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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hello,
I have quite a few of the smaller 1:72 scale aircraft kits in my stash and though I prefer the larger 1:48 & 1:32 scales, I decided to start building a few of the smaller kits as in between builds or as a stress reliever from the higher levels of detail that are normally incorporated into the bigger models. These builds will be predominantly assembled ‘out of the box’ with just a minimal amount of scratch-built enhancements being used where some parts aren’t included in the kit or are grossly over-scale. Weathering will be minimal or non-existent as I am building these purely as a series of small aircraft that looks nice in the display cabinet. There will be no build diaries for these models just some photos of the completed model which will be posted here in the gallery for all to see. I don’t have as much modelling time as I used to so these models will just appear as and when I get the time to build one.
The first in my series of ‘off-the-cuff’ builds is one of the most important aircraft in the history of aviation, since it was the first aircraft to reach beyond the sound barrier and achieve Mach 1. That aircraft is:
The Bell X-1
The kit is the now quite old Tamiya offering in 1:72 scale and whilst it builds into a nice model with a bit of care, it isn’t as easy to put together as some of Tamiya’s more modern kits. The only extras I have added to this build are the three probes, one on each wingtip and one on the nose, which are made from steel dressmakers’ pins, with the two wing-mounted probes having the tip details made from fuse-wire and tiny pieces of spare brass-etch. The model also has wiring added to the rear of the instrument panel since this is easily visible through the canopy and some homemade seatbelts from tin foil, though they don’t show too well in the photos. The canopy framing was achieved by cutting very thin strips from a sheet of black decal paper and adding them individually, first longitudinally, then the lateral strips. The US National Insignia ‘Stars & Bars’ as supplied on the kit decal sheet weren’t acceptable as they were not opaque enough and clearly showed the orange paintwork through the white parts, so these were replaced with completely opaque aftermarket items of the same size. The orange paint was custom mixed by myself by adding more red to the standard Tamiya Orange paint that is called out in the instructions as it is way too bright to be correct as it comes in the pot. The real aircraft was more of a red-orange in colour. The penny coin illustrates the small size of this aircraft in 1:72 scale. The Bell X-1 had quite a distinct 'sit' to it when on it's wheels with the tail being noticeably lower than the nose, something which Tamiya have achieved quite nicely, provided that you pay attention to how you construct the undercarriage assemblies, as they are easily fitted incorrectly otherwise. The 'penny shot' gives an idea of the size of the model.
I hope that you enjoy looking at the first in my series of 1:72 aircraft builds.
Many thanks for looking.
Kev  ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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 lovely work Kev Rgd Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Now that's a cool looking build, well done and thanks for sharing 
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Looks fab Kev, lovely work indeed....  Regards Alan
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 Rank: Elite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/02/2011 Posts: 2,232 Points: 6,816 Location: UK
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Hi Kev, I have enjoyed looking at your Bell X-1 Kev and thanks for showing, it is 68 years since the Bell broke the sound barrier I think it was the American test pilot Chuck Yeager who did it. This sticks in my mine as it was a subject we had at school. Great work Kev. Regards Trev. Work in progress: Tombstone (Scratch) - San Francisco 2. -The Mayflower ( scratch by plan).
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 Rank: Super-Elite    Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looks a nice little kit and well finished Steve
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Rank: Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 14/10/2014 Posts: 1,715 Points: 5,087 Location: Leicester england uk
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Hi kev, looks a very nice clean little build you have there.well done, enjoyed looking at it.cheers mick. Builds hms victory, suzuki gsx 1300 R hayabusa, honda C B 750, lamborghini countach L P 500 S, tamiya 1/16 rc full option tiger 1 tank,
built, Mclaren M P 4 - 23. Occre london tram,
Stash.airfix 1/24 mosquito. Diag Virginia schooner, tamiya 1/6 honda 750, tamiya 1/35 famo, tamiya 1/35 flak 88.
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for looking in guys and the nice comments, they are greatly appreciated!!
The Bell X-1 was a pretty little aircraft, very sleek with nice lines and I think this is a pretty little model when finished, not the easiest to get right, but the end result is worth the effort?
@ Trev - Yes, you are right Trev it was Charles 'Chuck' Yeager who broke the sound barrier, on October 14 1947 and he did it with two broken ribs (which he didn't tell the authorities about) from a horse fall two days previously! Interesting to know that the Bell X-1 design was based on the shape of .50cal bullet since that was known to go supersonic in flight and naturally they decided that it would be an ideal shape for an aircraft attempting to do the same thing - makes sense doesn't it?
Thanks again for looking in chaps.
Kev
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Now that is a cracker, nice finish and love the colour!!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
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Lovely work Kev, love,how the colour turned out
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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That's great Kev. Such a small model !
"Glamorous Glennis" still looks good
Malc.
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for looking in and nice comments Malc, always appreciated.
Yes, it's not a big model in 1:72 scale, so difficult to make it look neat and tidy in the photos as the macro lens always highlights any slight roughness, but she looks OK I think? The paint finish looks a little grainy in the photos because of the magnification but in reality it looks nice and smooth!!
Kev
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