Rather than jamming up the Space Race GB with excessive WIP pics, I'll put them here.
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[/url]M2F1-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
A little history: The M2F1 was a low cost experiment to validate the practicality of a "lifting body" shape for use in possible future reusable spacecraft designs. The vehicle was made primarly of wood and was used to test controllability in landing approaches. To get into the air, the M2F1 was initially towed by a souped up Buick. In later flights, a DC-3 was used to get it to higher altitudes. Test results were encouraging enough to warrant construction of the M2F2, which was made of metal and was air launched via a B-52. Those old enough to remember the 1970s TV show "The Six Million Dollar Man" will recall the horrifying crash footage of the M2F2 in the opening sequence.
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[/url]M2F1-02 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-07 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-08 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-09 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-06 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
The model: I stumbled on Muroc Models' 1/72 M2F1 at a vendor's table at an IPMS Nats. I had no idea what it was, but the photo on the box was too pretty to ignore so one was duly purchased. Inside the sturdy cardboard box were cream colored resin parts, vac-formed clear parts still mounted on their resin forming "bucks", a good looking decal sheet with single carrier film, some metal wire and plastic rod for the main gear, and a two page color instruction sheet with assembly steps, parts map, and marking/painting guide.
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[/url]M2F1-16 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-17 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
The fuselage is made up of upper and lower halves and are keyed to fit. There is nice ribbing on the inside of the lower half to represent the wood structure. The ejector seat is molded to the cockpit floor, which slots between rails molded to the lower fuselage. All control surfaces are molded separately.
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[/url]M2F1-12 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
The main landing gear struts are made up of two metal wires plus a perilously delicate looking lower arm. The resin part has bungee cord detail which will be fun to replicate should I choose to replace it.
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[/url]M2F1-04 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-10 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
The resin detail parts had flash, which actually functioned to permit the casting to be removed from the mold, so no knock on the manufacturer in this regard. Some of the parts were really fine, so they were cleaned up while still on the casting block. Stay tuned to see if I can remove them without crushing the heck out of them! My aging eyes really struggled to see the smaller parts!
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[/url]M2F1-18 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
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[/url]M2F1-19 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr
A quick fit results in a pleasing looking, teeny model! More to come...