SMM 14th Anniversary X-Plane Cook-Up

[lastvautour]

At Ray's suggestion, an X-Plane Cook-Up is called. I have selected the X-15 and Paul chose the X-3. So bring on those pioneering planes and let the chips fly.

Lou

[Will]

Apart from the Bell X-1 to Grumman X-29, what else counts as X-planes?  Other countries experimental types? Prototypes like XP-40 or other or just purely experimental?  Types never actually built?  I'd like to join in but wondering about choices...
Will

[lastvautour]

I think just types that had no intentions of being an operational aircraft but purely for research purposes (my opinion only). I will leave to Ray to decide what belongs and if other countries may be included. Here are link to American X-Planes as other countries do not use the X-designation.

Lou

Military Factory             http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/us-xplane-aircraft.asp
Wikipedia USA              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_X-planes
Wikipedia Other            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_experimental_aircraft

Lou

[lastvautour]

Pete already has three X-Planes to his credit.

X-3

X-5

X-29

[lastvautour]

X-15 three views have been scale and printed. A close look at photos show on tricky blending of the three fuselage section. The center section is mostly circular with additional triangular sides. The joint between parts is not a smooth as I had envisaged it to be.

North American X-15 3-view" by NASA - U. S. Air Force official web site. Licensed under Public Domain.

[R.F.Bennett]

Any country, any time, has to have flown more than once, built just for research, not production. Prototypes for production planes would be a build of it's own.

[lastvautour]

Thank you Ray for the clarification. So come on guys, please commit to the group build. Some of those research designs have pretty simple lines in smaller scales.

1/48 scale drawings for the X-15 have been redone in 1/72 scale and glued to cardboard for use as templates. The 1/48 scale version requires laminating my existing stock of wood, so 1/72 it is.

Lou

[Boomerang]

I put my hand up for the X-3 . Had a close look at the third link above and have several plans.
Decisions, decisions decisions .

  Cheers

   Gordon

[lastvautour]

Welcome Gordon. Make two!!

Lou

[lastvautour]

X-15 has a few cuts  here and there.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Some progress has been made on the X-15. There are some weird angular shapes to be cut so taking my time is of the essence.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Wings and fuselage are rough sanded. Preparing to cut the fuselage to fit the wings. Canopy has been glued but is a bit oversize, so some delicate sanding will have to be done to bring it in line with 1/72 scale.

Lou

[lastvautour]

Puttied, sanded and first visit to the paint shop.

Lou

[lastvautour]

My X-15 is ready for launch. Decals are a mixture of home made and aftermarket.

Lou

[Boomerang]

Lou,

Great work as usual.

  I have cut some wood for but I'll post something when it gets a bit more advanced.
  Also pondering something "small" which sholudn't take long to put together.
  cheers

  Gordon