The next two models for FP to be CADed up have been confirmed, and the next two after that have been tentatively agreed on. In order of when they’ll be worked:
1) 1/72 VTOL
2) 1/72 hypersonic research
3) 1/288 launch vehicle topped with BLAM
4) 1/288 launch vehicle/serious Marine Corps badassery
In a few days or so I’ll post very preliminary images of what’s to come.
The Convair Super Hustler, two iterations of the Convair “Fish,” and the SDR-17 “Super Hustler” tactical bomber.
The SH was a recon/strategic bomber meant to be carried aloft by an unmodified B-58; the earlier “Fish” was a pure recon plane meant to be carried aloft by an unmodified B-58; the second “Fish” was also a recon bird, meant to be carried aloft by a stretched B-58; the SDR-17 “Super Hustler” was a conventional tactical bomber in the mold of the F-111, but equipped with only a single bomb.
This is for the RoBo article in the V2N4 issue of APR. These play only a small role in the RoBo story, so get only a few pages of treatment; a future article may cover the Super Hustler and/or Fish in greater depth. I’m also giving serious contemplation to CAD modeling the Super Hustler and the later Fish for printing at 1/72 or even 1/32 scale. I think a SH at 1/18 would be most impressive.
Well, she’s done… at least for now. The CAD modeling is essentially finished (proper scaling and conversion to STL, that’s about it), and now it’s on to printing.
With these bits in place, the XAB is essentially structurally complete. Still some work to do, but the final product should look pretty much like this. The lower-rez shaded views show the different parts.
The question will soon come “So what’s next?” There is currently nothing fixed-certain on my schedule for Fantastic Plastic, though we’ve certainly got a number of designs planned for Someday, even Someday Soon. It has been my hope to restart “Part Time Models,” which would focus on the same sort of “unbuilt projects” that FP does, but obviously with no overlap in subject. The old Lockheed CEV lifting body and X-20 Dyne Soar, both in 1/72 are in various stages of retooling, and I’ve tinkered around with several BoMi designs in 1/144 (including the early three-stage MX-2276 concept). For the most part, PTM would focus on simple models at relatively low cost. They’d be cast by *me* which means a pretty minimalist casting setup (no pressure pots or centrifuges or any of that stuff). But on the other end, I also want to do some “high end” models such as a number of 1/18 designs, including the Apollo CSM and the Dyna Soar. These would likely feature a whole lot of fiberglass, and I’m hoping to make them available in finished form, not just rough kits. My goal is to offer them to museums, NASA/USAF centers and the like as display pieces.
Another bit of Martin Corp. aerospace artwork from the late 1950’s/very early 1960’s. This time showing aircraft (and perhaps spacecraft) with “saucer wings.” These have been described in secondary sources as being atomic or “photon” powered. Shrug. The canard equipped one, second from bottom, looks like it has a copy of the bridge of the Starship Enterprise dead center, with a glass ceiling… though it’s probably supposed to represent the powerplant (“atomic pile?” “Fusion reactor?” “Warp core?”). No further data on my end. If anyone has anything definitive, I’d like to see it.
I did have some discussions with Fantastic Plastic about kitting one of these designs. The desire was to kit it at 1/288 scale; but there are no good scale references here. The best that was come up with was to scale the cockpit canopy, and through similarity with a contemporary known design, come up with a vehicle size. What was produced was this:
Needless to say, it was determined that there were other designs for Fantastic Plastic to tackle.
Here’s the collection of Orion vehicles I built in CAD for APR issue V2N2 , all in scale. The Battleship which is currently being prepped for physical modeling is the fourth from the left on the bottom row. Far right on the bottom is the “Archangel Michael” from Niven & Pournelle’s “Footfall,” as drawn by Aldo Spadoni. Creating this model in the same 1/288 scale as the battleship would certainly be possible, but it’d be fargin *expensive* (probably around $200 as a limited-run resin & fiberglass kit). However, if anyone is interested in this as a kit, let me know via commenting below. If anyone is interested in contracting to have this made especially for you in whatever scale, let me know via email:
Not a whole lot of progress today; spent most of the day in Logan picking up my (hopefully) fixed camera. Going to try some long exposure shots tonight and see if they really did fix it. But the XAB and its fighters now have crude control surfaces. These will be finished up on the physical model. Having these features present on the CAD model will, however, assure that everything is lined up and symmetrical.
It’s coming along. Now entering the always exciting “detailing” phase.
The two pics below are lower rez, but show the approximate parts breakdown by color. The fuselage will be broken into left/right, fore/aft quadrants.
Some vintage display models of some less obscure vehicles:
<>Abort motor and boost protective cover model: Apollo vintage model- Command Module with Escape Tower 
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Block 1 Apollo Command and Service Modules with Abort tower: VINTAGE TOPPING NASA APOLLO SPACECRAFT DESK SPACE MODEL
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Small Lunar Module model: Lunar Module 4 inch Contractor Model LM – RARE Apollo
Well that’s… huh. Exactly the same thing as the *last* eBay item I posted. What are the odds that two of the very same, extremely obscure display models of the 1961 General Dynamics M-1 lunar spacecraft would come up at the same time (and listed with the exact same title with the same wrong year)?
FROM AN OLD TEXAS ESTATE, UP FOR AUCTION: back in the mid- 70-S I purchased this hand built scratch model of a lunar take off vehicle by General Dynamics Corp, made sometime circa mid 1960s. Created for the department heads and certain persons directly involved with this particular aspect of this particular space program. Not ever offered for public or private sale, Wood and aluminum, this is not your standard plastic desk model. Approx. H: 18.5″ . The approx. dia: 4.75″. There is some normal wear and some light paint flaking as shown, BUT OVERALL THIS IS A GREAT MODEL, and one not seen very often on the open market .it is indeed a rare item , It comes apart and each part will be wrapped seperate and shipped to the winner.( PLEASE SEE PICTURES ). The item is being listing with no reserve.
I WAS IN THE U.S. A.F. DURING THE TIME PERIOD THE MOON LANDING PROJECTS MERCURY, GEMINI AND APOLLO WERE TAKING PLACE, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT ASSIGNED TO THE PROGRAMS I WAS FROM TIME TO TIME IN DIRECT SUPPORT FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.. I HAD GREAT INTEREST AND WAS PROUD OF AMERICANS NEW MISSION OF GOING TO THE MOON AND BACK WITH LIVE PEOPLE. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I HAVE COLLECTED A FEW ITEMS FROM THAT TIME PERIOD. I HAVE VERY LITTLE DIRECT INFORMATION ON THIS SPACE SHIP MODEL EXCEPT FROM THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A SMALL LABEL ATTACHED TO THE THE WOODEN BASE OF THE MODEL THAT READS , CONVAIR (ASTRONAUTICS) DIVISION, General Dynamics corporation, AVCO CORPORATION RESEARCH & ADVANCE DEVELOPMENT. THE MODEL HAS BEEN IN MY SHOW CASE SINCE I MADE IT’S PURCHASE.
As I write this, it’s currently sitting un-bidded-on at $399. Given that the other one sold for a tidy $1,025, maybe someone will get lucky and get it cheap.
I’ve looked at the chips in the paint and smudges, and these are two different models. The bases have different plaques on them. They come from two different sellers in two different (but nearby) states.
Huh.
That was a hell of a thing…