Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay"

B-29-45-MO (Silverplate) serial 44-86292 “Enola Gay” assigned to 393 BS(H), 509th Comp. Group, on the first atomic bombing mission on August 6, 1945.
(Minicraft B-29 in 1/144 scale, kit #14488, c. 2002, re-issued from original Crown models released 1976)

The aircraft needs no introduction.

Kit is a 2002 re-pop of the 1976-vintage Crown kit. Kit is rough but not irredeemable. Molding was a mixed bag, with excellent detailed engines but crappy props. Fit wasn’t horrible, though.

Had to modify the tail profile as the original Crown kit seems to be made from early technical drawings (or just poorly copied). Undercarriage was modified to be removable for in-flight display (without wheel bay detail, of course).

Decals were beautifully printed but refused to leave the comfort of the backing sheet, so I re-printed the unit markings at home and used generic stars and bars for the rest. Windows and other transparencies are all black decal film or specially designed and printed at home (cockpit glazing). Nose framing is Bare-Metal Foil.

Paints are Wal-Mart rattle-can grey primer and gloss white undercoat and Alclad II metallics.