Quote from: Gondor on March 03, 2023, 01:45:16 PMNothing wrong with mounting some "test device" where the upper front turret was and then haveing some part of the device inside the cabin where it can be monitored. The reconnaissance  aircraft that were used for ataom bomb missions had cameras mounted in the forward gun turret if I remember off the top of my head, I will check my refferences and get back to you about that though.

Gondor

Thanks.  I believe all of the B-29s of the 509th composite group were Silver Plate aircraft without turrets.  The 15 aircraft of the 393rd squadron were used as weather recon, strike aircraft, observer/photo, and instrument drop.  I think I might go without turrets, but with some blisters. 

Quote from: sandiego89 on March 03, 2023, 01:28:21 PMI just found out that the RAAF go a couple of B-29's for test purposes, and at he end they had no turrets and looked pretty sharp. 

The RAAF ones were, I understand, loan aircraft from the RAF and were used exclusively at Woomera.  We had little contact with the USAF after the end of the war, until we bought Hercules in the late 1950s.

I've been tempted by that kit.

<popcorn>

Quote from: rickshaw on March 04, 2023, 06:06:58 PMThe RAAF ones were, I understand, loan aircraft from the RAF and were used exclusively at Woomera.  We had little contact with the USAF after the end of the war, until we bought Hercules in the late 1950s.

Hmmm Woomera, and I just happen to have a few spare nukes in this kit just laying around.......

Quote from: zenrat on March 05, 2023, 01:14:50 AMI've been tempted by that kit.

<popcorn>

So was I, and I bought one. I've never had a B-29 of any sort before and it's going to be part of my 50s GB build, together with a few other kits that are currently in The Loft. 

Quote from: sandiego89 on March 05, 2023, 05:37:29 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on March 04, 2023, 06:06:58 PMThe RAAF ones were, I understand, loan aircraft from the RAF and were used exclusively at Woomera.  We had little contact with the USAF after the end of the war, until we bought Hercules in the late 1950s.

Hmmm Woomera, and I just happen to have a few spare nukes in this kit just laying around.......

All of Britain nukes that were dropped over Maralinga were dropped by Vickers Valiants.  Blue Boer on the otherhand were tested from Lincolns and B-29s.

I'm sure lots of testing aircraft would have had several turrets and blisters for taking pictures of whatever they were testing so do as you see fit and looks the part. Just my $0.02.

Quote from: rickshaw on March 05, 2023, 08:20:43 PM

Quote from: sandiego89 on March 05, 2023, 05:37:29 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on March 04, 2023, 06:06:58 PMThe RAAF ones were, I understand, loan aircraft from the RAF and were used exclusively at Woomera.  We had little contact with the USAF after the end of the war, until we bought Hercules in the late 1950s.

Hmmm Woomera, and I just happen to have a few spare nukes in this kit just laying around.......

All of Britain nukes that were dropped over Maralinga were dropped by Vickers Valiants.  Blue Boer on the otherhand were tested from Lincolns and B-29s.

But if the cooperation that was enjoyed with the merging of the Tube Alloy into the Manhattan Project had continued, maybe there could have been something in the UK arsenal before Blue Danube.....and you would need something prior to Valiants.... 

Quote from: kerick on March 06, 2023, 08:55:23 AMI'm sure lots of testing aircraft would have had several turrets and blisters for taking pictures of whatever they were testing so do as you see fit and looks the part. Just my $0.02.

Yes, I plan to use the blisters, the engineers and cameras need to see what is being tested.....but think the turrets will be ferried over. 

Quote from: sandiego89 on March 06, 2023, 02:57:25 PM

Quote from: rickshaw on March 05, 2023, 08:20:43 PM

Quote from: sandiego89 on March 05, 2023, 05:37:29 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on March 04, 2023, 06:06:58 PMThe RAAF ones were, I understand, loan aircraft from the RAF and were used exclusively at Woomera.  We had little contact with the USAF after the end of the war, until we bought Hercules in the late 1950s.

Hmmm Woomera, and I just happen to have a few spare nukes in this kit just laying around.......

All of Britain nukes that were dropped over Maralinga were dropped by Vickers Valiants.  Blue Boer on the otherhand were tested from Lincolns and B-29s.

But if the cooperation that was enjoyed with the merging of the Tube Alloy into the Manhattan Project had continued, maybe there could have been something in the UK arsenal before Blue Danube.....and you would need something prior to Valiants.... 

Quote from: kerick on March 06, 2023, 08:55:23 AMI'm sure lots of testing aircraft would have had several turrets and blisters for taking pictures of whatever they were testing so do as you see fit and looks the part. Just my $0.02.

Yes, I plan to use the blisters, the engineers and cameras need to see what is being tested.....but think the turrets will be ferried over. 

Assuming the things being tested are being dropped from the aircraft, observers and cameras would be looking basically out the bottom of the aircraft. I'm sure this was worked out way back then but how did they film or watch the test without laying on their bellies or standing on their heads? Prisms, TV, long lenses?

If your using this to watch nuclear weapons tests which we know they did all they did was mount cameras in the bomb aimers position and in the waist gunners postions.
When they dropped fat man on Japan all the video footage was filmed from these positions but this is wiffy world so cameras mounted in the gun turrets or a new custom made camera turret 

Use a yellow filter as you'll get a sharper picture.

Quote from: McColm on March 07, 2023, 10:30:08 AMUse a yellow filter as you'll get a sharper picture.

use all the filters !!!

Quote from: kerick on March 07, 2023, 08:38:57 AMAssuming the things being tested are being dropped from the aircraft, observers and cameras would be looking basically out the bottom of the aircraft. I'm sure this was worked out way back then but how did they film or watch the test without laying on their bellies or standing on their heads? Prisms, TV, long lenses?

For my main build, it is not a drop test that they will need the data or observation of....blisters will do just fine.

Oh yeah. This will be good !

Work started. 

The kit looks good, good amount of detail



If you want to build a Silver Plate Atomic bomber, or otherwise turretless TB-29 or KB-29, you need to remove some of the turret coaming. 



Top fuselage the turret coaming has been removed.



Dry fit of the fuselage, very good fit, little seam. 



Black primer while most still on the sprue. Lots of bits!



B-29 looks good in black