Contrails over Japan: B-29 Super Fortress 1/144 Scale

When I was a kid the prestigious sign of model madness was having the bright silver 1/72 Airfix Super Fortress hanging from your bedroom ceiling, or nestling atop of your wardrobe (perhaps shamefully broken into several pieces by an unappreciative sibling/mother), or even cluttering up most of the desktop that was supposed to be for doing your homework on (well s*d 'x' and algebra!).

I never quite made the grade, I had the B-17 Flying Fortress but never the B-29 Super Fortress, perhaps it was a Pacific thing and I was more European focused, Dunkirk to D-Day. However in my second childhood I can come close to model madness thanks to Minicraft:

Sadly too big to fit sensibly in my camera frame using my novice technique!

The wargaming potential for the B-29 is even more restricted than the B-17, despite my possession of a couple of 1/144 scale Zero's. No I think I have this one for pure gawp factor.

Note: My other crazy model wish in 1/144 scale is the B-52 Cold War bomber, which by my reckoning would push the 1/72 Super Fortress for the same amount of bedroom ceiling/desk space. I'm still selling my 1/96 project, nay desire for the Revell Saturn V as educational, but resistance shall we say from others remains strong (but Xmas is coming).

Into the Wild Blue: B-24 Liberator 1/144 Scale

Continuing the flypast of my 1/144 Minicraft American Bombers is the four engined heavy of Ambrose's "The Wild Blue" fame the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. OK perhaps flying a little too close to the ground for comfort:

Again another model that was heavy on the use Micro Sol and Set. It was a nice one to finish despite all the "holding of breath" with the decals. I think it was worth it :)

In the background can you hear the tramp of 20mm Platoon 20 British Infantry in battledress, alongside the dark mutterings for the disgruntled Metal Morian Goblins? They are coming.

B-26 Marauder 1/144 Scale

Minicraft 1/144 scale model. Intended as useful for top-cover/window dressing for a late war 1944-45 (perhaps operation Cobra) WWII 20mm Cross Fire or Command Decision game. I remember seeing a low fly-past of a flight of the these (or at least twin engined US bombers of the period) in one of the early Band of Brothers episodes.

I tried to get a weather worn look about the model through the GW paint transition from Boltgun Metal to Chainmail to Mithril Silver. The decals work (as in I could put them on without storming out in a tantrum) thanks to Micro Sol and Set combinations.

Yes, I'm still working on the Platoon 20 British Infantry in the background ;)

B17-G starring in the 'Queen of the Skies' over the Reich

Meanwhile flying above the Reich is "Old Doodlebug" possibly heading towards those KonigTiger armaments factories. A nice (more wargame "space" friendly at least) 1/144 model of the B-17 aka the 'Queen of the Skies' from Minicraft. Admittedly any wargame would probably be centered relative to the B-17's movement, but it is feasible to fit this thing on a reasonably sized table, perhaps even in formation with a couple of supporting friends. The alternative is to start dropping down the scales to 1/300 which is less appealing from a modeling perspective.

In paiting the model itself I was experimenting with trying to get a weathered look by shading up from Games Workshop's "Boltgun Metal" as base shade, through their "Chainmail" as a mid-tone to highlighting with their "Mithril Silver" paints.

I am still debating with myself regarding the results and I am considering whether using a weak wash with Anita's Acrylic Black Metal would be better. I just don't like "shiny silver" planes but I guess some were that shiny! However I think from what I've seen on the web and books the bombers soon became war-weary in appearance.

The wargame potential for me lies with an adaptation to tabletop of the old Avalon Hill "B17 Queen of the Skies" (solo) board game I possess.