Revell 1/72nd SR-71 w/D-21 Drone

[Trebor]

aww damn! that poor blackbird! D: I'm glad the pilot escaped

[Matt308]

Part of the Rapid Rabbit lives on in #975's left rudder. During the restoration of #975, March Field Museum's restoration manager Shayne Meder (MSgt-Ret, USAF) discovered that the left rudder of 975 was once the right rudder of #978. The Rapid Rabbit lives on. Rudder sharing is not unusual in and of itself. The left and right rudders are interchangable, and new rudders are not to be had thanks to McNamara ordering all blackbird tooling destroyed in February 1970. Parts were often taken from decommissioned airframes or salvaged from wrecks when possible.

These two pics are from the #975 restoration project.

I’ll post some final pics of the model hopefully in the next week. Unfortunately, it has become so dang cold in the garage that I’m worried about my final coat application. May have to move it inside… if I’m allowed.

[Airframes]

Great background info, and a good selection of pics Matt. Hope to see the 'Habu' soon!

[Heinz]

Very interesting!

[Wayne Little]

Great Pics and info Matt!!

[Screaming Eagle]

very cool matt!

[Matt308]

Okay, here are the last shots of the cockpit before I seal 'er up.

A shame really, even with the "Futured" cockpit glass you won't see this detail. But at least I know.

[Matt308]

The matt coat was a b!tch to put on with the below 55F (12C) weather in my garage. I bet I spent 10% painting and 90% cleaning $hit out of my gun.

And now for some pics after the matt coat. The canopies are next.

[Trebor]

damn dude! those instrument panels are better than my Apache!

[Matt308]

And now with the canopies on. Much subtle shading was done with pastels prior to the final matt acrylic coat. With the canopies on, you can finally get a feel for the Rapid Rabbit. Mach 3.5-3.6 ... imagine. While the Habu was capable of higher mach, she was limited by the nose shockwave. At authorized mach 3.3-3.5, the shockwave was outboard of the engine inlet. In these mach regimes the engine inlet worked as appropriate reducing the air intake speed below mach 1. But if you exceeded mach 3.5 the shock wave migrated into the inlet and "unstarted" the ramjet.

High temperatures were another thing. At sustained mach 3.5+ the windshield splitter screen began to delaminate due to high temps. These reasons, not turbo/ramjet limitations, were the primary cause of SR-71 speed precautions.

She is a beauty. And an amazing machine that did not require major engine overhaul for high mach operations (c.f. MiG-25).

[Matt308]

...and the last ones from the garage. Next will be outside.

[Wildcat]

Awesome job Matt!!!

[Matt308]

Thanks, Wildcat. If you were close, I would give it to you.

I wish I could put all my models in enclosed clear containers for viewing.

If for no other reason than to learn from my past mistakes.

[Catch22]

Wow Matt, that turned out fantastic! Great to know the history behind the plane as well.

[Heinz]

matt she looks wonderful.

Truly amazing aircraft which you have done a great justice