B-29 and B-50 nose - side by side comparison w/ pic

[Quest Master]

I thought that you guys and gals would like to see a side by side comparison of the nose of the B-29 and B-50. Often when I post something, it is because the Google machine doesn't provide what I'm looking for...so I post what I have found through research and comparison.

This is the post-WWII B-50 nose greenhouse (left) and WWII B-29 nose greenhouse (right) for side by side comparison (Miller 64 for scale only ). The B-50 nose was recently obtained and the B-29 nose belongs to B-29-50-BW 42-24791 "The Big Time Operator". Both nose greenhouses plus the forward 20' of the "BTO" are in the QuestMasters Museum collection, so now you can see a B-29 and B-50 nose side by side:

Enjoy!

[JohnB]

Roughly the same differences as we saw between the B-17E and F.

[Steve Nelson]

Interesting to see how much they increased the size of the sighting window. Are you having new panels made for BTO's nose?

SN

[Quest Master]

Yes, I thought it would be cool to show them side by side. The B-50 nose bowl is easily 100lbs lighter than the B-29 nose bowl because of the laminated glass used in the B-29 version. The top two panels and the center/center bottom panel in the B-29 nose bowl were laminated glass.
As for the BTO, I already have a few NOS/original panels for the nose bowl. I may have a complete set made by Carl, we discussed it in April. I already have a complete set of newly made glass for the cockpit.