Hey gang,
I’m looking to build a 1/32 X-15. Squadron shows a few by Special Hobby, but I can’t figure out the difference between the kits.
One kit says “Two XLR-11 engines”, another says “space shuttle” and another just says “shuttle”. Anybody know which is the most accurate and has the most included detail?
Thanks,
Fred
The kits are basically the same kit. They represent different versions of the X-15. 32022 is the “basic” X-15A2. 32029 representes the X-15A2 equipped with the 2 XLR-11 engines. 32031 contains the extra fuel tanks and dolly required when the aircraft is equipped with the tanks. Hope this helped.
The X-15 made it’s first few flights with the two XLR-11 engines, the last being on Feb 7, 1961. They were then replaced with the originally intended XLR-99. The second of the three X-15s was originally designated X-15-2. It was severely damaged in a landing accident on Nov 9, 1962, and was rebuilt. It was then designated X-15-2A because of the modifications which added a 29 inch plug to the fuselage, a new canopy with oval instead of rectangular windows, the capability to use the external tanks and a few other mods. Only the X-15-2A was capable of carrying the external tanks and it never flew with the early XLR-11 engines.
Darwin, O. F. [aln]
Thanks for the clarification, guys [H]
Has anyone built any of those kits?
-Fred
I haven’t built the 1/32 kit but I did build the 1/48 version. It went together with no major problems. I haven’t painted it yet. Matt Usher built and review the 1/32 kit in the January 2008 issue of FSM. Type in X-15 in the search space at the top of the page and you will find the article.
Fred- Not sure if this makes up your mind or not, but Sprue Bros has this kit on Super Special right now, $34.99 which is about half what they usually go for.
HTH!
Thanks, Gordon - I should still have that issue in mu stash, so I’ll take a look for it tomorrow [H]
Frank - thank you, brotha. You just saved me $20 [:D]
-Fred