Model Forum / General / Models / August 2005

Then could you please check a few things on the Bell X-1 on display
there ?
I believe it's the first one, XS-1 n°6062. I'd need the following info :

- X-1 6063 has two small scoops at the rear. Am I correct in assuming
that the 6062 does not have these scoops ?

- Revell's 1/32 X-1 has half a dozen of proeminent panels on the rear
half of the fuselage, on both sides, not unlike the infamous repair
patches on Tamiya's F-4 C/D. I was planning to sand them flush and
rescribe, but just wanted to make sure that the panels are flush on the
real thing

- the model is all raised lines. Judging from period photos, I assume
that the X-1 skin was flush, indisturbed by structure lines, except for
the odd access panel here and there. Right or wrong ?

- what are the colours of the wheel wells, inner sides of wheel well
doors, gear struts and wheel hubs ? natural metal, zinc chromate, white,
other ?

- cockpit interior is medium gray as per the instructions. Right ? BTW,
what FS number would that be ?

- according to the instructions, the 6062 has a pitot tube on the tip
of the right wing and a slip indicator on the  left. I seem to recall
that the slip indicator was added only on later planes and that the 6062
did not have one, at least, not on the october 14, 1947 flight...

- the kit has a small, oval fairing on the right side of the nose cone.
I don't recall having seen that on the photos. Does the real thing have
one ?

- and last one: some photos of the cockpit show an electronics box on
the rear cockpit bulkhead, on the righ of the seat. The kit has only an
ovoid bulge. Should I scratchbuild that thingie, leave the bulkhead as
is or sand it flat ?

Thanks.