Peter O Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 Apparently nobody actually assembled the kit before it was approved. It's a good thing I'm a dry-fitting fanatic, so I didn't discover it when it was much harder to fix. If I keep going at this rate, I'm going to need some 1/1 scale Eduard color PE seat belts for my modeling chair! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 I'm still moving right along. The basic airframe is complete. The horizontal stab roots on the vertical fin were horrible... it took quite a bit of filing and shaping to get them passable. The original is on the right, and the modified one on the left. Here are two pics of what's actually visible in the cockpit. It'll be even less with the canopy in place. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 Well, I guess I blew it Real life intervened, and I didn't get to the bench for several weeks. However, I'm now back at it. I've just finished decaling and flat coating. The markings represent the #2 X-1 when it made the first powered flight of the X-1 program. On 9 Dec 1946, Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin piloted 46-063 to 35,000 feet and Mach 0.75 (510mph). The orange is Polly Scale 505356 "Soviet Brown #2 ~32473", which seems to match the pumpkin color well. The decals are from Cutting Edge's X-1 sheet. I'll have to fix the Bell logo on the port side of the nose; it folded on itself, and nothing I could do would budge it. I'll either use the decal from the kit, or ALPS print a new one. Fortunately, because of my ham-handedness, I always scan a decal sheet before using it. 6063 was subsequently converted into the X-1E by NACA, and made the last flight of a first-generation X-1 on 6 Nov 1958. I've got the Cutting Edge X-1E conversion and decal to build that version also. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big matt Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Man, that orange looks perfect. Very nice job on what looks to be a finicky kit. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Posted December 20, 2008 Author Share Posted December 20, 2008 Finished! I did not accent the control surfaces, since they're quite boldly scribed and show up well under ambient light. This flight is early in the X-1 program, so I added only light weathering, mostly to the landing gears and around access panels. The white area represents frost that formed adjacent to the LOX tank. The frost encircled the fuselage when the tank was full, and often did not completely melt until after the aircraft landed. I would have liked a more feathered edge, but it's not bad for a first attempt. This didn't end up being the quick build I thought it would be, but it was fun. I guess it wasn't really that long. I spent a week waiting for the pumpkin colored paint, since there aren't any LHSs that carry Polly Scale. Then came the ice storm, and my mother had to move in with us for 6 days till her power came back on. Without those minor interruptions, it would've been a 2-week build instead of a month Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Well done Peter, it looks great! You're the first of us failures to redeem himself! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Hi Peter, that is one nice X-1 you have done and this ice/freeze touch is a nice detail that just brings it to life imo. Congrats, Loic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Great job, Peter! That's one nice little rocket. What a wild ride that must have been?! Cool subject..nice build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlow Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Really nice looking X-1 Peter. Agree with Loic about the ice effect - adds an interesting talking point to the model. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Looks great. A not often seen build kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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