This is a new decal
sheet from Cutting
Edge Modelworks. The sheet includes markings for 4 versions of the
same NB-52B in 1/144 scale. The particular NB-52B featured on this decal
sheet (Serial #52-008) was a critical part of many of
NASA's flight Test programs. This NB-52B was used for the X-15 program (as
well as other programs) with the X-15 being carried under the wing until launch
altitude was reached. Other aircraft include a variety of "Lifting
Body" type aircraft. These are basically small one person aircraft
with little or no wing and instead the specially designed fuselage has lifting
properties due to it's design shape. View this article to see
1/72 Lifting
Body
aircraft models by Patrick Hawkey
Before the NB-52A, NASA was
considering mounting the X-15 in the bomb bay of a B-36 Peacemaker as the X-1
and X-2 vehicles had been mounted in B-29 and B-50 Superfortresses.
The
modifications that a modeller will want to be aware of are a pylon under the
starboard wing, inboard of the engine nacelles. The pylon provided three
shackles for the support of the X-15. The No. 3 main fuel tank located in the
wing above the pylon was removed.
The model kit you'll be using will be the 1/144 Crown/Minicraft B-52H.
To
accommodate the vertical stabilizer of the X-15, a notch was cut into the
trailing edge of the starboard wing directly behind the X-15 pylon. Cutting Edge
supplies a resin set to accommodate these modifications. Closed circuit
television, film motion picture cameras, and lights were installed on the
starboard side of the fuselage. Tail gun turrets and tip tanks were removed.
Of note is the
fact that dayglo orange was used to paint one of the versions of #52-008
on this sheet, because any
wreckage would be easier to spot in the desert. As the program
progressed more and more of the dayglo orange began to peel and was
eventually removed from the aircraft. This plane began life as
natural metal with an orange rear fuselage band and orange cockpit section and wing
tips. But slowly some of these areas were over-painted in
silver. Eventually the baremetal airframe was all painted in silver
to better protect the metal.
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