Author Topic: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration  (Read 104588 times)

Offline smeds

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #50 on: October 30, 2012, 03:09:26 AM »

Actually those are Grand Slams ---

I got the information straight from Boeing.  I also have this photo but it shows the complete aircraft, I also have a photo of a B-29 carrying a T-12, which was 44,000 lbs in weight.  Both photos were bought from the Boeing Archive

Found this :-

Are the underwing bombs Tallboys or Blockbusters? It seems inconceivable to me that a B29 can carry the load of a Lancaster under each wing!

They are Tallboys (Medium) 12,000lbs 21ft long with the casing 10ft 4ins long, 38ins dia.

Tallboy (Large) 22,000lbs 25ft 5ins long the casing 12ft 6ins long, 46ins dia.
Called Grandslam.

Tallboy (small) 4,000lbs used for ballistic trials.

According to wikipedia, the loaded weight of a B-29 is 120,000lb. max take off weight with combat load of 135,000lb.

Let the confusion reign

I figured you'd come back with a reply so have a look at these photos I bought from Boeing.  The top one I got first but when I offered up my Grand Slam bomb to the B-29 kit I have I quickly realized that the bomb in the photo was much bigger.  An email back to Boeing got me my answer, I was told it was actually a T-12.  I was then told there was another photo available which I then bought on the spot (bottom photo).  I then did a comparison with my kit Grand Slam and a Paragon Tallboy and found that the two bombs hanging under the B-29 were Grand Slam size.  You can see from this photo that the one you posted is only a part of it and from the full photo you can see the size very clearly and they are not Tallboys.  But don't take my word for it, you only have to do some comparing yourself to find out for yourself.

Bowing to your superior knowledge and having taken your advice I have looked around and can confirm that they are sand filled test GRAND SLAMS.


Offline kitnut617

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #51 on: October 30, 2012, 03:59:25 AM »
I have looked around and can confirm that they are sand filled test GRAND SLAMS.

Hmm! that is something I hadn't discovered.  Which begs a question, is a sand filled Grand Slam the same weight as one filled with explosives ?

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #52 on: October 30, 2012, 04:03:19 AM »
Another thing of interest in the photo of the two bombs under the wings, the flap above the bombs was half removed so that the flap would clear the bombs tail cone
« Last Edit: October 30, 2012, 04:07:03 AM by kitnut617 »

Offline smeds

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #53 on: October 30, 2012, 04:29:13 AM »
I have looked around and can confirm that they are sand filled test GRAND SLAMS.


Hmm! that is something I hadn't discovered.  Which begs a question, is a sand filled Grand Slam the same weight as one filled with explosives ?


Your pic with text

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #54 on: October 30, 2012, 05:23:00 AM »
Interesting   :)

In my photo, if I look at it under a magnifying glass, you can see someones face looking out the side blister quite clearly.  Another interesting observation, the B-29 has it's full compliment of turrets and guns ---

I was going to build my B-29 as an RAF Washington like this.

Offline jcf

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #55 on: October 30, 2012, 06:17:59 AM »
I have looked around and can confirm that they are sand filled test GRAND SLAMS.

Hmm! that is something I hadn't discovered.  Which begs a question, is a sand filled Grand Slam the same weight as one filled with explosives ?
Probably pretty close, as TNT has a specific gravity of 1.62 to 1.65, RDX is 1.7 (the Torpex filling was a mix of RDX, TNT, wax and aluminum powder) and packed sand has a specific gravity in a rough range of 1.6 to 1.9.

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« Last Edit: October 30, 2012, 06:24:55 AM by jcf »
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Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #56 on: December 17, 2012, 05:25:40 AM »
I just got a Revell 1/72 Dambuster Lancaster. So I was thinking of putting the Upkeep bouncing bomb in the B-29 bomb bay. 

To keep in the Upkeep in Commonwealth control, finish the B-29 in SEAC or FAA colours.
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Offline Daryl J.

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #57 on: September 15, 2013, 02:12:39 AM »
Ok....credit to Colin at Freightdog for the inspiration of this spinoff:

Rounded nose extended a trifle and converted to a giant antenna.   Pilot/copilot relocated to top of fuselage B-57 style.   Another belly or dorsal antenna mid fuselage.   Various antennae protruding from the aft fuselage.   Rest of crew sits in an air conditioned room at Nellis.    Yep..its a bit anachronistic with satellite communications but serves as a monitoring of foreign power shipping in the Pacific.
kwyxdxLg5T

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #58 on: September 18, 2013, 04:28:32 PM »
Crazy or Inspired?  A twinned B-29 (zwilling style) as an alternate to the B-36.  Both fuselages only use the front bomb bay for weapons (thus have the same overall weapons load as standard B-29) and use rear bay for additional fuel.  Crew would be less than two separate B-29s but range would be far in excess to standard.
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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #59 on: September 18, 2013, 05:51:10 PM »
How many engines would you have between the fuselages? 1, 2, 3?
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #60 on: September 18, 2013, 06:08:09 PM »
If a B-36 alternate, then starting with a B-50 is probably a better fit.  Certainly B-29 family.

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #61 on: September 18, 2013, 08:46:42 PM »
How many engines would you have between the fuselages? 1, 2, 3?

Not sure.  2 pr 3.
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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #62 on: September 18, 2013, 08:48:17 PM »
If a B-36 alternate, then starting with a B-50 is probably a better fit.  Certainly B-29 family.

Nah!  The idea here would be that the twinned B-29 would be developed as a stopgap or alternate to the B-36 when that runs into problems.  Thus this would be well before the B-50.

Besides, it is easier to get B-29 kits than it is B-50s... ;)
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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #63 on: September 18, 2013, 08:53:05 PM »
Of course the escort for this would have to be P/F-82s... ;)
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Offline jcf

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #64 on: September 19, 2013, 01:43:39 AM »
If a B-36 alternate, then starting with a B-50 is probably a better fit.  Certainly B-29 family.

Nah!  The idea here would be that the twinned B-29 would be developed as a stopgap or alternate to the B-36 when that runs into problems.  Thus this would be well before the B-50.

Besides, it is easier to get B-29 kits than it is B-50s... ;)

The B-50 was originally ordered as the B-29D in July, 1945 and engineering had started well
before that date.
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #65 on: September 19, 2013, 03:42:58 AM »
If a B-36 alternate, then starting with a B-50 is probably a better fit.  Certainly B-29 family.

Nah!  The idea here would be that the twinned B-29 would be developed as a stopgap or alternate to the B-36 when that runs into problems.  Thus this would be well before the B-50.

Besides, it is easier to get B-29 kits than it is B-50s... ;)

The B-50 was originally ordered as the B-29D in July, 1945 and engineering had started well
before that date.

Jon, what were the B-29B & C?  I know what the B-29 and B-29A are but these have me stumped --

Offline jcf

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #66 on: September 19, 2013, 04:03:25 AM »
B-29B: 311 Bell built aircraft with all armament stripped except for tail guns. Tail guns controlled
by AN/APG-15B fire control radar. External radar 'ball' and lack of turrets identify wartime B models.



B-29C: Designation assigned to planned version with improved R-3350, canceled.
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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #67 on: September 19, 2013, 04:13:48 AM »
what were the B-29B & C?  I know what the B-29 and B-29A are but these have me stumped --


If you can not trust the United States Air Force then who can you trust for a list of known B-29 variants  ;)

National Museum of the United States Air Force

National Museum of the USAF > Research > USAF Aircraft & History > Bomber > Fact Sheets:
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29A
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29B
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29C
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29D
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29E
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29F
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29G
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing XB-29H
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing YB-29J
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing RB-29J
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29K
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29L
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29M AND B-29MR
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29P
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing YKB-29T
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing EB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing SB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing TB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing WB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29 Airborne Early Warning
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Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #68 on: September 19, 2013, 06:45:13 AM »
what were the B-29B & C?  I know what the B-29 and B-29A are but these have me stumped --


If you can not trust the United States Air Force then who can you trust for a list of known B-29 variants  ;)

National Museum of the United States Air Force

National Museum of the USAF > Research > USAF Aircraft & History > Bomber > Fact Sheets:
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29A
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29B
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29C
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29D
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29E
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29F
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29G
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing XB-29H
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing YB-29J
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing RB-29J
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29K
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29L
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29M AND B-29MR
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing KB-29P
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing YKB-29T
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing EB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing SB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing TB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing WB-29
National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet - Boeing B-29 Airborne Early Warning


Okay. I have the B-29A and KB-29P in the stash. I guess I need to get 19 more kits to build the family.
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #69 on: September 19, 2013, 07:39:28 AM »
Okay. I have the B-29A and KB-29P in the stash. I guess I need to get 19 more kits to build the family.
Some of the variants on that list were not produced or were fielded under a different designation such as the KB-29K which ended up in service as the KB-29M.  Others on the list did not get further than the paperwork so your total number of B-29 variants will be far less than the nineteen that you claim to need :)
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Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #70 on: September 19, 2013, 08:51:35 AM »
Some of the variants on that list were not produced or were fielded under a different designation such as the KB-29K which ended up in service as the KB-29M.  Others on the list did not get further than the paperwork so your total number of B-29 variants will be far less than the nineteen that you claim to need :)

Unless you decide that you need to include the USN and Soviet (Tu-4) variants of the Superfortress.  In that case you'll need to add a few more to the pile.  I know, I'm cruel.  >:D

Cheers,

Logan

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #71 on: September 19, 2013, 09:44:23 AM »


 ;)
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #72 on: September 19, 2013, 09:47:47 AM »
Lovely  :-*

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #73 on: September 19, 2013, 11:32:23 AM »

The B-50 was originally ordered as the B-29D in July, 1945 and engineering had started well
before that date.

I realise that but also refer to my earlier statement re kit availability... ;)
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Boeing B-29 Superfortress ideas and inspiration
« Reply #74 on: September 19, 2013, 11:44:47 AM »
And don't forget the XB-39 and what might have developed from there if the R3350 had not managed to resolve its problems.