By Fred Boucher and with Kit History by Alan Bussie
Introduction
From the horrible yet exciting depths of the Cold War came the Myasishchev M-50 / M-52 ‘Bounder,’ a Soviet supersonic bomber. From ‘Bounder’ leapt the bogeyman M-60, a Soviet design for a nuclear-powered bomber. From the M-60 radiated this
The one and only USA issue of the Russian Nuclear Bomber from 1959
Myasishchev M-50/M-52 ‘Bounder’
An enormous four-jet bomber first ripped the sky over the
M-50 (click to enlarge) (courtesy Wikipedia)
Years before the air show, the West was certain the bounding behemoth was powered by a nuclear reactor.
The December 1, 1958, issue of Aviation Week magazine ran an article titled “Soviets Flight Testing Nuclear Bomber,” which included a simple 3-view drawing of the supposed nuclear powered supersonic craft. The drawings came from a DoD briefing. The article claimed that the aircraft was indeed flying, and had been seen by multiple observers. A few months later,
Line drawings and AW artist drawing (click artist drawing to enlarge)
Small problem: it didn’t exist. Aviation Week was wrong.
The drawing that Aviation Week included was clearly a crude, close-but-not-quite-right representation of the Myasishchev M-50, NATO code-named “Bounder.” But the Bounder was not nuclear powered. While Myasishchev did design nuclear powered versions of the Bounder, they never built one, much less flew one. The incident, while little known to the general public today (go ahead… ask a hundred of your closest friends, family and co-workers if they’ve ever heard of the article), is infamous in aviation journalism.*
Further history of the ‘Bounder’ can be read at the end of this review, both by
But this time the formula did not work. For whatever reason, sales were poor. Once the initial production run sold out,
The Model
Molding of the parts is excellent with no flash, mold seam lines or sinks, but there are a couple of visible ejector marks. Recessed lines show the control surfaces and gear doors. Raised areas show where the decals go. The landing gear bays are not open.
Parts Overview and Detail (click to enlarge)
This is a relatively simple model. With virtually no exterior detail it is smooth and clean. The tandem landing gear parts are probably the most intricately detailed pieces for the aircraft; the most molded-in detail is found on the stand!
Part Detail (click to enlarge)
Test-fitting shows excellent fit of the fuselage halves, nose cone and tail piece. Other components also fit well with little need for filling.
The model is 15 1/2 inches long (1/141 scale) and 5 3/4 inches wide (1/235 scale) – perfectly scaled to…what scale?!
We now know the M-50 is 193 feet long and 115 feet wide.
Instructions, Decals And Painting Guide
A single quad-folded sheet guides the modeler through 20 assembly steps. The model is shown in an exploded view. The other side is all advertising for
Kit Instructions (click to enlarge)
Painting instructions suggest three colors: black, red and silver. By then
Decals include a simple sheet of eight Soviet stars and the aircraft number, plus a decal for the stand: “U.S.S.R. NUCLEAR BOMBER”
Decals (click to enlarge)
Conclusion
This is a neat model – if I owned it I would build and display it!
This superb built-up is courtesy of MerlinJones at this link
*Highs* – Molding is first-rate and fit is excellent too
*Lows* – Drawbacks are box scale size, basic exterior detail, simplified detail and raised insignia
*Verdict* – Collectors should enjoy it as should anyone who wants a simple model ‘Bounder.’
Details of the SOVIET NUCLEAR-POWERED BOMBER (From Aurora’s instruction sheet with original spelling and punctuation)
Another milestone in mankind’s step forward in the development of atomic-powered engines is the Soviet Nuclear-powered bomber with engines capable of keeping a continuous patrol for untold hours without re-fueling. Using a nuclear reactor in place of the usual chemical fuel combustion chamber with a shaft connecting the compressor with the turbine by passing through the reactor itself, this engine promises some 70,000 pound thrust. Equipped with two of these engines, the Soviet bomber can perform in supersonic and subsonic speeds for lengths of time limited only by the endurance of the crew and the engines. The refueling will no longer be a major problem for one pound of atomic fuel can furnish energy exceeding the amount of power created by one and one-half million pounds of gasoline.
Each of the two atomic powerplants is located at about the middle of a wing and is housed in nacelles measuring some 36 feet long with air intakes about 6 feet in diameter. Supplementing these two atomic turbo jets are two conventionally fueled turbojet engines located in the wing tips capable of producing about 35,000 pound thrust each. These chemically fueled wingtip engines can be used for emergency use when an extra burst of speed is necessary in addition to supplementary power for takeoff. On returning from a mission, they may also be used for landing when the atomic reactors have been turned off.
This bomber has a fuselage length of some 195 feet with a wingspan of about 78 feet. The delta-type wing has a definite sweepback on the leading and trailing edges with a fairly thin airfoil. The sail type vertical fin extends upward roughly 22 feet above the fuselage and the horizontal tail surfaces spanning about 30 feet, sweep back to conform with the wing angle. Although the gross weight is approximately 300,000 pounds, this giant atomic bomber is rated in the Mach 2 category and would be an ideal craft for maintaining a continuous airborne alert. Equipped with a substantial weapon pay load, with the ability for a quick firing of 1,000 mile or more missile devastation and followup with a high speed low-flying penetration under radar defenses to key targets, the value of these atomic bombers is beyond military valuation.
The crew quarters are located in the nose as far away from the reactor engines as possible for protection from radiation. The two conventional turbo jets located in the wingtips are interchangeable with atomic engines if the necessity arises. Equipped with a bicycle main landing gear with outriggers which fold into the wings, the Soviet bomber is trim and sleek. The skies vibrate when this aircraft glides overhead on its patrol.
In addition to atomic powerplants for marine use such as atomic submarines and other ships of the sea, mankind is following through with another truly remarkable feat with their nuclear propulsion program.
Perhaps the near future will unfold unlimited power for non-refueled voyages and flights over the face of the earth. Perhaps, also, this same source of tremendous energy will carry the unpredictable human representative on his exploration of the vast unknown stretches of space beyond the horizons of his own solar system. Only time will tell.
Myasishchev M-50 (Translated from Russian on the Internet)
The first projects Myashishev supersonic aircraft belonged to the so-called “family of 30.” Projects M-30 and M-31 medium bombers, were more likely to take-off mass of less than 100 tons of M-32 and M-34 heavy bombers were, but did not have intercontinental range.
July 30, 1954 DB-23 , in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers, began the development of “releasably bomber” 50 “, which consists of an attack aircraft carrier and four turbojet V.A.Dobrynina or AA Mikulin. According to the task was to reach a maximum speed of 1,800 km/h at cruising 1500-1600 km/h at altitudes of 14-15 km. Service range from 5,000 kg bomb load was estimated at 13,000 km.
As the plane was to make a long flight at supersonic speeds required engines with a thrust without afterburner at least 17,000 kgs. The most suitable engine was developed in OKB P.B.Zubtsa. Its engines “M16-17” (RD16-17).
Bomb armament maximum weight up to 30 tons was placed in a large gruzootseke, which was supposed to hang and also managed a supersonic cruise missile, the M-61 with folding planes having a launch range of up to 1000 km and also create a bureau Myasishcheva. Studied and the possibility of equipping aircraft heavy cruise missile RCC P.V.Tsybina. In the first experimental aircraft defensive weapon was out on production aircraft intended use of cannon fodder installation with remote control. At the suggestion of Khrushchev considered as an unmanned version of the M-50 – M-51, in which the fuselage was mounted ultra-nuclear weapon power (was not implemented). ** [sic]
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Sources
* The Unwanted Blog. “Av Week” and the Soviet Atomic Bomber.
[Web.] 23 March 2011.
https://www.testpilot.ru/russia/myasishchev/m/50/m50.htm. n.d.