Mike Turco's XSP-1

Your site has me really enthusiastic about building concept spacecraft. I purchased and built the FP 1/72 scale XSL-01, which won 3^rd Place in the Missiles and Spacecraft category at the IPMS Nationals this year (photo attached). I am building the ‘50s-era concept spacecraft (the Glencoe, Lindberg and Monogram reissues) and have designed one of my own that is described below (photos attached) hereby submitted for your gallery.

Sparked by the (unavailable)1955 Bell Aircraft Rocket Bomber (RoBo) model, I conceptualized an enlarged X-15 vehicle similarly launched by three chemical boosters. Dubbed the XSP-1 (eXperimental Space Plane One), it is a dual-winged aircraft capable of reaching low earth orbit. As a manned 3^rd stage with its booster rockets (1^st stage is two outside boosters), it becomes a maneuverable space plane with the versatility to perform scientific or military missions while at high atmospheric altitude or low earth orbit, and with the ability to make both powered and unpowered return to earth. Detailed description and specifications are listed on the base label in the third photo, which can be read if enlarged.

Although the concept scales out at about 1/150, I kit bashed a 1/72-scale Monogram X-15 for fuselage, main wings and fuel tanks. All other parts are scratch built, including rocket boosters, exhaust nozzles, rear wings and ventral strakes. Rear wings, main wing tips and ventral strakes are contoured from styrene sheet. Boosters are 1.5-inch diameter PVC Schedule 40 pipe, cut and chamfered to suit. Booster cones are made with cut and formed styrene sheet. Exhaust nozzles are hardwood, finished with Testors Metalizer Titanium and Stainless Steel. Boosters are finished with Painter’s Touch spray Flat White. Space plane finished with Tamiya Black, center booster top and external fuel tank tips Tamiya Bright Red. All decals are scratch made except stars and bars and red stripes.


	SCALE: 1/150
	CREATED: 2012
	MEDIUM: Mixed
	RARITY: (2)