MPM's 1/72 Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet (2nd Airframe)
By Jim Schubert
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History
I went a bit overboard in the History portion of my review of MPM's kit of the first XP-56, s/n 41-786, and fully covered the second, s/n 42-38353, as well. So, please click on the link back to that review in the September 2001 issue of Internet Modeler.
The Kit
This kit for XP-56 s/n 42-38353, no. 72510, is nearly identical with the earlier kit for s/n 41-786, No. 72098, except MPM didn't cut the parts peculiar to the second airframe from the parts trees. If you look at the first photo of the parts trees in the September 2001 review, you will see where these parts were excised. The parts are for the wingtip venturiis and the dorsal fin. MPM also, partially, changed the camouflage and markings drawings. The top and bottom plan views were not, however, revised to include the very prominent wingtip venturiis. The bottom plan is also still in error in showing no inboard landing gear doors. The shape of the cavities to be covered by the missing doors is, however, shown correctly on the drawing. The drawing can thus be used as a guide to rescribe the shape of the closed doors on the underside of the wings after filling the incorrectly scribed lines provided MPM. The inner doors were only open whilst the landing gear was in transit - up or down.
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