Fantastic Plastic - 1950s X-Planes & Prototypes

X-Planes & Prototypes

1950s

The 1950s were the Golden Age of X-Planes. With the Cold War in full swing, the United States and the Soviet Union poured hundreds of millions of dollars (and rubles) into the conception, development and testing of all manner of imaginative experimental and combat aircraft. From planes with wings that changed position in flight to combination airplane/helicopters to VTOL "tail sitters" to flying jeeps, both superpowers were prepared to build just about anything that might give them even the slighted strategic or tactical advantage in the air.

Like most experiments in any field, the vast majority of 1950s-era X-Planes and prototypes failed to perform up to their creators' expectations. But enough was learned from even the magnificent failures to push aircraft development forward at a pace so swift that most planes were obsolete within days of making their maiden flights.

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

BELL X-5 (1951)

- REVELL MODELS -

1:40

AVRO PROJECT Y

- FANTASTIC PLASTIC MODELS -

1:72

DOUGLAS X-3 STILETTO (1952)

- REVELL MODELS -

1:65

SUD-OUEST SO-9000 TRIDENT (1953)

- HELLER MODELS -

1:100

McDONNELL XV-1 CONVERTIPLANE (1954)

- ITC MODEL CRAFT -

1:32

LOCKHEED XFV-1 "SALMON" (1954)

- PEGASUS MODELS -

1:72

CONVAIR XFY-1 "POGO" (1954)

- KP MODELS -

1:72

BELL X-14 (1954)

- SHARKIT -

1:72

FAIREY DELTA 2 (1954)

- MAQUETTE -

1:72

BELL XV-3 TILT-ROTOR CONVERTIPLANE (1955)

- HOBBYTIME MODELS -

1:43

NORD 1500 GRIFFON II (1955)

- FM MODELS -

1:72

DOUGLAS D-558-3 "SKYFLASH: (1955)

- ANIGRAND CRAFTSWORK -

1:72

AVRO 730 (1956)

- FANTASTIC PLASTIC MODELS -

1:72

REPUBLIC XF-103 THUNDERWARRIOR (1957)

- ANIGRAND CRAFTSWORK -

1:72

CURTISS WRIGHT VZ-7AP (1958)

- ANIGRAND CRAFTSWORK -

1:72

PIASECKI ZV8-P AIRGEEP (1958)

- ITC MODEL CRAFT -

1:72

DOAK VZ-4DA V/STOL (1958)

- ANIGRAND CRAFTSWORK -

1:72

AVROCAR VZ-9 (1959)

-- SHARKIT -

1:48

SNECMA C.450 COLÉOPTÈRE (1959)

HELLER MODELS -

1:40

HILLER X-18 TILT-WING VTOL (1959)

- COMET MODELS -

1:70

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