Boeing B-54B, the Half-Way Bomber

[AeroplaneDriver]

Takeoff and landing is going to be a delicate affair unless the gear gets VERY tall...    CG's gonna be interesting too. 

[Tophe]

Belated congratulations!

[PR19_Kit]

Takeoff and landing is going to be a delicate affair unless the gear gets VERY tall...    CG's gonna be interesting too. 

The SAC of the period had VERY long runways.

[buzzbomb]

Very good stuff. The concept to me fits the 50's to a tee 

[sandiego89]

Kit, I know you are a bit off from painting, and I know you are a firm believer in brush painting, but this really begs for rattle can or airbrush aluminum/natural metal.  If not I firmly salute you- you will needs lots of bottles!

Watching with huge interest.

-Dave 

[PR19_Kit]

That's the plan Dave, I foresee many cans of different Halfords silvers in my future. 

And having to print off a number of SAC sash decals, it's so long it may need 2-3 of them. 

[Gondor]

You could reduce the amount of silver you need by painting large parts of the underside in Anti-Flash white.

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

I got some paint on the cockpits of the two potential escorts, and I came home today so I can carry on with the B-54B itself.

I've decided that a B-54.5 is too unwieldy and unlikely, but a B-54B is much more likely, so that's what it is from now on.

[Wardukw]

It's easier to say to Kit 
54.5 sounds like it's not completely finished yet 

[Old Wombat]

It's easier to say to Kit 
54.5 sounds like it's not completely finished yet 

But cheaper than 55 

[Rick Lowe]

It's easier to say to Kit 
54.5 sounds like it's not completely finished yet 

But cheaper than 55 

  

[Wardukw]

Yep 55 is getting expensive     

[PR19_Kit]

Had a long look-see at the B-54B's fuselage last night. Heavens, that thing's MASSIVE, but it still looks OK with the Tu-95's wings in the same position. The many Russian 'lumps and bumps' on their fuselage will have to go though, Boeing would never have done that I'm sure. Matching the other side won't be the work of moments, but it's looking OK so far. The interior needs my attention first of course.

[PR19_Kit]

I found out that Bear fuselage has many MORE bumps on the port side than it does on the starboard side, so all I did to that was saw the nose off. I spent the evening 'Americanising' one of the big contra-props by chopping off the tips, filing away the very obvious anti-icing boots on the prop blades and assembling the thing into some sort of order. As designed you have to glue the prop together before assembling the engine halves, but I want the props to plug in, so I made a few mods.

That's one BIG prop for sure, and I'm not too sure about the very rounded spinner, I think a US one would be more conical, but I doubt I can do much about it, so it's staying as it is. A few Hamilton Standard decals will make it look more the part. 

[Wardukw]

This is really gonna look so good Kit...can't wait to see it matey 😀