To all the folks who somehow think this an an R/C model- it isn't. R/C models are normally limited to 55 pounds and are limited to 125 pounds maximum weight with a special permit. This weighs around 3000. This is a piloted aircraft with 2 seats in tandem.
Hard to imagine someone being capable of designing and building such a thing. I work really hard in my free time on my car and motorcycle projects and just can't even fathom getting a project like this completed in five lifetimes lol. Just amazing.
You and me both but I,ll be back in the shed on my bike resto once I,m done here. This B29 an inspirational project and beautifully crafted. Just watched the first flight.
You have to look at it as compiles like BOEING that designed and built the B29 were made up of people just like Tom Hodgson. Durring WWII Mr. Hodgson would probably have been working at BOEING. The difference is that BOEING had thousands of engineers and people working on the B-29 and Tom Hodgson only has a fraction of that, but just because it's one man it does not take away from his level engineering quality.
That's not irony, it's just a coincidence. If his plans to use Honda Fit engines were interrupted because the factory in Mexico got A-bombed; that would be ironic.
It was way too underpowered for the extra weight. He had to remove the gearboxes off the hirth engines to make everything look to scale so It lost a considerable amount of HP
Someday! To make the B-17 a good 2-seater or more it would have needed to be closer to the size of this thing which would be like 45-50% scale for the Fortress. Bally did a good job for what he did, but that machine does need more powerful engines for sure.
@@PistonAvatarGuy the HKS might work but getting 4 of them would be a challenge and the cowls aren't very big so would still be a tight fit. I did some thinking and one idea that might work for the Bally is putting some kind of genset in the "bomb bay" and electric distributed propulsion in the nacelles. It would probably yield higher HP per prop and package well.
Honda just celebrated it's 75th anniversary..it wasn't a company until 1948...though S Honda got bombed out of the piston ring factory he founded and worked in during the war...
They are so reliable, In my 63 years I cannot recall ever seeing a dead Japanese engine that needed any thing more than a new set of rings and a bit of work on the valves, and when they do die they give you plenty of warning, you know fill up the oil and check the petrol.
I've been in this hangar. He built this as a test bed for experimental engine development. Mr. Hodgson decided the scaled down B-29 would be the quickest way to get his test plane built. Fascinating man.
wow..this thing is cool...the engineering behind this is incredible.... jeeze, im sweating trying to engineer turbines for my goose, cant imagine building from scratch......well done sir, cant wait to see it fly
Wow, with that amount of trust you'll even be able get a barn airborne. Amazing project. Would be nice to see it paired up one day in the skies with the Bally Bomber.
Absolutely dedication and amazing, please share flight test and more of the engineering side. How about a full documentary of the B29 project. Love to see.
Amazing! My grandfather was a flight engineer on a B-29 named Flak Ally Sally that flew out of Tinian island in the Marianas! Charles Doc Dougherty! You can google,there are pics of the Aircraft and it’s crew. Wish he was Alive to see this project,he would have loved this! Thanks for the fond memories. Good luck 👍
I was about to make this exact comment. Once this baby is airworthy they need to do a pass together over Mr Bailey's grave as a tribute to all he inspired. And someone needs to get cracking on a B-24.
@@karaayers2867 Was thinking much the same except I think the Brits are the ones who need to get in on the action there and no reason not to join the scale party.
Astonishing! If there are any links to other build pictures/videos/blogs/discussion I would be fascinated to learn more - and I look forward to updates on this channel. Brilliant and awe-inspiring!
Love the code speak this was undertaken to speed up the redrive development. Looking forward to when Tom is ready offer them we will know they have been vetted out.
The work he has done is AMAZING! I heard he had an accident, but everyone is okay. Will he be able to get it back up and running? I would love to see this plane! Wow!
Woah, sweet!!! Is it me or does that little (?) guy kind of scoot when the brakes are released??? Here's to hoping it performs better than Bailey's scaled B17. Thanks for sharing.
This airplane is beyond fantastic! At a 35% scale, I'm sure she would have to registered and licensed by the FAA and Tom would have to be a licensed multi engine pilot. Oh, to be able to have the money and enough time on your hands to be able to accomplish a feat like this.🤑💯💥🤩✈
Okay so I see what appears to be a set of engine/prop controls. Also lots of switches inside. So is this a pilot flown A/C, or is it a very large R/C model? Either way it's damn impressive. That's some serious fabrication going on there. I am blown away by the accuracy and remarkable amount of time it must have taken. Hell the preplanning alone had to be time consuming in itself before the first piece of sheet metal was cut!!!! BRAVO
So he’s sitting in the flight engineer area, with his head in that blister on top to see?? Wonder how he looks at the controls and instruments-maybe he ducks down and looks. 🤷♂️. Crazy amazing!!
Is there video of the builder getting in and airborne the controls? That would put the questions to rest. Weight and balance seems nose heavy considering the fuselage length.
And @007mwn, I think the narrator made a mistake in that, I think the Piper Cub in the background was used for the engine/redrive testing, the engines now well proven in that plane.
Beautiful plane! Why 35% though? The one thing that throws it off (for me anyway) is the tall bubble. I take it that's for the pilots viewing? If it was 40% could you have seen from the glass nose perhaps? With some sliding side/top panels if needed? (Like a replaceable sun roof, though for static showing, could you pull the bubble down with a temporary cover panel?) You and Mr. Bally need to get together to share notes. :-)
Are there any special considerations or design changes that need to be made when taking an airplane design intended for some full-scale aircraft and then using that same design to make a new aircraft which is only about 1/3 the size? For example, doesn't one have to re-analyze the aircraft structure and all the control surfaces to ensure that all mechanical stresses are still within safe bounds and that the control surfaces can still operate efficiently and safely? All this might not be necessary if this were an RC aircraft, but since it has human pilots inside it I would think that all of the possible safety issues would have to be studied.
I thought I was looking at a giant model, but giant models don't have throttle controls where I saw throttle controls. I gotta see this one. You also have me thinking about that bomb bay, and water balloons... but that's just the prankster in me.
That was the coolest thing I've seen today! But what is the "United States Air Force" about? I have a B29 APU and it's I.D. plate, well, I'm afraid It's got "Army" on it🙂
To all the folks who somehow think this an an R/C model- it isn't. R/C models are normally limited to 55 pounds and are limited to 125 pounds maximum weight with a special permit. This weighs around 3000. This is a piloted aircraft with 2 seats in tandem.
Thanks for the info, I thought it was R/C
RC planes dont need any special permit, at least if you live in a free country.
This was my first question. Either answer… wow!
@@exterminater267 Check out the AMA regs for LMA-2 models, max with a permit is 125 pounds: www.modelaircraft.org/system/files/documents/520-A.pdf
@@rv6ejguy The Academy of Model Aeronautics is not a government body. How can they have the authority to tell people what they can or cannot do?
The acceleration on the taxi test was impressive.
Well it does have around 500 horsepower...
@@Charon-5582 ...and no bomb load.
@@mememaster147 obviously
Just seeing all four engines running and the plane rolling, is exciting.
Hard to imagine someone being capable of designing and building such a thing. I work really hard in my free time on my car and motorcycle projects and just can't even fathom getting a project like this completed in five lifetimes lol. Just amazing.
You and me both but I,ll be back in the shed on my bike resto once I,m done here.
This B29 an inspirational project and beautifully crafted. Just watched the first flight.
@@Tekjoe25 It's just mind blowing. Like the guy who built the Countach from scratch in his basement. This is even more mental lol.
You have to look at it as compiles like BOEING that designed and built the B29 were made up of people just like Tom Hodgson. Durring WWII Mr. Hodgson would probably have been working at BOEING. The difference is that BOEING had thousands of engineers and people working on the B-29 and Tom Hodgson only has a fraction of that, but just because it's one man it does not take away from his level engineering quality.
Fantastic project! Is the irony of using a Honda engine on a B-29 lost on anyone else...?
There's really no irony at all. Those engines are probably made in the plant in Mexico.
Really, Honda being a Japanese company. You probably don't get punchlines when jokes are told either.@@ffjsb
@@kpal2946 Uh, Japan has been our ally and business partner for DECADES. Jokes told out of ignorance aren't funny.
Oh! Hell we will all be fighting against each other before long. We try and police the world and get spit in the face for helping!
That's not irony, it's just a coincidence. If his plans to use Honda Fit engines were interrupted because the factory in Mexico got A-bombed; that would be ironic.
That is fantastic! I always thought they should have made Bally's Bomber a two-seater.
It was way too underpowered for the extra weight. He had to remove the gearboxes off the hirth engines to make everything look to scale so It lost a considerable amount of HP
Someday! To make the B-17 a good 2-seater or more it would have needed to be closer to the size of this thing which would be like 45-50% scale for the Fortress.
Bally did a good job for what he did, but that machine does need more powerful engines for sure.
@@karaayers2867 I wonder if HKS 700Es would make good replacements for the Hirth engines.
Keep those slugs flying taofledermaus 😊
@@PistonAvatarGuy the HKS might work but getting 4 of them would be a challenge and the cowls aren't very big so would still be a tight fit.
I did some thinking and one idea that might work for the Bally is putting some kind of genset in the "bomb bay" and electric distributed propulsion in the nacelles. It would probably yield higher HP per prop and package well.
Does anybody here notice the irony in having a HONDA engine in a B-29? Pretty comical.
The economic war is never over....
Honda just celebrated it's 75th anniversary..it wasn't a company until 1948...though S Honda got bombed out of the piston ring factory he founded and worked in during the war...
💯😂
American plane built by a Canadian with a Japanese engine. Happy everyone plays together nice.
It’s not comical, just a disgrace to our veterans and country
Those honda fit engines are really good, I have 200,000k miles on one and it's had zero problems. Always driven hard too.
If you always changhed the oil engines at 200k are still new, the car May Need minor maintenace but the engines if well treated are new
They are so reliable, In my 63 years I cannot recall ever seeing a dead Japanese engine that needed any thing more than a new set of rings and a bit of work on the valves, and when they do die they give you plenty of warning, you know fill up the oil and check the petrol.
The Honda Fit engines are the basis of the Viking Aero Engines produced commercially for experimental and light aircraft...
wow that is so not even a little relevent to this video
Explain your irrelevant comment please?@@slowery43
Given how small nuclear weapons have become it could be made into a working model of the Enola Gay.
I've been in this hangar. He built this as a test bed for experimental engine development. Mr. Hodgson decided the scaled down B-29 would be the quickest way to get his test plane built. Fascinating man.
Great project, one man’s dream making the rest of us envious.
Wow !!! I couldn’t believe it when I saw this !! Fantastic project… all the best to you ! Can’t wait to see it fly!!! 🇺🇸💙🇺🇸👍🙋♂️🖖🏻
wow..this thing is cool...the engineering behind this is incredible.... jeeze, im sweating trying to engineer turbines for my goose, cant imagine building from scratch......well done sir, cant wait to see it fly
Looking forward to more videos about this B29 replica 🙂
This is crazy cool! I was expecting to see a r/c model, not a manned experimental! keep us posted!
Truly remarkable. Full credit for ambition and execution.
Wow, with that amount of trust you'll even be able get a barn airborne. Amazing project. Would be nice to see it paired up one day in the skies with the Bally Bomber.
this is incredible
i could never imagine myself doing a project of that scale
Wow, I can’t believe that he is almost done with this. It’s so beautiful and cool. Can’t wait to see it fly..
Absolutely dedication and amazing, please share flight test and more of the engineering side. How about a full documentary of the B29 project. Love to see.
Please keep posting progress on RUclips. This plane is amazing!
Incredible project!! I saw the test flight!! Totally amazing!!👍🏻👍🏻
Amazing! My grandfather was a flight engineer on a B-29 named Flak Ally Sally that flew out of Tinian island in the Marianas! Charles Doc Dougherty! You can google,there are pics of the Aircraft and it’s crew. Wish he was Alive to see this project,he would have loved this! Thanks for the fond memories. Good luck 👍
look how gorgeous that is,
Dude that thing is HUGE!!
Great work! You've made an immense achievement!
1:23 Rosie the Riveter could not be absent! Thank you for your service, Sister! 🇺🇸
One of the most impressive builds I've ever seen! Thanks and I'm a subscriber to your channel now--can't wait for more info!
Impressive.
But I'm still in awe of the Bally Bomber, which is a scale B-17 that has a pilot inside it.
This will be pilot flown. Don't see how you think this is less impressive than the Baily Bomber.
@@filster1934did he actually say that?
@@daszieheryou think it's gonna be RC with 4 Honda engines???
@@daszieher Yes, look at the pics. There's flight controls and shutoff switches inside. He posted above stating it's a 2 seater in tandem.
This is the coolest thing ive seen in forever!
I dont know how I ended up here. But thats the coolest thing ive seen in years.
I love the Rosie photo re-creation
It would be awesome to see this next to the Bailey Bomber scale B-17
I was about to make this exact comment. Once this baby is airworthy they need to do a pass together over Mr Bailey's grave as a tribute to all he inspired. And someone needs to get cracking on a B-24.
@@Dawgsofwinter and then a lancaster or halifax
@@karaayers2867 Was thinking much the same except I think the Brits are the ones who need to get in on the action there and no reason not to join the scale party.
I love it. Even has Rosie working on it at 1:23 !
Astonishing! If there are any links to other build pictures/videos/blogs/discussion I would be fascinated to learn more - and I look forward to updates on this channel. Brilliant and awe-inspiring!
that is absolutely remarkable ! I hope the post videos actually takes its maiden flight
That is just amazing, and the builder is too...
That is super cool! Can't wait to see it fly.
I'd like to see a 35% scale B-36
35% scale B-36 would be roughly the size of a B-17. 50% scale B-36 would be the size of a B-29
Great craftsmanship! Tom also has DEEP pockets!
Wow that is absolutely amazing.
Love the code speak this was undertaken to speed up the redrive development. Looking forward to when Tom is ready offer them we will know they have been vetted out.
The work he has done is AMAZING! I heard he had an accident, but everyone is okay. Will he be able to get it back up and running? I would love to see this plane! Wow!
That's the coolest airplane I have ever seen!
Nice! Imagine the performance on that thing. I love replicas.
Very cool project. Nice neighborhood, too... I like the neighbor's shed with the aircraft tail mounted to the shed roof, like someone crashed there.
Love it how it's larger than the regular full-sized plane in there
Starting at 1:23, I really appreciate the girl working on the plane and looking the part of Rosie the Riveter. Nice nostalgic touch.
Woah, sweet!!! Is it me or does that little (?) guy kind of scoot when the brakes are released??? Here's to hoping it performs better than Bailey's scaled B17. Thanks for sharing.
This airplane is beyond fantastic! At a 35% scale, I'm sure she would have to registered and licensed by the FAA and Tom would have to be a licensed multi engine pilot. Oh, to be able to have the money and enough time on your hands to be able to accomplish a feat like this.🤑💯💥🤩✈
Awesome project, great job ❤❤❤❤
Yup sure can't wait to see that thing a lot great work
I can't wait but I'm sure it is even more difficult for you guys who are there in person. AWESOME!!!!!
I saw the flying video first. Its an amazing bit of engineering.
Watched from Old Harbour Jamaica, wish I was their to see it first hand.
Just to put in perspective, the biggest B-29 RC model by Bill Hodges was roughly 1/4 the size of this.
Wow, that's impressive!
please keep us posted about this developing Model.
Okay so I see what appears to be a set of engine/prop controls. Also lots of switches inside. So is this a pilot flown A/C, or is it a very large R/C model? Either way it's damn impressive. That's some serious fabrication going on there. I am blown away by the accuracy and remarkable amount of time it must have taken. Hell the preplanning alone had to be time consuming in itself before the first piece of sheet metal was cut!!!! BRAVO
R/C wasn't mentioned anywhere in the vid. This has a 50 foot wingspan and weighs around 3000 pounds. It's a 2 seat replica.
Oh to have that kinda money... well done so far!
Absolutely amazing!!
Phenomenal project!!!
C2 fits very nicely with this chaps attitude in life. And it’s mobile. Not tucked away. (:
Looking at what one sees of the control levers this bird will be flown by a pilot.
Wonderful, just great ! Regards from Alaska!
I’m genuinely curious about how Tom flies this since he has to be laying down to word the rudder. We need a pov video of him flying this
So he’s sitting in the flight engineer area, with his head in that blister on top to see?? Wonder how he looks at the controls and instruments-maybe he ducks down and looks. 🤷♂️. Crazy amazing!!
I saw the video cover and was like, oh a miniature b29 and then i saw the corvette in the back and literally said oh wow !!!
She was weightless for a split second there !!! Awesome she has lift 🎉
I remember reading that the last car that Curtis LeMay owned before he died was a Honda Accord.
Can’t wait for a flight test!
Shout out to Tom AND Rosie the Riveter - Respect all around, eh...
(I just saw the first flight video)
Can’t wait to see it fly and views from the cockpit! I bet it’s cramped in there…
Let her fly! Can't wait to see this.
Is there video of the builder getting in and airborne the controls? That would put the questions to rest. Weight and balance seems nose heavy considering the fuselage length.
And @007mwn, I think the narrator made a mistake in that, I think the Piper Cub in the background was used for the engine/redrive testing, the engines now well proven in that plane.
That's what was said here... I know because I supplied Tom with EFI for it 10 years ago.
Seems a touch ironic to see an Aircraft that was designed to pulverise Japan, powered by Honda engines 😮 very good video,, Thank you 😊 👍
Man, she's got some get up 'n go on that taxi run!
4x 130hp....
AMAZING !!!
Man I am so keen to follow this build, is it going to be an experimental that you can fly?
Subscribed to see more of this
Tom will fly it as Experimental, but it won't be offered as a kit.
@@rv6ejguy that’s so cool! Please keep us updated 👌
At first I thought this was RC and I was thinking "Man, you could sit in that"... then I realized what it was. :D
wow, what a job!
Ohhh my. Awesome
Beautiful plane! Why 35% though? The one thing that throws it off (for me anyway) is the tall bubble. I take it that's for the pilots viewing? If it was 40% could you have seen from the glass nose perhaps? With some sliding side/top panels if needed? (Like a replaceable sun roof, though for static showing, could you pull the bubble down with a temporary cover panel?) You and Mr. Bally need to get together to share notes. :-)
What a fantastic project!
Sadly this plane struck a golf cart on landing at Glendale (Kokomo) Indiana on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Amazing aircraft.
The Irony here of a Japanese powered B29 is strong.
Please post more videos on this plane.
Work of art !! Really cool
Are there any special considerations or design changes that need to be made when taking an airplane design intended for some full-scale aircraft and then using that same design to make a new aircraft which is only about 1/3 the size? For example, doesn't one have to re-analyze the aircraft structure and all the control surfaces to ensure that all mechanical stresses are still within safe bounds and that the control surfaces can still operate efficiently and safely? All this might not be necessary if this were an RC aircraft, but since it has human pilots inside it I would think that all of the possible safety issues would have to be studied.
I thought I was looking at a giant model, but giant models don't have throttle controls where I saw throttle controls. I gotta see this one. You also have me thinking about that bomb bay, and water balloons... but that's just the prankster in me.
I guess that at the time real B 29 was designed,engineers at Boeing would have liked to have this 35% scale plane.
Amazing!
respect
Simply stunning
As someone who has built their own plane, I am in awe here
Unbelievable! Does the builder have his own YT account? Or any other social media accounts?
*Fact: The original Goodyear Blimp out here in Los Angeles was powered by VW Beetle engines!*
Brand new to this....WOW!!! Been following Dyno Don and his 1/2 scale F-4U project this year. I need to follow up on this B-29. Piloted or not??...
F4U
pilot plus one in tandem...
That was the coolest thing I've seen today! But what is the "United States Air Force" about?
I have a B29 APU and it's I.D. plate, well, I'm afraid It's got "Army" on it🙂
This is so cool