(DONE, pics pg 16/17) NATO Reporting name "Bull." Cuban Tu-4 Heavy Bomber

TheChronicOne · February 16, 2017, 03:05:20 PM

Khrushchev decided to congratulate his lil buddy Castro on his shiny new country by refurbishing and painting up a Tu-4 Bull and giving it to him. The Bull was delivered in 1961. While fully combat capable, the aircraft never fired a shot in an anger or drop any payload. It was mainly used as flying propaganda.

I have a 1975 Airfix 1/72 B-29 kit. I'm wanting to do a blue/green two tone came over light grey bottom kind of like how they painted their Fishbeds. I figure if I can get the colors right it'll look good but if I get them wrong, it could look terrible! I have a trip to the store planned to get some more paint soon.

This thing as a boat load of parts. The largest build I've ever done. I think a B-17 I did back in about 1991 (1/72) has prior held that distinction but this is quite more involved! It seems to have a full interior. I haven't really looked that deep into the stuff but glancing at the instructions there's crawl space, lil dudes, bomb bay(s) w bombs, and all that sort of stuff. Anyway, it's hands down the largest and most elaborate kit I've tried so this should be interesting.

I'm thinking of making a MiG-21 to go with it as an escort. I have the old Hase one and it seems pretty easy to build so why not? I can either have it match the bomber or make some fancy "presidential escort" scheme or some jive.

This could be fun!! Any tips on this particular kits peculiarities (say that 10 times fast) would be appreciated.

EDIT:

Info dump inbound!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-29_Superfortress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudelman-Suranov_NS-23

http://englishrussia.com/2013/05/23/the-only-tu-4-plane-russia-has-today/ (these are a bunch of good, fascinating pictures!!)

The Rat · February 16, 2017, 06:53:42 PM

Loving this already!

TheChronicOne · February 17, 2017, 05:46:29 AM

Thanks!!

Some of this could change, even to a major degree, but I really want to go ahead with it as planned. I've been itching to try the camo ever since I saw it. I just need to do a little more research and test some stuff before I lock it in. One other thing I need to do is see what the stall speed of a Fishbed is. lol

scooter · February 17, 2017, 06:14:36 AM

Quote from: TheChronicOne on February 17, 2017, 05:46:29 AM
Thanks!!

Some of this could change, even to a major degree, but I really want to go ahead with it as planned. I've been itching to try the camo ever since I saw it. I just need to do a little more research and test some stuff before I lock it in. One other thing I need to do is see what the stall speed of a Fishbed is. lol

According to Wikipedia landing speed is around 190kn.

TheChronicOne · February 17, 2017, 06:21:35 AM

Quote from: scooter on February 17, 2017, 06:14:36 AM
Quote from: TheChronicOne on February 17, 2017, 05:46:29 AM
Thanks!!

Some of this could change, even to a major degree, but I really want to go ahead with it as planned. I've been itching to try the camo ever since I saw it. I just need to do a little more research and test some stuff before I lock it in. One other thing I need to do is see what the stall speed of a Fishbed is. lol

According to Wikipedia landing speed is around 190kn.

Awesome, thank you... a lil quick math seems to indicate I have a problem. Looks like the cruising speed of my heavy is about the same as the landing speed of the MiG-21! Hmmmmmm....... I suppose I could switch up to a Sea Fury or something... or even something completely new.

sandiego89 · February 17, 2017, 03:19:22 PM

Love Cuban colors. Bring it on!

McColm · February 17, 2017, 04:03:01 PM

You can get photo etch interior and exterior improvement sets but you'll find that most are for the Academy kit.
The fittings use thicker plastic, so you might want to replace them with aftermarket parts, white metal landing gear and resin tyres.
There's gap issues on the fuselage, engines and wings. You'll find that one side will fit better than the other. Try the Olympic engine set if you have enough beer tokens or replacement weapons set for the Tu-4. The cockpit needs detailing as you can see right in through the glazing. The bomb doors don't fit, get plenty of reference photos. It can be a tail sitter- best use a thin piece of plastic to prop the fuselage which can be hidden by the main landing gear.
The propellers can be thinned. The Airfix instructions are a bit vague in places but there's always a few kit reviews on line.
Unfortunately the Academy parts aren't interchangeable with the Airfix kit, oh they will fit eventually but a lot of sanding and trimming is needed.
It's a big kit so plenty of room is needed.
I find that if you glue the wings to the fuselage halves first and then add the interior detailing before gluing the two halves together , you get a better fit (less gaps).
Propellers and wheels go on last.
I'm using the Academy KB-29P to build the Tu-70/75 transport/airline version.

TheChronicOne · February 17, 2017, 05:34:22 PM

Quote from: sandiego89 on February 17, 2017, 03:19:22 PM
Love Cuban colors. Bring it on!

Same here... If I can nail the proper shades/tints/hues or whatever the proper term would be in this instance and get them right it will look glorious. I am looking forward to hitting the LHS to shop for my lil acrylic paints.

TheChronicOne · February 17, 2017, 05:42:32 PM

Quote from: McColm on February 17, 2017, 04:03:01 PM
You can get photo etch interior and exterior improvement sets but you'll find that most are for the Academy kit.
The fittings use thicker plastic, so you might want to replace them with aftermarket parts, white metal landing gear and resin tyres.
There's gap issues on the fuselage, engines and wings. You'll find that one side will fit better than the other. Try the Olympic engine set if you have enough beer tokens or replacement weapons set for the Tu-4. The cockpit needs detailing as you can see right in through the glazing. The bomb doors don't fit, get plenty of reference photos. It can be a tail sitter- best use a thin piece of plastic to prop the fuselage which can be hidden by the main landing gear.
The propellers can be thinned. The Airfix instructions are a bit vague in places but there's always a few kit reviews on line.
Unfortunately the Academy parts aren't interchangeable with the Airfix kit, oh they will fit eventually but a lot of sanding and trimming is needed.
It's a big kit so plenty of room is needed.
I find that if you glue the wings to the fuselage halves first and then add the interior detailing before gluing the two halves together , you get a better fit (less gaps).
Propellers and wheels go on last.
I'm using the Academy KB-29P to build the Tu-70/75 transport/airline version.

This is what I'm talkin' bout! Some good info here!

I figure my budget on this one around $10 so won't be anything too extravagant. (Just enough to buy 2-3 paints and a set of transfers) I'm going to have to make this all work "as is." I figure me going to the trouble to buy kits really cheap would be for naught if I have to spend a bunch on aftermarket stuff. If I were to do all that, I may as will spring for the best actual kit as I could to go with it. My whole philosophy is to get kits cheap as possible and make them work.

Beer tokens are for beer. LOL

Thanks a million for these build tips, I will find myself revisiting this post along the way to keep on a steady course.

zenrat · February 17, 2017, 07:52:39 PM

i've always been partial to this scheme.

NARSES2 · February 18, 2017, 04:57:19 AM

Didn't see that one when I was in Cuba, but there's a very similar one in the museum in Havana along with a lot of other interesting stuff. It's a very bright scheme and tends to almost jump out at you.

TheChronicOne · February 18, 2017, 06:16:52 AM

Yeeeeeah that's cool right there. Sea Fury?? I hadn't seen that particular paint scheme... I might like that better than what I planned on.

I wonder about their camo. With the blues in it is there any scientific basis for it? Does it actually function as a *useful* camo or is it fancy decoration?

Captain Canada · February 18, 2017, 07:40:21 AM

Great idea looking forward to seeing some pics. Love that box art !

TheChronicOne · February 18, 2017, 08:08:21 AM

Indeed, it's quite nice!! And thanks! I think it's a good idea too but this thing has like 180 friggin parts (give or take) so I hope I can keep my wits about me. I'm pretty stoked though. Now that I've *actually* started on it I'm more excited. For a bit there the task was looking rather daunting.

If anyone has any idea where to look (on the internet) for good interior pics, that would be useful. I'm not going to lengths by any means but I would like to try my best to do what I can to make things look good inside.

So far, so good, in the realm of finding parts (most are not on the sprues any more). According to the ebay listing all the most vital parts are definitely in these kits and the only thing that MIGHT be missing are some of the tiny parts. So far so good, the tiny yokes and seats and Lil Buddies are all accounted for so I'll be assembling and starting in on painting all the interior stuff.

I'll try to get a picture or few of all this stuff later. I'd like to document some of this but there are just so many parts it would be hard to lay it all out at once.

TheChronicOne · February 18, 2017, 09:43:35 AM

Quote from: McColm on February 17, 2017, 04:03:01 PM
You can get photo etch interior and exterior improvement sets but you'll find that most are for the Academy kit.
The fittings use thicker plastic, so you might want to replace them with aftermarket parts, white metal landing gear and resin tyres.
There's gap issues on the fuselage, engines and wings. You'll find that one side will fit better than the other. Try the Olympic engine set if you have enough beer tokens or replacement weapons set for the Tu-4. The cockpit needs detailing as you can see right in through the glazing. The bomb doors don't fit, get plenty of reference photos. It can be a tail sitter- best use a thin piece of plastic to prop the fuselage which can be hidden by the main landing gear.
The propellers can be thinned. The Airfix instructions are a bit vague in places but there's always a few kit reviews on line.
Unfortunately the Academy parts aren't interchangeable with the Airfix kit, oh they will fit eventually but a lot of sanding and trimming is needed.
It's a big kit so plenty of room is needed.
I find that if you glue the wings to the fuselage halves first and then add the interior detailing before gluing the two halves together , you get a better fit (less gaps).
Propellers and wheels go on last.
I'm using the Academy KB-29P to build the Tu-70/75 transport/airline version.

Already coming back to this. Could you go into a bit more detail on the thinning of the props? Are the airfix ones too thick? Do I need to change the shape of them any? I know they used different engines on the Tu-4 so perhaps they had different props as well. I'm doing my own research on the side as well, but I'm just getting started really.

I'm also curious about the attaching the wings to the fuse halves first. What is it about doing it the other way that creates these gaps?

Thanks a million... trying to avoid future nightmares here.