Don Smith-designed B-24 and B-29
by Sal Calvagna
rcgiants@optonline.net
Welcome back. Fall is upon us, but there is still plenty of good flying weather to enjoy this year. Nonetheless, it’s a good time to start thinking about next year’s projects. What are your plans?
For most of us, modeling is about individual achievement.
To explain, most of us assemble or build a model from start to finish without outside assistance. Throughout the years, we have developed our own way of doing things and that is reflected in the finished models we produce.
This is not the case, though, for the B-24 and B-29 featured in this column. These RC Giants were built by seven men from the Warbirds West group. Here’s their story, as submitted by Frank Gagliardi:
The Warbirds West B-29
In 2012, after approximately four years of part-time work, a group of seven modelers from San Diego completed a ¹⁄₁₀-scale B-29, built from Don Smith Plans, in honor of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Don Madison, a Warbirds West member who was a navigator on this particular aircraft during the Korean War.
The builders were Don and retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Frank Gagliardi (fuselage framing); Edward Gurule, who served in the Army (landing gear); Mike O’Donnell, a former Marine (vertical and horizontal stabilizers); Ron Peterka, a former Scale Masters winner (wing center section); retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jerry Neuberger (outer wing panels); and retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Don Gulihur (radio and electronics).
Some of the specifications were as follows:
- Wingspan: 168 inches
- Length: 120 inches
- Weight: 63 pounds
- Power: Four Zenoah G-23s turning APC 16 x 8 propellers
- Scratch-built from Don Smith Plans
- All wood and fiberglass featuring homebuilt retracts; a fully detailed interior; metal covering with all panel lines and rivets applied
- Guided by a Spektrum DX18 radio and metal-geared servos
- Battery power: Two 6.6-volt LiFe batteries
When the B-29 was finally assembled and measured, we were only ¹⁄₈ inch out of square. It arrived at my place and the fiberglassing and fitting of the engines that Mike O’Donnell and I donated began, along with myriad details to be sorted out.
Then came the big decision on how to finish this beast. I had previously completed three other large aircraft using 2-inch and 3-inch-wide aluminum air-conditioning tape from Home Depot, and felt this would be the most authentic. Flite Metal is great, but is cost prohibitive.
While this was being done, Don Madison started working on the interior. Don is a master detailer. The glass nose is complete with all major components, including a Norden bombsight. It balanced perfectly, with no additional weight required.
The B-29’s first flights were carried out by my friend, Don Rice, a former Giant Scale air racing world champion and the finest RC pilot I have ever known. The aircraft flies beautifully. The B-29 currently has more than 42 successful flights and has been honored with many awards.
Warbirds West B-24
The B-24, on which Don Madison was also a navigator, is a Don Smith design and is again all wood and fiberglass. It was acquired when it was approximately 50% framed. The same group of people was involved in completing the basic structure.
Its specifications are:
- Wingspan: 144 inches
- Length: 105 inches
- Weight: 53 pounds
- Power: four DLE 20 gas engines turning Master Airscrew 15 x 7 three-blade propellers
- The model sports Century Jet retracts with Glennis wheels, and a fully detailed cockpit and gun turrets
We were not happy with the shape of some of the supplied glass domes, so we made a mold and “pulled” our own. We all donated to the purchase of the four DLE 20 engines that power the B-24, and Don Madison again detailed the interior. He outdid himself on this one. The front turret rotates via a servo and is complete down to the .50-caliber belts that feed the guns. It is truly a work of art. All turrets received the same attention to detail.
We used Klass Kote paint throughout. The first application was a silver base coat that would replicate the metal finish.
Next was the technique of applying grease via an open-cell sponge to the areas where we wanted to simulate “chipping.”
The grease acted as a “mask” for the gray paint on the lower section. When it was dry, the model was cleaned with Prespol solvent. The same technique was used to apply color to the top side.
After cleaning the entire aircraft, we used a wash of reducer and watered-down black paint to simulate weathering. Airbrushing added around the exhaust areas completed the weathering and we were quite pleased.
One of the highest compliments we ever received was from a modeler in Missouri who, upon seeing it at an air show, commented, “Only a modeler would appreciate how hard it is to make a model look this old.”
The B-24 was awarded Best in Military Scale at the 2016 AMA Expo. The full-scale aircraft resides at the Castle Airport Museum in Atwater, California.
Our B-24 currently has six flights to its credit. Next year’s project for the group is a B-17.
Those who couldn’t make it for the photo on the first page of this column are Ed Gurule and Mike O’Donnell (who is now racing cars). Sadly, Don Gulihur passed away.
Fantastic workmanship and coordination are skills learned while serving in the military. The great photos of the B-24 and B-29 are all by Mark Lukens.
That’s all for now. See you in December.
