Model was built straight from the box except for the brass parts for the exhaust area I chose to use bare metal foil as it would shape better in the recess area and was thinner then the brass parts were. Finely engraved panel lines with real light rivet detail once primed and painted the rivets are real faint to see. Cockpit well detailed, clear parts are very clear and free of any blemish's. Model Master Enamel paint was used. Super glue used for resin and brass parts and lacquer based primer was used also. White glue for canopy Really easy build every thing fit well. Great addition to any ones naval collection. Thanks to Roll Models for review sample of this kit.

The more I build resin kits I find they are really easy to build, shape better then plastic when sanding and you get more of a variety by building resin due to company's like Olimp who a producing these limited run kits with such detail and engineering and ease of construction getting better and better as they go. My sample was free of any pinholes.

The XF15C-1 proved to be the last fighter that Curtiss made for the U.S. Navy. It was developed because of a Navy interest in a composite-engine fighter, taking advantage of the thrust of the jet engine to gain high speed but also using a conventional piston engine to obtain the required range. By the time details of the aircraft had been agreed and a contract for 3 prototypes had been awarded, on April 7, 1944, Ryan Aircraft was already well advanced with its FR-1 Fireball , of similar concept but lower overall performance. Like the FR-1, the XF15C-1 was intended to cruise on the power of its piston engine, and use the turbojet for takeoff and to boost the speed in combat. The 1st flight (though without the jet engine) was on February 27, 1945, and a month after the jet engine was installed the first prototype crashed, reportedly due to failure of the piston engine. The 2nd prototype flew on July 9, 1945 and testing continued until the end of 1946. The two surviving aircraft were eventually fitted with T-tails to overcome a control problem with the original low-set tail plane. The XF15C-1 was eventually outmoded by the advent of pure jet fighters capable of meeting the Navy's requirements, and the program was canceled.

Curtiss XF15C-1:
Type: single seat composite-powered fighter
Crew: 1: Pilot
Armament: four 20 mm cannon in the wings

Specifications:
Length: 44' 0" (13.42 m)
Height: 150' 3" (4.65 m)
Wingspan: 48' 0" (14.64 m)
Wing area: 400 sq. ft (37.16 sq. m)
Empty Weight: 12,648 lb (5742 kg)
Max Weight: 18,698 lb (8490 kg) max at takeoff

Propulsion:
No. of Engines: 2
Power Plant #1: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W radial
Power plant #2: Allis-Chalmers J-36 turbojet
Horsepower: 2100 hp (piston)+2700 lb thrust (jet)

Performance:
Range: 635 miles (1022 km)
Cruise Speed (piston only):
163 mph (262 km/h)
Max Speed (both engines):
469 mph (755 km/h) at 25,300 ft
Ceiling: 41,800 ft (12,750 m)

Photos and text © 2005 by Randy L. Smith

July 08, 2005

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