Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet - prototype fighter

[Gigatron]

Hey Gang,

Here is a 1/48 of Northrop's prototype fighter, the XP-56 Black Bullet. Towards the end of the war, the government was looking for a high-speed, high-altitude fighter, most likely to combat Germany's Me262. This is Northrop's second entry (their first crashed seconds after lift-off). They weren't given the contract as this version was too slow and cumbersome.

Anyway, on to the pics;

As always, questions and constructive criticisms are welcome.

-Fred

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Super paint job and interesting design for a fighter plane. Never heard of it before. If they'd slanted the wings further back it would have made it look cooler, imo.

Cool! :thumbsup

 

[Lord Abaddon]

Sweet model! Love the prototype fighters, some of them were amazing designs. I think that one was based on a Luftwaffe plan. Not sure what it was called but I found a model site that had it as the "Ente."

 

[terryr]

So that's what that is! I had a vacu-form of that laying around and had no idea what it was.

 

[takevin]

Very cool model, nicely done! But it looks like Slimer slimed the seat:lol.

 

[Gigatron]

Thanks, guys :cool

I enjoy the prototypes, as well - though, some are really just ass-ugly :lol

But keep an eye out for my next build - a hyper-detailed B-17G

Very cool model, nicely done! But it looks like Slimer slimed the seat:lol.

If it were your job to fly the second prototype of a plane that crashed 30 seconds into it's maiden flight, you'd probably slime the seat, too :lol :lol :lol.

-Fred

 

[Lord Abaddon]

Thanks, guys :cool

I enjoy the prototypes, as well - though, some are really just ass-ugly :lol

But keep an eye out for my next build - a hyper-detailed B-17G

Ooooo! My favorite bomber! Looking forward to that!

If it were your job to fly the second prototype of a plane that crashed 30 seconds into it's maiden flight, you'd probably slime the seat, too :lol :lol :lol.

-Fred

:lol :lol

 

[mjhenks]

Very nice. Were those counter-rotating props?

Looking forward to the B-17 too.

 

[takevin]

If it were your job to fly the second prototype of a plane that crashed 30 seconds into it's maiden flight, you'd probably slime the seat, too :lol :lol :lol.

-Fred

lol too true!

 

[Gigatron]

Very nice. Were those counter-rotating props?

Looking forward to the B-17 too.

They were indeed counter-rotating. And I almost had a system in place that allowed both props to spin. But it wasn't until I had closed the fuselage that I realized I forgot to add a retainer to the mounting tube. Spin the blades, the props fall out :cry.

So now, the outboard prop is static and the inboard spins; better than nothing, I guess.

-Fred

 

[Jaruemalak]

They were indeed counter-rotating. And I almost had a system in place that allowed both props to spin. But it wasn't until I had closed the fuselage that I realized I forgot to add a retainer to the mounting tube. Spin the blades, the props fall out :cry.

So now, the outboard prop is static and the inboard spins; better than nothing, I guess.

-Fred

Nice job, and I too am looking forward to the B-17.

I wonder if there'd be any interest in an "Ugliest planes of WWII" thread... there were a LOT of very ugly, weird and wonderful planes in the 30's and 40's. The fact that some of them actually flew... and flew well amazes me! (Then again, I don't have a degree in aeronautical engineering, so ANYTHING that flies amazes me!_