I have the recent experience. 

In addition, I will try to repair the fuselage on the old bird as well, just for the practice.  If it turns out well, I'll keep it for myself as a memento of this experience.  If not, I can probably learn some valuable techniques on it. I'll continue the blog so those who have been curious can continue to follow my mishaps and progress. 

More to follow.  I have to go make a new plan...

cheers, Bob

Welcome to my world. We've all been there. My sympathies. Maybe the "wreck" can be turned into a wreck when you get the time? "Bone yard" ship? Bob

Sorry to hear about that.

I've been in this position before.  When I've decided to do what you're doing...buy a new kit but reuse some parts from the old kit...I end up doing the kit way better the second time around.  I learn from the mistakes I made on the first one and correct them on the second one.

Bob,

   Don't let it stop you. Continue with another Monogram B-29. You've learned too much to NOT complete a 1/48 B-29. Don't let it get you down. Your next B-29 will be that much better!

Bob, you have posted a lot of photos in the past; how about you post a damage shot?

Shipwreck:  I guess it is part of the grieving process...see below.

image by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

The above shot shows the fatal crack down the centerline seam of the aircraft.

And another shot:

image by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

This shot shows the formerly beautiful decals on the side showing their three purple hearts and three Jap kills.  Fortunately I made multiple copies of the decal sheet so I have them available to use again.

And just to show I am moving on, here is the latest progress:

image by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

I was able to repurpose the original instrument panels and pilots seats.  I also refrained from putting in components that can't be seen this time around.  It makes the progress faster.

The two sides of the aircraft:

image by robertholcomb73, on Flickr

I won't open the bomb bays this time since they can't be seen when it is o=mounted anyway.  So that helps as well.

Today I dipped all the clear components in Future and finished all the detail work on the inside.  Next is to mount all the interior components and glue the fuselage halves together.  I hope to have less seam work this time, or at least to do it smarter!

cheers, Bob

It's BAAAACCCCKK! I'm glad you are "up" again. Enjoying your attitude and work. Bob :)

That's definitely manageable.  =]  If it happens that you need to sand any of your surface, then just mask off that area one at a time and sand it right...move on...repeat...prime/Gloss Black where necessary...and redo your Alclad.  You can definitely work with that.  The decals will probably have to be reworked I'm sure....but if you did it once....

You got this! =]

bvallot:  I am afraid I don't have the same level of confidence in my skill to repair a natural metal finish.  I have begun again on a new model of the B-29 and will see if I can make this finish better by using the lessons learned on the last one.  I'll make an attempt at repair after I complete the new one, just for my own education.

mkelley:  thanks, it was a Significant Emotional Event for me, no doubt.  I'm over it now and moving on.  I appreciate the nice words about the model, and wait till you see the new one!  I think I can improve the finish a bit.

cheers, Bob

What Rust ? ?

Is that the Revell - Monogram Bird ?

Wow, love that plane and you build. Too bad about wreck, you'll get it right. For those that have an interest in this plane here is a Nova video of one trapped in ice and retrieved.

Tankerbuilder:  Yes, it is the 1/48th Revell-Monogram bird.  Monster kit.  I didn't understand your question about rust?

Brandonk:  I am looking forward to watching that video!

cheers, Bob

" cold war relic" Sounds like me! Bob

You know, watching that video might not be the best inspiration for rebuilding your B-29.  Not to spoil the Nova special, but it doesn't turn out well.   Bummer. 

Gary

Bob, after looking at your crashed B-29, I have to agree with ballot, the damage is manageable. From what I see, it is not even broken; just came apart a little. When you finish your new project, I hope that you can return to this bird and build for yourself a real fine B-29 out of it!

r13b20:  I am a cold war relic myself!  Served in the Army from 73-93.  

GAF:  Can't be any worse than what happened to mine!

Shipwreck:  Glad you also think it is manageable, and it might be, even with my paltry skill on NMFs.  But I could not take the chance it would turn out badly, and waste precious time I have to complete the project to take it to him.  He is almost 90 as it is.  I was afraid that, if it didn't look good after the repair, I would then not have enough time to start over and deliver it to him on schedule.  So I thought it best to start anew and proceed more rapidly.   I had planned to repair it at my leisure afterwards, and if it turns out to be as manageable as people think, then I'll have my own memento!  BTW, this project is keeping me from completing my own Cutty Sark, on deck.  

cheers, Bob

Ya, you will need a tissue. I plan on building a B-29 and the Kee Bird is the one I am going to build. Just before it touched down on the ice.

Bob, I am sure you made the right decision on your current project. I just want to encourage you to repair and finish your wreck. Actually, every model I make I wreck or mess up somehow and find myself in the repair mode until the thing gets finished. Then I hide it in a dark cabinet! Good luck on this one!

I could use the practice on repair work, as apparently I will need a lot of it in my career!

Iliad Decals makes a set of 1/48 scale decals of olive drab and grey B-29s, with all the guns still installed.

You could nix the nmf scheme.

Allen109:  I could do that, but then it wouldn't be my mentor's airplane anymore.  No, I think I am stuck with the NMF, for good or ill.  But thanks for the tip!

cheers, Bob

Brandonk:  finished watching the video.  I think I am going to be sick...makes my little disaster seem much less important, and much less costly.  What a beautiful airplane they had there.

cheers, Bob