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Boeing B-29 Turbo-Silvertown AEW.3

Started by McColm, July 11, 2026, 01:28:40 AM

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McColm

 Three B-29s were modified into AEW testbeds for the USAF development program which similar to the Boeing PB-1W with the AN/APS-20S search radar fitted to the upper fuselage. Which led to the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star.
RHVP does the PB-1W in a 1/72 conversion set so the B-29 AEW can be built using it.

The Chinese modified a gifted reversed-engineered B-29 (Tu-4) from the Soviet Union, creating the Kong Jiang-1.
There is a 1/72 conversion set available for such a build, the old Airfix B-29 kit or the Academy KB-29P are very good donors.

Many years ago I built my own version of the KJ-1 in 1/72 scale. I no longer have the model.

I based the Boeing Silvertown ACI on the Boeing PB-1W and the Air Staff 1945 proposal to fit a Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter with three separate antenna to act as a AWI platform. (Freightdog does the 1/144 conversion set). A forth set could be fitted in the tail for the original fore-and-aft scanner system FASS.
I'm using the 1/72 Academy Boeing KB-29P model with parts from the Revell B-17G, various radomes from different Avro Shackleton AEW2 kits were used for the GB build.
 As I like to recycle my builds I decided that the Silvertown ACI should be a turboprop with the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye rotodome. Keeping the modified cockpit, nose cone and resin radome in the rear bomb bay. The tail wheels will remain.

McColm

Things have changed with the upper fuselage from the 1/72 Academy Boeing KC-97G now glued in place, influenced by the Boeing Model 367-2 which keeps the B-29 tail fin and no rear loading ramp unlike the YC-97A.

McColm

The Rolls-Royce Dart engines have been replaced with the Allison 501s,more PSR is going on the front isn't the same as the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter.
I'll leave the filler to dry overnight.