Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: b29r on July 10, 2019, 05:57:13 AM
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Following the close of hostilities in August 1945, the USAAF recognized a need for a more advanced reconnaissance platform. The new advances in radar technology would lend themselves well to the recon role. To this end, 54 RB-29K aircraft were ordered to follow the close of standard B-29 production in May of 1946. While still recognizable as part of the B-29 family, noticeable changes included the V-tail group and the tandem truck landing gear arrangement. This landing gear change of course reconfigured the fuselage bomb bays, but made the inner wing nacelles and nose wheel bay available for ordnance and/or equipment. In-flight refueling capability was another new feature made operational.
With the advent of the Korean War, elements of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron were deployed to Itazuke Air Base in Japan to provide target mapping, weather reconnaissance, and post raid target evaluation. The RB's were very successful in this role, and the new AN/APQ-21 search and AN/APQ-26 targeting radars made life very hazardous for Communist night fighter pilots. RB-29 crews were credited with 21.5 kills without loss, earning the sobriquet of "D***ed Porcupine".
The RB-29's were also very active during the early Cold War years in monitoring Eastern Bloc and Soviet military activities. Again, the RB's were able to do their job with total impunity, especially so as they were able to incorporate increasingly effective ECM equipment. Less well known is their role of Hurricane Hunters using their AN/CPS-9 weather radar until more capable aircraft became available.
RB-29K's were still active in the early years of the Vietnam War in the weather recon and damage evaluation roles. On several missions, they also served as pathfinders, locating and illuminating targets for strike aircraft. But by this point in their career, they had reached the end of their useful lives, and following the crash and loss of two aircraft in theater, they were withdrawn and retired. Sadly, no aircraft remain preserved today, and except for a few old pictures, little is left to remind us of their pioneering role in air reconnaissance.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZzsWoTO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4PR8T39.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sKelETb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9KYGgUC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pISvrM9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xbmhtvS.jpg)
The old Jurassic Dinosaur from when the Earth's crust was still pretty hot ;) A fun old classic to hack around on :smiley: Still have another in the queue to inflict upon you :o
Best regards,
Kem
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Very attractive build, and a good backstory.
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What the good doctor said. That's a truly beautiful build.
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:smiley: 8) :-*
Way Way Super in concept and build. Paint scheme and finish quality are inspiring. Being a multi-engine fan find landing gear change, V tail, and rest of features sooo right on !
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...larger V-tail likely would had been needed, XB-44's R-4360s necessitated a tall tail for the B-50 though even R-3350s likely would had necessitated taller V-tail though do notice the leading fillets.
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This is one damn sexy beast.
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This is one of those "i wish i had thought of that" builds, nice concept, beautifully finished model.
Mog
>^-.-^<
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I love this build! Keep it coming!
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Is this the B-29 from Dale Brown's book "Flight of the Oldest Dog?" :P
Well it is from Boeing, it has a Vee-tail and bicycle landing gear.
Well thought out and done.
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That's great! Love the V-tail and cool paint scheme!
Brian da Basher
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This just gets better and better ... ;D
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impressive !
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the looks really good. Nice work
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This is one of those "i wish i had thought of that" builds, nice concept, beautifully finished model.
Mog
>^-.-^<
Agreed! Wow oh Wow :-* :-* :-*
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I'm in love with that colour scheme!