Beautiful build.  I assume that the reason for having the wings extended was because it's a gear down configuration.  One little thing though.  I don't know if it's the lighting or what but my eye keeps drifting to the port inboard engine.  It just looks a bit lower than the outboard one in the pod.  I love the detail in the bombay.  All in all it's a million times better than any of mine will come out nowadays. :)

Rich

Don! Great job on the "BONE!" You are truely a master! And in 1/48 it must be huge!!!! I have been looking for one in 1/72. for my collection. I love the use of the JDAMS and Cluster mix. adds a little more interest to it. Great job.

Travis

Gorgeous work!

It's funny that the kit is for a Nuclear-capable Bone, when all modern B-1s lack nuclear capability (shame).

keep up the good work!

Howdy Don,

 First off, gotta love the B-one..!! Secondly, georgous work over all on a rather non forgiving kit!! The over all build is spot on but I have one question... I can not tell by the pix but did you do a panel wash? Like I said, it is some what hard to tell but I think it would look striking with a wash of a slightly darker gray.

I remeber seeing a few of these @ my LHS thinking WOW, check out the size of the box...

 Mmmm maybe one day I should grab one if I see it on the shelf Thank you for sharing

Flaps up,

 Mike

Rangers Lead The Way

I was born and raised in Newcastle, Wyoming, its about 54 miles almost due west of Rapid City, South Dakota. The 28th Bomb Wing B-1Bs would fly over Newcastle and surounding area frequently and at times practicing their low level radar avoiding runs. Ellsworth also hosts an air show about every other year and I use to attend every chance I got. I now live in Riverton, Wyoming and don't get the enjoyment of seeing, hearing, and going to an Ellsworth air show just so I could watch those beautiful B-1B s roar down the run way , over head, and for the croud almost break the sound barrier, but I'm here to tell you; you did the 28th Bomb Wing proud! An excellen job. Magoo  

Very nice build!  The figure on the boarding ladder really adds to the scale.

Very nice Build Don .  Thanks for sharing.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks all!

Sparrowhyperion:  the wings are extended because the swing joint failed after I glued the fuselage halves together.  That gave each wing a little vertical play at the joint and the weight of the wings eventually  stressed the fuselage seam to the point that it started splitting.  So I glued the wings permanently in the extended position to strengthen the joint. 

I think that the inboard engine looks lower due to distortion in the photo.  I don't think that it looks that far off on the model.  If it is, it will just have to stay that way 

Butz:  I did not do a panel wash; I didn't want to do anything that might highlight the panel lines because I think that they are overdone to begin with.

Andrew, I chose to build this kit after a similar experience watching B-1B flyovers at Thunder over Louisville last Spring.  They are impressive aircraft, especially with the afterburners fired up.  Talk about loud.

Don

Klik

It's funny that the kit is for a Nuclear-capable Bone, when all modern B-1s lack nuclear capability (shame).

Since when?

hkshooter

Klik:

It's funny that the kit is for a Nuclear-capable Bone, when all modern B-1s lack nuclear capability (shame).

 

Since when?

Since the end of the cold war. The B-1 is so stealthy, and has such a long range, that it scared the former Soviets that it was nuclear-capable, so one of the stipulations of a treaty between us and them was that all B-1s be downgraded. Please Correct me if I'm wrong, I've only got hearsay from an AF Captain who used to do maintaince on them as an Enlisted man.

By the way, I went up to Ellsworth over the summer, and saw the Bones up there practicing touch and goes all day. Impressive, considering that we were only a half-mile from the runway. In Colorado, they've got one on permanent display at Lowry, where they used to train technicians to repair them. When Lowry was decommissioned, they left the "practice" Bone and turned the hanger into a museum, Wings over the Rockies.

Interesting. I was not aware that the B-1's were no longer nuke capable. Seems to me they could load a rotary with nuke cruise units and blast away fairly easily. It's not something I know a lot about though, your statement piqued my interest, new news to me.

Nice! I've seen the gigantic box at shows but I think this is the first time I've seen a built-up 'bone'.

Absolutly first-rate job! Great subtle weathering, love the work you put into the gear and weapon bays, and the figure gives a great sense of scale to her.

hkshooter

Interesting. I was not aware that the B-1's were no longer nuke capable. Seems to me they could load a rotary with nuke cruise units and blast away fairly easily. It's not something I know a lot about though, your statement piqued my interest, new news to me.

Current loadout can be found here:

http://www.targetlock.org.uk/b-1/weapons.html

Before START, the B-1B could carry 24 SRAMs, eight in each bay on rotary dispensers.  The bulkhead between the fore and mid bay was removable to accommodate cruise missiles, and there were external hardpoints that could also be loaded with cruise missiles.  START mandated that these planes be converted to conventional heavy bombers, the removable bulkhead was not continued and the external hard points were removed.  But it is likley that B1s could be quickly re-modified to carry nuke again if necessary.

Don