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This is
the third major “cutaway” scale model that I have done. I have always
had a fascination with “What’s on the inside?”. Most museums won’t
let you crawl through their display airplanes so, this is the next best thing.
Half of the fun of building these models this way is the research. I
usually try and find something unusual about the plane. For this model, I
chose (or it chose me) the B-29 with the “Flying Wing” and “Gun Aiming”
radars. I am always amazed at what I learn as I research my build, like;
when I think about the B-29, I see all those remote controlled guns but, the
most prevalent version in WWII was the “Turtleless” version. They
stripped all the guns off except for the tail gunner and put sheet metal
“caps” over the turret emplacements. By removing the guns and the
associated weight savings, it made the B-29 faster than most every plane the
Japanese had.
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images below to see larger images
My interest is
in airplanes with multiple crew and multiple crew stations. I have a
cut-away B-17 in the gallery section here and was amazed to see the
difference in the bombay size between these two planes. I also wired
the interior with LED’s so that people can see inside.
The
build took me about 2 years working on it off and on; more in the Winter, less
in the Summer. When the diorama was finished, the wife took one look at it
and said “Where are you going to put that monstrosity?!!!”. “I guess
the middle of the dining room table is out.” I’m thinking. I’m also
thinking I should put that 1/48 scale B-36 peacemaker on hold for a little
while.
Curt Waffle
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