Academy 1:72 B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay'

[AirCadet424]

Hello all,

As this year will be the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the world's first atom bomb on Hiroshima in Japan, I've decided to build a model of the famous B-29 Superfortress that dropped that bomb, namely the 'Enola Gay'.

The kit I'm using is the Academy release #12528 that is specifically dedicated to both of the aircraft that dropped the atom bombs on Hiroshima (Enola Gay) 6th August 1945 and also on Nagasaki (Bockscar) three days later on 9th August 1945. It's a nicely detailed kit with some nicely recessed panel lines and a good level of detail and which also includes scale replicas of both of the atom bombs used on those two missions - the 'Little Boy' (Hiroshima) and the 'Fat Man' (Nagasaki). Some nice quality 'Cartograph' decals are also included in the kit. To enhance the kit a little more I'm making use of Eduard's PE set, 'Scale Aircraft Conversions' white metal landing gear, replacement resin wheels from 'Radial Engines & Wheels 72', and a set of Eduard Masks. To finish the model in it's distinctive 'Natural Metal Finish' (NMF) I will be using a combination of 'Alclad 2' metallic paints and some real metal foil using ordinary kitchen foil. I have a couple of useful reference books to help me with this build.

An example of my Airfix 1:72 P-51D Mustang (Tuskegee Red Tail), which was finished using the same foiling technique can be found here:

https://forum.model-space.co.uk/default ... ts&t=17481


Information and facts about the two missions can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enola_Gay


I hope that you will follow my build and I welcome all comments and criticisms.

Kev

[AirCadet424]

Well that was the intro, now to show what has been done so far in this build. A lot of scratchbuilt extra details and Eduard etch added. The penny shot shows the small scale of this kit and how cramped the cockpit detail is! Some of the bulkheads and fittings aren't permanently glued at this stage to allow for easier painting access.

Kev





















More detail still to be added and then it's out with the paints! Thanks for looking.

Kev

[Stokesy44]

Beautiful work on the cockpit Sir.

[AirCadet424]

Thanks Stokesy, your nice comments are greatly appreciated.

Kev

[Hawkmoon]

Looking good and nice work

[RangerNeil]

That's an amazing bit of cockpit work - and all the more so given the scale!!

[AirCadet424]

Looking good and nice work

Thanks Andy, really appreciate your comments, and thanks for looking in on my build.

Kev

[AirCadet424]

That's an amazing bit of cockpit work - and all the more so given the scale!!

Thanks for looking in and your nice comments Neil, always greatly appreciated. Yes, not easy in this scale and even more to add yet, but great fun nonetheless!

Kev.

[Kevthemodeller]

That's looks to be a very nice kit

The cockpit and PE work is top

[aur0ra145]

Very nice PE work. I saw the real thing about two years ago during a trip to DC.

[RicRodrigues]

Excellent work with that PE!!!

I'll be definitely following this build!!!

[AirCadet424]

Thanks very much indeed for you comments guys, all gratefully received and pleased that you are following my build. I especially appreciate your remarks about the PE work some of which is mind-blowingly small in this scale!

Kev

[CygnusX1]

Madman for all that PE - eye strain yet? It looks absolutely fantastic though, and will be following along.

[DRUMS01]

I still have the Monogram B29 with the atomic bombs and decals in 1/48. This kit in 1/72 looks every bit as detailed, perhaps better. And your modeling skills including the PE bring it to another level.

How is the fitment of kit parts, flash, mold seams or ejector pin marks?

Stunning work so far, looking forward to your new color (paint) updates.

Ben

[Tankboy76]

I was stunned when I saw the cockpit - that's amazing.

[AirCadet424]

Thanks for looking in and your great comments guys, very much appreciated. The eyes don't get too strained, I have a very good pair of Japanese quality 'optivisors' that make a gnats' gonads look like a couple of basketballs, so not too difficult - just needs a really steady hand, which thankfully I have!

@ Ben - The fit of parts is generally quite good, nothing terrible so far but a long way to go yet, not much flash if any, the mould seams are pretty good and ejector pin marks aren't too bad either. The ones that are present aren't really in highly visible places and the detail is reasonably good straight out of the box too. The only disappointment for me is that there isn't a lot of detail in the bomb bay, which I was going to build open with the 'Little Boy' bomb loaded, but think now that I'm gonna have the bomb bay doors closed with the bomb alongside the plane when finished as I don't have the time to undertake shed loads of scratchbuilt ribs and stringers and other fittings!?

Been a while since my last update - been working on my WnW 1:32 Bristol F.2b Fighter - but will get going on this one again for a little while and post a new update sometime soon.

Thanks for taking the time.

Kev.