1/48 Monogram B-29 Question

Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:13 pm

Folks,

I'm finally getting around to building the 1/48 Monogram B-29 that's been sitting in the closet for more than 30 years. In the front wheelwell (nosegear) there are two cylinders/tanks molded on the aft wall. Any ideas as to what they are (possibly a hydraulic tank ??) and what color they should be?

Thanks,
Bill

Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:21 pm

Unless they're oxygen tanks, I don't know what those would be...but if 02 tanks were there, then I don't know how the nosegear would retract. There were no tanks installed in FIFI's wheel wells. Do you have a picture, so we could see exactly what you're talking about?

Gary

Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:47 pm

I am at a loss as well>

Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:58 am

I'll try to get a picture posted sometime in the next few days.

Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:15 am

Last edited by the330thbg on Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:23 am

Never seen those on a real B-29. That doesn't mean they didn't exist...just that I haven't seen them.
So unless they're oxygen bottles, I wouldn't have any idea what color to paint them.
Gary

Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:38 am

yah, I agree!

HAH! :shock:

Last edited by the330thbg on Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:33 pm

I took one for the team and watched the '29 training video again tonight but wasn't able to see anything. I was hoping to catch something in the preflight section but they didn't show anything. I did find a picture that may help though. I found a see-through gray 3/4 view of the plane showing oxygen bottles and such, and it shows two engine fire extenguisher bottles in that area pointing up and down just like these are in the model. The guys here that have actually had their hands on these planes would know a heck of alot better than me, but this may be something to go on.

Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:48 pm

The fire extinguishers for the engines on FIFI were located in the forward bomb bay, just outboard of the R/H bomb racks. I suspect that's where most, if not all, of the B-29 fire bottles were.

Gary

Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:01 pm

That may be what this picture is showing then. It doesn't have any of the helpful landmarks like the greenhouse glass or the lower turret to be able to judge distance.

Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:21 am

retroaviation wrote:The fire extinguishers for the engines on FIFI were located in the forward bomb bay, just outboard of the R/H bomb racks. I suspect that's where most, if not all, of the B-29 fire bottles were.

Gary

I have not seen them in any interior photos of this area. I think they were just 'put' in by Monogram. O2 bottles were not placed in the proximity of any crew position on the B-29 (that I know of).., that way if they 'popped' they would not take any of them out.., where these two are located (if they were O2 bottles) they would damage both the A/C and the Pilot.

Last edited by the330thbg on Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:38 am

Well, all I can tell ya' is what I know from my own personal experiences. I'm not gonna be much help after that.

Gary

Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:38 pm

WIXerGreg is correct. They are the engine fire bottles. You all shamed me into digging out my now unneeded B-29 Maintenance Manual. Here are a couple of excerpts:

Scott

Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:51 pm

Phew.., finally Scott came with his BOOK.., we were waiting days for this Scott..,

Thanks for finally showing up!!!!!!!

By the way.., please make sure you delete the photo you have of 'the book' or NMUSAF will be dropping by, confiscating it and shredding it.., it does not belong to you.., it belongs to the government!!!!

HAHA!!!! :shock:

Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:18 pm

Interesting. I don't think 44-62070 (FIFI) ever had them there.....at least it doesn't look like it in the wheel well. I just assumed they were always beside the bomb racks, but what do I know about B-29s? Apparently nothin', huh? Sorry about that, y'all. :oops:

Gary