Right now, I am starting a large project called "The Aircraft of Area 51".
This has been something I've wanted to do for a long time.
The easy part of this large project will be building the models. The hard part will be doing all the research to find out what actually was flown and flight tested at Area 51 vs. what wasn't. Trying to separate fact from rumor if I can which won't be easy. This is why I am posting here on this forum to ask other members who are more knowledgeable about secret aircraft/projects for their help. Another hard part might be painting the Soviet aircraft which were flight tested at Area 51. Some had camouflage, while others didn't. Some had metal paint schemes while others didn't. I need to find out which aircraft had what.
Models I already have. Most of these are 1/72 to 1/144 scale.
a) Revell 1/72 scale SR-71 Blackbird w/ D-21 drone. I only need the D-21 drone from this kit to use. I already have a smaller 1/144 scale SR-71 I plan on using.
b) Dragon 1/144 scale pre-built and pre-painted U-2 desktop model.
c) Eduard 1/144 scale "Dual Combo" MiG-15 (2 MiGs in one box. Though I'll only be using one. Were any MiG-15's ever exploited at Area 51? I don't know?)
d) Academy 1/144 scale MiG-29 Fulcrum (Rumored to have been flown from Area 51.)
e) Minicraft 1/144 scale MiG-21 (Actually flown/flight tested from Area 51 during 1960's and 70's.)
f) Academy 1/144 scale MiG-23 Flogger (Actually flown/flight tested from Area 51 during 1960's and 70's.)
g) Tamiya 1/100 scale MiG-19 Farmer (Were any MiG-19's ever exploited at Area 51?)
h) Academy 1/144 scale Su-22 Fitter (Rumored to have been flown from Area 51.)
j) Trumpeter 1/144 scale Su-27 Flanker (Rumored to have been flown at Area 51.)
k) Minicraft 1/144 scale MiG-25 Foxbat (There are reports that during the 1st or 2nd Iraq wars/invasions, that MiG-25's were found buried in the sand and that they may have been subsequently taken to Area 51 for study. Any truth to this?)
l) Atlantis TR-3E triangular UFO model kit. (Can't have an Area 51 display without a UFO model, right? ;D )
m) Unicraft 1/72 scale RQ-3A Darkstar UAV (Rumored to have been flight tested from Area 51?)
n) Planet Models 1/72 scale Northrop Tacit Blue stealth test plane (Actually flight tested at Area 51.)
o) Unicraft 1/72 scale Boeing Bird of Prey (Actually flight tested at Area 51.)
p) Mark 1 Models 1/144 scale MiG-17 (Actually flight tested at Area 51 during 1960's or 70's)
q) Re-using the 1/144 scale Hopeless Diamond, Have Blue, Northrop XST, and F-117A from a previous model display of mine. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4479/26344250979_f4d7e66727_b.jpg
r) Re-using the base and some of the Aurora spyplanes from a previous model display of mine. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4513/38089140442_08d3cb593e_b.jpg
Are there any other aircraft people think I should or should not include for any reason? Anybody know of any decent and factual references I should check out for more information in helping to make this model project?
This has been something I've wanted to do for a long time.
The easy part of this large project will be building the models. The hard part will be doing all the research to find out what actually was flown and flight tested at Area 51 vs. what wasn't. Trying to separate fact from rumor if I can which won't be easy. This is why I am posting here on this forum to ask other members who are more knowledgeable about secret aircraft/projects for their help. Another hard part might be painting the Soviet aircraft which were flight tested at Area 51. Some had camouflage, while others didn't. Some had metal paint schemes while others didn't. I need to find out which aircraft had what.
Models I already have. Most of these are 1/72 to 1/144 scale.
a) Revell 1/72 scale SR-71 Blackbird w/ D-21 drone. I only need the D-21 drone from this kit to use. I already have a smaller 1/144 scale SR-71 I plan on using.
b) Dragon 1/144 scale pre-built and pre-painted U-2 desktop model.
c) Eduard 1/144 scale "Dual Combo" MiG-15 (2 MiGs in one box. Though I'll only be using one. Were any MiG-15's ever exploited at Area 51? I don't know?)
d) Academy 1/144 scale MiG-29 Fulcrum (Rumored to have been flown from Area 51.)
e) Minicraft 1/144 scale MiG-21 (Actually flown/flight tested from Area 51 during 1960's and 70's.)
f) Academy 1/144 scale MiG-23 Flogger (Actually flown/flight tested from Area 51 during 1960's and 70's.)
g) Tamiya 1/100 scale MiG-19 Farmer (Were any MiG-19's ever exploited at Area 51?)
h) Academy 1/144 scale Su-22 Fitter (Rumored to have been flown from Area 51.)
j) Trumpeter 1/144 scale Su-27 Flanker (Rumored to have been flown at Area 51.)
k) Minicraft 1/144 scale MiG-25 Foxbat (There are reports that during the 1st or 2nd Iraq wars/invasions, that MiG-25's were found buried in the sand and that they may have been subsequently taken to Area 51 for study. Any truth to this?)
l) Atlantis TR-3E triangular UFO model kit. (Can't have an Area 51 display without a UFO model, right? ;D )
m) Unicraft 1/72 scale RQ-3A Darkstar UAV (Rumored to have been flight tested from Area 51?)
n) Planet Models 1/72 scale Northrop Tacit Blue stealth test plane (Actually flight tested at Area 51.)
o) Unicraft 1/72 scale Boeing Bird of Prey (Actually flight tested at Area 51.)
p) Mark 1 Models 1/144 scale MiG-17 (Actually flight tested at Area 51 during 1960's or 70's)
q) Re-using the 1/144 scale Hopeless Diamond, Have Blue, Northrop XST, and F-117A from a previous model display of mine. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4479/26344250979_f4d7e66727_b.jpg
r) Re-using the base and some of the Aurora spyplanes from a previous model display of mine. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4513/38089140442_08d3cb593e_b.jpg
Are there any other aircraft people think I should or should not include for any reason? Anybody know of any decent and factual references I should check out for more information in helping to make this model project?
