[Page 2]
Prototypes in 1/72 scale
on this page 2...
The North
American X-15 was the fastest plane flown up till date, reaching a
record speed of Mach 6.72 in 1965. First flight
was in 1959. The X-15 was a Thiokol rocket propelled research aircraft
to get data on high speed aerodynamics. New technologies were used throughout
like the heat resistant Inconel X alloy and the main undercarriage consisted
of retractable skids. Several planes were built.
A long time ago, Miyauchi of Japan
had a 1/72 scale kit which was pretty good. This kit is very very rare.
Also Revell issued a kit but I believe it was more in scale 1/65. Vacuforms
were also issued ny Airmodel/Frank modelbau and ESTES had an injection
moulded kit.
The best model is of Monogram
in
1/72 scale and it is an excellent injection moulded model, the older model
being in an odd scale of Revell/Aurora.
The finish is black with some options
on the different derivatives flown of the X-15. The decals of the kit are
a bit thin, so first put some yellow backing sheet before applying the
yellow NASA logo's.
The Northrop Hornet was developed initially as the YF-17, in competition with the YF-16 for the USAF Light Fighter requirement of 1975. Later on, the YF-17 was used as a basis for the (later McDonnell Douglas) F-18, the YF-18 model being shown.
The F-18 is, as the General Dynamics (later Lockheed) F-16 in the USAF and NATO countries, in wide use with both US NAVY, Canada, Australia and Malaysia.
The YF-18 model shown has the special test markings, which are supplied with the good Hasegawa YF-18 kit in 1/72 scale. The thin blue striping were made from lines from special decals and the blue panels were sprayed on.
The Lockheed Cheyenne was a Lockheed design for a fast attack helicopter. It featured a pusher propeller besides the conventional rotors. The AH-56A Cheyenne was able to reach a maximum speed of 253 mph and the test program of 1969 was successful. However it was considered too expensive to put into production.
The model in 1/72 scale was the old
model from AURORA.
It is a rather crude model, especially in the rotor area. I replaced the rotorhub and rotorblades with reduced length blades from an Airfix CH-54. Panels were filled and the gaps filled. Also, the cockpit was detailed and I opened the hatches with some clear plastic.
...
The Lockheed YF-22 is a design to get into a "state of the art" fighter as replacement of the F-15 air superiority aircraft in the USAF inventory.
The YF-22 flew first in the beginning of the nineteenhundred-nineties and currently flight test results have resulted into a re-design into the F-22 Raptor.
The model #194 from Italeri
representing
the prototype in 1/72 is quite good. It was made "straight out of the box".
I only added the internal missile weaponsbay and intake ducting.
The newer kit of Italeri in 1/72 of
the F-22 Raptor is unfortunately very inaccurate. ACADEMY has thankfully
issued an excellent kit in /172 scale in 2012.
- X-planes, Jay Miller, Aerofax inc., 1995 (revised edition)
- Janes pocket book 12 on research & experimental aircraft.
To next page 3 of American X-planes....
Created
May 28, 2001 / Updated June 2012
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