"FIFI" B-29 Superfortress

Gallery Article by Konley Kelley on Apr 11 2011

 

"FIFI" B-29 Superfortress in plastic, 3D and the real thing

Summer of 2010, I found out FIFI was coming. FIFI is the only flying B-29 left in the world. After a generous donation by Jim Cavanaugh from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, the world famous Commemorative Air Force B-29 “FIFI” was coming to stay at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas. 

I began following stories about FIFI on the web. Jim Cavanaugh’s donation equipped her with brand new engines.  I made it to FIFI's second public appearance after taking to the skies again.  I met FIFI at the Alliance Air Show in North Texas on October 30, 2010.

But I felt like I already knew FIFI.  When I discovered she was going to come to the Cavanaugh, I began researching her for a scale model/3D model project.  I dug an Airfix 1:72 B-29 kit out of my stash. Although the kit quality was pretty harsh, I saw it as an opportunity to experiment with making decals as well as a visual reference for the construction of the 3D model.

I began assembling the scale model kit but took a breather to make FIFI’s nose art in Photoshop for the scale model decals.  I also knew this task would provide me art for my 3D model texture maps.  

The Photoshop work came out so good I abandoned the scale model to begin the 3D model.  Pretty soon parts and subassemblies from the scale model lay scattered around my Mac as the 3D construction progressed.  I also used the excellent Squadron B-29 Walk Around book for reference. 

When FIFI’s nose section came together, I realized I had it. As I built her piece by piece, probably the hardest part was getting the shape of the wings right.  I built the ribs and skinned the wings but it took several tries to get the shape right.  I felt like an aeronautical engineer.

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Making FIFI also gave me the opportunity to swap out nose art texture maps to create some other famous B-29’s in 3D. 

After meeting FIFI at the airshow, I came back with “fixes” including the addition of the CAF logo to the tail.  I also finished the scale model. 

What follows are images of the scale model, 3D model and FIFI.  I got some good shots of FIFI at the airshow and a few weeks later at a CAF meeting at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.  I climbed inside FIFI and got some pics of the interior.  Very cool. 

Next up – I am joining the B-29/B-24 CAF Squadron now based at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas. If I do fly in FIFI, look for shots on ARC or my Facebook group “Modeling History in Digital Diorama.”  I have posted images of FIFI and all of my scale/3D work to my website at www.shortfuse3d.com 

I also found another artist on Facebook who happened to be creating a 3D B-29 at the same time.  His name is Dave Collins and he gave me permission to submit an image of his excellent work. 

Check out the CAF on the internet and look for FIFI at an airshow near you soon!  If you are ever in the Dallas area, seeing the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas is a must.  Call ahead to make sure FIFI is there!

Photos 09 - 11 FIFI Scale Model

Photos 12 - 17 FIFI 3D Model

Photos 18 - 25 FIFI at the Alliance Airshow

Photos 26 - 34 FIFI at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Photo 35 Dave Collins 3D B-29

Links to very interesting videos about FIFI, B-29 vets' stories, the CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron, and the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas.

Konley Kelley

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Photos and text © by Konley Kelley