Another place holder for an up coming build, this time for the Mikro-Mir Martin XB-51, and a super kit this is!

Again my backstory is RAFG had a need for such a low level, and QUICK, attack bomber to supplement its fleet of Canberra B(I)8s, and having seen the XB-51 in action during the contest for the B-57 contract, realised that the B-51 did have a few advantages over the Canberra.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The XB-51 kit looks superb, and the aircraft is MASSIVE, specially for a 2 seater, only one of which is visible. Just for once it probably won't have longer wings, that'd probably wreck its low level turning ability. There's a whole slew of PE bits in there too.

One super thing about it is the box lid says 'Produced in Free Ukraine during the Russian invasion'. 

I was tempted by that, but then remembered I have the Anigrand one, which is in a surprisingly small box .

It's the fuselage that makes it huge, it's MILES long, and stretches across the Mikro-Mir box diagonally!

Not one of the prettiest of planes but a very interesting subject non the less..watching this I shall be 😁

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 20, 2023, 10:01:03 AMIt's the fuselage that makes it huge, it's MILES long, and stretches across the Mikro-Mir box diagonally!

Ah, Anigrand split their fuselage in two

I've reached the painting stage with mine and I found this build on Britmodeller useful in avoiding the pitfalls:

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235125364-new-mikro-mir-172-scale-martin-xb-51-bomber/

Being the type of kit it is there are no locating features and the plastic is a bit resistant to liquid cement so care and planning is essential. It's dry fit, dry fit, dry fit, then glue.

The cockpit is a real coal hole, and the canopy is tiny, so I just sloshed some black around in there...

And, yes, it's loooooong!

Will this be a first on the site ? I remember the first time I saw pics of the thing.....crazy cool aeroplane !

I'm thinking of making the canopy larger on my RAF version, and it will be powered with three Avons as well, obviously. 

And the planned 8 x 20 mm cannon will probably be replaced with a six-gun 30 mm ADEN gun pack somewhere as well.

As for previous XB-51s, I'm pretty sure someone has done an Anigrand one on here already, maybe OGL?

Always loved that aircraft, just because of the rather unconventional layout. 

This is the B-51 build to end all B-51 builds

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5615.50

Oddly, the hardest part of my B-51 build has been coming up with a name for the aircraft in RAF service. Master is brilliant. Very Martin and very British. My name is nowhere as clever

Quote from: CammNut on December 21, 2023, 05:03:53 PMThis is the B-51 build to end all B-51 builds

http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5615.50

That's a classic! Too bad Photobucket is being very rude.

Logan did a bunch of profiles of the B-51 (which he called the Panther).  The oldest one I found was here, https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=20962.msg427933#msg427933.

I also saw Luftwaffe, Argentine, Israeli, British and US (using a B-57 canopy) including an EB-51 based on a EB-57 from my Dad's old squadron.

I believe the first British one is on page 80 of his thread.  I saw one in the full white scheme, a camo topped version and a couple others but interspaced over several pages.

The Britmodeller thread is very thorough and shows how much work needs to be put into getting a decent finished kit.  While I would love to do a SEA camo version with the 57 canopy the amount of work needed and the cost of the kit has kept me from picking one up.

I am looking forward to see what you do with it Kit.

Let's get right down to it and ask the question that is on everyone's mind.
By how much are you going to lengthen the wings Kit?

Quote from: zenrat on December 22, 2023, 01:36:58 AMLet's get right down to it and ask the question that is on everyone's mind.
By how much are you going to lengthen the wings Kit?

I'm actually thinking of leaving them as they are..............

Shock, horror etc. of course.   

It's designed as a low level attack bomber/strike aircraft, and would need high wing loading to give the crew a soft enough ride down there. It won't lack for lift at low speeds as the wing is variable incidence as well, so it might not need longer wings.

Yeah, I know, who am I writing thhis and what have I done with Kit, eh?