Fellow Modelers,
On September 8, 1974 stunt performer and entertainer Evel Knievel attempted to jump Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho using a steam powered, 3-wheel rocket named the X-2 Skycycle. It was launched from a high angle ramp and was supposed to release a parachute for recovery after the engine cut off. However, an electrical malfunction caused the parachute to deploy almost immediately after lift-off and prevented the rocket from landing on the opposite side of the canyon. Knivel was unhurt by the stunt but came very close to drowning, as his vehicle barely missed landing in the water. I remember watching this event on TV when I was a young boy (yes I am not young). Does anyone else remember watching this too? I always thought the X-2 Skycycle was a really cool design, but unfortunately no hobby manufacturer ever issued a model kit of the very sleek craft Knievel flew that day. A short-lived plastic model company called Addar issued a 1/24th scale kit of the X-2 Skycycle in 1974, but they modeled their kit after an early version that was determined to be aerodynamically unstable and never made it past the mock-up stage.
In 2020 I discovered the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas was selling 3D printed models of the X-2 Skycycle that were about 10.625” in length. Since the actual X-2 Skycycle is 16 feet long (less the boom and probe) that made the printed model about 1/18th scale. I paid $50.00 for one plus $8.00 shipping. It is typical of a lot of other 3D printed items I have seen-crude and very basic. However, it has a hollow fuselage and is a nice size, so I decided to make it make it my next model project. This is not really building a “kit”, but it will require a lot of work with scratch-building, finishing, and creating custom decals. To get started I am posting multiple views of the 3D printing as I received it (warts and all). I am also including some internet images of the actual X-2 Skycycle, so you can see what the 3D printing is supposed to (hopefully) look like when I am finished!
Figure1: The finish is textured and very rough in areas, but the alignment of the body and tail surfaces is excellent. There are two main areas where the 3D printing is not correct in its shape. The first is the nose section, which should have a smooth tapered transition at the tip. The second is the rear body being flush with the vertical/horizontal tailfins, when it is supposed to extend past these parts. Correcting both of the issues will require work.
Figure 2: Here is a full side view.
Figure 3: A ruler is included to give an idea of the size.
Figure 4: As you can see the lower areas of the 3D printing are much rougher.
Figure 5: The lower rear section is shown. There is much work to do to get the finish smooth.
Figure 6: A view into the cockpit. It seems to include a representation of an instrument panel, although the X-2 Skycycle did not have one.
Figure 7-14: Photos of the actual X-2 Skycycle
On September 8, 1974 stunt performer and entertainer Evel Knievel attempted to jump Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho using a steam powered, 3-wheel rocket named the X-2 Skycycle. It was launched from a high angle ramp and was supposed to release a parachute for recovery after the engine cut off. However, an electrical malfunction caused the parachute to deploy almost immediately after lift-off and prevented the rocket from landing on the opposite side of the canyon. Knivel was unhurt by the stunt but came very close to drowning, as his vehicle barely missed landing in the water. I remember watching this event on TV when I was a young boy (yes I am not young). Does anyone else remember watching this too? I always thought the X-2 Skycycle was a really cool design, but unfortunately no hobby manufacturer ever issued a model kit of the very sleek craft Knievel flew that day. A short-lived plastic model company called Addar issued a 1/24th scale kit of the X-2 Skycycle in 1974, but they modeled their kit after an early version that was determined to be aerodynamically unstable and never made it past the mock-up stage.
In 2020 I discovered the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas was selling 3D printed models of the X-2 Skycycle that were about 10.625” in length. Since the actual X-2 Skycycle is 16 feet long (less the boom and probe) that made the printed model about 1/18th scale. I paid $50.00 for one plus $8.00 shipping. It is typical of a lot of other 3D printed items I have seen-crude and very basic. However, it has a hollow fuselage and is a nice size, so I decided to make it make it my next model project. This is not really building a “kit”, but it will require a lot of work with scratch-building, finishing, and creating custom decals. To get started I am posting multiple views of the 3D printing as I received it (warts and all). I am also including some internet images of the actual X-2 Skycycle, so you can see what the 3D printing is supposed to (hopefully) look like when I am finished!
Figure1: The finish is textured and very rough in areas, but the alignment of the body and tail surfaces is excellent. There are two main areas where the 3D printing is not correct in its shape. The first is the nose section, which should have a smooth tapered transition at the tip. The second is the rear body being flush with the vertical/horizontal tailfins, when it is supposed to extend past these parts. Correcting both of the issues will require work.
Figure 2: Here is a full side view.
Figure 3: A ruler is included to give an idea of the size.
Figure 4: As you can see the lower areas of the 3D printing are much rougher.
Figure 5: The lower rear section is shown. There is much work to do to get the finish smooth.
Figure 6: A view into the cockpit. It seems to include a representation of an instrument panel, although the X-2 Skycycle did not have one.
Figure 7-14: Photos of the actual X-2 Skycycle