My X-15 obsession, Chapter 9....

[dhanners]

Here is my ninth X-15 build of the summer (number 8 in 1/72nd scale) and it depicts X-15-1, 66670, as it appeared from December 1960 through February 1961. The aircraft still had its XLR-11 motor, but the nose instrumentation boom had been replaced by the "Q-ball" nosecone. The Q-ball was "an inertial flight data system capable of functioning in a highly dynamic pressure environment," according to the NASM.

This was considered a "transition" scheme. The white "X-15" had been replaced on the nose by the NASA meatball on a yellow stylized spearpoint. The blue paint on the meatball often burned off during high-speed runs, leaving only the spearpoint and a little blue outline.

What is unusual about the scheme is the upper vertical stabilizer. It sported the yellow NASA band on both sides, as well as the serial number. But instead of being in the standard Amarillo USAF font, the serial number was in a different font and the numbers were much smaller.

Also, on the flight modeled, the moveable portion of the rudder -- which was jettisoned prior to landing and came down via parachute -- carries 10 parachute stencils on the starboard side, indicating how many times it had been recovered.

This was another model I made up of pieces left over from my other builds, but Yukonjohn was kind enough to repaint the vertical stabilizers and nose for me. It includes a scratchbuilt XLR-11 motor, jettison tubes and other bits and pieces.

Once again, many thanks to Yukonjohn and Henry Yuen, who designed the original model.

I think I finally have the X-15 out of my system....

[dhanners]

First photo is a family portrait. Second photo is 66670 from first flight to its last and the last photo is 66671 from its early years to final speed-record flight.

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Really great seeing them like that!

[Vinalssergio155]

Wow, they all look magnificients !!!

[mbauer]

Originally Posted by dhanners

Here is my ninth X-15 build of the summer (number 8 in 1/72nd scale) and it depicts X-15-1, 66670, as it appeared from December 1960 through February 1961.

Once again, many thanks to Yukonjohn and Henry Yuen, who designed the original model.

I think I finally have the X-15 out of my system....

What about the designs submitted during the bid competition?

Douglass D684 (D671 another version), Bell D-171, Republic AP76.
Some really interesting designs to address the requirements NASA requested.

For instance the Republic AP-76 used a periscope for landing, it was raised by the pilot to see forward when landing.

Some used a cold skin design, while others used the hot skin method.

Very interesting rocket plane!

Mike