As many of you know I'm kind of a Scale model nut as well as flying all things Micro Maxx.
To that end I've been working (for the last couple years) on 3 obscure and 1 not often done but very historic Scale models in Micro Scale.
First on the list has been the Tiamat JB-3 missile. Our first US Army-Air Force, Air to Air Guided missile. Contracted to Huges Aircraft Co. in 1944 (project MX-570). Test Launched from Wallops Island, VA. First Tast flight was July 4, 1945. The missile using a short angled launch ramp and very interesting 7 chamber booster was a success with a number of follow up launches from the same location over the next year.
I've been fortunate enough to be able to actually measure one of the last remaining examples of this Historic missile in person at Wallops Island NASA research facility visitor's center.
I'm using 1:23.5765 scale on this effort; turning a balsa Tiamat body 1.456" in diameter x 5.75" oval with the last approx. 1/4" clipped to allow the T2+ motor tube to be located. The Booster will be a very interesting mix of 7- T2+ Booster motor tubes Core and 6- canted with 6 1/8" secondary tubes which i'm hoping to use as Gap Stage exhaust vents to allow the upper stage to use a single MMX-II. If this proves to be either too much of a gap or not enough air space I'll revert to a single stage configuration using a 7 motor cluster.
Over all the model should be 1.456" dia, x 7.9375" long with a wing span of about 3.5".
working out the cluster venting to the core gap stage has been a bit of a challange creating some concern as to the longevity of the model once complete. That said: I don't beleive this particular missile has ever been models so it will be done in the next month or so.
Number 2: the X-7A (AQM-60 Kingfisher) A Lockheed Corp Ramjet test bed reuseable missle with HUGE booster. First flown 04-26-1951 testing the ramjet motors to be used on the Bomarc missile program. This one is scaled at 1: 81.300 making it fairly small compaired to the Tiamat. with the actual X-7A being T2 (.246"OD) x 4.921675" long. The Massive Wing & Tailed Booster is T3 (.375" OD) x 1.6406" long with our MMX-II T2+ motor tube and turned Basswood adaptor. slung underneath is a turned basswood ram-jet and pylon.
This one is further along the the Tiamat, still needing assembly and painting but the major parts have all been turned. and motor mount with Streamer recovery & shock-line done.
Number 3: Farside Project: this is a HUGE clustered 4 stage very early sounding Rocket the was Lofted to 100,000ft by a 200ft balloon then launched from a suspended rack beneath the balloon by a first stage of 4- Nike motors though the center of the balloon.
This model will also be on the large side with the Nike booster and second stage single Nike booster being T3 (.375")
Modeled at 1:24.2438 Scale the Over all model length will be 11.9896". The prototype rocket is 24'-61/2" long.
As with the Tiamat this one has several very interesting (and Complicated) junctions that have been giving me pause as which way to build the model ie; single stage cluster or clustered two stage? At the moment I'm leaning toward a simple single stage 4- MMX-II cluster with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stages inert. I am considering a mock up of the balloon with a teathered launch rack frame suspeneded below a 8'-3" mylar drapped circluar frame suspended from 3- 36" helium filled ballons. Hey is a dream but could work. I've been toying with this prototype and balloon mock-up for a very long time....we'll see if it comes to pass or the rocket is simply flown from a Nanorail
Number 4: MMX AIR-2A Genie (air-to-air Nuke): 1: 32.1692 Scale:
This seamingly simple missile is far from it. Even at this T4+ (.478"OD) body with a BT-5 Turned Basswood warhead it has a load of aft detailing that can be worked out. I'm looking at spring loading the 4- 3 piece fins to pop out prior to launch or perhaps work out so sort of Launch rod retractor that will hold the fin pieces in until the rod is cleared? Still not sure on which way that one will go.
That said the tail cone and fin fairing are going to be a fun build. Turing are all but done, Still have to hollow the warhead.
Sorry but most of the photos are still in the camera;
I do have a couple shots of the real rockets & missiles so you can see some of the building challenges ahead.
I know at least two of these rockets have never been models before so we'll see how that go. I'm hoping to do build thread or semi-build threads on each of these Micro Mod-Rocs, as some of these parts were made before I started keeping build photos. If all goes well, stay tuned looking for some pretty neat Micro Models.
To that end I've been working (for the last couple years) on 3 obscure and 1 not often done but very historic Scale models in Micro Scale.
First on the list has been the Tiamat JB-3 missile. Our first US Army-Air Force, Air to Air Guided missile. Contracted to Huges Aircraft Co. in 1944 (project MX-570). Test Launched from Wallops Island, VA. First Tast flight was July 4, 1945. The missile using a short angled launch ramp and very interesting 7 chamber booster was a success with a number of follow up launches from the same location over the next year.
I've been fortunate enough to be able to actually measure one of the last remaining examples of this Historic missile in person at Wallops Island NASA research facility visitor's center.
I'm using 1:23.5765 scale on this effort; turning a balsa Tiamat body 1.456" in diameter x 5.75" oval with the last approx. 1/4" clipped to allow the T2+ motor tube to be located. The Booster will be a very interesting mix of 7- T2+ Booster motor tubes Core and 6- canted with 6 1/8" secondary tubes which i'm hoping to use as Gap Stage exhaust vents to allow the upper stage to use a single MMX-II. If this proves to be either too much of a gap or not enough air space I'll revert to a single stage configuration using a 7 motor cluster.
Over all the model should be 1.456" dia, x 7.9375" long with a wing span of about 3.5".
working out the cluster venting to the core gap stage has been a bit of a challange creating some concern as to the longevity of the model once complete. That said: I don't beleive this particular missile has ever been models so it will be done in the next month or so.
Number 2: the X-7A (AQM-60 Kingfisher) A Lockheed Corp Ramjet test bed reuseable missle with HUGE booster. First flown 04-26-1951 testing the ramjet motors to be used on the Bomarc missile program. This one is scaled at 1: 81.300 making it fairly small compaired to the Tiamat. with the actual X-7A being T2 (.246"OD) x 4.921675" long. The Massive Wing & Tailed Booster is T3 (.375" OD) x 1.6406" long with our MMX-II T2+ motor tube and turned Basswood adaptor. slung underneath is a turned basswood ram-jet and pylon.
This one is further along the the Tiamat, still needing assembly and painting but the major parts have all been turned. and motor mount with Streamer recovery & shock-line done.
Number 3: Farside Project: this is a HUGE clustered 4 stage very early sounding Rocket the was Lofted to 100,000ft by a 200ft balloon then launched from a suspended rack beneath the balloon by a first stage of 4- Nike motors though the center of the balloon.
This model will also be on the large side with the Nike booster and second stage single Nike booster being T3 (.375")
Modeled at 1:24.2438 Scale the Over all model length will be 11.9896". The prototype rocket is 24'-61/2" long.
As with the Tiamat this one has several very interesting (and Complicated) junctions that have been giving me pause as which way to build the model ie; single stage cluster or clustered two stage? At the moment I'm leaning toward a simple single stage 4- MMX-II cluster with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stages inert. I am considering a mock up of the balloon with a teathered launch rack frame suspeneded below a 8'-3" mylar drapped circluar frame suspended from 3- 36" helium filled ballons. Hey is a dream but could work. I've been toying with this prototype and balloon mock-up for a very long time....we'll see if it comes to pass or the rocket is simply flown from a Nanorail
Number 4: MMX AIR-2A Genie (air-to-air Nuke): 1: 32.1692 Scale:
This seamingly simple missile is far from it. Even at this T4+ (.478"OD) body with a BT-5 Turned Basswood warhead it has a load of aft detailing that can be worked out. I'm looking at spring loading the 4- 3 piece fins to pop out prior to launch or perhaps work out so sort of Launch rod retractor that will hold the fin pieces in until the rod is cleared? Still not sure on which way that one will go.
That said the tail cone and fin fairing are going to be a fun build. Turing are all but done, Still have to hollow the warhead.
Sorry but most of the photos are still in the camera;
I do have a couple shots of the real rockets & missiles so you can see some of the building challenges ahead.
I know at least two of these rockets have never been models before so we'll see how that go. I'm hoping to do build thread or semi-build threads on each of these Micro Mod-Rocs, as some of these parts were made before I started keeping build photos. If all goes well, stay tuned looking for some pretty neat Micro Models.
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