Official B-29 Doc Restoration Thread

[jtramo]

It looks magnificent poished. Really stunning!

[B-29 Watcher]

The pictures of the interior of "DOC" look really interesting. I was thinking it would be nice to have a pictorial tour of the entire interior tail gunner position to bombardier seat. If that is possible. I really enjoy seeing all the pictures, they make it so real. When he comes to the Punta Gorda, Florida Air Show I will be there to see him. I hope to take a ride & meet the crew. It would be nice to meet you guys.

[APG85]

Not only is the plane gorgeous, but the the hangar it's sitting in is beautiful as well. I hope you guys can get some nice, full shots of the completed plane sitting inside that hangar...! Awesome job...!

[Chappie]

I've been jokingly referring to it as a B-29-70-BW-Plus (or maybe a B-29I for "improved")... we threw out "MLU" and "MSIP", since she's long passed "mid-life"

Jeremy,

I kinda like the MLU, but how about just B-29A+ or B-29A SCU (Senior Citizen Update)?

Chappie

[K5DH]

I know this may be putting the cart before the horse, but... y'all will have to bring the B-29 down to VFM some time and get a photo with her parked inside our hangar, which was a USAAF B-29 maintenance hangar! FIFI's done it, so Doc should, too!

[B-29 Watcher]

Jeremy Housdan wrote:

I've been jokingly referring to it as a B-29-70-BW-Plus (or maybe a B-29I for "improved")... we threw out "MLU" and "MSIP", since she's long passed "mid-life"


Jeremy,

I kinda like the MLU, but how about just B-29A+ or B-29A SCU (Senior Citizen Update)?

Chappie

I dont know but it seems to me with all the work that has been done to him over the last 15 years it sould be "NLU" (NEW LIFE UPDATE). DOC is coming up on his 69th birthday March, 1945 to March, 2014. But really he is bran new. Thanks to "Tony Mozzolini", "Docs Freinds", and all of the great "Witchita Crew". HE IS A BRAN NEW 1945 B-29-70-BW-PLUS-NLU.

BTW; THANKS FOR ALL THE PICTURES

[Jeremy Housdan]

I've been jokingly referring to it as a B-29-70-BW-Plus (or maybe a B-29I for "improved")... we threw out "MLU" and "MSIP", since she's long passed "mid-life"

Jeremy,

I kinda like the MLU, but how about just B-29A+ or B-29A SCU (Senior Citizen Update)?

Chappie

small point of order... it can't be a B-29A, it wasn't built in Renton. (fifi was though, I believe!)

[Jeremy Housdan]

The pictures of the interior of "DOC" look really interesting. I was thinking it would be nice to have a pictorial tour of the entire interior tail gunner position to bombardier seat. If that is possible. I really enjoy seeing all the pictures, they make it so real. When he comes to the Punta Gorda, Florida Air Show I will be there to see him. I hope to take a ride & meet the crew. It would be nice to meet you guys.

If i can remember to, I'll crawl around inside her tomorrow and get some pictures from front to back. I'll be doing a split day at the hangar though so I don't know if I'll have time.


At some point soon myself and another member of my team will be finishing the riveting on the wing fairings and some more rivets on the top of the wings (getting those clecoes out won't be fun... they've been on there for almost 7 years part of which time was outdoors in the elements... They're likely rusted in position, not to mention they will have to be bucked from inside of one of the center - wing fuel cavities. Not fun!

[Chappie]

small point of order... it can't be a B-29A, it wasn't built in Renton. (fifi was though, I believe!)

I thought I'd get gig'd for that one. I'm not an expert on B-29 variants. There was what B-29, B-29A, and B-29B? The latter had the wing-type radar between the bomb bays?


Chappie

[Pogmusic]

B-29B only had the stinger in the tail. All other armament was not built into the aircraft. And the APQ-7

[Jeremy Housdan]

Yeah B-29As were all the B-29s produced at the Boeing - Renton facility. B-29Bs all came out of the maretta plant I believe and were purpose - built without the gun turrets (save the rear one) and I believe had the same fuel injected engines the silverplate B-29s had... I think. All other B-29s are simply referred to without suffix or are addressed with their block number and site of production. For example, ours is a B-29-70-BW. The "-70" means it was part of the block 70 modification on the production run and the "BW" means "Boeing-Wichita" where it was built.

[ryguy135]

The only difference between the B-29s and the B-29As is in the center wing. The A's had a center wing stub through the fuselage, making for a wing made of 5 main assemblies. All others had a one piece center wing, making for a wing made of three main assemblies.

Anyone know if the B-29D (more commonly known as the B-50) had the 3 piece or 5 piece wing?

[Jeremy Housdan]

The only difference between the B-29s and the B-29As is in the center wing. The A's had a center wing stub through the fuselage, making for a wing made of 5 main assemblies. All others had a one piece center wing, making for a wing made of three main assemblies.

Anyone know if the B-29D (more commonly known as the B-50) had the 3 piece or 5 piece wing?

The B-29D/50s were all produced at Renton I believe... so it wouldn't surprise me if they used the same wing setup as the B-29A.

[Jeremy Housdan]

Edited per our marketing team

Last edited by Jeremy Housdan on Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Prop Dome Polisher]

Jeremy,

FABULOUS pictures, keep 'em coming.

After seeing the whole inside of Fifi (and flying on her) I find what you guy's are doing extremely fascinating.

These two planes are going to be a national treasure.

Since we're going to have a boy and girl maybe you guys can arrange for them to sleep in the same hangar some night, dim the lights, some Benny Goodman and a few glasses of vintage extra special av gas, who knows we just might get some baby B-29's which will grow up to be brand new big boy's and girl's!!!

All the best,
Brian