The Martin Marietta X-24 lifting body was a 1960s-70s experimental aircraft design to test spacecraft reentry and landing concepts.  The X-24 was dropped from a B-52 at high altitude, and used its own rocket engine to fly to a higher altitude and then glide to an unpowered but controlled landing. 

(The X-24 was inculcated on a page RFreise posted a while back.)

Ooh!  This looks very cool! =)

Molly

Oh yeah

Basic fuselage

Variants of the XLR-11 rocket engine were used on many of the X-planes.  With four combustion chambers and two landing assist solid rockets, the engine had some serious plumbing.  This is a reasonable facsimile.

Looks good

Very cool.  The XLR-11 engine must be for some other model than the lifting body, right? =)

Molly

It's for the X-24.  It's initial flights were unpowered, dropped form a B-52 at high altitude to glide to a landing.  On later flights, it used it's rocket engine to fly to an even higher altitude before gliding to a landing.

Oooooh!  I did not know that.  I can't wait to get hold of this! XD

Molly

Cockpit mostly done.

I love the level of detail.  It looks to meet or exceed your usual high standards.  Very much looking forward to this.l

Molly

I love the level of detail.  It looks to meet or exceed your usual high standards.  Very much looking forward to this.l

Molly

Working up the landing gear.  It's not clear how they retracted.

Continues to look great.  It's sad that the mechanism of how those landing gear would retract seems lost to time already.  =\

Molly

Photographs of the wheel wells in the USAF Museum show fiendishly complex mechanisms.  I'm trying to make understand them, while considering something simpler that makes mechanical sense.

Ah... a slightly different problem than I thought you were describing. XD  Certainly your start with the landing gear depicted above makes sense to me! =)

Molly

P.S.  I might actually get a look at this thing IRL in October as my husband and I will be in Ohio and may be visiting the museum. =\

That's great, Molly.  I hope you do get to visit the museum. 

Getting closer to the end.  I still have a few details to complete, before the mesh is done.

Looking great!  I can't wait to see it textured!  It is definitely on my list for purchase!

Molly

Now rigging in Poser.

Yay!  It looks SO good! =)

Molly

Nice, waiting for it

I think the rigging is complete.  There's some  complex control surface movement. So far I've found only one easily adjusted problem with the mesh.  Now on to the big job of texturing.

Excellent detail even without the textures.  I really enjoy watching the progress! <3

Molly

Lots still to do on the textures.  Here's a taste.

Looking good as usual

Still doing the textures.  Lots of detail needed.

Wow!  That looks great.  I'll be watching for it in the store! =)

Molly

Ditto

Packaging up, but still have work to do for the promo images.

Wow!  It looks great and I'll be watching for it in the market place.  I love your work! <3

Molly

Looking good

I love the details on the cockpit pannels and controls.

If you were to ever release modular control pannels and flight sticks not tied to a specific vehicle for kitbashing, I would be interested.

Also, this very much reminds me of a toy I had as a child.

I join Kage in remarking that kit bashing elements for Poser like a cockpit module would immediately go on my shopping list! =)

Teh Mollz

Have to agree that some modules would be nice

If you were to ever release modular control pannels and flight sticks not tied to a specific vehicle for kitbashing, I would be interested.

I assume you're talking about small panels with a few gauges and panels with a bank or two of switches as Poser props.  I could do that but I don't expect to have time before the end of the year.  I've got a  lot going on right now.

Yes, retro style panels, gauges, switches, banks of switches, throttles, levers, flightsticks and/or large aircraft steering wheels.  I love retro controls and would definately add those to my collection to kitbash craft with.

I've been improvising thus far...but if such products become available I would use them.

I hope to get this all packed up by the end of the week.  I expect to make the B-52 ["Boeing B-52 Stratofortress" (https://skfb.ly/oLo8p) by bohmerang is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).] and X-24 mounting pylon available as freestuff.

That's really good-looking

Dang!  That does look EXCELLENT!  I'd love to have a model of a BUF with the mount to carry the X-24!  What a great package. <3

Molly

Bad news.  Looks like I need permission from the Air Force and NASA to use their logos.  So there will be a long delay while I look into this, and If I have remove them make all the necessary changes.

Ack!  That is very sad news. =(

Teh Mollz

Bad news.  Looks like I need permission from the Air Force and NASA to use their logos.  So there will be a long delay while I look into this, and If I have remove them make all the necessary changes.

This is from Rendo, when I submitted the product:

"US Air Force Markings
 
• Permission Required: The US Air Force Symbol and official markings are registered trademarks.
• Strict Prohibitions: Department of Defense and Air Force policies prohibit using official insignia in any way that implies a commercial endorsement.
• Commercial Sale: Reproducing these symbols on merchandise requires a fully executed license agreement from the Air Force Trademark Licensing Office. Selling 3D prints with Air Force logos or wording without this license is a trademark violation.
 
NASA Logo and Branding
 
• Not Public Domain: While general NASA photos and informational media are often free to use, NASA identifiers—including the "meatball" insignia, "worm" logotype, and seal—are protected by law under 14 CFR 1221.
• Approval Process: Commercial use of NASA identifiers on merchandise is permitted only on a case-by-case basis through review and approval by the NASA Office of Communications.
• Key Restrictions: Even if approved, you cannot use co-branding (placing your own maker or company logo next to the NASA mark), imply an official collaboration or endorsement, or use the logos on prohibited categories like food, cosmetics, or certain apparel. The NASA Seal is strictly reserved for official agency use and is never allowed on commercial merchandise."

I see similar wording on the Air Force and NASA web sites.  It does seem like overkill as I'm not selling a T-shirt with a logo. (It's possible that Rendo has been burned for something.) I've made permission requests to the AF and NASA.  Mean while this is all on hold.  The model would look terrible with big blank spaces.

Wow, that hurts and is kinda hard to believe given the large number of models available with both markings even here at Rendo

I haven't used any of the USAF trademarks listed in DAF Active Registrations (https://www.trademark.af.mil/Portals/73/Docs/DAF%20Active%20Registrations.pdf?ver=juNV9-bKYZl_KMlxGWokPg%3d%3d).  I have used the NASA "meatball", the blue circle with "NASA" and red swoops.

I will review this with the team. Thanks

I glanced at the NASA and Air Force sites, and yes that is there, now.  I kbow 15 years ago and prior that was not there, and the terms for using the logos were different.  I do not have screencaps or backups though.  It was the case that with U.S. armed forces logos, and NASA logos, being all were taxpayer funded agencies, the use of the logos was more open.  It was never quite public domain, but as long as the logo use was not to imply endorsement, or sell commercial products such as printed materials, posters, clothing, etc... it was considered "fair use".  3D assets could be a gray area, but it seems rather draconian to me.

It looks like they may have tightened the terms.  Why, I can not say.

I hope you are able to get this cleared up and get these products released.

Good news!  The X-24 is now in the test queue.  Tima tells me that we'll address any issues if and when they arise.

That is good to hear.

Glad to hear it, hope all goes well