Scale B-29

[Zac Yates]

Then the big question... who's building the B-24?

I saw an interview with Jack Bally on YouTube where he said he originally wanted to build a B-24 but for scale purposes - I think to do with the cockpit? - he decided against it.

I want to see a scale Spruce Goose!

Ever since Dad built me a model kit of the H-4 I've thought a scaled replica would be fun!

[JohnB]

I'll agree with the late Mr. Poberenzny...
But auto engines in aircraft has come a long way...witness the BMW engines in the well travelled Vickers Vimy replica.

And Mooney did put a Porsche engine in a model a long time back.
Though I hear Porsche has discontinued support for it...which leads me to wonder what the few Mooney owners are going to do.

[Saville]

Wow that's some shop the guy has. Courageous for taking on such a project too.

I wish him well

I wonder where the pilot will sit - how far back from the tip of the nose?

If it's far enough back to use the small individual window on the side then the side view won't be great.

Maybe the pilot's head will be at the aftermost window in the lower row of the nose windows. Would there be room for feet and rudder pedals?

I wish the builder well.

[bdk]

I wonder where the pilot will sit - how far back from the tip of the nose?

Maybe his head will stick out the top and he'll wear goggles? Or maybe he'll lay prone in the nose?

[Dan K]

I wonder where the pilot will sit - how far back from the tip of the nose?

Maybe his head will stick out the top and he'll wear goggles? Or maybe he'll lay prone in the nose?

I thought it was safe to assume the pilot would be using the bubble seen at 2:19.


As for auto-engine conversions, I was kind of hoping for the XB-39 look!

[bdk]

I thought the video was rather amusing in that the elephant in the room isn't even mentioned!

[Saville]

I wonder where the pilot will sit - how far back from the tip of the nose?

Maybe his head will stick out the top and he'll wear goggles? Or maybe he'll lay prone in the nose?

I thought it was safe to assume the pilot would be using the bubble seen at 2:19.

I guess the idea of the pilot using that oversized bubble on the top of the fuselage is possible. If you look at pictures of Fifi, for example, you see that there is a gun sighting dome in that position though much smaller. Then there's a turret forward of that. As a pilot, I wouldn't like the view, from that oversized dome on the replica, much. Looking at the dimensions available in the RV-8, you use less than 41" of height from the fuselage bottom to the top of the bubble canopy and 45"-51" for your legs. The builder has other videos and in one he is building a "dome" as he calls it for an "experimental airplane" and it's 40"x 47", So it's possible the pilot sits in the fuselage and looks out the front of the fuselage.

Sure wish there was other info about his airplane - his videos focus on carbon fiber layup methods.

[marine air]

My guess would be the pilot lays in a prone position. that would put his legs rearward and would work for the C.G. I'd install some side mounted control sticks like on the Glassair. Cessna 350. There are lots of photos where this has been done successfully in German aircraft, a Gloster Meteor, Gliders, and many other types.

[Matt Gunsch]

He sits in the plane with his head where the top turret is located, he wears the turret dome as a helmet, looking like R2D2

[Scott Rose]

My guess would be the pilot lays in a prone position. that would put his legs rearward and would work for the C.G. I'd install some side mounted control sticks like on the Glassair. Cessna 350. There are lots of photos where this has been done successfully in German aircraft, a Gloster Meteor, Gliders, and many other types.

Henschel Hs 132

[Saville]

Or perhaps the seat is angled back - something like an F-16 only more so

[airnutz]

Or perhaps the seat is angled back - something like an F-16 only more so

I agree, supine is also the most comfortable and even moreso laid back similar to some sailplane pilots or a Formula One driver. With a bit of fudging on the scale proportions and positioning of the turret with guns pointing aft he could use an optical aluminized coating to get a passible stand-off scale appearance.

I can't imagine a more uncomfortable positioning than laying prone for any length of time. It's unnatural for the body to bend that way and poses unpleasant pressure on the neck and chest. You also lose some rear view mobility which can be somewhat remedied with mirrors, but that comfort thang is still there...

[Randy Haskin]

The massively oversized nature of that top bubble makes it look like that's where the pilot's head is going to be, seated normally.

[airnutz]

The massively oversized nature of that top bubble makes it look like that's where the pilot's head is going to be, seated normally.

Welll...Duhhh...your right Randy. That looks his intent. I hadn't looked at the video since last week. I've been referencing off of the photo above...Duhhh. I'm turkey drunk..a tryptophan overdose.

[Saville]

I know it's not a real warbird, but then again some of the people on the site don't think some of the restorations that have been done are real warbirds either. Anyway, does anyone have any pictures of Tom Hobgson's 35% scale B-29? I know it's getting close to ready for paint. It's an amazing effort and tribute to these old warbirds. I can't wait to see it fly even though it is a homebuilt.

Brandon

Where did you get the figure of 35% scale? I can't find ANY info on this project.