Martin-Marietta X-24B

Fantastic Plastic, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by John Meyer

Ever since I first saw the X-24B on display at National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the late 1970’s, I’ve been fascinated by Lifting Bodies. The technological contributions to basic fight physics made by testing the lifting body concept has ramifications that can be seen in the Space Shuttle.

Unfortunately, the few lifting body aircraft that were made are under-represented by the modeling industry. Enter, Fantastic Plastic.

These folks have made a niche for themselves in the form of kitting under-represented but historically significant aircraft. To that end, they’ve produced models of multiple lifting bodies including the M2F3 and the HL-10.

It’s not going to be a “weekend kit” but the X-24B by Fantastic Plastic has everything in the box to make a stunning model. Keep ‘em coming, Fantastic Plastic!   

Background

The Martin Marietta X-24 is an American experimental aircraft developed from a joint United States Air Force-NASA program named PILOT (1963–1975). It was designed and built to test lifting body concepts, experimenting with the concept of unpowered reentry and landing, later used by the Space Shuttle. Originally built as the X-24A, the aircraft was later rebuilt as the X-24B. The X-24 was drop-launched from a modified B-52 Stratofortress at high altitudes before igniting its rocket engine. After expending its rocket fuel, the pilot would glide the X-24 to an unpowered landing.

X-24B

The X-24B's design evolved from a family of potential reentry shapes, each with higher lift-to-drag ratios, proposed by the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory. To reduce the costs of constructing a research vehicle, the Air Force returned the X-24A to the Martin-Marietta Corporation for modifications that converted its bulbous shape into one resembling a "flying flatiron", i.e., rounded top, flat bottom, and a double delta planform that ended in a pointed nose.

Text edited from Wikipedia

The kit arrives in a heavy, lidded, cardboard box adorned with a nice pic of the X-24B in flight. Inside are 32 light grey, 3-D printed parts. The initial impression is positive. This kit is going to require some work to get the most of what’s in the box. That said, “jewel in the rough” comes to mind as a quick description. 

As a consequence of being 3-D printed, many of the larger parts have layer lines that will have to be dealt with using putty, abrasive/buffing tools, and some elbow grease. That said, the required work is nothing that someone with a little experience couldn’t handle.

The main body is comprised of 5 parts: the belly, upper fuselage, left and right control surfaces and nose. Some work will be required to get a good fit of the major components. Much like dealing with the layer lines (above), getting a good fit of the major pieces isn’t beyond anyone with a little experience….and some patience.

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One aspect of the kit that was really nice to see is the high level of detail provided for the cockpit. With some careful painting, the assembled cockpit will look great right out of the box. The addition of details like a seat harness and instrument gauges will make the cockpit a real stunner.

The landing gear (nose and two mains) are well printed and will look good under some paint and a wash to bring out the ample detail. The instructions don’t provide a lot of details with regards to the assembly of the gear so expect some test fitting here. The gear doors are nicely detailed with well-done hinge mechanisms.

Clear Parts

The one-piece canopy is 3-D printed and will require buffing out prior to use.

With all that cockpit detail to be seen, some extra time buffing out the canopy will be time well spent. Right out of the box, the fit of the canopy is spot on.

Color and Markings

The decals, designed by JBOT and printed by DigiDecals, are nicely done with good registration and color density. Markings are provided for both the Prototype (bare aluminum with white tails) and the Test Version, which was white with a thick, dark blue stripe with gold pin-striping along its leading edge.

Both schemes will make the completed kit a head turner at model shows.

I really like this kit!

Yes, it’s going to be some work but the result will be a detailed model of a seldom-seen yet important experimental aircraft that’s been over-looked by larger more main stream model companies.

With a little prior experience working with 3-D printed parts, this will be a very enjoyable build.

Highly recommended!

Keep your airbrush wet!

John

For more on this review visit ModelPaintSolutions.com

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by John Miller / Model Paint Solutions
Page Created 23 September, 2025
Last updated 23 September, 2025

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