"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.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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
Click on
images below to see larger images
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