Here's one for Kit -- Bell X-16

kitnut617 · August 29, 2019, 01:16:22 PM

I was following a thread over on SPF about X-16/U-2. I couldn't remember anything about an X-16 so did a google search.

Well this is something right up Kit's alley

--- It got half built before the program was cancelled.

PR19_Kit · August 29, 2019, 01:29:18 PM

Too right Robert, a cracking looking aeroplane.

Such a pity they didn't fly it.

kitnut617 · August 29, 2019, 01:51:31 PM

Well what they did select was the RB-57, which is nearly as impressive

PR19_Kit · August 30, 2019, 12:40:41 AM

It's odd that the X-16 is often quoted as a competitor to the U-2, but the U-2 was already flying when they started work on the X-16.

zenrat · August 30, 2019, 03:35:38 AM

Neat. It looks like it's scaleorama'd.
1/72 fuselage, 1/144 airliner wings and 1/48 engines.

NARSES2 · August 30, 2019, 06:30:31 AM

B.58 front end ?

kitnut617 · August 30, 2019, 06:58:19 AM

Well if anyone is interested, Ren of Sharkit does a 1/72 kit of it. But it's more of a 'desk-top-model' than a true kit.

http://www.sharkit.com/sharkit/X-16/x16.htm

kitnut617 · August 30, 2019, 07:03:58 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 30, 2019, 12:40:41 AM
It's odd that the X-16 is often quoted as a competitor to the U-2, but the U-2 was already flying when they started work on the X-16.

From what I gather so far on the SPF thread, it was to overcome the shortcomings of the U2. Which was then passed over for the RB-57D/F.

PR19_Kit · August 30, 2019, 07:57:40 AM

Quote from: kitnut617 on August 30, 2019, 07:03:58 AM

From what I gather so far on the SPF thread, it was to overcome the shortcomings of the U2. Which was then passed over for the RB-57D/F.

Yeah, the wings weren't long enough..................

chrisonord · August 30, 2019, 03:44:31 PM

I do like that, something I need to look in to is a plane like that. One of my CF 100's could very well be the basis.
Chris.

kitnut617 · August 30, 2019, 04:08:21 PM

Something like this maybe Chris

Because of the big turbofans, I had to widen the space between engine pods and fuselage quite a bit, it allows for a space between the wheel bays to accommodate this, it's a recce pannier from the TSR2 ---

PR19_Kit · August 30, 2019, 04:39:13 PM

A SUPER Clunk!

Is it an RCF-100 then?

chrisonord · August 31, 2019, 02:17:17 AM

Pretty much what I want to do to one of mine Robert yes, except I was going to leave the engines alone. The wings will get either replaced or lengthened, and a camera nose fitted. I might, now I think about it see if rhe camera gondola from the RA-5 vigilante will fit on the fuselage, as that would look tje part if it does. Mine will be an RAF PR-100

Chris.

PR19_Kit · August 31, 2019, 03:21:30 AM

You could saw the Vigi pod down to length to suit, it's pretty long anyway.

kitnut617 · August 31, 2019, 06:27:16 AM

My "Super Clunk" (thanks Kit

) idea evolved while I was converting one of the CF-100 Mk.4's back to a Mk.3. You can see how that is progressing in this pic below, I've got to modify the port side to finish it.

At the time I had my Twin Fury project going and had a number of Mustang models of all variants out for comparing when I noticed that the CF-100 Mk.3 wing looked very similar in the plan view. Laying some P-51H wings over the Mk.3 wing revealed it was, the CF-100 wing just being a lot bigger all around. As I had a Beechnut P-51H that I had abandoned (it's not 1/72 scale) I placed one of it's wings on the end of the Mk.3 wing and was pleasantly surprised it looked quite good. But I decided to use the CK-100 Mk.5 kit I have to see if a CF-100 PR was feasible. The Mk.5 has a much larger tailplane than the other variants. And so that's how it went ---