Alan P Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Very glad to be joining you with this little 1/72 gem. Nice kit, also using the two definitive tomes on this subject - Jenkins & Landis' "Hypersonic" and "The X-15 Photo Scrapbook" Some very nicely reproduced plastic, with very good surface detail: Also contains resin parts for the cockpit and ground handling dolly: And a very nice pre-printed PE fret complete with Remove Before Flight flags: Decals include all the relevant stencils for the standard black metal finish, and also the limited black stencils for the all-white record-breaking flight with ablative paint: Somewhat unusually for me, it will be a bare-metal finish in black! Just waiting for my paint to get here from Korea... Hopefully get a chance to stretch the old skills a bit. This is intended to eventually form part of a ground diorama prior to loading the X-15 on the NB-52A. But that's another story!!!! Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marty_hopkirk Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 This one is on my build list. I will therefore be intrigued how you get on. By the way, welcome. Marty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Velociweiler Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I built a Monogram X-15A2 once in the all-white scheme - it just doesn't look right. Just too featureless - there's hardly any markings either. Glad to see the black finish - visually it just makes for a more interesting model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 (edited) I don't think the white scheme is featureless at all - quite a few access panels were taped before the ablative paint was applied so the panel lines do show quite prominently, also was there considerable wear and charring after each flight. I built mine as if before the final, and record setting flight (ok, it's 1:48, but still...): Sorry for hijacking this thread, I just needed to hold the flag up for the white version... Jeffrey (and also please excuse the bad photos - I took them about two years ago, before I started to understand model photography) I'm looking forward to eventually seeing the full diorama, Al - that would be magnificent! An NB-52A + X-15 is on my list as well, however in 1:48...Once Sanger releases his kit (and I have a bigger house). I built a Monogram X-15A2 once in the all-white scheme - it just doesn't look right. Just too featureless - there's hardly any markings either. Glad to see the black finish - visually it just makes for a more interesting model. Edited October 4, 2010 by JeffreyK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deon Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 This should be interesting . ive just got my B52D for conversion and my x15 is waiting for the references Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 This should be interesting . ive just got my B52D for conversion and my x15 is waiting for the references I thought you were going to convert it to a B-52A? Still, either conversion should be good to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi folks, Long time to get started, but here we go! Got the cockpit done, it's a very nice resin/PE combination and looks stunning compared to the IM parts in the kit. The ejector seat is really nice, probably the best thing I've managed in 1/72 (not a familiar scale for me!) All painted according to refs from the Hypersonic book - there is a very useful three-view colour photo of a 1967-era ejector seat which is ideal for me. More soon - hoping to get the main assembly done before the weekend! Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Nice pit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike N Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 That's a very smart cockpit, looking forward to seeing more of this build! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Well, this build is plodding along - it's sub-zero in my shed at the moment so this is as far as I've got, pending paint... Major assembly complete - it fit together very nicely, with most seams eliminated by liquid poly and a dab of Tamiya putty: Alignment of the flying surfaces was tricky due to very small locator tabs on the main wings and simple butt joints for the stabs. I had to do a bit of filing and sanding to get the butt joints angled correctly: And here's where it stands until I can spray again - lacquer paints and indoors don't mix very well! It looks quick just sitting there unpainted! Paint on: Gunze Sangyo Mr Metal Color Dark Iron, brushed on and buffed up. Decals went on without any hassle at all. Finishing touches: Tanks finished in Bare-Metal foil with Vallejo Fluorescent Red Really happy with this! Really special little kit and a pleasure to build. Cheers, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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