UPDATE - 1/32 Scale Italeri F-104G ASA-M Italian Air Force with real aluminum skin
Well here I am again in aluminum hell! I promised I wouldn't do another metal skin airplane for awhile but I got hired to do another one and I can't say no lol. 90% of the details are completed so it is on to all the metal work. I can tell you this, aluminum covered wing tanks are a pain in the rear! I spent an entire day figuring out how to do them, be prepaired to do a LOT of burnishing! Anyway I am happy with the results so far. After all the metal work I need to design the custom decal set for this pilots exact Italian Air Force aircraft as seen in the picture. (The fuel tanks on his aircraft were natural aluminum).
Til next time!
13 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Franco Damiani said on May 7, 2020
fine work
i see that plane a lot of time i live near that airport - 4° stormo home. this is the last f 104 in Italy that potentially could fly
Rick Schad said on May 7, 2020
Yes! I’m building it for my friend who flew it! He is now a test pilot on the Euro fighter program.
Thank you!
Spiros Pendedekas said on May 7, 2020
That's a masterpiece materializing, Rick! Really lost of words.
All the best!
Rick Schad said on May 7, 2020
Thank you my friend! It’s a labor of love 😁
Scott Snow said on May 9, 2020
You are the metal master Rick, I'm just amazed at your skills.
Cheers,
Scott
Rick Schad said on May 9, 2020
Thank you Scott! I’ll be taking a long break from metal after this one lol.
Carmelo Rodrigo said on May 9, 2020
Surprising. One question, the aluminum you use is aluminum foil and you glue it, or you use one that already has adhesive and is used for pipe lagging.
If it is not any of this and you have a moment, I would appreciate it if you could explain briefly what material it is.
Regards
Rick Schad said on May 9, 2020
I prefer to use HVAC aluminum that has an adhesive backing.
Thanks!