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Orbital Sciences X-34 (1999)
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SCALE: 1/72 |
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INITIAL RELEASE: 2003 |
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MEDIUM: Resin |
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RARITY: (2) |
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ABOUT THE DESIGN |
ABOUT THE KIT |
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In the early 1990s,
with NASA's space shuttle proving to be increasingly expensive and
unreliable, the space agency began looking into new, simpler reusable
launch systems. The X-34 was Orbital Sciences' entry into the
reusable launch vehicle race. An unmanned spaceplane powered by a
single Marshall MC-1 Fastrac rocket engine, the craft was designed to be
carried aloft by a specially modified L-11011 jetliner. Once
dropped, it would be capable of reaching altitudes of up to 250 kilometers
before returning to earth and landing like a conventional aircraft. Three X-34s were supposed to be built as technology demonstrators. However, two years after the X-34's 1999 rollout and before the first flight test could be made, the project was cancelled. The design was subsequently acquired by the US SpaceDev startup company that hoped to build a manned version to compete in the Ansari X-Prize competition. Called "Dream Chaser," the civilian spaceplane was never built. |
This was large, albeit it simple all-resin kit from Anigrand of Hong Kong. Being based on an unmanned vehicle, the model had one excellent feature: no vacuform canopy! The model was built from an original issue.
Artist's Conception of the X-34 in Orbit |
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Original Box Art |
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