A white X-15A-2, anyone?

[dhanners]

Over the past few years, I corresponded with the late John Bowden about doing some modifications and recolors of Ken West's X-15A-2 to offer other versions of the craft, including the original, shorter 66670 and the speed-record craft in its all-white ablative coating.

In an email on 12/22/17, John told me he'd communicated with Ken and "Ken has no problem with either doing recolors of his models or as in this case changing it to reflect another version. He told me that once he has finished with a model he has spent so much time on it he is basically 'tired of messing with it'."

John never got around to doing it before his untimely passing, and I have no idea how far he may have gotten on the project. I have no recoloring/repainting skills (don't even have a computer, just an iPad) but I'm wondering if anyone has any interest in doing the X-15A-2 in the white ablative coating. The coating obscured most of what surface detail there was, and markings were minimal so, in theory, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Anyone game, or is this entirely inappropriate?

[cmdr199212]

I have some repainting/GIMP skills that might be useful. What format is the model in currently?

[dhanners]

Originally Posted by cmdr199212

I have some repainting/GIMP skills that might be useful. What format is the model in currently?

I have no idea. I have it in a PDF, but when you get into asking formats, I'm clueless....

[Thumb Dog]

Hi All,

Don't forget Mister Pink. This was the coating they applied before sealing it with the final, white coat.

Score and fold,

Thumb Dog

[airdave]

I recently spoke with Ken...he's extremely busy with work right now (related to the pandemic situation)
so communications are a bit slow back and forth.

I would have to confirm with ken the situation regarding any repaints of his X-15.
And since this is a retail model, repaints would have to be authorized and added to the retail catalog.

Since I worked with ken on things related to the SR71, I would be interest in the project.
And I love all things X-planes.
I might even be able to throw together some ground equipment too.

Bear with me, since I have little knowledge related to the X-15 aircraft and would need to learn a bit more history.

Let me send a message to Ken first.

[dhanners]

Originally Posted by airdave

I recently spoke with Ken...he's extremely busy with work right now (related to the pandemic situation)
so communications are a bit slow back and forth.

I would have to confirm with ken the situation regarding any repaints of his X-15.
And since this is a retail model, repaints would have to be authorized and added to the retail catalog.

Since I worked with ken on things related to the SR71, I would be interest in the project.
And I love all things X-planes.
I might even be able to throw together some ground equipment too.

Bear with me, since I have little knowledge related to the X-15 aircraft and would need to learn a bit more history.

Let me send a message to Ken first.

Thanks. Appreciate it.

[CharlieC]

Originally Posted by airdave

<<snip>>

Bear with me, since I have little knowledge related to the X-15 aircraft and would need to learn a bit more history.

<<snip>>

And something went "ping" in my memory - the definitive book on the X-15 was published by NASA a few years ago. It's available as a download in several formats at:

https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/...15_detail.html

Regards,

Charlie

[dhanners]

Back in 2017, I purchased Jeffrey Kubiak's (Hypersonic Models) exhaustively researched PDF of X-15 markings. It includes diagrams of the markings on the white X-15A-2 and I could contribute that page, if it helped.

[mbauer]

Originally Posted by airdave

I would have to confirm with ken the situation regarding any repaints of his X-15.
And since this is a retail model, repaints would have to be authorized and added to the retail catalog.

Bear with me, since I have little knowledge related to the X-15 aircraft and would need to learn a bit more history.

A couple of books on the X-15:
1) Technical specs/ history: Rocketship X-15 by Myron B. Gubitz
2) What its like to fly the X-15: At The Edge of Space THE X-15 FLIGHT PROGRAMME by Milton O. Thompson

Mike

[dhanners]

The Dennis Jenkins/Tony Landis book "Hypersonic" is perhaps the deepest dive on the X-15, and it is crammed with photos and diagrams. I have a copy, but it is in storage back in the U.S.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hyp...ins/1009006219