A mysterious Russian…

The Tu-4 was a direct copy of the B-29s that landed in Siberia and were never returned.

Thus, they did have radials.

Were there ever ones fitted with turboprops? Anyone?

The Tu-4 was a ‘reverse-engineered’ B-29 – not a direct copy.

Thus it was actually lighter than the original, used Soviet ASh-73TK radials and was armed with 20mm cannon.

Despite all the urban myths about the Soviets copying it piece for piece – including the bullet holes 😮 it was actually a remarkable piece of engineering to copy such a complex machine in just 12 months – it certainly surprised the western ‘experts’ who had doubted that it could possibly be done at all!

The Tu-4 was also used as an engine testbed at various times – with a turbojet under the belly, a 2TV-2F turboprop (as fitted to the prototype Tu-95 Bear) in the No 3 nacelle, an Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop on the port wing and an NK-4 in the starboard wing (Il-18 & An-10 engines respectively), another had TWO AI-20’s in the No 1 & 4 positions.

The Chinese also re-engined their Tu-4’s with FOUR copies of the AI-20 turboprop – and developed it even further to become the AWACS testbed and a drone launcher (using captured copies of the Ryan Firebee).

Ken

PS – and before anyone criticises those dastardly Soviets for ‘copying’ the top secret US Bomber, just bear the following in mind……

1. They were our allies at the time – whatever you may think of them.
2. They had been asking for the supply of B-29’s under Lend-Lease – but had been denied.
3. They were obliged, under the terms of a Japanese-Soviet non-agression pact, to inter ANY US equipment AND CREW that landed on Soviet territory.
4. That same pact therebye released thousands of Soviet troops to fight on the western front, when they would otherwise have been fighting the Japanese.
5. They duly interred the three B-29’s that landed in the Soviet Far East – but allowed the crews to ‘escape’ back to the west via Iran.
6. Tupolev, who was tasked with ‘reverse-engineering’ the B-29, did not want to do so – he had what he reckoned was a better design on the drawing boards. He was ‘forced’ into doing so by Stalin.

The standard Soviet-issue Tu-4s had radials. Some testbeds had turboprops, and one testbed was fitted with a bicycle undercarriage.:eek:

The aircraft in your photo is a Chinese example.

Best wishes
Steve P

Im pretty sure that these aren’t radial engines 😀 😀 😀

The Tu-4 was a direct copy of the B-29s that landed in Siberia and were never returned.

Thus, they did have radials.

Were there ever ones fitted with turboprops? Anyone?

if memory serves the Tu-4 had turboprops, instead of radial engines, or was this the exported chinese version?

Thanks for all the info so far everyone 🙂 Lovely models Ken, which kits are they built up from?

Great models Ken! I wonder if Tu-4s ever flew with only one missile? Would have made take-offs interesting…

Best wishes
Steve P

Some Tu-4s were also modified to carry them. The first ship to be destroyed by one of these missiles was hit by one launched from a Tu-4.

Best wishes
Steve p

As modelled by me – for my Soviet collection…..

There was a manned version – used for early flight tests – called the KSK-1…

Ken

Definitely a kennel, if memory serves this was generally used in an anti shipping role, carried by the Tu-16 Badger “B” one under each wing, must have been one hell of a long take off run with two missiles weighing 6100 lbs…..each

Some Tu-4s were also modified to carry them. The first ship to be destroyed by one of these missiles was hit by one launched from a Tu-4.

Best wishes
Steve p

Good find! courious artifact of the early days of cruise missiles. Found a good link to more info and another pic here

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/as-1.htm

Definitely a kennel, if memory serves this was generally used in an anti shipping role, carried by the Tu-16 Badger “B” one under each wing, must have been one hell of a long take off run with two missiles weighing 6100 lbs…..each

Aha, thanks ContrailJJ! I did wonder if it might be some sort of weapon but it just looked too big and aircraft-like. It’s a shame there’s no more pictures of this example, I’m seeing a suggestion of a cockpit aperture (which would make it an early manned prototype?) but there’s nothing to confirm it.

looks a lot like the AS-1 Kennel

http://www.vectorsite.net/twcruz_6.html#m2

Definitely not a Mig-17

Definitely an early guided missile and probably anti-ship when looking at its size.

Laurent