NB-52A launching X-15 Diorama
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.
This is a rough sketch of the diorama I plan to build.
Half fuselage. I will attach a stainless steel bycicle spoke to attach the B-52 to the wooden base.
Bycicle spoke attached to half fuselage with epoxy glue.
Fuselage and wings assembled.
Fuselage and wings assembled with pylons and the eight jet engines.
Rear transparent bubble doesn't fit in the fuse
Rear bubble adjusted with a file and patience.
Windshield dry fit. Will isolate with liquid mask for painting.
Made some antennas as bulges from reference photos with Styrene sheet pieces. Ready for priming and painting.
I just have grey primer. Thus, I had to apply it before painting the parts gloss black, and apply Vallejo aluminum paint.
I chose to paint fuselage and wings separetly as it gets easier to mask, paint. Here is the aluminum fuselage painted.
Wings, pylons and engines, painted aluminum.
Parts isolated with masking tape and kitchen plastic for Orange day-glo paint.
Fuselage and wing painted Orange Day-glo.. I think the color is clearer that in the references circa 1959 but it be like this.
Fuselage and wings painted. I opted to paint them separate, as it is easier and will not affect the final assembly.
The right wing, which carries the X-15 is painted different from the left, with white flaps underneath, according to references.
Decals applied to the fuselage and wings. Now its weathering time, after the gloss layer dries up.
Wings attached, top view of NB-52A
Wings attached, bottom view of NB-52A
scratch built right superior spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 nose were taken at this position.
scratch built right fuselage spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 being released from the NB-52A were taken at this position.
Starting to build the X-15, with soldering some wires to the SMD LED that will light up to simulate the aircraft rocket.
LED and wiring installed on the lower X-15 fuselage, The wire bundle will serve as the X-15 support to the base.
Dry fit of X-15 rocket lighed up.
I decided to paint the X-15 very dark blue, instead of black as stated in the drawings.
I think the result was much better than paint it black, The windshield was drawn with a chrome pen.
X-15 with decals placed.
X-15 with lighted up rocket. I will make a cotton plume after install it on the base.
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!
Base and metal B-52 support, made of bicycle spoke.
Cotton is glued on a Mc Donald's Milk Shake straw.
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
Desert landscape applied. Project finished.
Top view of the diorama.
Detail of the X-15 fixture
Top view of the Diorama
Diorama on its final place on the models shelf.
Komentarzy
27 9 May 2023, 18:04
Gustavo MonasterioLet'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.
