Roden ROD351

USAF Convair B-58 Hustler A 1/144 version of our best-selling B-58 decal sheet, with 19 options fully covering the operational career of the jet. B-58 Hustler The B-58 is more than the first Mach 2-capable operational supersonic bomber : with its sleek lines,it is a timeless aviation classic. Our latest decal sheet covers the history of B-58 operations at a level of detail and coverage that this magnificent aircraft deserves. A scaled-down version of our best-selling 1/48 and 1/72 scale products, this decal sheet is designed to fit the Academy 1/144 scale B-58 Hustler kit. The options on this decal set span the entire career of the B-58, starting from the early evaluation schemes; all the way to both operational and test aircraft from all operator units, and the mythical "Project Bullseye" aircraft. The aircraft featured on this sheet are: B-58A 61-2068 "Deputy Dawg" B-58A 59-2447 "Rapid Rabbit" B-58A 60-1119 "City of Kokomo" B-58A 59-2451 "The Firefly" B-58A 59-2428 "Ben Hur" B-58A 58-1016 "Champion of Champions" (as marked for the Jimmy Stewart promotional film) B-58A 59-2430 (early Carswell AFB scheme with red chevron on tail) B-58A 58-1009 "Bonanza / El Toro de Moron" B-58A 59-2461 "Hoosier Hustler" B-58A 59-2458 "Star Raker" (Bendix Trophy Winner) B-58A 61-2053 2nd BW "winged 2" on tail B-58A 59-2435 "Shackbuster" B-58A 55-0660 Convair first flight scheme B-58A 55-0662 Convair later eval scheme TB-58 55-0662 XB-70 chase aircraft B-58A 55-0661 ARDC B-58A 55-0662 ARDC B-58A 55-0665 ARDC B-58A 59-2428 "Project Bullseye" SEA camouflage The profiles shown are only a sampling of the various options on the sheet:

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Convair (Consolidated Vultee) B-36 'Peacemaker' Conceived when the Americans thought that the stuttering British candle would be snuffed out by Germany, the Consolidated Vultee, Convair, B-36 was intended to take the air war to Europe from the Continental USA. Fortunately Britain hung on and caused the cancellation of the invasion due to the stalwart efforts of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. As global war developed the B-36 programme was put on the back burner as other needs were more pressing. Eventually the B-36 would resume this time as a high altitude long range nuclear delivery platform. Numerous versions entered service with USAF covering both the bombing and reconnaissance versions, both undertaking overseas deployments in support of their intended missions. Continued production of the B-36 caused a great rift with the U.S. Navy whose first super carrier was cancelled to pay for more B-36's that the Admirals regarded as redundant. It would be the emergence of the reliable turbojet engine that would spell the end of the B-36 as a front line aircraft as both the Boeing B-47 and B-52 bombers would quickly see the types demise. Outside the needs of Strategic Air Command there were other uses for the B-36 airframe, one would be used to transport a B-58 Hustler fuselage/ wing assembly for structural testing, another would become the NB-36 and carried a working nuclear reactor aboard whilst the final throw of the dice saw the type developed into the YB-60 eight engined bomber in competition with the B-52. The basic design threw up one more off shoot, the XC-99 transport that saw a new fuselage married to the original wings and fittings plus the original tail feathers, as a unique one off the XC-99 survives in preservation. This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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