In the '60s, experimental aviation merged with the infant plastic model industry to provide flights of high Mach fancy for young modelers... Like its speedy stablemates, the SR-71 and X-15, the XB-70 redefined the state of aeronautical engineering, but it was all but ignored by model makers. The ancient Lindberg oddball 1/180 scale (chosen to allow the model to fit in the standard box) for a while was the only injected kit available, and it certainly shows its age in the detail, overall shape and molding. The parts count is low (44 total), detail is lacking, and the fit is OK. Its major flaws are that the wing/fuselage intersection is wrong, and that the forward fuselage sports a noticeably shortened slab sided fuselage and distortion the distinctive shape of the airplane's nose. The model's only positive attribute is that it occupies less than half the display shelf real estate of the later monster AMT/ERTL 1/72 version that is 36 inches long(!).

This kit was very easy ro build. Gor a old model there was very little flash to trim. The part fit was very good also, the decals went down good with some decal solv. only thing I would do different would be to paint the black anti-glare black in front of the cockpit windows, as these were the only ones that did not want to lay down good.

The Lindberg B-70 kit is pretty good for a 60's Lindberg kit. Not as big as the Aurora B-70 kit, but with features like retractable landing gear seen only on larger kits of the time. A previous review incorrectly identified this kit as the first B-70 model kit when the Aurora one was actually first. The AMT/Italeri kit came much later. A very good beginner's kit, And a good looker with just some white, black and silver paint. The decals gave me no problems, and the stand is excellent for showing off your completed model.