B-29 bomb bay fuel tank

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:30 pm

I've started on a 1/72 model of Bockscar and it comes with the Fat Man for the forward bomb bay, but the instructions show cutting the tabs on the aft bomb bay doors and building it with the bay closed. I'd like to fabricate a bomb bay fuel tank for the aft bomb bay and display it with the doors open. I've found a couple pictures of what I believe to be the tank itself but I can't find any pictures of the tank actually installed in the aircraft, which is what I really need to be able to build it correctly. Does anybody have or know anywhere that I can find a photo of a B-29 (maybe B-50?) bomb bay tank installed in the aircraft?

APG85 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 1:35 am

Speaking of that subject, does the Enola Gay currently have her bomb-bay tanks installed?

TonyM · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 2:03 am

WIXerGreg wrote:

I've found a couple pictures of what I believe to be the tank itself but I can't find any pictures of the tank actually installed in the aircraft, which is what I really need to be able to build it correctly. Does anybody have or know anywhere that I can find a photo of a B-29 (maybe B-50?) bomb bay tank installed in the aircraft?

You need to find a book titled B-29 Superfortress In Detail and Scale Part I Production Versions by the late, great Alwyn T. Lloyd.

See page 41 for Boeing Illustration Number HS1416 B-29 Fuel System; this illustration shows the install in a cut-away.

The install seems difficult to photograph for a variety of practical reasons. Your best bet are Boeing Technical Drawings and Illustrations (Cut-aways, etc.).

The illustration in the book is not really large but still provides details. Can be enlarged I guess. There might be a way to get a look at the Boeing stuff too.

Good luck.

TonyM.

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:47 am

Thanks Tony. That's one of three B-29 books that I've ordered this week so hopefully I'll find something useful there.

APG85 wrote:

Speaking of that subject, does the Enola Gay currently have her bomb-bay tanks installed?

I wondered that myself about both Bockscar and Enola Gay.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:47 am

There are a few pictures in GOOGLE IMAGE , including a couple showing folks moving one by hand so you can get a 'feel' for the rough dimensions, and it appears to be just an oval tank that looks like a squished T.P. roll and probably used the outboard bomb shackles as attach points so they were 'easy in, easy out'

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:14 am

One of the ones I found in Google Images was one that Second Air Force had posted here on WIX a couple years ago.

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... p?p=380885

I just found this site with a small picture of the tank installed, all the way down near the bottom of the page.

http://lanbob.com/lanbob/HDL-V1943-1946/V1945G03NF3.htm

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:49 pm

I was pretty excited to see his photos of the bomb bay tanks above as the Enola Gay needs a set for the aft bomb bay. I made contact with the owner of the tanks to see if he would consider donating them so they could go back into one of the most historically significant warbirds still around. He declined. I even offered to buy or trade for the tanks so they could be restored and help to make the Enola Gay more complete. No luck. He said that since they came from Nebraska that they should stay in Nebraska. I was astounded that he would rather let them sit outside in the sun and continue to degrade instead of seeing them go back into one of our countries most important aviation artifacts. They should have at least been put indoors in one of his hangars but I would wager that they are still sitting outside in the Nebraska sun. Frustrating.

APG85 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:50 pm

Wow, that's a real shame that the NASM can't get their hands on those tanks. What possible reason could that guy have for wanting to keep a couple of old fuel tanks other than "they need to stay in Nebraska"? That's just selfish in my opinion. Maybe there's another set (or two) hiding out there someplace in a junkyard waiting to be found...

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:39 am

I agree that it certainly seems like a selfish attitude about the tanks. It was hard to hear that there was no way that the tanks would ever leave Nebraska even for something as important as the Enola Gay. Hopefully he will change his mind.

I am also hopeful that another set of tanks can be found. I am sure there are more out there somewhere. The Nebraska tanks are rough but they sure are better than nothing.

I have been real fortunate to get several people to donate their expertice, parts and time to the Enola Gay but this was one of those frustrating brick walls that defies reason. Pretty much anyone with even a slight interested in aviation history can see the significance of such a project and they are usually more than willing to help out. Oh well...

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:54 pm

Greg,

I don't know if these pages from the B-29 Erection and Maintenance Manual will help,but I'll post them.

Sorry if they are a bit large,but you shouldn't need a magnifying glass to read them.If you are interested,the E & M manual and a number of other B-29 manuals are available at a reasonable price in CD form from:

http://www.flight-manuals-on-cd.com/

I've been very satisfied with this outfit and their manuals.The B-29 Erection and Maintenance Manual is just what you need if someone happens to send you a factory fresh B-29 in packing crates.It contains amazingly detailed illustrated instructions covering the assembly and rigging of all systems right from the box.

WIXerGreg · **Posted:** Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:14 pm

Fantastic Larry, thank you!

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B-29 bomb bay fuel tank

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