This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:24 pm

A fantastic restoration effort going on with the B-29. Just wish they wouldn't paint the exterior...

http://www.b-29restoration2.blogspot.com/

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:06 pm

Did they paint it because of the condition of the metal? It maybe a preservation thing at that point. They've done a great job with it.

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:10 pm

Awesome pictures. It's good to see another Warbird has survived.

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:34 pm

mustangdriver wrote:Did they paint it because of the condition of the metal? It maybe a preservation thing at that point. They've done a great job with it.


That was my understanding. When I saw it back almost 11 years ago (wow... it's been that long? Yep, pics say Mar. 2001) there was a lot of surface corrosion on the aircraft. My guess is it had progressed to the point that they couldn't polish it out and there's really no funding to reskin any of the aircraft, so paint is the only solution. I think they're planning on using a "metalized" paint, so it may come out looking pretty good even though it'll be paint. It's amazing to think that that aircraft has technically been under restoration since 2001. It looks like the final product will be worth it though.

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:42 pm

Here's the only pic I have out of the ones I took at the SAC museum in 2001. If you look at the B-29, you can see how oxidized the upper surfaces were compared to the KC-97 next to it.

Image

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:27 pm

I got to visit the SAC Museum last summer, and was most impressed. Id' been there once before, in 1986..when everything was parked outside at Offutt AFB. Even then, I could see considerable corrosion on the B-36 (several holes eaten through the underside wing skins) and the many of the aircraft were looking pretty worn. The B-17 was missing its nose, and just had a piece of plywood covering the opening. I've got a few pics I could scan if anyone's interested....

The "new" facility is magnificent, but after so many years exposed the elements, they've got literally decades of work ahead of them bringing the collection up to snuff. And of course, being mostly large (some VERY large) bombers, it's a Herculean effort. I was part of a special "after hours" tour, and they let us crawl through the forward section of the B-36.

SN

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Mon Nov 28, 2011 12:22 pm

Looks great! I am jealous - it would be great to have a B-29 in any condition here at Wendover.

Tom P.

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:55 pm

Steve, I would love to see those pics!

Re: SAC Museum B-29 Progress

Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:15 pm

Great work taking place there!
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