1/48 Monogram X-29A

Gallery Article by Byron R. Leal Garza on Dec 31 2010

 

The Grumman X-29 was an experimental aircraft that tested a forward swept wing, canard control surfaces, and other novel aircraft technologies. The aerodynamic instability of this arrangement increased agility but required the use of computerized fly by wire control. Composite materials were used to control the aeroelastic divergent  twisting experienced by forward-swept wings, also reducing the weight. 

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The X-29 first flew in 1984 and two X-29s were flight tested over the next decade. This model was built by my late friend Adolfo de León, he past away some years ago, but his models are still around; the model was built using a FSM article by Jamie Pye with included some very useful plans, the wings are from a 1/48 Tamiya F-15A, the main landing gear is from an anonymous donor, the exhaust came from a Monogram F-18, and the main kit is a F-5E, also from Monogram, the decals were made in a printer with the help of Jorge Cabrera.

You can learn more here:

It was a nice project, I'm planning on doing a F-16 Vista, to keep it company.

Arriba Coatepeque

Byron R. Leal Garza

Photos and text © by Byron R. Leal Garza