Another large four-engined beast that I would love to build was a high altitude long range recce craft- I think it was called the XR-1 Rainbow, and I think it was built by Fairchild. I believe Anagrand did a resin kit but it was very expensive. Beautiful plane- pencil thin fuselage, very streamlined nose, high aspect ratio wings. I have a book on it but couldn’t find it now.
There were a few releases in 1/72, as well as 1 in 1/144, per Scalemates. These were all vacuum-formed and resin kits, however.
I’m pretty sure the last few times I did one of those surveys, I included the B-32. As for the wish of a Monogram release, that would only be to go in line with their other 1/48 bomber fleet. I would have to re-arrange the hangers in my workshop, but I’d make room. Well, I guess I’ll just have to go on dreaming of a better world that includes a big B-32 Dominator!
A 1/72 injected B-32 sounds like MPM/Special Hobby territory to me. They have branched out to large 1/48 (He-177) and 1/32 single engine subjects, so they definitely have the capacity to do it.
While the question of ROI for tooling obscure subjects come up frequently, just a quick look around and you will see some pretty strange subjects being done from expensive steel molds. So like Romeo Void said, “never say never”.
So, anyone want to start a pool on whether HK will build a 1/2 version? [:)]
(I’m still passing surrised they don’t have a SuperFort out yet.)
CapnMac, I think it is a given that a 1/32 B-29 will materialise.
Don, the plane you had in mind was the Republic XF-12 Rainbow. I have the book with it and the Hughes XF-11. That book has pretty much enough information to scratchbuild a model!
Gerry Asher’s B-32 is pretty awesome. If you scroll thru his builds in that album you will see his scratch built F108A. Now that is a really cool Mach 3 fighter interceptor designed to accompany the XB 70.
I do not recall if there is one of these on display in the USAF Museum. I recall that there is a landing gear on display with one of the huge main gear tires. It is a beautiful aircraft and unfortunately ignored by the model manufacurers.
Yeah, I have the book too, and it does have enough drawings and info to scratch it. I have a couple of scratch projects ahead of it in the queue, so it will take awhile before I get to it. So if anyone kits it first, I’ll be tempted to buy the kit.
Beautiful, Bill. It will be an inspiration when I start my build.
I thought I saw a few vacuform kits in 1/48, but I don’t see anything for sale anywhere. Looks like we’ll have to wait.
BK