THE DYNAMIC SOARER

The 1:25 scale model of the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar spaceplane, an American project for a reusable manned spacecraft primarily designed for military missions in space!
On October 24, 1957, USAF began the development of the X-20 vehicle from the previous ideas of some German engineers moved to USA during the “Operation Paperclip”; they were working on the design of a new type of rocket-powered bomber capable to attack very distant targets from Germany (for example New York), using the new technique of the “skip-glide“. After some years of development, the program was eventually canceled on December 1963 due to the high costs and the lack of clear goals for the project. This project was crucial for the history of the space exploration, as the researches on spaceplanes influenced the realization of the next and larger Space Shuttle.

Charmed by this beautiful and never realized spacecraft, I decided to make a bricks replica of the X-20 shuttle. So, as for my precedent Space project – the Boeing X-37B – I designed a 1:25 scale model of the spaceplane, reproducing every detail that I could: the result is an accurate model, rich in details, features and moving parts.

The design phase of this MOC was made using the Submodel technique, so the Instructions are very easy, pleasant and enjoyable to follow; I also entered some captions that will make you discover the details and wonders of this vehicle!

As already mentioned, this model has many features and moving parts, let’s see them:

MOC features:

– Retractable landing skates (yeah, no wheels!)
– Tiltable elevons and rudders
– Openable cockpit canopy
– Openable payload bay

This model also has some internal details of the X-20 mission configuration:

– Pilot seat with avionics
– Fuel tank on the back
– Maneuvering rockets
– Spy satellite and laser weapon in the payload bay

MOC specifications:

Scale: 1:25
Parts count: 1311 (1120 main model + 191 display stand)
Size in inches: 16,9 x 10,9 x 3,1
Size in centimeters: 42,9 x 27,6 x 7,9
Size in bricks: 53,6 x 34,5 x 9,9
Height of the model above the stand: 10,4 in / 26,4 cm / 32,9 studs
Approximate weight: 0,89 kg / 31,5 oz
Year: 2021
Designed by Bruno Sericano