NB-52A launching X-15 Diorama

1
May 9, 2023
Overview of the Atlantis Kit. I will not use the original base, as I intend to use a wood base, with the X-15 accelerating away from NB-52A.
2
May 10, 2023
This is a rough sketch of the diorama I plan to build.
3
May 9, 2023
Half fuselage. I will attach a stainless steel bycicle spoke to attach the B-52 to the wooden base.
4
May 9, 2023
Bycicle spoke attached to half fuselage with epoxy glue.
5
May 11, 2023
Fuselage and wings assembled.
6
May 11, 2023
Fuselage and wings assembled with pylons and the eight jet engines.
7
May 11, 2023
Rear transparent bubble doesn't fit in the fuse
8
May 11, 2023
Rear bubble adjusted with a file and patience.
9
May 11, 2023
Windshield dry fit. Will isolate with liquid mask for painting.
10
May 12, 2023
Made some antennas as bulges from reference photos with Styrene sheet pieces. Ready for priming and painting.
11
May 15, 2023
I just have grey primer. Thus, I had to apply it before painting the parts gloss black, and apply Vallejo aluminum paint.
12
May 15, 2023
I chose to paint fuselage and wings separetly as it gets easier to mask, paint. Here is the aluminum fuselage painted.
13
May 15, 2023
Wings, pylons and engines, painted aluminum.
14
May 15, 2023
Parts isolated with masking tape and kitchen plastic for Orange day-glo paint.
15
May 15, 2023
Fuselage and wing painted Orange Day-glo.. I think the color is clearer that in the references circa 1959 but it be like this.
16
May 18, 2023
Fuselage and wings painted. I opted to paint them separate, as it is easier and will not affect the final assembly.
17
May 18, 2023
The right wing, which carries the X-15 is painted different from the left, with white flaps underneath, according to references.
18
May 18, 2023
Decals applied to the fuselage and wings. Now its weathering time, after the gloss layer dries up.
19
May 19, 2023
Wings attached, top view of NB-52A
20
May 19, 2023
Wings attached, bottom view of NB-52A
21
May 19, 2023
scratch built right superior spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 nose were taken at this position.
22
May 19, 2023
scratch built right fuselage spherical observation window. Many pictures of the X-15 being released from the NB-52A were taken at this position.
23
May 22, 2023
Starting to build the X-15, with soldering some wires to the SMD LED that will light up to simulate the aircraft rocket.
24
May 22, 2023
LED and wiring installed on the lower X-15 fuselage, The wire bundle will serve as the X-15 support to the base.
25
May 22, 2023
Dry fit of X-15 rocket lighed up.
26
May 22, 2023
I decided to paint the X-15 very dark blue, instead of black as stated in the drawings.
27
May 22, 2023
I think the result was much better than paint it black, The windshield was drawn with a chrome pen.
28
May 22, 2023
X-15 with decals placed.
29
May 22, 2023
X-15 with lighted up rocket. I will make a cotton plume after install it on the base.
30
May 22, 2023
These are the components for the diorama. I have printed a desert 40.000ft in adhesive paper. I will return to this project in about 3 weeks, due to a business travel. Keep watching!
31
July 15, 2023
Base and metal B-52 support, made of bicycle spoke.
32
July 15, 2023
Cotton is glued on a Mc Donald's Milk Shake straw.
33
July 15, 2023
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
34
July 15, 2023
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
35
July 15, 2023
B-52 and X-15 dry fit. SMD LED turned on to simulate the rocket.
36
July 15, 2023
Desert landscape applied. Project finished.
37
July 15, 2023
Top view of the diorama.
38
July 15, 2023
Detail of the X-15 fixture
39
July 15, 2023
Top view of the Diorama
40
July 15, 2023
Diorama on its final place on the models shelf.

Comments

26 9 May 2023, 18:04

Robert Podkoński
Fantastic idea! Watching with interest!

10 May 2023, 17:32

Alex K
Me 2...

10 May 2023, 20:05

Carlo
Watching with interest

11 May 2023, 06:58

Villiers de Vos
Very nice progress and idea.

11 May 2023, 13:41

Gustavo Monasterio
Let's see how the things go.. I intend to simulate a lighted up rocket engine with SMD nano LED light and some cotton... Worth trying.

11 May 2023, 17:35

Ben M
👀

11 May 2023, 19:21

István Szücs
Lovely idea, nice work!

12 May 2023, 15:01

Alex K
Impressive. Good job, Gustavo! 👍 👍

15 July 2023, 15:19

Ben M
That is fantastic!

15 July 2023, 23:11

Neuling
Very creative work which deserves more pictures!

16 July 2023, 07:45

Guy Rump
Very nice! 👍

16 July 2023, 09:54

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work.

16 July 2023, 17:47

Album info

Boeing's NB-52A Stratofortress was the fifth B-52 built and retired in 1969. It was used to launch North American X-15-2 56-6671 during the 1959 Edwards AFB Airshow and can now be seen at the Pima Air Museum near Tuscon, Arizona.

This project is a diorama that depicts the X-15 being launched from NB-52A.

NB-52A launching X-15 Diorama

40 images

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