This is a new decal
sheet from Cutting
Edge Modelworks. The sheet includes markings for 4 versions of the
same NB-52B in 1/72 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 1/72 Monogram NB-52 or B-52D with the
Cutting Edge NB-52B conversion set. I can't find this resin set listed on
the Cutting Edge site, but it is mention on the instruction sheet for these 1/72
decals.
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. According to
the instruction sheet for these decals, 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.
The first version of this plane is
from Feb 24 1961. In this version it has an orange fuselage band and
orange/white/black nose. It also features launch markings and Bald
Eagle nose art.
The second version of this plane
is
from Apr 1962 to May 1963. In this version it has an orange fuselage
band and orange/white/black nose. It also features launch markings
and Bald Eagle nose art...but different nose art from the first version of
this plane on this sheet and a different Squadron crest on the nose.
The
third version of this plane is
from October 3 1967. In this version it has different markings from above with the addition of some interesting nose art of a
B-52 standing on it's hind legs and throwing a missile like a dart player
in a pub.
The fourth version of this plane is
from July 2001. In this version it has the same nose art as version 3
above. The big difference is the launch markings are so plentiful that
they travel halfway down the side of the fuselage. The paint scheme for
this one is silver overall instead of bare metal airframe.
The decals were flawlessly printed and the clear carrier film is trimmed
very close to the crisply printed colored areas, which is always good to
see. Because some of the paint schemes are partly baremetal,
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you may want to consider carefully trimming off all clear carrier film on
these decals to give your Bare metal NB-52A the best look.
Colours are solid and will cover very well.
This decal sheet has a good variety of noseart and colour
schemes.
My choice would be to
build would depend on which underwing aircraft I found the most
interesting.....it would be a very difficult choice as the selection
is large and quite varied.
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The instructions
are clear and an extra page of text instruction is included with a small bit of info
about this plane.
A very nice product
and highly recommended.
Steve
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For a very good
selection of photos of this plane with various "Lifting Body"
designs.....click on the image to the right.
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample. |
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