Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 For my birthday in 2005, my wife dispatched me to the National Museum of the US Air Force (on my own!) I spent three amazing days there and only wish that my photographic skills with my first DSLR (a Nikon D70) were better! I have always been entranced by the XB-70 Valkyrie, so was delighted to spend some time in its presence: It was too big and the hanger was too full to get the whole airframe in shot! As I'm not a tennis fan, I thought I would throw this one together while my wife watched the Ladies Finals: Excuse the "noisy" images taken on my phone in the conservatory during a heavy downpour! Thanks for looking. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Very nice, a not often modelled subject and one I'm sure will look great with your usual care and attention to detail. What scale is this Valkyrie? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickpadwick1801 Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Very nice, I love the Valkyrie, I always thought it would make a great bomber if updated to modern standards (I.e. weapons and technology). It would look especially mean in a stealth black colour scheme. What scale is this kit ? Keep up the good work. Rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 Hi Thanks for the kind words, guys. As tagged in the title it is 1/200 scale, which still means this baby is quite large! I will add something to give it scale in the next update pictures. As the Ladies Finals didn't take long, the next phase of construction was completed during the Men's Doubles Finals! Once again, sorry for the picture quality, but the light is very poor today! Thanks for looking. The next update will show the beast in primer! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Wow, flying together! Be interesting to compare this to your 1/200 C-47's and see just how big this bomber was. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 Thanks Parabat. Good idea regarding the 1/200 C-47 for comparison! I might throw in a 1/72 Spitfire as well, because we all know how big one of those is, don't we?! Well, a quick coat of Halfords finest in the garden between showers and this is how she now looks. I need to decide whether to buy a can of the highly-rated Appliance White, or splatter it with something through the airbrush..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark73 Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Love it, great and often overlooked aircraft, where did you find the kit? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 Hi Mark Thanks for looking in. I bought the kit in 2012 from emodels in Stoke, but a quick check shows the only XB-70 they have in stock is the 1/72 Italeri one, which must be HUGE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Hmmm, in such small scale Appliance White might be a good choice as it is reputed to cover well. All the civil guys seem to swear by it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 I agree Parabat. A quick check of the Halfords website reveals that Appliance White has been re-branded Halfords Gloss White. I will pick up a can tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggart Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Looks good , i've just started the Italeri 1/72nd on of these and it's huge ! Looks like your kit went together well without the fit issues of the larger scale kit . At least you will have somewhere to display yours 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Thanks Taggart. There have been some minor fit issues (nose to fuselage and fuselage to wing), but it has certainly been a quick build. It would be amazing to see the contrast between our two models! What are the dimensions of your beast? Here is the latest state of play after fitting and masking the windscreen and a gentle polish with MicroMesh. I will be knocking on Halfords door at 10am for a can of Gloss White! And for Parabat, a picture with one of my 1/200 Hasegawa Skytrains: And finally, a picture with my Airfix 1/72 Spitfire IX MH434: Thanks for looking. It's raining again here, but I hope to be able to get some Halfords white on her in the garden at some point today! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 I had intended to buy a large can of white from Halfords, as it is much better value but they only had the small size in stock. Interestingly, it must be old stock as it is still branded "Appliance White." I've already misted on a oouple of coats (pictures to follow.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggart Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggart Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 That is a picture of the wings , only got this far at the moment . They are just under 21" long and the whole beast comes in at around 31" when built . I've got no idea where it's going to be put if it ever gets to the stage where it is finished though . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 My goodness Taggart, this is a real case of "Valkyrie envy", look at the size of the 1/200 cutie! I couldn't resist a couple more shots with my 1/200 Skytrain. A couple more coats of white, and it will be time for decals. Thanks for looking. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Nice progress with the Valkyrie - its looking good. Did you know that in its day, the XB-70 held the record for having the largest moving surfaces of any aircraft yet built - the folding wingtips. The record is now held by the Tu-160 Blackjack with its sweeping wings - another white giant. Not a lot of people know that.......... Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 The last post of the day. Unbelievably. I seem to have used most of the Halfords aerosol! It might give good results, but £6.49 to paint one model is a bit steep in my book! Anyway, enough of the whingeing, here are the pictures! Once again, sorry for the quality of the phone pictures! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggart Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Looks very good , i know the airline builders rate the Halfords white . I'm planning on using the same on mine, might need more than one can though ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Nice progress with the Valkyrie - its looking good. Did you know that in its day, the XB-70 held the record for having the largest moving surfaces of any aircraft yet built - the folding wingtips. The record is now held by the Tu-160 Blackjack with its sweeping wings - another white giant. Not a lot of people know that.......... Ken Thanks Ken. I didn't know that, but I do now! Looks very good , i know the airline builders rate the Halfords white . I'm planning on using the same on mine, might need more than one can though ! Thanks, Taggart. You might need two of the large cans..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have always loved the Valkyrie. I have the 1/72 beasty in "in service" colours of black with lo-viz markings. And yes, it's a monster!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have always loved the Valkyrie. I have the 1/72 beasty in "in service" colours of black with lo-viz markings. And yes, it's a monster!! I'd love to see some pictures of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenCJ Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I have 3 1/72 scale kits, one a Contrail vac and one I didn't know i had bought and nowhere to display a finished model. Lucky me 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 I have 3 1/72 scale kits, one a Contrail vac and one I didn't know i had bought and nowhere to display a finished model. Lucky me Good grief! You would need to build an annexe for those three! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark73 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Love this build and model, eBay here I come... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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