Curtiss XP-55

[Oceaneer99]

Boomerang posted a photo of his Curtiss XP-55, 1/48th scale, which he is making from Wylam drawings



http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-3218

I have always been fascinated by this plane.  In fact, when I was newly in the Navy, I was at a small port in California for the weekend before going out to sea.  I went to the small library there and looked through their surprisingly excellent collection of older aircraft recognition and information books. I came across a large drawing of the XP-55 and proceeded to laboriously trace the drawing (no photocopier).  I'm sure I still have that drawing somewhere!

Garet

[Boomerang]

Garet,
Thanks for posting this up. The XP -55 is different.
Interesting concept with this and the XP-54 and 56
There are some good photos around of the surviving prototype which has been conserved and restored.
I think it is in the Smithsonion collection.
One of the long term plans is to get over to the States  and spend some time just looking( at aeroplanes).
Cheers
Gordon

[JeffH]

Gordon,

I've always liked the looks of the XP-55 too.

A few years ago I visited an air museum in Kalamazoo Michigan where a full size XP-55 was being restored.  At the time it was all in pieces and unpainted (not unlike the parts in your photo!).  From the photos in this link, it looks like they have finished work on it and it is now on display:

http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/XP-55_Ascender.shtml

The American Aviation Historical Society journal ran a series of articles on the XP-54, -55 and -56 in the 1990's.  Attached are a couple of drawings from those articles.

Jeff

[Boomerang]

Jeff,

Thanks for posting up those drawings. The one of the XP-56 seems to be the best that I've come across so far.
I've just got delivery of the May 1945 Model Airplane News off ebay with the Wylam drawing for the XP-54.

The other one in the mix is the XP-67 "Bat" or "Moon Bat" also by Wylam. Already have that one scaled up to 1/48.

I think that there would be a Wylam drawing for the XP-56 but to date haven't come across it on ebay.

I'll keep the gallery updated with the progress of the XP-55.

Cheers
Gordon

[Boomerang]

Found some info on youtube.com

This link should take to a clip on what looks like the Czech Model 1/48 Xp-55.
Looks good. I can use it for reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L7xvMu0lVU

This link should take you to a 44second clip which shows one of the protypes in close up and flying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MEmHDvK9Sk

You might have to copy and paste the links

Cheers

Gordon