Minicraft 1/144 B-29A Superfortress

Tommergun · Jul 18, 2025

Getting another old stalled build out to get some paint on finally. Got it primed, sliver leading edges done and masked, grey underside done, and then masked and sprayed olive drab.

BOATMAN · Jul 18, 2025

HI Tommergun ive never seen a B29 done in that colour before as i like the metal finish but this is somthig different
chrisb

Edbert · Jul 18, 2025

Wanted to second Chris' thoughts...did not know they were deployed in OD, but it does look cool!

Tommergun · Jul 18, 2025

BOATMAN said:
HI Tommergun ive never seen a B29 done in that colour before as i like the metal finish but this is somthig different
chrisb

I think it was an early scheme but was quickly determined to not be necessary. Natural metal working just as effectively for concealment.

kevin · Jul 18, 2025

I remember reading somewhere that one of the reasons they ditched the OD paint on B 17s was to save weight, like hundreds of pounds. Made sense once you had air superiority, and also more fuel efficient. Probably same reason for the B29s.

Edbert · Jul 18, 2025

That makes sense Tom (?), I know that fighter planes were largely put into duty with bare metal finishes because they considered the weight of the paint alone and how that impacted performance. I'm sure there were costs and delay considerations too, but those do not get the press-release written up.

I've read the weight on a smaller plane like a Mustang could be up to 100 pounds, it could well be less, but not nothing, and imagine what the same paint would weigh on a P-47 or something the size of the Superfortress.