1/700 North American B-45 Tornado - (x2) 3D Printed - First U.S. Jet Bomber!

Description

NO RESERVE. We're offering here a beautifully detailed set of two North American B-45 Tornado models that have just come out of the 3D printer! Although largely forgotten today, the B-45 Tornado was actually an important aircraft and it achieved a number of 'firsts'. With the knowledge that Germany had already succeeded in the development of production-quality jet bomber designs, the need for an American response was deemed critical. The end of the Second World War slowed the arrival of the B-45 but mounting Cold War tensions put development back into the limelight. The Tornado first flew on 24 February 1947 and first production deliveries of the B-45A began in 1948, becoming the USAF's first jet-powered bomber and the world's first four-engined jet bomber. From May of 1952 to July of 1958, the B-45 stood front line duty as the nuclear arm of the USAF in Europe, becoming the first jet bomber to stand nuclear alert. The next addition to the Tornado family was the B-45C which became the first multi-jet engined bomber to be refueled in mid-air. The RB-45C was a photographic reconnaissance platform variant of the B-45C. Interestingly, in Operation Jiu Jitsu, four of these aircraft manned by RAF crews flew highly secretive reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union between 1952-1954, a fact not known by the public until 1993! B-45s
saw combat in the Korean War in both the bomber and reconnaissance roles, the latter over targets of interest in North Korea and Manchuria from their bases in Japan. When production ended in 1952, some 143 Tornados of all variants had been produced.
This is the first model of the B-45 ever produced in 1/700 scale. We believe that it compares very favorably with comparable WEM resin and Pit-Road white metal models and, in fact, likely surpasses both by a good margin. We've posted high resolution photos so you can judge for yourself. Note that the scale in photo #12 is calibrated in inches. While photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, check out the well proportioned model including the fuselage with the detailed fighter-style canopy and glazed greenhouse nose position; the wings with engine nacelles and the tail assembly with tail gun position. With the addition of a little putty and some careful sanding, it should be fairly easy to create a very convincing RC-45C with a solid nose.
The surfaces of the model are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers) but the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene. The models may still have some powder and oil-like agent on them that ca to be easily removed by washing in warm water with a drop of detergent added to it.
These outstanding B-45 models should be a welcome addition to any wargamer's or 1/700 modeler's collection, particularly those interested in early Cold War bomber operations. Please take a look at the other 1/700 scale aircraft models that we have on auction as well. We're always happy to combine shipping for multiple purchases to save whenever possible. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions whatsoever.