YX-15B

[Eddie M.]

Some time ago, Shasper shared a shuttle type plane with us and it has held my imagination ever since. Here's what I did with some of my spare time while the board was down. A very special thank you to all who helped get it up and back running.  B)

This is F-18 mixed with F-22, with a little Mirage for conformal tanks. I shortened the Hornet landing gear to get it down low like the X-15. It's a shame I can't work on some F-104 wingtip tanks. I also reversed the canopy to give it that F-16 look. Why, I don't know. The voices......, they tell me what to do........    
   Eddie



Believe it or not, I have a bit of a back story. This plane was result of the cancellilation of the Shuttle program. Near earth experiments were taken over by the YX-15B. The launch vehicle would be the 747 used for ferrying the now defunct Shuttle. Launch from modified supports, similiar to those used for ferrying the Shuttle.that's how I see it.  

[John Howling Mouse]

That top view looks esp. promising, IMHO.
 

[BlackOps]

Cool, it already looks fast Eddie how is it you always seem to have just the right parts to work with?


Jeff G.

[Eddie M.]

Let the modifications begin. I've also installed reaction jets in the nose. More to come.
  Eddie

[Shasper]

D**n Eddie! Made me drop paint all over the place!



Shas B)

[B777LR]

looks like a stealthy starfighter!

[John Howling Mouse]

Someday, you and I are going to go garage-sale-hopping in TX so I can see you in action, picking out discarded models for parts to go on such fantastic creations that no one else can visualize.

Must be hard to get a focused shot of this bird as she looks like a high-speed streak even when sitting still.

So, with your back-story, are we going to see a white upper finish with perhaps all black undersides?  I have some NASA decals if you need 'em.

this plane already!

[Eddie M.]

Someday, you and I are going to go garage-sale-hopping in TX so I can see you in action, picking out discarded models for parts to go on such fantastic creations that no one else can visualize.

Must be hard to get a focused shot of this bird as she looks like a high-speed streak even when sitting still.

So, with your back-story, are we going to see a white upper finish with perhaps all black undersides?  I have some NASA decals if you need 'em.

this plane already!

Yes, that is the scheme I'll be using. If you have some extra NASA decals, I like to acquire them from you some time.
    Eddie

[John Howling Mouse]

I'll scan what I've got and send you a PM, Eddie.   ^_^  

[Eddie M.]

More progress tonight. I halved the Raptor wings and built a new nose out of a Hornet burner can and one half of a KC/135 lox tank. I think it looks more like a hypersonic aircraft with the blunt nose. I've also decided to go gear up.
    Eddie

[BlackOps]

Eddie, I wouldn't have thought I would like it but the blunt nose looks just so right on there.


Jeff G.

[Brian da Basher]

Daaaammmnnnn Eddie that bit of rhinoplasty is just purrrfecccctt!

Love it!
Brian da Basher

[Eddie M.]

Thank you all for your encouraging words! B)


Here's a bit of what if whatiffery. since i won't be able to find a 747 in this scale, i thought of the birds i have already and these are what I came up with for a ferrying aircraft.
    Eddie

[Sisko]

Man Eddie I have to hand it to you! You really apply out of the box thinking to your creations.

What happened to the twin hog thing? haven't seen it for awhile. That was one I was really hangin to see finished.

[John Howling Mouse]

Here's a bit of what if whatiffery. since i won't be able to find a 747 in this scale,

BUILD one, then!

Maybe just the top curvature of the fuselage could be represented by a sliver of painted white ABS pipe, engraved with a few panel lines and some antennas fixed.

You could go all-out designing and building some mounts/struts and the fuselage sliver could serve as a model stand, yes?