American heavy bomber Boeing B-29 Superfortress COBI 5774 - World War II 1:72

BOEING™ B-29 SUPERFORTRESS™ MODEL | COBI 5774

The large model with a wingspan of 60 cm is rendered in a rare camouflage scheme used during China-Burma-India operations. The B-29 Monsoon Goon building set with registration number 828 features rotating propellers, adjustable control surfaces, a rotating top and bottom anti-aircraft turret, and two bomb bays. A beautiful detail is the faithfully crafted cockpit glazing, which matches the real aircraft. The bomber has fixed landing gear legs that can be easily removed. The assembled model can stand on its own landing gear or be safely displayed on the double display stand with a nameplate. Four AN-M65 GP aerial bombs are also included in the package.

Did you know that:

The General Staff of the US Army Air Forces issued requirements for a strategic bomber as early as 1939. There were three conditions: 1. the ability to deliver 10,000 kg of bombs to a distance of 4,000 km, 2. a combat speed of 640 km/h, 3. a total range of 8,600 km. In 1939, these were almost impossible conditions. After joining the best aircraft designers from Boeing, Consolidated Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, and Lockheed Corporation, a prototype with the secret designation XB-29 was created in 1940. The development of the bomber to a stage suitable for serial production was long and painful. During the testing of the second prototype, famous pilot Eddie Allen died along with his entire crew. 

In order for the aircraft to meet the specification, many unique technologies had to be developed. The bomber was equipped with three pressurized cabins interconnected by a tunnel, an onboard camera system, dual landing gear, and even an analog computer for fire control. A single gunner could thus very effectively control up to four machine guns. The development costs reached unprecedented amounts at the time. Adjusted to today's prices, development cost 43 billion dollars. The B-29 thus became the most expensive military machine of World War II.

Superfortress bombers were first deployed on June 5, 1944, to bomb metallurgical plants in Kyushu, Japan. The largest operation was the bombing of Tokyo on the night of March 9 to 10, 1945. A total of 279 aircraft were deployed. Japanese anti-aircraft defenses managed to shoot down 14 aircraft.

Modified Silverplate and Bockscar bombers were used as atomic bomb carriers, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Soviet Union had no response to the American bomber. During the Pacific War, three B-29s were forced to make emergency landings in the Soviet Union. As always, Russia simply stole and copied the aircraft. Today we know the Soviet copy under the name Tupolev Tu-4.

A total of 3,960 units were produced in several versions. The last aircraft were retired from USAF service in June 1960.

Technical specifications:

• dimensions: wingspan 43.36 m, length 30.18 m, height 9.02 m
• empty weight 33,795 kg, maximum takeoff weight 61,560 kg,
• power plant 4 x Wright R-3350-23 Duplex Cyclone twin-row radial engines, each producing 1,641 kW
• fuel tank capacity 34,600 l
• maximum speed 575 km/h
• rate of climb to 7,620 m in 43 minutes
• service ceiling 11,150 m
• maximum range 9,656 km
• armament 10x 12.7 mm Browning machine gun + 1x 20 mm cannon + 2x rear M2 machine gun + up to 9,072 kg of aerial bombs
• Norden bombsight connected to C-1 autopilot
• crew 10 - 14

From the memories of pilot Robert Morgan, commander of B-29 Dauntless: 

"Flying in a B-17 was like driving a truck in the freezing cold, while the B-29 was like a luxury Cadillac. We had heat; there was no need to wear heavy fur coats or oxygen masks. Sitting in a pressurized cabin at 30,000 feet was a miracle for us. Crawling through that long connecting tunnel above the dark, unheated bomb bay at thirty thousand feet was a strange experience. You were in a tight cylinder, directly below you temperatures were around minus fifty degrees, and beneath your feet was just thousands of meters of empty space. Everyone tried to get through as fast as possible."

About COBI building blocks:

• COBI 5774 kit is made of 1,074 high-quality ABS parts
• number of figures 0
• World War II collection 1:28
• pad printed - no stickers
• faithful reproduction
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands