1/48th X-15A-2

[trickyrich]

This is a bit of strange place for me to be in as I normally live in the GB section. A scary new place to explore!

 

This is a build I started sometime ago for the Prototype, Experimentals, World Firsts & Record Breakers GB (that’s a mouth fully!) and for various reasons I was not able to complete. Now as a sort of Mojo restorer she’s back on the workbench. I’ve attached the link to the first part of the build for those interested.

 

I had gotten to the stage where I was ready to fit the new mounts for the wings and elevators. These were to be pinned in place rather than trying to use the tiny resin stubs supplied on the kit parts. This would help give everything the strength it needed plus make sure everything was aligned correctly and at the right angle!

 

 

Ok with the new mounts for the wings and tail done it was time to fit these. I needed to make sure that these new mounts were perfectly square with the body. The moulded mounts on the model were out quite a bit!

 

 

The front mounts were off by nearly 5mm from one side to the other. The rear mounts for the elevators was I though correct at the time but it ended up being 3mm too high! Unfortunately I didn’t find this out until I’d glued the fuselage together!

 

 

 

At this stage I also modified the lower rudder leading edge. During the early flights this rudder was longer and similar in shape to the upper one. Later on it was reduced in length and the leading edge squared off. This wasn’t the easiest of jobs to do as only the front 10mm had the new beveled shape, and everything had to be square as well. It came out pretty nicely in the end. The speed brakes will be closed on her but the insides these lower ones can be seen so I’m going to have to add details here. The model supplied parts are pretty poorly made (white metal and “off cast” resin) so I’ll have to scratch build this area. Not a big job just time consuming.

 

 

 

Now the cockpit. I still not quite sure if I’ll leave the canopy open or closed, a lot will depend on if I stuff it up or not!  The detail is a bit on the basic side but I’m not going to go too crazy here, just some careful painting and a few small extras. Luckily I have the Aerofax book on the X-15 to help out, it’s a great reference manual.

 

 

With the basic work done on the cockpit I could close up the fuselage….and what a fun task that was! CA glue was no go for this stage as it dries too quickly (even the Gel stuff for this sort of work), and there was a bit of aligning required as the nose was slightly warped. So the Epoxy resin was pulled out, funnily enough I could have sworn the last time I used it it was the 5 minute type and not the 24 hour type I had in my hand?? I got the fuselage together eventually along with covering everything in epoxy. It was put aside to dry.

 

While it was drying I found the 5 minute epoxy, now I was worried, I had a feeling the stuff I used was VERY old! Two days later it still hadn’t dried properly and the entire nose has moved to one side!

 

The only thing that saved this now was that the epoxy hadn’t set, so I was able to carefully split the fuselage. The only time I’ve been glad for really thick resin fuselages. Once I’d removed all the old stuff and re-cleaned up the fuselage, it was re-glued with the 5 minute epoxy. This cured nicely and everything remained in it’s right place. Then some careful sanding back and she was done. I forgot to take photos of all this fun and games.

 

Inbetween this I managed to almost finish the auxiliary tanks, they're now finally round and not oval. I now just have to start adding all the detail to them. (ones on the left are before filling and re-scribed, one in right are complete).

 

 

With the fuselage done the upper rudder was fitted. The airbrakes will be closed on her, these were fitted later along with the Helium bottle that sits behind the rudder. It was around this stage I found out that the elevator were in the wrong position, luckily with a bit of “keyhole’ surgery I managed to get them in the right position, as seen here. I need to rebuild/make the fairing section where the elevator meet the fuselage.

 

 

The main skids were fitted now as well, as I’ll be using the trolley at the rear these skid are in their flight position. It’s a strange combination on resin skid and white metal support here, namely to support the weight of the model. The support was actually too thin, it now sits on some plastic card so it’s at the right height. I still need to make the hinges for the struts, these will be from plastic rod and card.

 

 

The cockpit is actually starting to look quite good, this is just the basic painting, I have a lot more to do here.

 

 

 

..and finally all together. The wings and elevators are just slide in place for the moment, but she’s starting to look really nice. Most of the re-scribing has been complete since these photos and the upper rudder is nearly completed.

 

 

 

 

I’m really starting to enjoy this build, apart for a few errors a faults it’s a really nice model to build. I should be ready to paint her by the end of my next break.

 

[exdraken]

Nice to see this moving along!!

Edited September 3, 2017 by exdraken

[Pete in Lincs]

I'll second that.

It was an amazing bit of kit and your model is looking good.

[hairystick]

Very nice work and in 1:48th too!

 

Glad that the epoxy co-operated when separating the surfaces and re-gluing them. Some times you can get a "winter hardener" which copes better at setting the resin (no use what so ever when the adhesive is past its use-by date though.)

 

Also, is there a side stick joystick on the right side of the cockpit?

[trickyrich]

13 hours ago, hairystick said:

Very nice work and in 1:48th too!

 

Glad that the epoxy co-operated when separating the surfaces and re-gluing them. Some times you can get a "winter hardener" which copes better at setting the resin (no use what so ever when the adhesive is past its use-by date though.)

 

Also, is there a side stick joystick on the right side of the cockpit?

thanks. we don't really get that cold in winter in Sydney....heavens forbid!  

 

Said out of date epoxy has been binned to prevent further mishaps! I was really luck it didn't set correctly as the two half's at the nose were really out of wack!

 

Not sure about the joystick you mentioned, there's nothing there other than some paint. There are a few leavers that do need to be added in the cockpit, one on the LHS for the reaction control system. What is seen her so far is just the basic painting, next will be another clear coat then I'll start doing some washes and other detailing, once that's done a final flat coat before adding some "gloss" dots to the instrument faces.

[hairystick]

On 9/3/2017 at 3:15 PM, trickyrich said:

thanks. we don't really get that cold in winter in Sydney....heavens forbid!  

 

Not sure about the joystick you mentioned, there's nothing there other than some paint. There are a few leavers that do need to be added in the cockpit, one on the LHS for the reaction control system. What is seen her so far is just the basic painting, next will be another clear coat then I'll start doing some washes and other detailing, once that's done a final flat coat before adding some "gloss" dots to the instrument faces.

Ha! Yes, Sydney isn't really cold in winter. You also get less rain than Auckland...

 

The right hand side console should have a sidestick much like in the F-16s. I was fascinated to find this out when I built a 1:72nd kit then went and watched some flight videos of that era. It was quite a few years ahead of its time considering that the F-16 was still around 20 years away!

 

I look forward to seeing your progress on this kit. Keep up the great work.

[trickyrich]

1 hour ago, hairystick said:

The right hand side console should have a sidestick much like in the F-16s. I was fascinated to find this out when I built a 1:72nd kit then went and watched some flight videos of that era. It was quite a few years ahead of its time considering that the F-16 was still around 20 years away!

 

arr thanks for that, I didn't really notice it in the photos in Aerofax book. In most of the photos of the cockpit of 6671 (the A2 bird) this side stick missing. All they mention is that the RHS panels are virtually the same on standard and A2 aircraft. But there is a wee drawing that shows it. Now re-looking at the photos i can see the actuator arms mounted on the side wall for this stick.

 

Something to add to the list of bits to be added.