Monogram 1/48 B-29 Superfortress, previewed by Spiros Pendedekas

KIT #:	5706
PRICE:	30 Euros in 2002
DECALS:	One option
REVIEWER:	Spiros Pendedekas
NOTES:	An impressive kit, a classic in every respect

Few aircraft have come to symbolize American long-range air power during World War II more strongly than the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Designed as a long-range, high-altitude heavy bomber, the B-29 represented a major technological step forward. It incorporated pressurized crew compartments, remote-controlled defensive turrets, an advanced fire-control system, powerful Wright R-3350 engines and a sophisticated internal arrangement that allowed it to operate at altitudes and ranges beyond those of the heavy bombers that preceded it.

The B-29 entered combat in 1944 and became the principal American heavy bomber employed against Japan during the final stages of World War II. Its historical importance was further cemented by the specially modified aircraft used during the atomic missions of August 1945. After the war, the B-29 continued to serve in a variety of roles and saw combat again during the Korean War. With thousands produced, it became one of the most important and recognizable aircraft of its generation. For the modeler, however, there is another aspect of the B-29 that makes it particularly attractive. It is a big airplane. And in 1/48 scale, it is an enormous model.

THE KIT

In 1977, Monogram came up with a new-tool 1/48 B-29 Superfortress, an impressive model and, quite frankly, a daring step for the time. Producing a B-29 in 1/48 scale was no small undertaking. The aircraft itself was enormous, and translating it into a large-scale injection-molded model represented a considerable investment in tooling, engineering and production. The B-29 joined the other large and ambitious aircraft kits that Monogram had been issuing during this period, establishing the company's reputation for tackling subjects that were not necessarily easy or inexpensive to reproduce in large scale. And Monogram did it again here. The result was an impressive model that has remained in production in one form or another for decades.

The original tooling has subsequently been reboxed numerous times—approximately a dozen different issues—appearing under Monogram and later Revell branding, with different box art and decal options. The tooling has survived remarkably well and even reached the 2020s in a Platinum Edition, which adds masks and a photo-etched fret intended to enhance some of the finer details of the original model. The special editions and aftermarket support given to the tooling over the years are a testament to just how enduring this B-29 has been.

The particular kit reviewed here is the 1990s issue of the original tooling. It comes in an impressively large, top-opening box, although it is not particularly robust, with somewhat flimsy cardboard that can easily show its age after several decades. The box art, however, is quite attractive, depicting the B-29 gracefully in flight, with the aircraft dominating the artwork and the marking option represented by the kit—“Lucky 'Leven”—clearly visible.

And then you open the box, and that is when the real experience begins. The first thing that strikes you is the amount of plastic. It is massive. Around 130 parts are arranged on six sprue assemblies, with one of the sprues being duplicated. The duplicate contains the propellers and several other components, meaning that there are effectively five different sprue designs represented in the box. The sprues are nicely arranged and the parts are relatively easy to locate. All sprues are molded in silver-gray styrene, save the one containing the wheels and atomic bombs, which is molded in black (I reversed the colors on it for clarity in the sprues photo).

For a tooling originating in 1977, the molding is quite nice. There is some flash, as would be expected from a kit of this age, but it is neither excessive nor particularly difficult to remove. A little work with a sharp hobby knife and some light sanding should take care of most of it without any drama. The parts themselves are crisply molded and, perhaps most importantly, their shapes look convincing. This is one of the areas where Monogram has traditionally deserved considerable credit. Even with its older toolings, the company generally paid close attention to the basic shapes of its subjects, and the B-29 is no exception.

The panel lines are, of course, raised. For some modelers today, this may immediately be considered a disadvantage. Personally, I don't see it as a problem, as the panel lines are located where they should be and are not excessively heavy. In fact, once painted and weathered, the raised detail can produce a very pleasing appearance. There is certainly an argument that raised panel lines can look particularly convincing on a large model when viewed from normal display distance.

The overall detail is quite good for the scale and is more than sufficient, especially when the origins of the tooling are taken into account. The cockpit is very well appointed. Even by today's standards, the interior is more than sufficient, with most of the major components found in the real aircraft represented. The rear crew section receives similar attention, with a surprisingly comprehensive collection of parts. Most seats feature molded-on seat belts, and everything is nicely arranged. Considering the age of the tooling, the interior is one of the areas where Monogram really deserves credit.

The bomb bay is also nicely done and quite sufficient for the scale. A particularly interesting feature is the distinctive tunnel through which crew members could crawl past the bomb bay. Since the bomb bay itself was not pressurized, this feature was an important part of the aircraft's internal arrangement, and it has been well reproduced in the kit.

The engines are also very nicely represented. Only the engine faces are provided rather than complete engine assemblies, but they will be more than sufficient once the engines are assembled and installed behind the cowlings. The propellers are equally nicely done and capture the characteristic appearance of the B-29's four-bladed units. As a note, only cuffed propellers are supplied in this issue (the 2004 and 2015 reissues, but to my understanding not the 2020 one, provided an extra sprue with uncuffed propellers).

The landing gear is another strong point. The assemblies are nicely detailed, with sufficient detail around the wheels and wheel bays to produce a convincing result. What deserves particular praise is the sturdiness of the landing gear. This is a very important consideration with a model of this size. The completed B-29 is a massive model, and the landing gear appears more than capable of supporting its considerable weight.

Two substantial wing spars are also provided. These are very cleverly designed and provide strong mounting points for the wings. Apart from making construction easier, they add considerable structural strength to the completed model and should help prevent the wings from sagging over time—a problem that can affect some large aircraft models. This is excellent engineering from Monogram.

The transparencies are also quite well done. They are clear and should respond well to careful masking and painting. The instructions are typical Monogram, very nicely done, and come in the form of a compact pamphlet. A paint chart is included, while the entire construction sequence is spread over only 23 steps. This may sound surprisingly few for a model as large (and complex) as a B-29, but the instructions are clear and concise, the construction sequence is logical, and experienced modelers can alter the sequence slightly to their preference. Color callouts are provided where applicable, making it easy to identify the required shades during construction.

The kit offers a number of useful options. The crew entry hatch can be displayed with its associated ladder, and some nice figures are included, allowing the modeler to place the B-29 into a simple diorama or ground scene. The two atomic bombs, Little Boy and Fat Man, together with a nice transport trolley, are also provided. These are not applicable to the aircraft represented by the supplied markings, but they can nevertheless be assembled and displayed separately if desired. The bomb-bay doors are intended to be installed open; whether they can be fitted closed without considerable modification is less clear. For a diorama builder, however, the combination of the open bomb bay, ladder, figures and weapons provides plenty of possibilities.

Only one marking option is supplied in this particular boxing, and I certainly would not have minded seeing another couple of options included. The subject is Boeing B-29-45-BW Superfortress, serial 42-24695, “Lucky 'Leven,” of the 73rd Bombardment Squadron, 498th Bombardment Group, US Army Air Forces, in 1945 at Isely Field, Saipan, finished in natural metal. The 1990s decals are quite sharply printed, with good registration and convincing colors. There is some yellowing of the carrier film, but considering their age they appear usable. Naturally, their real condition will only become apparent once they are placed in water and applied to the model.

The instructions begin by having the modeler assemble the nose wheel bay underneath the flight deck, followed by the attachment of the nose landing gear. I am not entirely convinced that the landing gear needs to be installed at this early stage. It may be possible to leave it until later, which would make handling the model considerably easier and reduce the possibility of breaking it during subsequent construction.

Construction then moves to the interiors. The forward crew compartment is particularly well elaborated, with Monogram providing the seats, control columns, gun sights, consoles, tables, bulkheads and other equipment associated with the area. And it is really nicely detailed. For a tooling originating in 1977, the amount of equipment supplied inside the forward fuselage is impressive. This is an area where I would recommend taking your time, as careful painting and perhaps some additional detailing will certainly reward the modeler, even though not a great deal will ultimately be visible through the closed transparencies.

The bomb bay is then detailed, followed by the rear crew compartment and its associated equipment, which is similarly well detailed as the front one. The tail skid is also attached during these stages. Before closing the fuselage halves, I strongly recommend considering some nose weight. The B-29 can have a tendency to become a tail sitter, and it is far better to deal with the problem while the fuselage is still open. If necessary, some weight can also be added inside the engine nacelles before the engines are attached to the wings.

Once all the interior components are in place, the two fuselage halves can be joined, trapping all the interior detail inside. The two substantial wing spars are also trapped into the fuselage at this stage and will provide very strong mounting points for the wings, which are next assembled and attached in position, followed by the engines, which look quite nice once assembled, and the main landing gear. The bomb-bay doors can be positioned open, while the tailplanes are then attached, followed by the various defensive turrets and antennas. Finally, the transparencies are installed, bringing the construction to an end.

This is perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the entire kit. Despite the enormous size of the aircraft, the construction is far less complicated than one might expect. If we remove the sheer size of the parts from the equation, the actual construction can be considered quite straightforward. The engineering is conventional, the parts count is manageable, and the instructions guide the modeler through the process without unnecessary complications. The real challenge is therefore not so much technical complexity as simply handling a huge model. For something this big, that is quite an achievement.

CONCLUSIONS

Without a doubt, this is an excellent kit, and perhaps the most remarkable thing about it is that Monogram had the courage to produce such an enormous 1/48 aircraft in 1977. It was a daring decision then and, in many respects, it would still be a daring decision today. The B-29 joined the other great large-scale subjects that Monogram tackled during its golden era, and the result is a kit that has survived for almost half a century and continues to be enjoyed by modelers.

Of course, it cannot match the finesse of the best 2020s tooling. The raised panel lines and some of the simplified details remind us of its age, but the basic shapes are convincing, the molding remains good, the interior is surprisingly comprehensive, the landing gear is detailed and wonderfully sturdy, and the engineering—including those excellent wing spars—is genuinely clever. The later Platinum Edition, with its photo-etched parts and masks, only reinforces the fact that the old tooling still has plenty of potential.

What I particularly like about this kit is that it is big without being unnecessarily complicated. It looks intimidating when you open the box, but the construction looks surprisingly straightforward, and the finished model has an undeniable presence.

So, congratulations to Monogram. Nearly fifty years ago, they took on a subject that was enormous in every sense of the word and produced a model that has stood the test of time. It may be an old kit, but it remains a very enjoyable one, and there is something genuinely special about seeing a classic Monogram B-29 come together on the workbench. For lovers of large aircraft and classic kits, this Superfortress remains a wonderful piece of modeling history—and definitely, a kit worth tackling.

Spiros Pendedekas