Northrop Tarantula(Project X), 1948(PM Model Horton Ho.229V7).

[CSMO]

Jack Northrop's obsession with the flying wing concept knew no bounds. At the end of WW2, he gained access to the Horton brothers papers and a couple of unfinished captured German airframes. Northrop was developing the XF-89 Scorpion for the Air Force as an all all-weather interceptor. Jack poured his own money into building an improved Horton 229 as a company project parallel to the XF-89. The Tarantula carried U.S. motors, radar, and guns. Like the B-35 and B-49, it was directionally unstable making it an unsatisfactory gun platform. It was not proceeded with.

I saw a TV special where a full-sized Ho.229 was built using the same-as-original materials to test its stealth capabilities. This program plus the fact that the F-89 is one of my all-time favorite aircraft, inspired this build. The XP-89/XF-89 prototype was painted all-black, it was designed to carry radar, and it was very simply marked.

I built the V.7 OOB except I extended the nose as a radar housing with a piece of Airfix Do.217 external fuel tank, puttied in and a piece of sprue representing a radar scope in the rear cockpit. Two spent 9mm. jacketed slugs keep the nose-wheel on the ground. I brush-painted it Testors Gloss Black and Yellow Zinc Chromate. Microscale provided the national markings.

Not bad for a $1.00 kit, purchased at my local club's annual show and contest.

Adios, Larry.

[NARSES2]

I like that  

I built a straight Go229 as a USN bird armed with a couple of Tiny Tims a few years back. Your's does look more "American"

[Tophe]

wonderful!

[Joe C-P]

This is nice. 

[aston]

Looks  very good ...... brings out its boomerang qualities!

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool. Canadian marking could have suited her well, too - reminds me a bit of the CF-100?
Nice conversion! 

[The Big Gimper]

Love the name.

Canadian markings, eh? Scurries away to check the stash.