F104G/S Starfighter, 1/48th

Started by Chuck A. Villanueva · 43 · 3 weeks ago
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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Finally lets get this party started. Starting with the seat. The kit provides an early and late style seat.

    The Italian F-104S/ASA used the CQ-7 ejection seat. Side rails are black w/OD cushions.

    Next to assemble the seat track rails.

    Now to start work on the cockpit tub.

    Comparing the tub from the Kinetic/Eduard's F-104 it may be a bit shallow. First we removie the details from the side consoles.

    Using the excellent Quinta cockpit, the side console panels are applied.

    Next the rear cockpit wall is installed.

    Control stick is painted and installed.

    A test fit of the seat prior to attaching the seat belt harnesses.

    Next to apply the various gauges and panels to the IP.

    Next is to attach the seat belt and details to the seat, complete the interior.

    More to follow..Happy New Year

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    The cockpit looks awesome, especially with those extra bits, my friend @uscusn!
    Happy New Year!

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    Erik Gjørup said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Nice AM additions.

    Happy new year Chuck.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Excellent start on the cockpit, Chuck @uscusn
    Very nice addons.
    Happy New Year

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 3 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Thanks Spiros, it does enhance the cockpit a bit.
    Thanks Eric, the kit details are adequate, but a little help to enhance it helps.
    Thanks John, with the clear bubble canopy, every detail can be seen within, especially if I decide to leave the cockpit open.

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 3 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Next step is to assemble the exhaust nozzle.

    The interior of the exhaust pipe is painted Vallejo Black metallic.

    The exhaust turbin fan and exhaust ring. The fan is Burnt metal and the ring is Jet Exhaust black.

    Assemble the exhaust pipe with the components.

    Next step is to assemble the main gear bay.

    The roof of the main gear bay with front and rear walls of the bay. Details are fair, one can really go to town here if you choose. I am not into that myself and tend to leave what is in the kit and this is adequate for my needs.

    The front wall is installed then the center divider is next and then the rear wall is attached.

    Finally the poly caps are installed in place and these where the main gear struts are inserted which is a great idea from Hasegawa.

    Next up prep the fuselage halves and complete the interior components...

    more to follow...

    1 additional image. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 3 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Excellent job on the engine and main bay, my friend @uscusn!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 3 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Great work on the engine, Chuck @uscusn
    Nice idea indeed from Hasegawa.

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

    Thanks Spiros & John, simple yet effective details from Hasegawa.

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 3 months ago:

    Just a test to see if I can upload an image. Which did post. Success!, will do a normal update tomorrow. More to follow.

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 2 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Image is definitely visible here, Chuck @uscusn

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    George R Blair Jr said 2 months, 4 weeks ago:

    F-104 is a great choice, Chuck @uscusn. The cockpit came out well. I think I prefer the Quinta stuff for the cockpit over other methods. When I was a young Lieutenant, my first permanent station was at Luke, which was the training base for NATO F-104s at the time. I have liked the F-104 ever since.

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 2 months, 3 weeks ago:

    Thanks John, it did on this end.
    Thanks George, It did and will be seen when I pose the canopy open. Quinta is the bomb, love the product and ease of applying the bits on the appropriate location. Never seen the F-104 in flight just in reference videos and movies in the early 60's. But my most fondest moment with the F-104 is back in the days when TV stations signed off for the day with "High Flight" using the Starfighter (there is also a version with the F-100). Long before cable.

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    Chuck A. Villanueva said 2 months, 3 weeks ago:

    With the cockpit, gear bay and exhaust sub assemblies finished, time to install them into the RH half of the fuselage.

    One more step however is to open up the holes for the side lamps along each side of the fuselage. 4 just aft of the speed brakes and 2 on the side of the intakes,

    Then insert the lenses from within each fuselage 1/2.

    Quinta details added to each fuselage half within the cockpit side panels.

    Next the tail hook insert panel is attache to the LH fuselage rear lower section.

    The rear bulkhead and cockpit is next installed to the RH fuselage half.

    Lead fishing weight is then placed using Cyano cement to hold it in place.

    Next up assemble the halves and to install the nose/gear bay insert.

    More to follow.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 2 months, 3 weeks ago:

    Some very nice progress, Chuck @uscusn
    Good idea to add a bit of weight in the nose.
    A pity you have not seen an airborne Starfighter yet, it's impressive, especially when they pass at high speed. Are there still airworthy Starfighters in the US.