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Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing (1956)

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 1

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SCALE: 1/144

INITIAL RELEASE: 2007

MEDIUM: Resin

RARITY: (2)

WIDTH: 13"

 

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 2

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 3

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 4

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 5

 

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - 6

Northrop Nuke Wing - A New Dawn

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

In the mid-1950s, the U.S. Air Force flirted seriously with the idea of producing long-range strategic bombers powered by atomic energy.  The main advantage of such a weapon would be its ability to stay aloft for weeks at a time, thus serving as the aerial counterpart to the Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Jack Northrop, America's number-one proponent of "flying wing" aircraft, proposed several configurations for such an atomic-powered bomber.  The most exotic of these was an asymmetrical design that positioned the cockpit at the end of the port wing.  (German engineers had proved that asymmetrical designs were  completely airworthy more than a decade before.)  This configuration, while highly unconventional, had the advantage of putting the flight crew as far away from the nuclear reactor as possible while minimizing weight. 

None of Northrop's concepts got farther than the concept stage.

Mastered by Scott Lowther, this was the first Fantastic Plastic kit cast by Acme Design, Inc. of Elgin, Illinois.  Another "table top" model, it was molded with landing gear in the "wheels up" position.

This kit is currently available through the Fantastic Plastic Virtual Museum Store.  For more information, CLICK HERE.

This model was built from an original issue.

 

Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing - Box Art

Original Box Art

 

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