X-15-3 in 1/48th scale

[dhanners]

Here is this summer’s 14th X-15 build, and my second in 1/48th. It is X-15-3, 66672, as it appeared from mid-1966 onward until the crash in November 1967 that killed test pilot Mike Adams.

For the model, I used Yukonjohn’s recent 66672 repaint of Henry Yuen’s X-15 and enlarged it to 1/48th. I also borrowed parts from Ken West’s X-15A-2 — reduced from 1/32nd to 1/48th — and used them to build the landing skids and the interior of the speed brakes on the lower ventral stabilizer. I used Ken's parts as templates to make my own XLR-99 motor.

One feature of 66672 during this period was that a sharp leading edge was attached to the rudder to see how such leading edges dealt with high speeds. I added the piece with black cardstock.

To more accurately replicate the upper ventral stabilizer, I split the fixed portion and the rudder into two pieces and built them as separate assemblies. In real life, you could see daylight between the two pieces, and it would be noticeable in 1/48th scale. As usual, I scratchbuilt a number of parts, including the jettison tubes, various air data probes, the experiment box at the rear of the tail, vents and Q-ball nose.

[yukonjohn]

Very nice build. It looks like Henry's 1/87 kit upscales to 1/48 without many issues.


John

[dhanners]

Originally Posted by yukonjohn

Very nice build. It looks like Henry's 1/87 kit upscales to 1/48 without many issues.


John

Thanks. The two of you did great work. The only issue in upscaling it was the NASA meatball on the nose gets kind of indistinct. As the meatball's blue paint usually burned off from air friction on high-speed runs, it isn't a huge deal....

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Nice! The X pedestal is a really nice addition.

[cardist]

David, as Always, a superlative description and excellent build.