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USAAF · Very Heavy Bomber · XXI Bomber Command · Marianas · 509th Composite Group

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

B-29 / B-29A / Silverplate · USAAF · 1944–1945
USAAF / USN route with unit, theatre and markings context

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was the most advanced American bomber of the Second World War: pressurised, long-ranged, remotely armed and built for the Pacific strategic air campaign. For modellers it is a late-war technical aircraft: natural metal, black night-bombing undersides, huge R-3350 nacelles, remote turrets, greenhouse cockpit, long wings, Marianas dust, heat staining and, for Silverplate aircraft, highly specific atomic mission details.

11
Crew
4×R-3350
Radials
Remote
Turrets
Pacific
Strategic role

What paints do I need?

Generate a practical starter paint list for this Boeing B-29 Superfortress build, with common brand equivalents.

Scheme basis: USAAF / US Navy. Treat these as modelling equivalents rather than laboratory-perfect matches; always check your chosen aircraft, theatre and date.
ColourUseTamiyaVallejoAKMr Hobby
Olive Drab / Sea BlueMain upper colour depending on USAAF or US Navy subjectXF-62 / XF-1771.043 / 71.300AK RC023 / RC258H52 / H54
Neutral Grey / Intermediate BlueUndersides or naval mid-toneXF-53 / XF-1871.051 / 71.299AK RC024 / RC256H53 / H56
Interior Green / Bronze GreenCockpit and internal structuresXF-5 + yellow mix71.137AK RC230H58/H302
Insignia White / BlackMarkings, invasion stripes and walkwaysXF-2 / XF-6971.001 / 71.057AK RC004 / RC022H1 / H12
Natural Metal / AluminiumNMF aircraft, chipping and landing gearLP-1177.701AK Xtreme Metal AluminiumSM201
Zinc Chromate / Yellow GreenWheel wells and internal areas where appropriateXF-471.094AK RC262H329
Exhaust/rubber/weatheringExhaust, tyres, gun staining and oil streaksXF-1/XF-64/XF-85Black/Brown/RubberAK weathering coloursH12/H47

B-29 operations · 1944–1945

The B-29 fought a different war to the earlier American bombers. It operated from China and then the Marianas, attacking Japan at extreme range before shifting to devastating low-level night incendiary raids. It also carried the atomic bombs with the 509th Composite Group. A good B-29 build is about large, clean surfaces, natural-metal variation, black undersides, remote turret detail, R-3350 staining and very specific unit/mission choices.

11Crew
4×R-3350Radials
RemoteTurrets
XXIBomber Command
B-29 real reference
Real B-29 photo route: check standard/Silverplate aircraft, remote turret fit, natural metal, black underside, tail markings and mission-specific details before paint.

Role & strengths

  • USAAF very heavy bomber and Pacific strategic bomber
  • CBI, Marianas, XXI Bomber Command and 509th Composite Group routes
  • Pressurised fuselage, remote turrets, huge nacelles and long high-aspect wings
  • Natural metal, black night-bombing undersides, tail codes and limited nose art
  • R-3350 exhaust, heat staining, oil, island dust and large metal-panel variation

Key theatres

  • CBI early B-29 operations from India/China
  • Saipan, Tinian and Guam Marianas routes
  • Low-level night incendiary raids over Japan
  • 509th Composite Group atomic mission aircraft

Specification B-29

Crew11Length99 ft 0 inWingspan141 ft 3 inMax speedc.357 mphPowerplant4× Wright R-3350 radialsArmamentRemote .50 cal turrets, tail guns and heavy bomb load

Survivors today

B-29 survivor reference

Surviving B-29s are useful for cockpit glazing, remote turrets, nacelles, landing gear, bomb bay, natural metal panel tone and Silverplate-specific checks.

View survivors

Timeline highlights

Build this B-29 as…

Pick the mission route first. A CBI B-29, Marianas natural-metal aircraft, black-underside night raider, 509th Silverplate aircraft and restored survivor all need different surface finish and detail choices.

Aircraft identity

★USAAF
VHVery heavy
4×R-3350
◉Remote turrets
NMNatural metal
509Silverplate
Mission warning

Standard B-29, B-29A and Silverplate aircraft differ. Atomic mission aircraft require very specific bomb bay, turret and marking checks.

Finish warning

A B-29 is mostly surface finish. Natural metal, black undersides and panel tone must be controlled or the model looks toy-like.

Paint scheme cards

StandardNatural metal Superfortress

Core B-29 route with subtle panel variation, anti-glare areas and tail markings.

NightBlack underside incendiary route

Low-level night raiders need black underside modulation, heat and exhaust staining.

CBIEarly long-range route

CBI aircraft need heat, dust, long-range operational wear and careful tail/unit markings.

SilverplateAtomic mission aircraft

Silverplate aircraft should be clean, mission-specific and not generically weathered.

Campaign cards

CBI / Matterhorn

Early long-range B-29 route from India/China with heat, dust and operational strain.

Marianas

Saipan, Tinian and Guam route with XXI Bomber Command natural-metal Superfortresses.

Night incendiary raids

Black-underside aircraft with low-level night-bombing finish and heavy exhaust staining.

509th Composite Group

Silverplate route with Enola Gay, Bockscar and mission-specific modifications.

Build difficulty and related guides

Overall difficulty

Very high. Size, four engines, natural metal, remote turrets and landing gear demand planning.

Finish difficulty

Very high. Huge natural-metal surfaces show every seam, scratch and glue mark.

Variant difficulty

High. Standard, night raid and Silverplate routes need different details.

Paint codesNatural metal, anti-glare, black undersides and USAAF markingsTechniqueNatural metal variation, R-3350 exhaust and black underside modulationArticleB-29 kits, variants and Superfortress weathering guide

B-29 Bomb Groups and atomic mission units

Sortable B-29 unit cards covering CBI, Marianas, XXI Bomber Command, night incendiary raids, 509th Composite Group and survivor/reference routes.

Route:Sort:

B-29 operating map

Variant selector

Airfield info

Click a marker to show linked B-29 unit cards and modelling notes.

Campaign timeline

Survivors

Books and reference sources

B-29 build guide

Kit choice wizard

B-29 videos, photos and archive material

Media replaces the old separate walkaround tab: cockpit, exhaust, undercarriage, markings, survivor references, archive imagery and video cards are grouped here.