1/48 Collectaire X-24A WIP

[swimmer25k]

This kit is a bit of a turd.  Only the canopy, fuselage halves, MLG doors, and vertical stabs are being used.  Everything else is either scratchbuilt, printed, stolen from another kit with heavy modifications.  

[RichB63]

Ooo, that’s nice! A subject you don’t see everyday, from a manufacturer long defunct. I love all of the improvements.

 

The 3D printed motors are most impressive.

 

Well done!

 

Rich

 

Edited May 6, 2024 by RichB63

[Major Walt]

I love this!

[Dutch]

I have to agree, simply outstanding work on the cockpit, wheel wells and rocket motors and piping.  Truly a work of art!

[cruiz]

Marvelous! You are doing a great job sculpting a masterpiece from that resin chunk. The engine fooled me as a pic of the real one.

[swimmer25k]

Moving along with this thing and almost ready for decals.  The canopy and gear are done, with the nose gear still to attach.  I scratchbuilt the front gear doors and skinning the mains with styrene to clean up the roughness of the kit parts. 
 

The seat is from an Aires F-106. The wheels hit the deck at a -5 degree camber, so I made a jig to correctly align them.  

[Gwen Phoenix]

Hi swimmer,

Oh, I fancy one of these myself.

This is the craft in which Steve Austin almost perished, said my husband... It goes to show how old he is.

Very nice work making the kit better, tho.

Following this build.

Cheers,

 

Gwen

[swimmer25k]

3 minutes ago, Gwen Phoenix said:

Hi swimmer,

Oh, I fancy one of these myself.

This is the craft in which Steve Austin almost perished, said my husband... It goes to show how old he is.

Very nice work making the kit better, tho.

Following this build.

Cheers,

 

Gwen

Thanks Gwen.

 

Col Austin was filmed standing in the HL-10, which was later shown in the opening credits being launched from the NB-52.  The crash was actually the M2F2, which was re-built as the M2F3.  The X-24A wasn't part of the TV show.

 

Chris 

[Gwen Phoenix]

On 5/27/2024 at 11:51 AM, swimmer25k said:

Col Austin was filmed standing in the HL-10, which was later shown in the opening credits being launched from the NB-52.  The crash was actually the M2F2, which was re-built as the M2F3.  The X-24A wasn't part of the TV show.

 

Hi Chris,

The husband stood corrected 😄😁

 

Cheers,

 

Gwen

 

 

[swimmer25k]

She’s on her legs now.  And made part of the base. 

[Robb5986]

Hi Chris, old Texas IPMS colleague Mark Robbins here;  I wonder how/where you made that incredible Edwards dry lake base!

 

I had just built the Special Hobby 1/48 D-558-1 and had to settle for a dyed plaster "sand"; having worked at Edwards your base is amazing.  Please let me know your technique--

 

Mark

[swimmer25k]

6 minutes ago, Robb5986 said:

Hi Chris, old Texas IPMS colleague Mark Robbins here;  I wonder how/where you made that incredible Edwards dry lake base!

 

I had just built the Special Hobby 1/48 D-558-1 and had to settle for a dyed plaster "sand"; having worked at Edwards your base is amazing.  Please let me know your technique--

 

Mark

Mark,

 

I use a base if 1/8” PVC sheet sprayed with a Gunze dark earth.  On top of that is a layer of AK light/dry crackle effects.  This was my third attempt at it.  Too thin and not much will happen and too thick you’ll get deeper crevices.  Once applied I put it outside to dry in the natural heat.  

[Robb5986]

Thanks so much, Chris.  Beautiful effect.  Am going to get some supplies tomorrow and experiment with this technique.  I've stood on the real stuff, and you've nailed the dry lake detail better than I've ever seen.  Cheers, buddy.