Tamiya X-1

 Back to my aviation subjects. This time I'm digging into the historical that isn't a hypothetical or drawing board plane. It's the Bell X-1.  Most people will remember it as a supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. 

The model is 1:72 scale with 2 sprues of gray styrene, one clear, include the making for a see through section of the aircraft, and one sprue of white which will be a base for building the aircraft in flight mode. 

First thing after giving the instructions a once over was to convert all the paint ref. numbers (all Tamiya) to the color names. I decided that I wouldn't make the plane see through so I could eliminate a lot of the planes extra innards... Assembly of the cockpit was first.

The kit comes with a ball bearing to act as a weight, and they have that located in the first cylinder behind the cockpit. I also thought this a good idea to add as I couldn't tell if you could see it or not once the cockpit was installed. (You can't). 

 

Right after the above image was taken I installed the instrument panel, and then the engine cluster in the read. Only other thing to do was close it up. 

Time to get paint on the X-1. Vallejo is notorious for have pretty weak pigmented yellow and orange colors, so I bought the Tamiya brand. However reading it again it's 8 parts orange, 1 part Tamiya Clear Red. I didn't have Clear Red, but Vallejo has Transparent Red. I thought the result turned out pretty well. 

Next was to install the wings and horizontal stabilizers. All went on fairly easily except one of the horizontal ones the tab seemed in the wrong position. I cut until it might has well been a butt joint. So I added some CA glue to the styrene cement, and gave it support. I left it over night to dry. So that where we'll leave it for now. Check back and thanks for looking.