#b-51

[lonestarflight]

"The second (left) and first (right) XB-51 aircraft at the Martin plant in Middle River. Both aircraft have the bullet tail fairings, and the second prototype (left) has RATO bottles attached. The Martin plant in the background still has the camouflage paint scheme applied during World War II. Compare the different flap and wing positions between the two aircraft."

source

090709-F-1234K-067

[ff-ask-cattendant]

The Complete B-5x Line!

While not technically a complete Soul Almanac entry, I had Bifties on the brain and wanted to draw them. Then along came some notes, and I figured I’d share, since making full entries for each one is going to take a while.

I had a lot of fun with these! Figuring out how to make each member of the line look distinctive from one another whilst also making sure they looked related was an interesting experiment. This is also my first time colouring metal textures too!

Some more detailed notes are under the cut.

Shared Traits

Heterochromia

Fire-based abilities

Mix of mechanical and organic parts

Require some guidance regarding emotions and independence

B-51s

SR Strength Units

Breathe a blue blowtorch flame.

Overuse of said flame leads to them tiring very quickly.

This lead to them adapting into Strength-Types, using close-range melee combat which allows them to use their flame without burning themselves out.

Quick tempers and defiant attitudes has earned them the nickname “Short Fuse Cocktails”

Their most visibly defining trait is their metallic lower jaws, often burned to a very dark colour due to their flames.

Mid-low mechanical-organic parts ratio.

B-52s

UR Magic Units

The first Souls of the line, and the strongest. Only six of them are known to exist in Tierra.

Their violet flames are devastating, making them capable of laying waste to entire cities with lasting effects.

B-52s possess the highest endurance of any known Magic Soul, and can withstand perhaps even the most devastating of blows.

Upon their first Summon, B-52s start off as robotic “blank slates”, and require careful coaching in order to start thinking for themselves.

Most of them develop quiet, mellow personalities.

High mechanical-organic ratio.

B-53s

SR Magic Units

Can bend their flames to their will.

Colour of flames ranges depending on the amount of power put into it, going (weakest to strongest) Orange, White, Blue, Purple.

Low mechanical-organic ratio.

The only indicators of their line are the eyes and mechanical-looking throat and hands, which contain sparkers with which they start their flames.

Close-mid-range attacks.

Loud, flashy personalities, fiercely loyal.

B-54s

SR Magic Units

Their unique glowing cores produce a “liquid fire” or molten metal that can be condensed into projectiles and fired from weapons, making for a wide range of potential combat strategies.

Torso looks like a network of piping.

Mid-high mechanical-organic ratio.

Long range attacks.

Very calm, level-headed characters who are well-suited for high-pressure leadership positions.

B-55s

SR Defense Units

Almost as rare as B-52s, likely because of their unusually high vulnerability to Falling.

Produce a violet flame, and are able to set themselves alight and create walls of fire.

Their wings can act as shields.

All of them wear masks to protect their eyes. They very rarely take them off.

Almost entirely mechanical save for the face.

All recorded B-55 Units have been noted as completely mute and robotic in personality. It is unknown if they are capable of developing independence.

B-57s

SR Magic Units

The “most common” members of an already exceedingly rare line of Food Souls.

Green flames aren’t massively powerful compared to the rest of the line, but they are painful and the damage lingers.

Often described as “scrappy clockwork fire imps”.

They make up for their small size with their speed, both in the air and on the ground.

Like B-55s, they are entirely mechanical save for their faces.

Prone to developing stutters and twitches.

[worldofaviation]

Martin XB-51

[lonestarflight]

Concept art of the original Martin XA-45 design, which evolved into the XB-51 trijet ground attack aircraft.

"In February 1946, the United States Army Air Force (AAF) sought design proposals for an attack aircraft to replace the Douglas A-26 Invader. The Glenn L. Martin Company (Martin) responded with its Model 234, a straight-wing aircraft of a rather conventional layout, except that the engine nacelle on each wing housed a turboprop and a turbojet engine. The Model 234 had a crew of six and was forecasted to carry 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) of ordinance over 800 miles (1,287 km).

Martin was awarded a contract to develop the Model 234 on 23 May 1946, and the aircraft was designated XA-45. A few weeks later, the AAF decided to discard the “Attack” category, and the XA-45 was subsequently redesignated XB-51. The AAF then requested new requirements for the XB-51 with an emphasis on speed. The AAF’s new desired specifications for the A-26 replacement was a top speed of 640 mph (1,030 km/h) and the ability to carry 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of ordinance over 600 miles (966 km). The new requirements necessitated a complete redesign of the XB-51, which Martin completed and submitted to the AAF in February 1947. After slight modifications, the design was somewhat finalized by July 1947. The AAF ordered two prototypes, which were assigned serial numbers 46-685 and 46-686."

source, source

[lonestarflight]

Martin XB-51 formation during a low-level pass.

Date: July 11, 1951

U.S. Air Force Photo: 090709-F-1234K-029, 090709-F-1234K-032, 090709-F-1234K-064

[lonestarflight]

Martin XB-51 (sn 46-686) under construction at Martin's factory in Baltimore, Maryland.

Date: 1948-49

U.S. Air Force photo: 090709-F-1234K-070

[lonestarflight]

Martin XB-51 on the cover of Model Airplane News magazine. Artwork by Jo Kotula.

Date: April 1950

Shared on Flickr by Andrew P. Yanchus: link

[lonestarflight]

A Martin XB-51 in flight.

Date: 1950s

U.S. Air Force photo: 090709-F-1234K-009, 090709-F-1234K-075, 090709-F-1234K-007, 090709-F-1234K-058