Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Anything But Military GB => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on July 15, 2014, 03:42:00 AM
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The NASA X-planes are truly legendary. From the nascent X-1 which broke the sound barrier to the X-15 which set the stage for manned space flight, these aircraft have earned their prominent place in the annals of aviation. Except for the utterly unknown Bell X-37.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_002.jpg.html)
Why would NASA sweep such an iconic-looking aircraft under the rug? On the surface, the X-37 seemed to have all the right stuff.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_006.jpg.html)
Yet no aviation history even mentions the needle-nosed record-contender. Not one entry on the X-37 is to be found in Jane's All the World's Aircraft nor is it noted anywhere in official NASA records. How can this be?
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_007.jpg.html)
Such a thoroughbred certainly deserves at least a footnote, right?
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_004.jpg.html)
Unfortunately, the X-37 was anything but the stuff of legend. While looking sharp enough to cut the very wind, the Bell X-37 suffered from incurable control problems. After dropped from the B-52 mother ship, the test-pilot put the experimental rocketplane into a climb, but the aircraft instead did an outside Cuban 8 which lit up the night sky.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/cuban8thin.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/cuban8thin.jpg.html)
It took much blackmail from the FBI's secret files to keep this screw-up secret and no answer was ever found for the X-37's control problems. Finally, the X-37 was tested to destruction trying to solve the riddle.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_008.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_009.jpg.html)
Bell Aircraft would never build another X-plane (or anything else) for NASA and today this useless step in man's effort to conquer space is completely forgotten, save for these top-secret Polaroids smuggled out of Muroc.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_010.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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That's what you get for ripping off the Lighting Bell!!!! ;D
Another great one Brian!!
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This all began with a Tamiya 1/100 B.A.C. Lightning I picked up on the cheap.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/Tam_EE_Lightning_boxtop.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/Tam_EE_Lightning_boxtop.jpg.html)
I had the nose from an F-104 rattling around in the spares box which wasn't a bad fit. The upper wings from a small-scale Space Shuttle backed with card were substituted for the kit wings.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_002.jpg.html)
I covered up the slots for the horiz. stabs. with 1/144 torpedo halves.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_004.jpg.html)
The last step was rounding off the tail and ventral fins to match the new wingtips.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_prog_005.jpg.html)
The model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics and decals are from spares and a nameless, dwindling NASA sheet.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_012.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_013.jpg.html)
I had a lot of fun on this model which took me about four days from start to finish. A tip 'o the pin to Jeff & Bill for sending me the Space Shuttle.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Bell%20X37%20rocket%20plane/X37_011.jpg.html)
I hope you enjoyed the X-37 and reading about yet more esoteric aviation history.
Brian da Basher
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Now that I like --- brilliant stuff BdB --- :)
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Ditto what kitnut617 said :)
Appreciate your research into X-37 mystery. Always wondered what happend to/with it.
No kits of X-37 are available. Yet you had the kitbash vision to build near identical likeness ;)
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Another great addition to BdB's alt-X Plane list. :)
So what does the whole Bashverse list look like?, and where does it divert from the OTL. ;)
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Rocket planes are the bomb.
Beautiful work as always, Brian!
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That's great - really looks the part with that nose, and I've always liked the idea of a delta-Lightning! 8)
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Wonderful! :-*
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oh i like that 8)
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Yes, yes... a never ending supply of Lightnings. Very cool 8)