general melchett Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 (edited) I've been a bit quiet on the posting builds side of late as I've been busy concentrating on doing several big 'Black' projects ready in time for SMW 10, (the R and D SiGs theme this year will be stealth/Black Projects,that is if we can find a table big enough! ) starting with this beast....Italeri's Lockheed/Boeing SR-75 Penetrator/ XR-7 Thunderdart combo known more famously as Project Aurora. The 'mothership' was basically touted as being a development of the SR-71 Blackbird only considerably larger and capable of carrying the XR-7 Thunderdart hypersonic sub orbital aircraft to be used in a variety of roles including high altitude recon and the destruction of low orbit satellites. The project was given the code name Aurora and though there is no hard and fast proof of its existence many people both inside and out of the aviation industry claim to have knowledge or have seen evidence of such a program including many alleged sightings. Several names have been given to the SR-75 component including Brilliant Buzzard and Snowbird, (as the prototypes were allegedly painted high gloss white), and Penetrator. This extract came from US sources dated 1992.... '' An indication as to the aircraft's manufacturer came on January 6, 1992, when there was a sighting of an SR-71 shaped forward fuselage section being loaded onto a C-5 transport plane at the Lockheed Skunk Works facility in Burbank, California. It was about 65 to 75 feet long and 10 feet high. The C-5 was bound for Boeing Field in Seattle. '' The Sr-75 was supposedly powered by 4 massive high by pass turbofans and the Thunderdart by a revolutionary new power source namely PDWE propulsion or Pulse Detonation Wave Engines which operate on a different principle then conventional ramjets, PDWEs dont't continuously burn kerosene, but detonate fuel as it starts to leave the combustion chamber. This generates a regular pulse which may be responsible for producing the unusual "doughnuts-on-a-rope" contrails. The most probable fuel for PDWEs would be cryogenic liquid methane, which could also act as a structural coolant. The other option would be the use of a methane-burning combined cycle ramjet engine (uniting rocket and ramjet designs). Whether or not it really exists is wide open to debate, there is an awful lot of 'information' about the project on the net so it's interesting to speculate.... This then is Italeri's rendition of the Aurora programme. The first thing that strikes you is the size...it's enormous!!...almost as big as the B-70 Valkyrie that I built earlier and dwarfs the YF-12/SR-71 that it so resembles. A much sought after kit, and a bit of a pig to put together, (mainly joint issues, warped parts and filling due like the XB-70 mainly down to its size), so basically just my cup of tea...................not really being a fan of fall together kits. I decided that the all white or black approach was too bland and an easy option so went for an operational ADC/Strategic Air Command scheme,( to compliment my Valkyrie), special recon unit based at Offut AFB, Nebraska in the mid ninties. The Thunderdart has been painted using a mixture of prismatic and hot metal tones from the Alclad range as this airframe would have needed to have been specially treated for hypersonic flight giving it a crystalline patina indicative of sustained exposure to high temperature. . . a burnt carbon odor exudes from the surface. . All finished off with careful masking( a LOT of masking!!!) and Tamiya smoke, Promodellers dark dirt wash and the usuual oil and turpentine panel washes..... The only mods I did were to add new resin seats. scratch the cockpit panels and use the undercarriage from a 1/48th Revell/Monogram B-58 as this was a lot beefier than the kit parts, (plus I added a four wheel unit to the nose gear). . The XR-7 being operated by the NRO...(National Reconnaisance Office, a specialist satellite development division used by the DoD and CIA). Decals, as usual come from many sources the only kit ones used were the complex red walkways...this time I used a new technique for applying them as the walkways were very matt. This was suggested by Spence to me at Cosford and I've been looking forward to trying it out. It simply involves dipping them in warm water a s per usual, then with tweezers dip them into Klear for 30 secs or so , quickly apply to the surface and roll out excess CAREFULLY with a cotton bud.I say carefully as they can ruck up and crease very easily. The result though was spectacular....absolutely no silvering or lift anywhere, no sign of the carrier and a rock hard finish to varnish over.If you wish to try this practice a lot before you try it on your pride and joy!! :shutup What doesn't show up in the photos are the subtle shades of grey used on various panels across the SR-75's skin surface..you'll have to see it in the flesh to see what I mean...: The ground support equipment comes from the Hasegawa set slightly modified to be suitable for use within the time frame for both this aircraft and the Valkyrie... Overall great fun, starting the next one soon........now I'm running seriously low on shelf space!! ....don't think it'll be doing the round of shows either for the same reason.....unless I invest in a motorhome!!! Cheers all, hope you like it... Melchie.... With the base and ground equipment...just awaiting a nameplate... A couple of comparison shots...firstly with the YF-12A and then with the B-70 Valkyrie, as you can see it's a bit of a beastie!!.... And finally a few ground level views... Edited June 1, 2010 by general melchett 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Holy Batcrap Andy going to lie down and think of superlatives that are adequate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 :knock knock: Hear that? Thats the men in black coming to have a serious chat with you Andy. Fantastic work and well presented, look forward to seeing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 That's brilliant General. Another fantastic build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz greenwood Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Very nice Andy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Impressive Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzH Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Wow, that looks cool! Nice little set up with the ground equipment as well, very nice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thank you everyone, I appreciate the kind comments as ever. Hopefully it will grow into a larger diorama with a lot more background interest and scenery, (not to mention table of its own!!). I'm glad it grabs you.. Mish, I think the men in Black not to mention the men in white coats have been and gone several times..........I just never seem to be in,(I think they're used to me now!!)... Cheers folks, Andy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickParker Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thats a seriously impressive combo coming in under the radar ( groan ) is the kit still available ? you've made a beautiful job, she looks stunning. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain.. ipms north somerset Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 just fantastic work seriously like that well done ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thanks guys, Nick it's getting a bit hard to come by now but does turn up on Ebay now and then and can be found at the odd show..at a price.Hopefully Italeri will get around to reissuing it in the near future as they have been doing with several of their models of late. I found this one on the Comet Miniatures stand at Telford last year...also got to thank DaveT for giving me a kit box with three spare Thunderdarts and a shed load of Pentrator parts...(so there's a few more solo models to come yet!)!.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 General, sah...you build the Cooooolest stuff ...and you do it with such flair. Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest snipersmudge Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 good grief that's a whopper and no mistake! fantastic build as usual and lovely finish top marks old boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 A very impressive model. The aircraft looks like it would be difficult to land with that undercarriage arrangement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thank you fellas, Smiffy, I do try to bring you something a bit different, like me somewhat 'off centre' Smudge, it's not the size and all that!!................actually it's a Heck of a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be!...God alone knows where I'm going to put the B-36 and B-52 when they are both done! Jabba..very true, especially a crosswind landing.................I would think it quite easy to lose one of the outriggers during a soft crash/hard landing....hence the reason I think it would only fly from the likes of Edwards/Area 51 Groom Lake, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deon Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thats a very pretty combo a stunner as always. ( :{> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 What doesn't show up in the photos are the subtle shades of grey used on various panels across the SR-75's skin surface..you'll have to see it in the flesh to see what I mean...: I look forward to seeing it! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Nice one Andy, you do go for the oddballs, don't you? I like the shots against the blue background. It almost seems like they'd be suitable for publishing... Looks like it'd be an interesting view from the rearmost, rear facing seat, too. And I hope the ejection sequences were staggered, otherwise two and three would eject into each other! If you've been working on secret projects like this, no wonder you don't answer emails any more... See you tomorrow if the MIBs don't get to you first, Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Absolutely brilliant mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 (edited) Thanks chaps,.....Er sorry Dean my old mucka...don't check my Emails as much as I should, just read yours now...Blimey you only sent it yesterday!!' I'll catch up with you at Hendon, sorry not to reply sooner..been on night duty.. :violin: Glad to see you got a bit of 'air' time in, weathers perfect for it ....hopefully get across to Wickenby for a spot of microlighting myself next week..... The rear guy actually has a little window he sits and watches through...poor sod his main job was to ensure a clean seperation of the Thunderdart watching out that the driver doesn't decide to pitch up into the rather expensive payload!!. The seats are actually angled out to each side away from each other but as you say I think we know who'll be going last..(ie expendable!...). Here is said window.. Edited May 22, 2010 by general melchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 That is an incredible aircraft let alone a superb build of it. Stunned! Mart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 That is impressive. Talking of the Aurora, there used to be rumours all the time, but I have not heard or read anything about it for a long, long time. Was it all just a myth, or had it served its' purpose and has been put out to grass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChancerUK Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Brilliant model, just makes you wonder what is out there, the yanks wond not retire the SR71 with out a replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metallicus Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 WoW!!!!! not much else come to mind apart from WOW!!! great subject Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiloh Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Awesome is not an awesome enough word to describe how awesome this is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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