Ever since the U.S. sent B-2 stealth bombers overseas this weekend to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, I’ve seen and read a slight uptick on Facebook model groups of renewed interest in B-2 stealth bomber model kits and accessories.
So this got me to asking the following:
Who here has built a B-2 stealth bomber in the past? Post pics if you got them.
Anybody planning to build a B-2 bomber now or in the future?
What do you consider to be the best or worst B-2 stealth bomber kits (and accessories) on the market?
The only B-2 stealth bomber I’ve built so far was for this display I built long ago. The B-2 is the darker grey colored aircraft in the picture. All the models in the below pic are 1/200 scale.
I do have two old Testor 1/72 scale B-2 model kits at home, but I don’t know when I’ll get around to building them.
Logged into Facebook to check my news feed this morning. Interest in B-2 stealth bomber kits is growing.
So what projects do I have planned regarding B-2 bomber kits?
One which I started to work on long ago, but stopped, was building one of my old Testor 1/72 scale B-2’s into a what if fantasy Santa Clauses’s next stealthy delivery vehicle.
I plan to put it on an airfield tarmac base and make a diorama with the B-2 getting loaded up and ready for Santa’s Christmas Eve flight.
I do have a second Testor B-2 in the stash, but am unsure what I’ll build that into or when I’ll be able to build it.
I also have this really old B-2 bomber kit that I managed to snag off Amazon (I think?) long ago. This came out back in the late 80’s before anybody even knew what the final design of the B-2 was going to be. The kit is missing decals, but I’m sure I can find some other unit markings somewhere to put on it. I was thinking of turning this into a what if stealthy aerial refueling tanker aircraft. The size is perfect as it would be able to hold a lot of fuel.
I built a B-2 (Testors 1/72) way, way back when … when the 1991 Persian Gulf War ended and I happened to find that kit in a WalMart store. I recall absolutely nothing about that build. I still have it, packed away in a box of old builds that were broken/shattered over the years. I don’t think that one is actually damaged, as I built it wheels up, so really nothing on it that was breakable.
After the events of this weekend, I did a quick check at my various online shops to see if there are available kits, but didn’t find any current kits. I was expecting to find a 1/200 kit that I’ve seen in the past, but not even that one. I probably won’t get a new kit, but rather I should just locate that old build and hang it in my workshop to go along with a more recently built YB-49 Flying Wing and a just purchased XB-35 Flying Wing.
You just know someone is going to repackage their B-2 kit with a bunker buster bomb and sell it. It’s not a question of if, but when. Personally, I had the old DML 1/200 kit but sold it off long ago. I have heard several model buddies regale tales of the difficulty in building the Testors 1/72 kit, mainly having to do with seamlessly joining the wing panels.
hey hey! I have not visited these forums in some time but your link sent me an email notification.
The modelcollect B-2 was indeed a bear to build, at least at my skill level. Lots of poor fits of the biggest components resulting in lots and lots of time fit checking, cutting, sanding, puttying, and sanding again. But the end result is a decent looking and accurate model, and the GBU-57s are suddenly a highly relevant loadout choice.
I am both dreading and anticipating the Modelcollect B-1B, if they ever stop making speculative steampunk nazi walking tanks and get back to finishing it.
Well glad to see you made it back. Things are way better than they were. I, like everyone else, immediately started searching for a B2 kit with the GBU-57s and came across your build - great result BTW despite the numerous issues you call out. I also enjoyed your writing style/commentary. Anyhow, I thought it would be valuable to the folks on this thread to share your experiences. And pretty cool that you got an email!
Yeah, the old Testor B-2 bomber is a beast of a model to build. I started on one long ago and haven’t finished it yet. Here’s one sample pic of how bad the parts fit was for the wings. And then another pic of how much putty I had to use.
And I know this isn’t about the B-2, but folks may want to prepare themselves for getting the newest bomber model kit from Modelcollect…the B-21 Raider! I’m guessing this’ll probably come out sometime next year. It’ll be in 1/72 scale. Same scale as the Testor and Modelcollect B-2 bombers.
The B-2 you want in 1/32 scale, or the B-21 I mentioned for future release you want in 1/32 scale? Which did you mean? Nobody makes either in that scale…unless you want a radio controlled (RC) version.
