B-58 Help

Mark,

I have seen two B-58s up close. One I remember distinctly had its landing gear painted silver. The wheel wells were also silver.
The exterior of the aircraft was natural metal, except for the anti-glare panel.

The cockpit was a medium gray with black instrument/dial panels. I think the ejection seats were black. I only saw the pilots compartment and did not see the other two.

I think the other B-58 had the gear wells painted white. The landing gear was the same, that is silver paint. I did not see the cockpit of the second aircraft (classified at the time).

Sometime in the 1960s there was a Tech order for the painting of B-58s in Southeast Asian camoflage, like the B-52s with black undersides. Does anybody out there know if any B-58s were in fact painted in Viet Nam Camo? rangerj

That's a topic that's been debated for some time, and it's turned into something of a military aviation / modeling Lochness Monster.

TwoBobs recently released a decal sheet for 72nd and 48th Hustlers, both of which included a camo B-58. They say they got their info from a pilot who allegedly flew this bird and finally decided to talk about it. So far there are no known photos of such a scheme on a Hustler, but I'd love to see one...


Fade to Black...

During that time period just about everything in the USAF inventory was painted SEA camo. The B-58s were purported to have been retired in the late 1960s, but I know for a fact several of them were on line and "at the ready" as late as 1975.

Considering that we tested the "metal" of everything in the inventory during the Viet Nam "conflict" , it would seem logical that the B-58 would be tested. Maybe someday we will know.

Heck, there are things from the first World War that are still being kept "Secret".
rangerj

Engines and things did a back seat set that is only so-so (a review on my site) and Mike Grant Designs did an excellent replacement decal and stencil sheet. (2 different sheets) If you can't find them email him direct and he will most likely print you a set. (his link on my site also)

When I lived in Hawaii my Dad went to Hickim AFB for a business trip and he said he seen a B-58 painted the same colors as the old SAC camo bomber scheme on the Buff's on the tarmac there, he was glad that the AF never painted the rest of Hussy 's that scheme he said it made them look nasty
Ugly Butt Well Hung; Hawgs
cuda

According to the stories, there was only one 58 painted in SEA (bu 59-2428) - it was for radar suppression tests - later cancelled by McNamara with the thinking that the last place they wanted to have a b-58 shot down was North Vietnam. According to Jay Miller's book - the test s were highly successful (pg 148 for complete details)

according to my references - the wheel wells look like chromeate yellow/green. Cockpit was Dark Gull grey or Medium grey.
The seat frames look black, with red cusions and the encapsulated cover appears to be the same color as the cockpit (medium greyish) with a white interior.
The gear itself appears silver (alum and polished steel)
This was from looking at Jay Millers book - convair B-58 hustler - pub: Aerofax

I am Modeling the same birrd and recently recieved a stencil and decal set from Mike Grant Designs they are awsome I highly reccomend them.

Have you thought about contacting the Lone Star Flight Museum? They have a TB-58A in their collection and they may have more info on it. The plane is under going restoration (hopefully to fly, but that is wishful thinking!!) If you live close to Galveston, Texas maybe you could drop by and see for yourself.

Hey I build;
the examples I've been around their landing gear wells where bare metal or painted silver fox, as with the gear themselves, as for the cockpits they where painted grey with black instrument faces w/ white hi-lights as well as the console panel tops, the knobs are grey, and switch covers are red, the seats are grey but sometimes painted black and the cushions are O.D. and belts are off white, buckels are aluminum, sorry I don't have the FS # for the greys but they are the same shade for all US Military interiors
Ugly Butt Well Hung; Hawgs
Cuda

Here are some links

http://www.b-58hustler.com/
http://home.sport.rr.com/hustler1/
http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvburen/b-58/
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mvburen/b-58/
http://www.burrusspta.org/b58hustler.html

The USAF Museum link has some photo links halfway down the page
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf33.htm

Hope they help