DA.C - 1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler

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- - 1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler (https://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/1-200-scale-model-aircraft/298450-1-250th-diecast-convair-b-58-hustler.html)

1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler

I could’ve put this in the ‘Other Scales’ forum, but as a 1/200th collector, I’m interested to know what you think of 1:250s? I see them as a bit of a nuisance as I’ve been forced to buy them where 200s weren’t available or affordable.

I’m also interested to know if anyone’s been able to get hold of a Convair B-58 Hustler, or similarly ‘glamorous’ aircraft. Although the 50s and 60s are considered glamorous decades because of the luxury of air travel at that time, I consider that period of aircraft manufacture glamorous because there were the most developments in speed, style, technology, risk, excitement etc.

I like the B-58 Hustler because Wiki says it was: “the first operational jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight … it set 19 world speed records, including the longest supersonic flight in history. In 1963, it flew from Tokyo to London over Alaska: 8,000 miles in about 8 hours. As of 2016, this record still stands.”

Many Cold War jets or similarly exciting planes are often only available diecast as expensive SkyFames, Corgis, or home-built kits, so I was surprised when I found this model for only £20 from Plane Crazy ( www.planestore.co.uk ). I placed the order from Chris Lem in Lincoln on Sunday, he was very helpful, and the model arrived today (Thursday)! His website seems to be a good source of rarer military and similar models.

I wish the scale could’ve matched most of my other models, but frustratingly my civil aircraft are two thirds 1/400th and one third 1/200th, and my military models are a mixture of 1/144th, 100th and 72nd. I think this one’s impressive for £20; the fuselage and wings are metal, with plastic engines and a see-through cockpit, a long nose pitot tube, accurate markings plus what I thought was a bomb, but (again Wiki): “It carried five nuclear weapons; four on pylons under the wings, and one nuclear weapon and fuel in a combination bomb/fuel pod under the fuselage, rather than in an internal bomb bay,” so maybe it’s the combined pod.

Unfortunately there’s no undercarriage, and the display stand aperture under the fuselage is positioned so that it can’t be displayed with the pod inserted at the same time (see photo). I’ve photographed it with a couple of other 1/250ths for scale, including my oldest model, which is my Cathay 747, given to me by my dad in the 80s when he was a Cathay captain.

I wish I could get more similarly iconic aircraft but am really pleased with this purchase, especially as it’s so cheap! One of my favourite ranges is the SkyFame 1/200th military aircraft from ARD, but they’re way out of my budget. I’d love to get a Fairey Delta 2, so I recently settled for a 1/200th Avro 707 instead, which I also love.

Do you own, or know who produces more affordable versions of these iconic Cold War stunners in 1/200th? I’d also love a Bristol type 188 (never seen a diecast model), BAC TSR-2 (only seen Corgi £100+) etc. Please share if you’ve got something comparable!

Re: 1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler

I have 1 finished B58, and I have 3 blank B58's (Metal) all in 1/200 scale. It's such a stunning aircraft!

More info here on 1/200s http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...00-b-58-a.html

I exclusively collect 1/200 scale when it comes to military aircraft, I've got about 250 models, all WWII - Modern era. Specialising in cold war aircraft and jets, UK/USA/Soviet Union.

Yes, I have had a lot of annoyance with 1:250 and other odd scales (1/180) sometimes models are the wrong size and miss-labelled, sometimes they are just badly designed and the models are built to a different scale.

I have tried to remove anything that is incorrect from my collection, the only obvious glaring problem is the TU160 I have, it's a cheap plastic type model, it claims to be 1/200, but it has no landing gear and I really want to replace it. All models in my 1/200 collection have gear and static props where necessary so this really annoys me.

Re: 1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler

I agree Istari, the Hustler is really beautiful, but I wouldn’t want to spend hours on end in the rear seats though. I’m not as excited today as I was yesterday about my B-58 model; although it was a good price, it’s starting to bug me that it’s got no gear and the bomb/fuel pod has to sit at the wrong angle to be able to get it on the display stand.

Small World/Skyfame models are indeed stunning, but unfortunately I’m closer to the Herpa 200 and Amercom end of the budgetary scale.

Although I like attractive planes like the Hustler and Victor, sometimes I like planes for their practicality: the Tu-160 might not be a stunner, but would make a great personal jet. My Tu-160 is also cheap and nasty, by Del Prado, but sometimes I buy these models because I can’t find anything better. I’d be interested to see your 1/200 Tu-160; who’s it made by?

David.

Re: 1/250th diecast Convair B-58 Hustler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Istari (Post 2616338)

the only obvious glaring problem is the TU160 I have, it's a cheap plastic type model, it claims to be 1/200, but it has no landing gear and I really want to replace it.

Herpa have done a TU-160, would this do as a replacement for your cheap plastic model?

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