NB-52A launching X-15 Diorama
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/1/8/6/1468186-46272-12-720.jpg)
Overview of the Atlantis Kit. I will not use the original base, as I intend to use a wood base, with the X-15 accelerating away from NB-52A.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/7/0/1468670-46272-17-720.jpg)
This is a rough sketch of the diorama I plan to build.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/1/8/5/1468185-46272-76-720.jpg)
Half fuselage. I will attach a stainless steel bycicle spoke to attach the B-52 to the wooden base.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/1/8/4/1468184-46272-49-720.jpg)
Bycicle spoke attached to half fuselage with epoxy glue.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/4/6/0/1469460-46272-23-720.jpg)
Fuselage and wings assembled.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/4/5/8/1469458-46272-84-720.jpg)
Fuselage and wings assembled with pylons and the eight jet engines.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/5/7/1469457-46272-28-720.jpg)
Rear transparent bubble doesn't fit in the fuse
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/5/6/1469456-46272-53-720.jpg)
Rear bubble adjusted with a file and patience.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/5/9/1469459-46272-84-720.jpg)
Windshield dry fit. Will isolate with liquid mask for painting.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/8/4/9/1469849-46272-75-720.jpg)
Made some antennas as bulges from reference photos with Styrene sheet pieces. Ready for priming and painting.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/2/7/1471727-46272-51-720.jpg)
I just have grey primer. Thus, I had to apply it before painting the parts gloss black, and apply Vallejo aluminum paint.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/7/2/6/1471726-46272-36-720.jpg)
I chose to paint fuselage and wings separetly as it gets easier to mask, paint. Here is the aluminum fuselage painted.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/7/2/8/1471728-46272-75-720.jpg)
Wings, pylons and engines, painted aluminum.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/7/2/9/1471729-46272-31-720.jpg)
Parts isolated with masking tape and kitchen plastic for Orange day-glo paint.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/7/3/0/1471730-46272-54-720.jpg)
Fuselage and wing painted Orange Day-glo.. I think the color is clearer that in the references circa 1959 but it be like this.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/4/4/1/1473441-46272-47-720.jpg)
Fuselage and wings painted. I opted to paint them separate, as it is easier and will not affect the final assembly.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/4/4/2/1473442-46272-58-720.jpg)
The right wing, which carries the X-15 is painted different from the left, with white flaps underneath, according to references.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/4/4/4/1473444-46272-43-720.jpg)
Decals applied to the fuselage and wings. Now its weathering time, after the gloss layer dries up.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/3/7/8/1474378-46272-20-720.jpg)
Wings attached, top view of NB-52A
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/3/8/1/1474381-46272-94-720.jpg)
Wings attached, bottom view of NB-52A
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/3/7/9/1474379-46272-39-720.jpg)
scratch built right superior spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 nose were taken at this position.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/3/8/0/1474380-46272-67-720.jpg)
scratch built right fuselage spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 being released from the NB-52A were taken at this position.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/8/3/5/1476835-46272-10-720.jpg)
Starting to build the X-15, with soldering some wires to the SMD LED that will light up to simulate the aircraft rocket.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/8/3/8/1476838-46272-67-720.jpg)
LED and wiring installed on the lower X-15 fuselage, The wire bundle will serve as the X-15 support to the base.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/8/3/6/1476836-46272-14-720.jpg)
Dry fit of X-15 rocket lighed up.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/8/3/9/1476839-46272-28-720.jpg)
I decided to paint the X-15 very dark blue, instead of black as stated in the drawings.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/8/4/1/1476841-46272-55-720.jpg)
I think the result was much better than paint it black, The windshield was drawn with a chrome pen.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/8/4/2/1476842-46272-79-720.jpg)
X-15 with decals placed.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/8/4/3/1476843-46272-77-720.jpg)
X-15 with lighted up rocket. I will make a cotton plume after install it on the base.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/8/4/4/1476844-46272-10-720.jpg)
These are the components for the diorama. I have printed a desert 40.000ft in adhesive paper. I will return to this project in about 3 weeks, due to a business travel. Keep watching!
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/2/1/3/1509213-46272-53-720.jpg)
Base and metal B-52 support, made of bicycle spoke.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/2/1/5/1509215-46272-48-720.jpg)
Cotton is glued on a Mc Donald's Milk Shake straw.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/2/1/4/1509214-46272-49-720.jpg)
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/1/6/1509216-46272-91-720.jpg)
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/2/1/7/1509217-46272-19-720.jpg)
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/2/1/8/1509218-46272-20-720.jpg)
Desert landscape applied. Project finished.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/2/2/1/1509221-46272-97-720.jpg)
Top view of the diorama.
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/2/2/2/1509222-46272-81-720.jpg)
Detail of the X-15 fixture
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/2/2/3/1509223-46272-15-720.jpg)
Top view of the Diorama
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Diorama on its final place on the models shelf.
Kommentit
27 9 May 2023, 18:04
![](/profiles/img/46272-414-s.jpg)
Let's see how the things go.. I intend to simulate a lighted up rocket engine with SMD nano LED light and some cotton... Worth trying.
11 May 2023, 17:35
Album info
Boeing's NB-52A Stratofortress was the fifth B-52 built and retired in 1969. It was used to launch North American X-15-2 56-6671 during the 1959 Edwards AFB Airshow and can now be seen at the Pima Air Museum near Tuscon, Arizona.
This project is a diorama that depicts the X-15 being launched from NB-52A.