B-58 Paint Scheme

   This isn't exactly an authentic Hustler paint scheme, but it's one for which I have a particular fondness, since I was involved in the design process.  I've loved the B-58 ever since I was a kid, and my son, who is a pretty accomplished modeler, went out of his way to see that I had one of my own.  He tracked down a kit from Monogram, no small feat in itself, then insisted that I specify what it should look like.

    I have always hung the models he builds from our ceiling, so I wanted this one to be in flight.  The gear doors were a problem, so he built his own from plastic, using the best photos he could find as a guide.  Used the smaller weapons pod, too.  But the kicker was, he wanted me to design the paint scheme.

    I looked at all the paint schemes I could find, and none seemed to me to do full justice to the grace, velocity, and lethality that is the B-58.  So I drew up my own, essentially just adding trim to a silver paint scheme.  I liked it a lot, and was gratified when Silas was enthusiastic about the design, even though he knew the curves would be tough to render.  When he brought it home for Christmas, packed in a custom-built wooden crate, I was just delighted.  It's now hanging in the place of honor in the family room, my favorite of all the models he's built over the years, and he's done a bunch of really beautiful models.  Here are a couple of pictures of the completed model (I took dozens from every angle!), along with the design sheet I sent to him months before.  No, it's not authentic, but I think any Hustler jockey would have loved having this paint scheme on his bird.

   Hmmm--well, I posted this a couple times, but it keeps stripping out the two pictures, so I guess you'll just have to guess what the model looks like.

 

 

 

I thought I might try the S/E asia camo scheme provided with the R/G kit just for something different.All the B-58s I've ever seen were bmf.Thought it might look neet.I know the Avro Vulcan sure looked cool in camo.

you have to post pics b25fan when its finished. Id love to see it.

my r/g b-58 has a paint scheme for sea. i thought about doing mine in that scheme.

my r/g b-58 has a paint scheme for sea. i thought about doing mine in that scheme.

Actually , the B-58 was being evaluated for use in SE Asia. Two bombers were temporarily painted in SE Asia camouflage colors over black. I have also seen pictures of it in that pattern, and it was certainly an impressive looking aircraft in that scheme!. The Air Force then decided to cancel the whole idea, so after about a week, the SE Asia pattern was removed, and the aircraft were restored to their natural metal finish. (probably by flying at the speed of sound to peel it off! )

to the best of my knowledge the B-58 never saw service in Vietnam and always wore the silver paint scheme. They had a very short life span and were phased out in 71? because of operating costs.

does anybody know of a paint scheme for the Hustler that was camo for possible service in Vietnam.? Thanks Chuck M

Hey Sled;
Ausome job on the Hustler, also I remembered of seeing a couple of pix's in a book at the S.A.C. Museum in Neb outside of Omaha on I-80w, there where of a couple of Hustlers painted with SAC Bomber colors, Bomber Tan, Bomber Green, DK Green & Black but they never showed the SEA paint jobs on any of them, but they may have missed them for the book, but as of right now I can't remember the name of the book but I remember the price it was about $65.00 (you how Museums price there stuff) and that was about 5 years ago when I seen the book, also I think the Iraqi sun has cooked my brain beyond all repairable causes so I can't remember what day it is now,if you could or would just as a conversation piece build one of those SAC Bomber colored ones that would be ausume too
have fun & relax
Cuda

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sled71 Where are Hasegawa, Tamiya, etc when it comes time to offer a 1/48 scale B-29, B-17, B-24, B1-B as well as a 1/72 B-36? Unbelievable.

I'd say one of the reasons is the limited space available for most Japanese modelers to display the finished models. The average apartment in Japan would give most Americans claustrophobia. How many 1:48 bombers would you be able to fit into a typical studio apartment after space for everyday use and a hobby area were set aside?

Steve Hawley did an excellant job on this bird. Michelle Crochett (sp?) did a scratch uilt version a few years ago before her soul was called away.

Instead of the Bendex winner - Hows about the SEA version - see Jay Millers book (If you can find it).

When I build mine, I hope to incorporate a DSO's and Nav station.

sam1colt

Take a look at this. This was written by Steve Hawley. It is at this link http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvburen/b-58/





You know, you have to hand it to Monogram. They've got the courage to build models other manufacturers wouldn't dream of tackling.

Where are Hasegawa, Tamiya, etc when it comes time to offer a 1/48 scale B-29, B-17, B-24, B1-B as well as a 1/72 B-36? Unbelievable. It is true that all of Monogram's kits require quite a bit of detailing to make an impressive model but it beats the hell out of scratchbuilding these planes!

Such is the case of Monogram's 1/48 B-58 Hustler. The best part of all Monograms kits are their overall accuracy. From every angle they have the look and the soul of the actual aircraft. But like all their kits, there's room for improvements.



Here is a list of details that needed attention:
1. Remove all raised panel lines.
2. Rear tail gun cover is wrong and needs to be sanded into more of a cone shape.
3. Small fuselage windows (behind windscreen) are in the wrong position and need to be re-contoured. Replaced with clear plastic and sanded to shape.
4. Rudder gaps excessive and need to be filled.
5. Main gear doors molded together...separate.
6. Remove large left and right pitot tubes.
7. Fill molded gash in front of left windscreen.
8. Engine spikes need to be relocated behind mounting point rather than in front, for proper appearance.
9. Rear fillets poorly enginneered. Sand edge sharp before installing and fill.
10. Pylon to wing fit poor.
11. Add styrene to leading edge at contact point of fuselage. Also chord too thick.
12. Decals are useless unless you trim clear film very carefully.
13. Pod on trailing edge of tail needs to be greatly reduced in size.



The landing gear is surprisingly well detailed though the instructions are a little vague. I found it amusing that the box model photo left two pieces off the nose gear. Thanks to Jay Miller's B-58 book, I found their location. Don't even try to build this model without Jay's book. It was a lifesaver more than once.
I finished my B-58 with kitchen foil. As they say, " it looks like metal because it is metal". Every panel line you see on this aircraft is a real panel line between separate pieces of foil. I hope to do an article for Hyperscale on this technique in the near future.

I strongly recommend the Monogram B-58 for all who are interested in a model that captures the real beauty of the world's first supersonic bomber. Your patience will be rewarded.

Hope it helps

Just to repeat, I did not write this.

Techniques for the metallic finish aside, I have something else to mention about the "Bendix B-58," just in case you want to make it as accurate as possible.

Unless the lighting in the Air Force Museum was playing tricks, all the orange details ( numbers on the nose, etc. ) were in neon orange. The decals on my kit aren't which is one of the reasons I haven't done much with it. I'm waiting until I'm ready to make masks and paint these details, rather than just use the inaccurate decals that come with the kit.

Hey Sam;
The question is do you want to buff the paint or just shoot a silver color on the kit?, if you want to buff I'd go with SNJ aluminum spray or Metalizers from Testors, they'll take some time but it's worth it in the end, or you could by some Bare Metal Foil and apply it on the kit too this is a little easier but very time consuming and you'll get great results too, but the last type is use Testors Chrome Silver and spray it on the kit but it looks good but the paint tends to rub off when you handle the kit, I myself like SNJ, but you have to polish the plastic before applying the paint though, and for me I like rescribing panel lines and polishing the kit for an almost prefect bare metal looking finish,
have fun and relax
cuda