The North American XB-70 was designed as a high speed, high altitude strategic bomber to deliver nuclear weapons over long distance. However, by the time it was ready intercontinental missiles had taken over its role.

The North American XB-70 was designed to give the United States Air Force a strategic bomber that flew so high and fast it would be untouchable by Soviet Russian defenses.

It was designed to fly at more than 3 times the speed of sound at over 70 000 feet to reach targets deep inside Russia and it included many innovations to achieve this performance.

However, even before the time the first XB-70 made its maiden flight on 21 September 1964 intercontinental ballistic missiles had taken over the role.

As a result only two XB-70s were made. The second one was destroyed in a mid-air accident in June 1968 and the remaining XB-70 made its final flight in February 1969 before being put in a museum.

This model represents the first prototype while conducting NASA tests, c.1968.

Anigrand 1/144 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in August 2013.