The fastest man alive
Fit of the main parts is surprisingly good.
As the wings are butt-joined to the fuselage, I strenghtened the joint with pieces of wire.
Fit of the main parts is surprisingly good. Everest already sits inside 😉
Quite a lot of putty was needed underneath
Primed in search for blemishes...
When I started masking the airframe for some colour I consulted the photos of the real thing... to find out that these booster tabs were specific for the '6675' plane...
Fortunately they are solid inside...
...so can be easily removed.
Colours are on. Ready for decals.
Decals are on and varnished. Stars and bars are very thick, a bit brittle, and refuse to conform to the fuselage sides - in a hindsight these should be replaced with some leftover decals of better quality. Now to the smaller bits...
Some progress here - rocket engines' exhausts thinned and installed on pieces of 3mm diameter copper tubes in order to add some deepness to them.
Unfortunately a piece of one 'star and bars' decal detached itself, so I decided to remove these from both sides. Fortunately I have spare ones.
On photos of the real thing I noticed some fairing specific for this airframe - I made one from square 2mm plastic rod filed and sanded to shape - looks good enough for me 😉
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
Finished.
After a light gray wash 😉
After a light gray wash 😉
I gave her light gray wash (on popular demand 😉 )
Some natural light photos...
Some natural light photos...
Some natural light photos...
Some natural light photos...
Komentarzy
63 7 December 2023, 08:47
Patryk S.
Following! Have this one in my plans so watching with great interrest!
Following! Have this one in my plans so watching with great interrest!
8 December 2023, 10:45
Robert Podkoński
You're warmly welcomed Patryk! Keep in mind, nevertheless, that I am building her in the in-flight configuration (not that I am too lazy to construct the interior and undercarriage... I just do not like the awkward look of X-2 on ground... and still I am a bit lazy 😉 )
You're warmly welcomed Patryk! Keep in mind, nevertheless, that I am building her in the in-flight configuration (not that I am too lazy to construct the interior and undercarriage... I just do not like the awkward look of X-2 on ground... and still I am a bit lazy 😉 )
8 December 2023, 10:57
S M
You threatened to take this onto your bench and I'm glad you fulfilled it. Comparing your model's current state to my old pictures makes me wonder if I'm overusing putty xD
You threatened to take this onto your bench and I'm glad you fulfilled it. Comparing your model's current state to my old pictures makes me wonder if I'm overusing putty xD
8 December 2023, 16:05
Robert Podkoński
Welcome, S M! Now I am working on wing roots...and a lot of putty is needed there 😉 In fact it was you who inspired me to tackle this kit - your model is fabulous. I am going for less 'used' look nevertheless... (I am not so well skilled to make a convincing weathering, to be sincere...)
Welcome, S M! Now I am working on wing roots...and a lot of putty is needed there 😉 In fact it was you who inspired me to tackle this kit - your model is fabulous. I am going for less 'used' look nevertheless... (I am not so well skilled to make a convincing weathering, to be sincere...)
8 December 2023, 20:03
Robert Podkoński
Feel warmly welcomed, Mates! @Łukasz - simply because I omitted fitting the interior pieces 😉
Feel warmly welcomed, Mates! @Łukasz - simply because I omitted fitting the interior pieces 😉
11 December 2023, 21:33
John Hughes
So you're following the Lotus school of thought. To go faster, eliminate weight!
So you're following the Lotus school of thought. To go faster, eliminate weight!
11 December 2023, 22:39
Robert Podkoński
Feel welcomed, Mirko. I will slow it down, for sure, when I will begin my work on the details...
Feel welcomed, Mirko. I will slow it down, for sure, when I will begin my work on the details...
12 December 2023, 18:35
Robert Podkoński
Thanks SM! Vallejo Spray onto Mr.Hobby finishing surfacer. Did you encounter any problems with decals? I have almost completed coloured areas of the main airframe and will be starting decalling it.
Thanks SM! Vallejo Spray onto Mr.Hobby finishing surfacer. Did you encounter any problems with decals? I have almost completed coloured areas of the main airframe and will be starting decalling it.
16 December 2023, 18:50
Roland Sachsenhofer
Interesting project, valuable info and great progress- I am in, for sure!
Interesting project, valuable info and great progress- I am in, for sure!
16 December 2023, 18:57
S M
The decals were pretty good I think. I just made a mistake of not using my usual Humbrol decal fix solution, but experimented with other liquids. I had trouble to get them set into panel lines.
The decals were pretty good I think. I just made a mistake of not using my usual Humbrol decal fix solution, but experimented with other liquids. I had trouble to get them set into panel lines.
17 December 2023, 22:07
Robert Podkoński
Thanks for your kind words, Patryk 🙂 Next step: details (landing skids, rocket engine "bells", etc...)
Thanks for your kind words, Patryk 🙂 Next step: details (landing skids, rocket engine "bells", etc...)
22 December 2023, 20:31
S M
Nicely moving forward 👍 strange that "star and bars" decal detached. Never happened to me with such big decal.
Nicely moving forward 👍 strange that "star and bars" decal detached. Never happened to me with such big decal.
9 January, 22:17
Robert Podkoński
Thanks for your kind words, S M 🙂 Actually, it was only quite a substantial fragment of the decal. Removing the rest was necessary, nevertheless. BTW, I have consulted your album and noticed another fairing on the other side of the plane - do you still have access to a photo of the real thing?
Thanks for your kind words, S M 🙂 Actually, it was only quite a substantial fragment of the decal. Removing the rest was necessary, nevertheless. BTW, I have consulted your album and noticed another fairing on the other side of the plane - do you still have access to a photo of the real thing?
10 January, 06:45
Robert Podkoński
I am declaring the model finished. When starting the assembly I had no idea that there were so many things to be changed or reconstructed... Still, an enjoyable build (perhaps due to the fact I omitted the assembly of the interior and of the undercarriage 😄 )
I am declaring the model finished. When starting the assembly I had no idea that there were so many things to be changed or reconstructed... Still, an enjoyable build (perhaps due to the fact I omitted the assembly of the interior and of the undercarriage 😄 )
15 January, 08:55
S M
Well finished and fun in flight stance!😎 Sorry I forgot to look reference pictures about the other fairing.
Well finished and fun in flight stance!😎 Sorry I forgot to look reference pictures about the other fairing.
15 January, 16:37
Robert Podkoński
Thank you, S M, for your kind words 🙂 No worries - I have consulted some photos and it looks like these fairings and pipes were added or removed from flight to flight... I was going for something like desktop model, frankly speaking 😉
Thank you, S M, for your kind words 🙂 No worries - I have consulted some photos and it looks like these fairings and pipes were added or removed from flight to flight... I was going for something like desktop model, frankly speaking 😉
15 January, 17:38
Roland Sachsenhofer
Great outcome! Inspiring - you will be my reference for my own attempt. Congratulations on this dynamically presented and really successful result!
Great outcome! Inspiring - you will be my reference for my own attempt. Congratulations on this dynamically presented and really successful result!
15 January, 17:41
Marcin Dudek
I missed this one somehow. Well done! Very ingeresting object, as always 👏
I missed this one somehow. Well done! Very ingeresting object, as always 👏
23 January, 15:03
Robert Podkoński
Thank you Ben, thank you, Marcin 🙂 Fortunately 'stars-and-bars' can be easily substituted 🙂
Thank you Ben, thank you, Marcin 🙂 Fortunately 'stars-and-bars' can be easily substituted 🙂
23 January, 15:08
Hanno Kleinecke
Very nice build and great choice of subject, beautiful result Robert !
Very nice build and great choice of subject, beautiful result Robert !
23 January, 18:46
Patryk S.
Congratulations on a great result! Good to see the kit done and fitting as I have this one also in my plans.
Congratulations on a great result! Good to see the kit done and fitting as I have this one also in my plans.
27 January, 19:22
Robert Podkoński
Thank you again, Patryk 🙂 I did not install the interior and front wheel, so there is still room for experiments...
Thank you again, Patryk 🙂 I did not install the interior and front wheel, so there is still room for experiments...
27 January, 22:03
bughunter
Nicely done, especially in this small scale!
Only an idea: Have you thought about a very light gray wash? Not because of dirt, just to create some light/shadows e.g. around the lids.
Nicely done, especially in this small scale!
Only an idea: Have you thought about a very light gray wash? Not because of dirt, just to create some light/shadows e.g. around the lids.
31 January, 09:33
Robert Podkoński
Thank you, Frank, much appreciated 🙂 You're the second person suggesting the wash - perhaps I should try it 😉 (when she will come back home - now she resides on display at my LHS ...)
Thank you, Frank, much appreciated 🙂 You're the second person suggesting the wash - perhaps I should try it 😉 (when she will come back home - now she resides on display at my LHS ...)
31 January, 10:27
Ludvík Kružík
Robert, as always interesting model and nicely built model. 👍
I also join bughunter. A light grey wash would help the model to look even better. It's a simple method, but if you've never done it, I'd recommend trying it on a practice part first.
Robert, as always interesting model and nicely built model. 👍
I also join bughunter. A light grey wash would help the model to look even better. It's a simple method, but if you've never done it, I'd recommend trying it on a practice part first.
15 February, 09:15
Robert Podkoński
I will give her some light grey wash, I promise, Mates, as soon as she will get back home 😉
I will give her some light grey wash, I promise, Mates, as soon as she will get back home 😉
15 February, 10:32
Ludvík Kružík
When it comes to highlighting panel lines, some modelers tend to highlight the lines with too much contrast. This makes the model look unnatural.
You have managed to find the right balance. The light grey wash makes the lines more visible, but does not look distracting. Well done! 👍
When it comes to highlighting panel lines, some modelers tend to highlight the lines with too much contrast. This makes the model look unnatural.
You have managed to find the right balance. The light grey wash makes the lines more visible, but does not look distracting. Well done! 👍
21 February, 15:57
Robert Podkoński
Thanks for your kind words, Ludviku, much appreciated! In fact I was afraid that too dark panel lines would look distracting, but Tamiya Light Gray panelliner seems to work well in such cases 😉
Thanks for your kind words, Ludviku, much appreciated! In fact I was afraid that too dark panel lines would look distracting, but Tamiya Light Gray panelliner seems to work well in such cases 😉
21 February, 16:13
Robert Podkoński
Thanks for your suggestions, Mates 🙂 I am really glad you like it.
Thanks for your suggestions, Mates 🙂 I am really glad you like it.
21 February, 17:49
Jennifer Franklin
As everyone is saying, Robert, the wash looks amazing; great job!
As everyone is saying, Robert, the wash looks amazing; great job!
22 February, 03:21
Album info
This is my second attempt to build a Bell X-2 "Starbuster" replica. The first involved the notorious Mach 2 model kit... impossible to build, at least for me. Since X-2 on ground had this awkward, tail-up, stance, I decided to build it "in-flight".