Academy 1/72 B-29A finished 4/11

[stikpusher]

Mar 7, 2024 15:03:02 GMT -5 Real G said:

 Way back in the 1990s, there was this great magazine where they built the model without paint or putty to show potential customers how well it fit.  When the Academy B-29 was reviewed, they mentioned that there was a discrepancy where the canopy met the upper fuselage.  

I remember that magazine. They accepted no donated kits for reviews, so they were beholden to none to softpedal a review like many magazines do, and the builds were strictly what came in the box, no frills or add ons allowed. They had the BEST reviews out there. Too bad that the magazine didn’t last but a few years. 

[reserve]

Canopy went on fairly well but it was short; did not discover that 'till I went to fix the nose glass. When I do the B-50 I'll have to remember to fix the nose first as it'll be easier to deal with gaps on the back of the canopy.

In primer and drying






Should be able to start laying down color in a couple hours. I did not do a very good job of gluing in the bombs as they started to fall out while handling the model so I'll look into scratching a couple bomb carts to put them on since I went to the trouble of assembling and painting the pain in the ass things

[406 Silverado]

Mar 22, 2024 12:42:24 GMT -5 reserve said:

Canopy went on fairly well but it was short; did not discover that 'till I went to fix the nose glass. When I do the B-50 I'll have to remember to fix the nose first as it'll be easier to deal with gaps on the back of the canopy.

In primer and drying






Should be able to start laying down color in a couple hours. I did not do a very good job of gluing in the bombs as they started to fall out while handling the model so I'll look into scratching a couple bomb carts to put them on since I went to the trouble of assembling and painting the pain in the ass things

  Funny how that works with parts that have fit issues in the final stages of a build. When I built my Fw190 D-9 that was all opened up, I must've fit the engine & firewall assembly 20 times and when it came time to glue everything in........nothing fit.   I ended up having to pull of some really fancy footwork to get everything to cooperate and in the end it looked good. Just hell getting there.

Looking good so far and looks like you got the canopy blues sorted out well. Good on you for using the bombs that came loose as well. Such is modeling......

[reserve]

Yeah as the saying goes it ain't over 'till it's over.

Got the base colors on, I still have the bottom taped up 'cause I'll do a upper surface fading coat or two





I ended up using most of the Mission Models USAAF OD that I had left on this. Hatefull stuff to work with and very fragile before a sealing coat but I do like the color itself

[kyledehart5]

Loooks excellent.

[kyledehart5]

I’m leaving that looks with the extra o too. That is a nice color. I’ve never tried mission models paints but have heard mostly horrible things. Great job bending it to your will.

[reserve]

Other than its fragility, the biggest problem I find with the MM paint is it takes many coats to get a solid base down. I had to spray the OD in five sessions; it just does not cover well.

I've taken the time to sit down with it over the past few days and have advanced it thus





Almost all decals done and the panel wash is about half done. It occurrs to me that the MM paint is alot like the old Pactra paint I tried a couple times back in the seventies, impossible to brush on and I did not have an airbrush back then. I've not seen that brand in decades wonder if they still make it

[keavdog]

That looks so sharp in OD! And wow she's big, even in 1/72

[TJ]

Looks so different in OD

[handiabled]

Looks great with the markings on the od paintwork! It shows the great re-scribe work on the panel lines wonderfully

[deafpanzer]

Love the color you have chosen for this! I usually see them with naked metal... looking great already.

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Apparently OD and Grey were common on the aircraft that were based in India as was the subject of this model. Finished this afternoon















Learned a few handy things about this model which will be a big help when I start that B-50. This won't take place for awhile, hopefully I'll remember when the time comes

[stikpusher]

Good looking finish Reserve. IIRC, only the first couple dozen or so B-29s were camouflage painted, and most of those ended up in India.

[keavdog]

Great looking model. Really fun to see one in OD - never have before. I'm tempted to add that kit to the stash. Well done.

[jeaton01]

Looks really good. You have done well!

[kyledehart5]

Brilliant work!! This turned out awesome. I agree about the OD. Don’t see it often and it looks fantastic.

[reserve]

Thank you gents

It is different isn't it

[tcoat]

Like everybody else has said it is weird seeing these in camo.

[handiabled]

It looks fantastic in the olive drab camo scheme! Great job on this and again the re-scribing really looks terrific

[406 Silverado]

This turned out simply beautiful Mark and as was mentioned looks to be a huge model even in this smaller scale. I remember the old Pactra paints all too well and painted up an old COE Freightliner with the Pactra Royal Blue using a brush. You bring up a LOT of memories when you mentioned the word Pactra.Stuff was terrible but it did the trick back when I was around 15 years old or so.

[reserve]

Thank you gents I do like to model different stuff if I can. Y'all probably knew that already

[lyle]

She is a magnificent lady!

I have one on the "shelf of someday" that has been there 8 years, or so the FB memories tell me. It was going pretty well until it did a Kamikaze dive of the bench. Made a 6 inch crater in the floor there is so much weight in the nose. Canopy is toast. I have some vacuform replacements, but generally do not have much luck with those. This is making the itch to get it done come back. Mine is also a OD/Gray scheme.

[fermis]

Excellent job!!!

I miss looking at my 29 in the stash(tanker version). That went to "Bondoman"(IIRC), back just before I got into 1/72. (anybody hear from him?)

[buddho]

Gorgeous finish!

[reserve]

Thank you gents

[TJ]

Excellent finish. As others have said looks very different in those colors.

[reserve]

Thank you sir I'm tempted to take it down to the LHS and watch people as they walk past it

[themongoose]

Sure looks like you’re going to make a nice build out of this kit! I’ll be following along as you go 🍿

edit…and follow along I did as once i replied i was taken to page 2 lol hadn’t realized it was done i was so into reading that first page of building notes! As the others said that camo scheme is so different. Excellent finish sir!

[stikpusher]

Apr 13, 2024 19:33:01 GMT -5 fermis said:

Excellent job!!!

I miss looking at my 29 in the stash(tanker version). That went to "Bondoman"(IIRC), back just before I got into 1/72. (anybody hear from him?)

He’s still on FSM as GMorrison nowadays.

[reserve]

Thanks M in spite of some inadequacies present in this kit some extra steps taken can produce an acceptable model. I'm pretty happy with it; every time I look at it I can't help but get a bit puffed up. Gotta be the uncommon paint scheme, yes?