K2Pete Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 After returning from the NATS in Columbus, and the USAF Museum in Dayton, I was inspired to build the XB-70. And after reading the Landis / Jenkins book 'Hypersonic', decided to build it launching an X-15. I'll build it so that the XB-70 can be displayed on its own as well. There aren't too many reference pix so I'll start here. And here's a drawing for the X-15 ... The X-15 is the Revell 1/72 and I removed the wings and replaced 'em with delta wings, scratchbuilt with styrene sheet and sanded to an airfoil shape. And done ... Next is the XB-70 Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 The XB-70 is one heckuva poor fitting kit, but, let's have some fun. As it'll be an inflight model, I had to install a mounting hole and reinforced it with Milliput and styrene. I reinforced the wing halves with bits of styrene. I added some details to the lower wing half. Stiffeners and some foil to represent structure. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Then clamped and glued the wing halves. Where the Cockpit portion attaches to the 'goose neck' is quite a step. I patched it with thin styrene and putty. I also replaced two vents that I had worn down with much sanding. Attached the 'goose neck' subassembly with clamps and a nice big lead weight! This another big, poor fitting seam where the 'gooseneck' attaches to the wings. The wide seams on the sides were patched with styrene strips Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 The MLG doors needed some sanding too. The gaps were filled with Milliput and sanded down. At the front of the intakes, the kit fit is too rounded, so with a little ball of Millput, shaped and sanded to a nice sharp 'point'. Other gaps were filled with fine styrene rod. The canopy fits poorly too. So I shimmed the gaps with styrene strip and will try to make it look better. And I tried rescribing panel lines using Dymo tape as a guide, and it works just lover-ly! All I need is more practice using a scriber! After removing the elevons this is just a dry fit of 'em. That'll do it for now, thanx for taking a peek. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Awesome project...it´s a beast!!! Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Berkut Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Fill follow this one. Great job so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkins Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Sweeeet! It's gonna be a monster!! Cheers Emil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marlin Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Cool project. Best Regards Bosse from Sweden Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Very cool project. Never heard of the XB-70 being considered for such a thing. Excellent job on the X-15 conversion. The paint work is impressive. -JS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Just a quick update. Still lotsa filling and sanding, but the major subassemblies are assembled and now it's just tweaking the gaps and getting ready to pre-shade. This is the cradle for the X-15. Initially it was gonna be just styrene, but it wouldn't fit snug to the XB-70's fuselage. And after about 5 or 6 hours of fartin' around with the fit, I used some Milliput . And after another 5 or 6 hours of sanding and filling and fitting and sanding and applying more Milliput, it looks like this. I still have a few more hours of sanding. The Milliput separates from the styrene and patches have to be made, CA glue is used and after some more sanding, something else separates. But, it's coming along. And a quick little dry fit of the X-15 delta wing. And I'm also scribing some lines on the underside. Bomb bay, panel lines, NLG doors. Thanx for looking! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Cool project, Pete ! It's looking really good too ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 WOW, I have always loved the Valkrie. For 1/72 this sure is a beast! Thanks for showing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Great project Pete! The modified X-15 looks great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I've spent the last couple weeks just filling, priming and sanding. A lot! And this model is so big, it bangs into lights, and other paraphernalia on my desk every time I pick it up to paint, or just look at, another part of it. These Exhaust cans were sprayed with Gunmetal and weathered with pastels. Preshading. And you can see some vent tubes or sensors on the spine that I saw on some photos. I added scratchbuilt pitot tubes to the nose section. This canopy section is really poor fitting, so I've spent a lotta time just sanding and priming over here. It still isn't perfect, but I think I've had enough of it. I also had some white paint bleed under the masking tape on the windows. (You can see a couple pilots in there too. I really didn't think they'd be visible at all!) I've tried to remove it with thinner, and sanding, but somehow there's still residue on the clear window. I may hafta try adding some black acrylic paint to Future and see if that knocks the bleed-through back to unnoticeability. If you've got any tips for me to try, (besides burnishing down the tape , I'd love to hear 'em) I've also seen this, I'll assume it's a photo reference for Canard travel, on some pix so I've masked it off with Maskol and more tape, and will paint it Gunmetal. ( I like using Gunmetal instead of Black paint. It gives a more scaled, distant effect. Black seems to be just a little too much. There are a couple of blade antennae on the topside, so here they are. And the aft underside. On either side of the exhausts, I've thinned the body panels a bit So a coat of Future, some decals, kit and homemade, and it should be complete soon! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Very interesting. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richter111 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 This is definitely an example of turning a pig model into a great build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Great job on this kit! Cant wait to see more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Couple coats of Future, decals (kit and homemade), semi-gloss paint and some pastel weathering and she's done. This is the cradle that the X-15 would be launched from. Total speculation regarding shape and stencil placement. This is a photo just to show how large this model is. I have no idea where it's gonna go now, probably stay in it's shipping package. Some 'beauty' shots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Last three pix with the Delta wing X-15. It'll probably be affixed with double sided tape so I can show the XB-70 on it's own from time to time. And this one just to give an idea as to the weathering. Thanx guys for all your positive comments. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 What a gorgeous model! I love the fact its in flight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Berkut Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Wow, it looks fantastic! I love that you made it in flight with dropped wings. Looks perfect. B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sweaty Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 It's massive, hehe. Looks like a winner already, top stuff. Jamie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhantomII Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Great job on bothe the XB-70 and the X-15 Delta! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackcollar Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 That is both gorgeous and impressive.. A very interesting "could have been" -Al Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Fantastic! Well done! I love it!!! Chappie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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