Bell X-1

I bought the ol Tamiya kit at a bargain and intented it as a quick inbetween project.
But it was not to be... 

This was my idea of presenting the little plane. It is a loading pit on Edwards Airfield into which the X-1 was pushed so that the modified B-29 could roll over it and hook it onto its belly. 

And that was the first proof of concept layout. 

I liked it. 

The expanded plastic slabs were covered with cardboard which was sealed with varnish. 

Then I brushed several layers of Vallejo stone effect onto it. 

The pattern of the concret slates were scraped in and some details added. 

The rails on which the X-1 was pushed down into the pit. 

almost done 

Lets turn to the plane. Some improvements were done. 

all the measuring tubes were replaced by homemade ones 

Fit of the canopy gave me a hard time. I constructed a frame around it to align it and sanded it flush with the fuselage - at the cost of canopy frame. 

I followed Tamiyas advice to color the interior in light grey but that turned out to be wrong. At the wheel wells and doors I could change that into the correct interior green. But the cockpit was done already. 

 

Alclad primer serves as base for the paint. 

Gloss white should lessen coverage problems with the following orange. 

Well coverage was not the problem but the paint just would not dry. it was almost impossible to handle. 

To reduce uniformity of the monochrome paint job I opted for some color modulation 

Decals are on.  

I used thin strips of black decal to redo the canopy. 

No weathering as this was a new plane.  

To show the size I wanted to add a figure. 

Done! No quick inbetween job, but I am quite happy with it - despite all the hassle. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

still practicing with the lent photo equipment.  

I think, those last two pictures are presentable.