I remember seeing the original Hawk Beta Bomber in a drugstore window in 1963. I’d been waiting for a Testor’s re-issue ever since. When Fantastic Plastic offered this (literally) upscale resin version, I jumped at the chance.

I always looked upon the XAB-1 as the ultimate Big Silver Airplane from the era of my youth. But after some mediocre experiences with resin kits and metallic finishes, I no longer wanted to risk painting it silver. I had a ton of blue and gold left from my Bahamian Voyager project, so I went with a retro 30’s look.

But how to justify such a jaunty, nautical style and still use the truly great USAF decals that came with the kit? It’s all in the backstory. Congress balks at funding the XAB-1 for both services, so the Air Force lends one to the Navy as a joint experimental venture. And thus is born the Air Force Liaison—Antisubmarine Command (AFLAC).

The idea has its merits. An atomic-powered airplane could theoretically loiter as long as an atomic sub could hide.

The kit has been scaled up to 1/144 from Hawk's original 180-something. But unless the parasite fighters are piloted by rhesus monkeys, I couldn’t believe they were 1/144, judging from the size of the cockpits. I re-purposed them as drones and painted them day-glow orange.

I’ve placed it with a Fantastic Plastic's American Atomic-Powered Bomber and an architect’s rule for comparison.

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Fighters

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