Like many others here, I got away from modeling for a long time. Wife, kids, etc. Just I started modeling again, a few years back. Kids are off to college, and with the dust of parenting is settling, I find myself actually having ‘me’ time.
Anyhow, when I was a kid, I used to watch a Japanese action/adventure series called Ultraman. Horrendously cheesy effects, but cool none the less. Especially when you’re 9 or 10.
Anyhow, The Science Patrol flew a plane that I always thought was cool. I’d like to build it. Trouble is, I’ve never been much of an aircraft modeler, and on top of that, I’m really uneducated with nomenclatures.
I was hoping you guys could take a look at this and pinpoint what aircraft is closest to it.
I’d be grateful for any help
The Ultraman VTOL!! Not a real aircraft, but in Japan Bandai made several models of it. Box scale kits if you get the older kits. They were motorized to zip across a floor or table top.
www.ebay.com/…/390570645395
Hasegawa made a 1/72 scale version of it more closer in looks to the one in your screen shot (that’s the jet VTOL). It costs a little more, but Hasegawa is known for their better aircraft and sci-fi models. I remember there was a space VTOL, jet VTOL and submarine VTOL, each slightly different than the other.
www.ebay.com/…/390525745884
Lots of great memories of watching cheesy old monster movies and Japanese robot movies. I was just talking to the wife about watching them on Sunday afternoon TV with my little brother back in the 70s.
That is the Space Patrol Jet Beetle VTOL, or so I’ve found… But you probably already know that. There are no actual aircraft that are similar other than some VSTOL (Vertical or Short Take Off and Landing). There are no jet aircraft that are similar, other than some failed test aircraft.
Similar aircraft include:
-Curtiss XFY-1 Pogo (tailsitter; vertical lift (literally)),
-the Focke-Wulf Triebflügel (tailsitter),
-the Junkers Ju EF 009 (failed design, none built, could’ve been a tailsitter or sled-assisted takeoff),
-the Lockheed XFV Salmon (tailsitter),
-the Ryan X-13 Vertijet (tailsitter),
-and the SNECMA Coléoptère (vertical takeoff, coleopter).