1:32 SR-71 Blackbird - Design & Build
 

To all,

I am currently finishing the assembly instructions for the Constellation (and springtime projects). In the meantime, I thought I would tell you about my next project.... a 1:32 scale SR-71 Blackbird. Highly detailed of course!

And the best news: Billy is going to build the prototype and show it here! Between his multiple X-15 builds and now this, the market price of black ink should start going up. :)

Stay tuned........

Ken

I have ordered a case of black from Epson...standing by!

I am already foaming at the mouth! I shall stock up on black ink starting......now!

About time. What took you so long? ;) A logical next addition to the stable of hot rod aircraft.

I wonder, is it possible to print on black paper? Hmmmmm....

Looking forward to this....

Mike

Mike, it is indeed possible to print on black paper

you will just have to view the entire sheet at an angle to see the print, but it is possible

(a lot of the Asian Gundam builders and designers do that, make the model, and release the part sheets in white, to be printed on various colors of cardstock)

Ken, are you planning on making the A-12 version with the drone?
or making it available as an add on pack?

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/09/a12.jpg
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/d21scan.jpg

Well, another option for printing on black paper, is to take the black outline, lighten it up to a gray color, then print on black paper. Might work that way.

A big problem with printing on black paper with inkjets is the ink soaks into the paper so you cannot see the lines very good, even if you lighten up the lines by using a different, lighter color. Viewing at an angle as mentioned before might work in some cases. Any fuselage markings will most likley be unviewable under normal circumstances. A laser printer might work since the medium is laid on top of the paper instead of soaking into it. Some dot matrix printers might work too.

This has my interest. I've been trying to design an SR-71 as a gift for my Dad (astral-navigation technician for the SR-71), and to sell on Fiddlersgreen, but it's still beyond my skill level.

I do believe the saying "If you build it they will come" applies here.

And to show the secrecy involved, he still won't tell me it's top speed and altitude, and flatly denies that it ever carried a drone...

Although his favorite story is of a pilot losing one engine, firewalling the other one, pointing the bird straight up, and disappearing out of sight.

Or how when both engines died, it actually flew backwards...into the ground.

Rick,

The nose chines of the A-12 are more "pointed" than the SR-71. But, the rest of the aircraft's features are similar enough to make an A-12 modification pack down the road.

I think I have a picture of the SR-71 and A-12 nose comparisons... I'll post it here later.

Ken

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