Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing

[Alpha Delta 210]

Hi

This is my first finished model in at least 9 months. It was a 24-hour blitz-build, which presented no real construction challenges. The model has a wing span of 26cm.

I spayed it with Alclad Dull Aluminium followed by a couple of coats of Alclad Gloss Klear Kote, prior to decalling. I had some frustrations with the walkway decals, but apart from that, a pleasurable weekend build to break my lengthy hiatus!

One obviously can't describe it as a tail-sitter, so "wing-sitter" will have to suffice!!

This is from Wikipedia:

"The Northrop YB-49 was a prototype jet-powered heavy bomber aircraft developed by Northrop Corporation shortly after World War II for service with the U.S. Air Force. The YB-49 featured a flying wing design and was a jet-powered development of the earlier, piston-engined Northrop XB-35 and YB-35. The two YB-49s actually built were both converted YB-35 test aircraft.

The YB-49 never entered production, being passed over in favor of the more conventional Convair B-36 piston-driven design. Design work performed in the development of the YB-35 and YB-49 nonetheless proved to be valuable to Northrop decades later in the eventual development of the B-2 stealth bomber, which entered service in the early 1990s."

Photos of a not so distant relative taken by me at RIAT:

And finally, a couple of shots with my only other 1:200 model, the same manufacturer's XB-70 Valkyrie:

Thanks for looking.

[Parabat]

Excellent work, that's come up a treat with the Alclad. Great to see it next to the Valkyrie.

[Jake Moon]

Wow, amazing! I never realized how big those Northrop flying wings were either.

[russ c]

They look great together, very nice work

[Flankerman]

Interesting fact..... the Northrop YB-49 and B2 have EXACTLY the same wingspan at 171.92ft

Nice model(s) BTW.

Ken

[Alpha Delta 210]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. (I was not aware of that interesting fact, Ken.)

[Martian]

Nice builds!

Martin

[Alpha Delta 210]

Thanks for the feedback, Martin.

[HOUSTON]

Alpha Delta 210..

SUPERB.. OUTSTANDING build.

And the photos are TOP NOTCH too..wouldn't expect anything less than perfection from you.

[Alpha Delta 210]

Thanks Houston. Glad you liked my little wing!

[Mike DeTorrice]

A fine model of this sensational Northrop flying wing ! It looks great.

Of course, the wing flew in defense of the planet in the 1953 Hollywood version of H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds". The B-49 performed brilliantly and placed the atomic bomb directly on top of the Martian tripods ! Unfortunately, their nifty invisible force-fields prevented our big firecracker from having it's desired effect. (luckily, the "microbe back-up plan B" was ready)

Mike

[Eht1418]

Looks great! I have an AMT 1/72 B-49 in the stash that I hope to build some day.

[Alpha Delta 210]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. The wing span on a 1/72 YB-49 will require a lot of shelf-space!