The Convair B-58A Hustler was the world’s first supersonic bomber. It was specifically designed to fly high and fast to avoid interception but new anti-aircraft missiles negated this superiority so they only served for ten years.

The Convair B-58 was designed to fly at high speed and altitude to avoid fighter interception while delivering atomic weapons to targets in Russia.

The prototype made its first flight on 11 November 1956 and they began entering service in March 1960.

The introduction of Russian anti-aircraft missiles made the B-58 vulnerable despite its high performance and they were withdrawn from service in 1970.

A total of 116 were made.

This model represents B-58A 59-2451 Firefly of the 43rd Bomb Wing in May 1961 when it won the Bleriot Trophy by flying between New York and Paris at over 1000mph.

Hobbycraft 1/144 kit and decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in January 2014.