S u m m a r y
|
Catalogue
Number: |
CED4402 and CED72112 |
Scale: |
1/144 and 1/72 |
Contents and Media: |
Double-sided full colour
letter-sized instructions plus notes sheet; 1 x full-size decal
sheet. |
Price: |
1/144 Scale USD$7.00
1/72 Scale USD$10.00 |
Review Type: |
FirstLook |
Advantages: |
Impressive
subject; decals in perfect register; national markings supplied;
two different sets of markings for different times included. |
Disadvantages: |
No 1/72 scale
conversion available - yet! |
Recommendation: |
Recommended |
Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor
Productions
Cutting Edge completes their
X-planes theme with this sheet. CED72112 provides markings for the
other B-52 used by NASA to launch X-planes. This time it is 52-0008,
a Boeing NB-52B. The markings on the sheet allow you to model the
aircraft as it appeared at four different times during its life:
October
31, 1959 - The aircraft was in overall
natural metal finish with FS 28915 Dayglo Orange bands around the wing
tips as well as upper nose. The provided markings include:
·
Black chevrons with Edwards Air Force
Base shields for the vertical stabilizer.
·
A launch scoreboard of black
silhouette X-15s. This time the launch symbols are in a single row.
·
Nose art in the form of an eagle on a
blue disc background with the words "The Challenger".
·
Black 20008 serial for the vertical
stabilizer.
·
Air Force Flight Test Center shields
for the nose.
·
Thin red boarders for the rear of the
engine pods
Between April 1962 and May 1963
·
A further set of Edwards Air Force
Base shields for the nose – this time without the chevrons.
·
A two-row launch scoreboard showing
X-15 silhouettes.
·
An abbreviated 0008 serial for the
nose.
·
Nose art in the form of an eagle on a
blue circle background with the words "The Challenger". Whilst
similar to the above nose art, this time the eagle has been painted
differently.
October 3 1967 – The
aircraft is now in overall aluminium paint with FS 16473 Glossy
Aircraft Grey engine pods. The markings include:
·
Edwards Air Force Base shields for
the nose
·
Nose art consisting of a cartoon
style B-52 that standing on its horizontal stabilizers and throwing an
X-15. The nose art is painted on a light blue disc background. A
further blue disc background without the artwork is supplied as the
aircraft flew in this form for awhile before the artwork was added.
·
A three-row launch scoreboard.
·
Black O - 20008 serial for the
vertical stabilizer. (The O stands for obsolete).
·
Black 008 serial for the nose.
July 2001.
The aircraft is in the same scheme as above with basically the same
markings except that the launch scoreboard has now assumed massive
proportions, the vertical stabilizer bears a cord width yellow NASA
band and the serial has been abbreviated to 0008. Try as I might; I
just could not find the NASA scripts or the thin black lines that form
part of the NASA band on the decal sheet.
A single set of national
insignia and USAF titles are provided. Two different sets of US AIR
FORCE titles are included. The right hand side larger AIR FORCE
titles for the pre 1967 versions feature an extra modified 'F' to fit
over the antenna fairing(?) on the fuselage.
The decals look like
Microscale products, nice and thin and in perfect register.
Decal placement is guided via
the standard Cutting Edge A-4 sized sheet that show colour profiles of
the aircraft as it appeared at the stated times with plan views of the
wings. A further smaller notes sheet is included and this sheet
provides instructions on how to apply the decals as well as colour
matches of model paints to the Dayglo Orange and Glossy Engine Grey.
The decals, placement and notes sheet all come packed in a clear
plastic zip-loc bag.
As with the other Cutting Edge
B-52 sheet you need to be aware that you cannot buy a kit of an NB-52B
of the shelf. To reproduce the aircraft on this sheet in model form
you must first purchase a 1/72 Scale Monogram B-52D kit as well as the
Cutting Edge resin conversion kit.
Cutting Edge also produces
this sheet and conversion kit (for the Crown/Minicraft kit) in 1/144
scale.
Why was it called "Balls
Eight"? Again, my bet is that it was because of the three zeros
before the eight in the serial number looked like balls.
The same comments apply for
this sheet as the "Balls Three" sheet - an unusual subject that will
look great when finished.
Recommended.
Thanks to Meteor
Productions for the review samples.
Cutting Edge Modelworks products,
including Cutting Edge Decals, can be viewed at
Meteor Productions website
Review Copyright © 2004 by
Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 12 January, 2004
Last updated
12 January, 2004
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