1:48 Boeing B-29 Superfortress exterior

Metal exterior set for the B-29 Superfortress in 1:48 scale

This set from Metallic Details is intended for detailing the exterior of a plastic model of the four-engine Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber in 1:48 scale. The metal parts replace the places where injection-molded plastic is by its nature too thick, and they give the surface of the model a crispness that cannot be achieved by gluing plastic parts. The set does not make up a model on its own: you need a base B-29 kit in the same scale to go with it.

The real subject

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was an American four-engine heavy bomber with a pressurized crew cabin and remotely controlled defensive turrets aimed from sighting stations. It was powered by Wright R-3350 radial engines. It entered combat in 1944 in the Pacific theater and after the war went on serving for a long time in transport, reconnaissance and tanker configurations.

Building and painting tips

Separate the metal parts with a sharp knife or photo-etch shears on a hard surface and sand the remains of the tab smooth. Make the bends over a metal ruler or in a bender rather than with your fingers, as metal cracks easily at the fold. Deburr the parts, degrease them and bond them with super glue, as plastic cement does not hold on metal. Apply a primer intended for metal before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surface and will come away during masking.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the B-29 in 1:48 scale who want a more convincing exterior.
• Those who already have experience of working with metal parts and bending them.
• Builders of display models where the detail counts.

This is an add-on set, not a standalone model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package.