PLAAF Kong Jiang-1 AWACS Conversion
In 1953 the Soviets transferred twenty-five Tupolev Tu-4 “Bull” bombers (a direct copy of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress) to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. The Chinese flew these aircraft in front-line units as bombers until 1978 and in reserve units for more than a decade later. In the early 1970s their Ash-73TK radial engines of 2,400 hp were replaced with Al-20M turboprops, each producing 4,250 hp. One airframe was converted to the Airborne Warning and Control System role by plant No. 5702, located in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. In addition to the turboprop engines, the aircraft featured a prominent circular radome for the prototype Type 843 radar. The bomb bay was converted into crew space for the radar operators and all defensive armament systems were removed.
This is a conversion of the Academy B-29 kit to the Kong Jiang-1 AWACS prototype using the Cutting Edge resin kit.
Construction posts here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2024/07/05/plaaf-kong-jiang-1-awacs-conversion-in-1-72-scale-part-i/
Dang, that's beautiful! Excellent work, Jeff.
Wow! A masterful conversation! Beautifully finished. Something you don’t see every day for sure.
Well done, Jeff. That’s a truly unique model.
Just amazing work, Jeff. A really superb result.
Excellent work on this conversion, Jeff @inchhigh
A different look, nicely done Jeff.
Well done, Jeff!
Followed this on Inch High Guy, great work. I'll also put in a plug for your page which if folks haven't gone there and see your work and the picture essays you post they should!
https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the shout out Rob!
Excellent result of a variant I did not know it existed, Jeff!
Congratulations!
Thanks for all the kind words guys, it was a fun project!
That is a well done conversion. When I saw that in the CE catalog I never thought it would be sold let alone someone building it.
Amazing build, you must have needed about 12 pounds of weight in the nose lol.