Boeing XB-361 long-range bomber

[McColm]

Back in April 1941 the United States Army Air Corps issued a request for proposals for a long-range bomber capable of 12,000 miles, cruise speed of 275 mph with a 450 mph top speed, service ceiling of 45,000ft and a bomb load of 10,000lb.
Consolidated would build the  XB-36 Peacemaker, Northrop the XB-35 Flying Wing and Boeing the XB-361 (designation numbers are already been taken either side of 35 and 36) which never got passed the drawing board.
There's a line drawing of the Boeing Model 361 in the book written by Scott Lowther 'Origins and Evolution Boeing B-47 Stratojet & B-52 Stratofortress ' on page 103 with a brief description on page 102.



To me this looks like Boeing took the front end of a B-29 and has grafted on a 'flying wing 'and added the rear end of the B-29. The 'flying wing ' has the leftover wings of the B-29 add to it. The engines drive tractor propellers, however what if they were replaced with a pair of jet engines in a similar fashion to those fitted to the B-47  or B-52 respectively.
A design change losing the rear tail or a tail cone added.

In Whiffland Boeing and Northrop collaborated on the alternative to the Convair B-36 Peacemaker with the intention that if the contract was lost that the aircraft would be converted into an airliner/freighter. Talks with Britain and Australia had begun with potential launch customers.
Boeing was looking further ahead on an air-to-air refuelling tanker, thus increasing the range of the B-36 and when the time came the same with the B-52.

The kits haven't been bought yet. I've had reasonable success in building both 1/72 B-29 kits but the XB-35 kits do have a few issues. Hopefully with this kitbash they will be resolved.
The XB-35 and the wingspan of the B-52 are very close, I might have to hang this one from the ceiling or mount it on a wall when it's finished.

[PR19_Kit]

Needs longer wings.