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Author
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Topic: Retro Rocket model build: X-15A-2 rocketplane
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Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-07-2012 03:17 PM
   
I'm almost done with a 1/15th scale X-15A-2 . It's built using molds I made using the wind tunnel model at Edwards. I've built several in the white World Speed Record config. This is the first one in black.About one week to go. Next model will have a cockpit, landing gear and maybe a XLR-99 on the side. 
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Jerry Brouillette
Member Posts: 147
From: Louviers, CO
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 03-07-2012 04:39 PM
Fantastic work! The skin and wing details are something else. Thanks for the pics. |
history in miniature
Member Posts: 600
From: Slatington, PA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-07-2012 06:40 PM
Beautiful work. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 179
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 03-07-2012 06:59 PM
I'm not a modeler, but it looks great! |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 03-08-2012 01:33 AM
What a great model and huge! |
Norman.King
Member Posts: 375
From: Herne Bay, Kent, UK
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 03-08-2012 01:47 AM
That's absolutely superb. |
alexbaja
Member Posts: 448
From: Naxxar, Malta
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 03-08-2012 01:53 AM
It is a beautiful model with lots of detail, well done. Is this scratch build? |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 03-08-2012 03:28 AM
I saw one on eBay (260968749265), also 1/15. |
alexbaja
Member Posts: 448
From: Naxxar, Malta
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 03-08-2012 03:35 AM
So I suppose it is not scratch build but Retro Rocket's finishing is great. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-08-2012 09:02 AM
Very nice. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 03-08-2012 12:40 PM
Awesome! |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-08-2012 04:24 PM
Here's a pic showing the first X-15 I built from the molds and the A-2 model it was molded off in the display case. |
dog320
Member Posts: 49
From: West Sussex, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 03-08-2012 05:49 PM
Wow RR. Have you ever considered doing X-15 number 3? |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-09-2012 11:49 AM
Are you refering to a delta winged X-15A-3, or vehicle number 66672? |
dog320
Member Posts: 49
From: West Sussex, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 03-09-2012 05:45 PM
56-6672 configured and marked for either General White's or Mr. Walker's peak altitude flights. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-12-2012 12:24 PM
I might do the third X-15 at some point but before that I'd do the rollout X-15 with the XLR-11's and the nose boom. I'd like to do the delta wing A3 but that would be a pretty big model. I have built hundreds of desktop models but I like doing the larger scale/size because it's less work than doing a production run and you can get more money for them. The drawbacks are that a model that size has a very small market.I have a question for everyone: Would there be any interest in a 1/25th X-15A-3? It would be about 32" long. |
moonguyron
Member Posts: 191
From: Trinity, FL USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-13-2012 07:29 PM
I would be interested in either a 1/25th or 1/15th scale X-15. Not the A-2. Could you furnish a ballpark estimated price for each? |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-15-2012 01:02 PM
My goal with my models is to make them as much as works of art as they are accurate models. Each one gets better and I can incorporate more detail after each build. |
moonguyron
Member Posts: 191
From: Trinity, FL USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-15-2012 09:35 PM
I bid more than he's selling the molds for in a recent eBay listing for the 1/15th X-15. I lost out to a higher bidder. Is the A-3 the proposed delta wing X-15? |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-15-2012 11:25 PM
I don't understand your post, are you saying he was selling the X-15 molds? I see he has a buy it now cost of $535, like I said, so you wouldn't be bidding on that.The A3 is the X-15 delta wing design. It was never built but there were a few wind tunnel models built and tested.  |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 04-07-2012 03:32 PM
Finished! Here's a pic of the finished model, I won't go into all the details, but it has removable drop tanks and ventral fin, the stand is aluminum, just a temporary stand because the client is going to have one built in stainless steel. Check out the Photobucket album for more including the white WSR model. |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 04-07-2012 06:14 PM
Great work!!!!! My compliments... |
alexbaja
Member Posts: 448
From: Naxxar, Malta
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 04-08-2012 01:42 AM
Job well done. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 04-08-2012 03:20 AM
Probably the best X-15 scale model I've ever seen! |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 04-08-2012 10:06 AM
Thanks everyone! This is the first X-15A2 in black that I've done so this is essentially the "prototype" model. I developed a few new techniques for decals and finishing and used the CAD model I built to make the correct parts and markings. I'm hoping to improve each successive model and include more detail.My end goal is a full cutaway model at a larger scale that I can donate to the National Air and Space Museum. By the way, I started a X-15 model a while ago (not the A2) and I'm going to finish it, this might be the only regular X-15. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 04-08-2012 02:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Retro Rocket:
My end goal is a full cutaway model at a larger scale that I can donate to the National Air and Space Museum.
Great model and building techniques! Just make sure they display your model at Udvar-Hazy since the downtown DC site already has a 1/1 scale one!  |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 04-08-2012 05:27 PM
I'm hoping that a large cutaway, maybe 1/8th scale, could be displayed nearby so people could get an idea of what's inside. It'd have to be big so rigging the control cables won't be a huge hassle. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 06-24-2013 05:56 PM
My second A-2 in 15th scale is almost done, I haven't put my pics in Photobucket but I did put a few on eBay. I like this one, I did a realistic finish to the surface and I've counted each rivet and made large 2d layouts in CAD that I printed then applied to the model, it helped a lot because instead of lots and lots and lots of time spent applying individual rivet strips, I can do the large ones and blend them in seamlessly to the next and the model. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 07-08-2013 07:53 PM
I'm happier with this model, the finish is realistic, it has all the details I could find applied like all the drains and vent tubes, the hardware that connects the A2 to the Launch Mount.I also created large 2D decals that cover about 80% of the model. They allow all the rivets and panel lines to be shown and aligned properly, the first one I had to apply them individually and that was a lot of work! Next up is a cockpit and landing gear and the regular X-15 offered as a kit for around $1,500 or built for $2,500. The A2 will still be expensive but I intend to included the cockpit and landing gear. Also I had Shapeways print one of the parts in stainless steel and I can tell you, that's a game changer for modelers. For example, I'll be able to make the speed brakes move the landing gear retract! Spacecraft are the perfect subject for the small steel parts. You could have a Mercury Escape Tower that would never break! A LEM with movable antennae and folding legs! Working Apollo docking mechanisms! The surprising thing is the steel parts are not any more expensive than plastic because of the small size and that Shapeways only charges for the parts volume, not a minimum set up fee. I posted pics of the A2 in my Photobucket album, please take a look. I don't know if I'll be doing another black A2, I'm pretty busy with the regular X-15, a 1/40th XB-70, a 1/40th YB-49 molded off the wind tunnel model, a 1/8th X-37B and the 1/32nd NB-52 with the X-43A/Pegasus stack. I'm also working on the masters for the 1/72nd X-33 and LM model for Fantastic Plastic. This model uses the accurate CAD data, I want this kit to be really good.  |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 07-20-2013 08:14 AM
Superb piece of aerospace history!!! |
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