Navy Bird Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Hi mates, Moving forward a few decades from my last build, I'm going to attempt to make a model of an airplane that doesn't have a propeller! My choice of subject is my favourite plane from the Vietnam War era, the Vought F-8 Crusader. What's not to like about this plane? Big honking J57 engine, a variable incidence wing, and a radome underneath its radome. And it just so happens that this baby first flew a few days prior to me being born, so you can kind of say we've been through life together. Not really, I'm not in the bone yard yet! I chose the Academy F-8J kit because, um, er, it was in my stash. I've heard it's the best in 1:72 scale and by looking in the box, it is certainly several light years ahead of my old Revell (Ace) 1:72 Crusader. The Academy kit is so nice, I immediately threw my build of the old Revell kit in the bin so I'd have room to display this new kit. I want to build this specific aircraft (note the typical F-8J fairing on the vertical tail): And it just so happens that Xtradecal provide this scheme: Xtradecal would have you believe that good old 150654 was an F-8E, which it was, but not when it had these markings. It was built as an F8U-2NE (F-8E) and assigned to VF-62. In 1965 the aircraft was transferred to the USMC and became part of VMF(AW)-212 as “WD-107.“ Note the lack of fairing on the top of the vertical tail. In 1966, 150654 was transferred to the USN and assigned to VF-111 as "AH-107." It was then upgraded to F-8J at some point before being assigned to VF-302 where it was ND-206 from 1971-1972 at Miramar. In July of 1975, the airframe was put into storage at the AMARC bone yard. I've read on-line that 150654 was then salvaged from the bone yard in 1984, but I don't know what's become of it. Probably in someone's garage. I started building the model and now I realize that I didn't take one of those shots that show the sprues and aftermarket goodies prior to starting the build. Oops. I don't have much aftermarket (nor does this kit need much) - I'll be using the Aires resin cockpit, the Master pitot, and the Xtradecal sheet. I'll have to "tweak" the decals a bit, as Xtradecal has "F-8E 150654" which will need to "F-8J 150654." (That's the decal that goes below the horizontal tail.) I want to model the wing up, the flaps down, and the slats "drooped." Like this: That photo appears to be an earlier mark of the Crusader as it seems to have the oval-shaped nose, and it doesn't have the fairing on top of the wing (which I think was for the ECM electronics). To make the job a little easier, I purchased the Obscureco Crusader wing with has all of that done for you. Unfortunately, when I bought that I was believing Xtradecal that the markings were for an F-8E, and that I was going to have to convert the kit. The Obscureco wing is for an F-8E. What's the difference? The biggest difference is with the leading edge flaps. Where the deployed flaps on the F-8E were "drooped," those on the F-8J were "double drooped." That means the flap actually hinged in the middle so that the forward half is at a different angle than the aft portion. Vought called these leading edge flaps "droops." Also, the Obscureco wing has no anhedral to speak of. The actual Crusader had quite a bit of anhedral (although not as much as the above photo suggests - that's an interesting optical effect caused by the sweep of the leading edge, the angle of attack of the wing, and the actual anhedral. Tailspin Turtle calls it "apparent anhedral.") I guess I'll have to cut out the flaps and ailerons from the Academy wing, and cut the droops (they're already separate) into two pieces so they can be double drooped. Let's get started, shall we? The Aires cockpit fits without much sanding, but the instrument panel coaming must be removed so it can be replaced by the Aires piece. Here is the cockpit all painted up with Gunze H317 Dark Gull Gray FS36231 and detailed with whatever other paint colours were on my bench: If you look close enough, you can find Mr. Fumble Thumbs has broken off the top of one of the launch rails for the ejection seat. I'll have to see what I can find to fix that. After removal of the kit coaming, and installation of the intake trunking, gear wells, and the top of the engine tunnel (which is visible when the wing is up), the cockpit can be added and the fuselage closed up. I think the fit is pretty good. You can see that I've blended the top of the side walls between the resin and the plastic. Let's add the main gear and the ventral fins while we're at it: Next, I'll clean up any seams where the fuselage join, and add the antenna fairing to the tail, removing the F-8L style antenna in the process. I had to drill some small holes for the fairing pegs to fit into, and Academy provided some starter holes on the inside to make sure they're in the right place. So, we're off to a good start I think. I'm not looking forward to cutting the flaps and ailerons from the Academy wing, and cutting the droops into two pieces, but it must be done. Cheers, Bill 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 good luck. You chose a very nice kit, it's the last I finished (even with the same decal sheet). I'll watch closely. Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sten Ekedahl Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Ah, here we go! Looking forward to yet another entertaining and instructive build thread. - Waiter! Can I have a nice pint and a bag of peanuts while I'm watching this, please. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Indeed not a subject I know anything about, so I can offer nothing constructive. I can however sit back and prepare to be awed again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Popcorn ready Bill, great start 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Looks good already. Another high quality build coming. Good historical content too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) I just got turned on to these not long ago. I have a few different brands of F-8s and the Academy is the best one. There are quite a few aftermarket parts for them, flaps and droops, air scoops, gun bay, folded wings etc. I want to concentrate on the early ones, but might make a "regular" one. This one looks great so far. Edited March 3, 2015 by busnproplinerfan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Great start Bill! I'm not usually interested in new things without a prop but as it's you... I shall watch with interest and, judging by progress so far, awe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 This should be good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Definitely in for this one! That 'pit is looking great 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 (edited) Looking forward to this build ! You've chosen my favourite kit of one of my favourite aircrafts here... and in one of my favourite schemes ! The error in the decals instruction sheet was actually mentioned here when the sheet was first announced, pity that the comment was not read by Xtradecals. Unfortunately this will involve the modifications you mentioned on the resin wing... to be honest I'd just cut the kit parts and keep the Obscureco set for a proper E as I'd rather cut plastic than resin. The Academy kit wing can be cut with some attention. One area where I feel the Academy kit can be improved is in the main wheel wells. They are not bad in the kit but there are some very visible features missing.And speaking of wheels, I'm sure you know that the landing gear was different in the J, particularly visible in the nose leg Edited March 2, 2015 by Giorgio N 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 And another Navy Bird production adventure begins! Great start Bill. Like some of the others have mentioned above; not an aircraft or era I know anything about but I know you'll make it well worth following! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Ah, here we go! Looking forward to yet another entertaining and instructive build thread. - Waiter! Can I have a nice pint and a bag of peanuts while I'm watching this, please. Waiter, make it two! Excellent start with the cockpit (you even broke the seat rail in a "good" way - sorry, I'll get my coat ) Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Bill ....SUPER job on the cockpit... Keep it coming... Best wishes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Another stunning build to watch come together, I'm sure you'll find things you want to improve/replace/modify as you go. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Great choice! You are going out of the beaten trail with these unit markings. They are never the ones one thinks of, when talking F-8. All the more commendable. Plus I am sure the Xtradecal stickers must be light years ahead of the Academy ones. Have fun! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 On 3/2/2015 at 03:40, Giorgio N said: Looking forward to this build ! You've chosen my favourite kit of one of my favourite aircrafts here... and in one of my favourite schemes ! The error in the decals instruction sheet was actually mentioned here when the sheet was first announced, pity that the comment was not read by Xtradecals. Unfortunately this will involve the modifications you mentioned on the resin wing... to be honest I'd just cut the kit parts and keep the Obscureco set for a proper E as I'd rather cut plastic than resin. The Academy kit wing can be cut with some attention. One area where I feel the Academy kit can be improved is in the main wheel wells. They are not bad in the kit but there are some very visible features missing. And speaking of wheels, I'm sure you know that the landing gear was different in the J, particularly visible in the nose leg Thanks, Giorgio! Just today I found my old copy of the F-8 Crusader Detail & Scale book (volume 31) and the F-8 Crusader In Action book (no. 70). I had these packed away so soundly I didn't think I was ever going to find them! Anyway, I did not know of the different nose leg in the "J" - the Academy kit is supposed to be a "J", is it wrong then? I'll go through those two books and see what I can find to guide me on the landing gear. And I think you are absolutely right, I should save the Obscureco wing for an "E" model someday. Although I will have to boil it in order to get some anhedral in it... On 3/2/2015 at 15:38, jean said: Great choice! You are going out of the beaten trail with these unit markings. They are never the ones one thinks of, when talking F-8. All the more commendable. Plus I am sure the Xtradecal stickers must be light years ahead of the Academy ones. Have fun! JR Thanks, JR! I like the VF-302 markings simply because I think yellow and black look real nice on light gull gray. I don't think VF-302 was even a front line squadron at the time, maybe a reserve squadron? Believe it or not, the decal sheet that came with the kit is printed by Cartograf, so probably not as bad as the typical Academy decals. I will end up using some of the stenciling etc. from the kit sheet. On 3/2/2015 at 02:49, busnproplinerfan said: I just got turned on to these not long ago. I have a few different brands of F-8s and the Academy is the best one. There are quite a few aftermarket parts for them, flaps and droops, air scoops, gun bay, folded wings etc. I want to concentrate on the early ones, bnut might make a "regular" one. This one looks great so far. Thanks, I've just begun to poke around my favourite online shoppes looking for Crusader aftermarket. Since I've already closed up the fuselage halves, anything I find at this point will have to be external details. We'll see. I was fooling around with the wings today, and neither the kit wings nor the Obscureco wing will actually mount in the up position because the inner edges of the flaps hit the fuselage. Odd. This simply means I have to modify the flaps, but just the same both wings were designed to be mounted in the up position. Thank goodness I kept my sanding sticks from my recent adventures in short-run modelling! EDIT: Sprue B seems to contain parts that are unique to the "J", like the double droops, ECM fairings and the horizontal stabilizers. May I assume these are the larger stabilizers that were fitted to the "J" and the French birds? Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hacker Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 and we are off and running 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Nice start! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hacker Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 What we need is a good RF conversion for this kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Just found this, looks like a good summary (with pictures!) of the differences between an "E" and a "J" - scroll down a bit for the good stuff: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=127141&st=0 EDIT: Having a quick look at the nose gear in the Academy F-8J kit, it would appear that it's the correct nose gear, as it has the bridle launch "horns" on the front. I also just ordered some goodies from Sprue Brothers - more in good time! Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sten Ekedahl Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Bill, have you seen these? http://aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev6/5901-6000/rev5974-Quickboost-72107/00.shtm Edited March 3, 2015 by Sten Ekedahl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 That's right, I built the -E version, and I had to cut the horns away. BTW, the Academy decals were better than feared, so it shouldn't really be a big deal (even better if they're from Cartograf). On the other hand, the Xtradecals did not react to microsol as on their sheets I used before, so a slight disappointment there. BTW, a good post regarding the differences, maybe not all news for you: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=279385&st=0&p=2657826entry2657826 Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 I built two of these kits and enjoyed both but I could not remember what solutions Academy had for the landing gear... if it has the horns as you and Alex say, then it's for a J, so you're sorted ! My boxes were both for the E, but the parts are the same, so much that I was left with the larger elevons and a couple of Magic missiles as spares. If you're going to cut the flaps and slats yourself, just one thing is worth watching: with the wing raised and the flaps extended, the Academy flaps will hit the fuselage sides. They need some sanding to prevent interference between the parts and fit properly. I'm not sure if the flaps location is wrong or the fuselage is too fat. I'd have posted a link to the thread I had in the Vietnam War GB, but these older GBs don't seem to be accessible any more... VF-302: this was always a Pacific Fleet reserve squadron. Established in 1971 with the F-8L, passed then onto the J before receiving Phantoms (N and then S model) and Tomcats until its deactivation in 1994. The markings carried by the Crusaders and the Phantoms were brilliant, unfortunately by the time the Tomcat arrived it was all shades of grey and only a few cats carried proper markings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZ6 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Looking forward to this one. I have a few of these to build and I'm spoilt for choice with the Xtradecal sheet. I do like the colourful China Lake one. It's coming on well so far. I the Aires cockpit looks great. I've broken resin ejection seat rails before so feel your pain. They are so fragile in 1:72. Look forward to seeing further progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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