[Another stupid idea of mine, TBF & TBM Monogram & Italeri]

Retirement.... Its a tough and dirty job. But by golly somebody's got to do it! To @Pete in Lincs... One more of us. One less of Them! Salute!

[Another stupid idea of mine, TBF & TBM Monogram & Italeri]

Or swap it for a better brew from @Pete in Lincs.He could probably use it to boost the petrol in his delivery truck.

[Another stupid idea of mine, TBF & TBM Monogram & Italeri]

Cutting off beer supplies won't help Martian. CC already has a still rigged up in the corner. All you can hope to do now is install bigger blast doors to protect the populus.

[Martin PBM-5A Mariner]

That must be the former Estate of John Travolta's Grandfather, who was also a pilot. He always did have a penchant for bringing his work home at the oddest of times.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

I wished I could have gotten across the finish line. Nothing like too many things  happening at once, not here, but behind the scenes in R/L to muck up the works. I have the designs all worked up, just have to spend at least a week of computer time and then probably 3-4 days printing. But I'll get it eventually. Probably more sooner than later. just not in time before the GB closes. Such is life.

[Oh Joy another Thunderbird! Monogram's 1/48 F-84F Thunderbird- FINISHED!]

Thanks exdraken. Glad you liked my little offering.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[Republic F-84 Gallery]

Revell/Monogram

1//48

F-84G Thunderjet

with

3-D printed Zero Length Launch Trailer

 

 

Something different Revell/Monograms 1/48 F-84G in Testing configuration with a  self designed and printed Zero Length Launch Trailer. Bare Metal Foil for the F-84's exterior, Tamiya, Mig-Ammo, AK Interactive, Alclad II

paints. Kit decals for the jet.

 

 Thanks for wandering in and having a look. You can find the WIP here:

 

 

 

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Which just leaves putting the two together.

And there you have it. a 50's oddity that doesn't show up too often. Eventually, the Air Force got around to trying the same basic set up but using F-100 Super Sabres and a much bigger launching rocket. The project though clearly was feasible and an initial production order of around 200 units placed the project was eventually cancelled because medium and long range missiles came online negating their usefulness. At least for the U.S. The West German Luftwaffe continued on developing a system using the F-104 as the Test vehicle with assistance from Lockheed. But by 1966 this too was abandoned to a footnote in history. 

Thanks for following along and keeping my spirits up during this build with all the comments , questions and suggestions. The trailer now has the distinction of being the largest self designed and printed set piece. Who knows I may actually try and print a whole airplane, or at the very least the constituent pieces. You have been duly warned.

 

I want to thank @Wez and @reini for putting this show on. And too I should also apologize  to both them and everyone for not being helpful as a Co-moderator. I didn't get to do one other F-84G SAC subject I had my eye on. but that can be save for another day now. I'll have the finals in the Gallery momentarily.

So as my usual, stay safe, stay healthy and by all means... Model on! 

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Going back to the launch trailer I painted the rear area white and the used red car pinstriping for the caution. Because of time limitations keeping from doing the M-52 Tractor I didn't need any decals. The tractor got all the numberings and flourishes. Eventually I'll get around to doing a Matador launch set-up and  can do the tractor or tractors then

I did reuse the boarding ladder and added it to a rack at the front of the trailer.

Something I forgot to do earlier, show what the underneath looks like with the suspension and  and rail actuators.

Showing the underneath in it's all-together.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Finally the canopy and windscreen, plus all the decals.

 

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Then got the rocket pod painted and attached,

And an Arrestor hook along with the fuel dump piping. I think the reason or the arresting gear they were also doing tests on an idea of landing on rubber mats or inflatable matting.

The hook I printed out.

 

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Now for the final installment of this different kind of build. Letting everything dry and set I began adding the last of the little bits. First what looks like a "cage" on the intake Don't really understand it's function, but easy enough to make from a couple of pieces of .45mm silver wire.

And fashioned a new Pitot tube for the nose from thin rod and a bit of wire for the tip

 

 

[What's your latest purchase?]

Cuz if it starts with an "A" It will be the first name you see in the phone book( I know I just dated myself),unless of course you're named Aardvark For the children reading this, a phone book was what you used when you wanted to look up a telephone number A lot easier than ringing up the operator and asking for directory assistance. THINK manually operated Google. At you finger tips no less. What's that you say... What's an Operator and what's Directory assistance? What do I look like your Grandfather?(don't answer that) Giddottahere ya brats!

[The Fleets In-U.S. Naval Air 1910 to Present - 11 May to 1 Sep 2024]

 Go for It!

[The Fleets In-U.S. Naval Air 1910 to Present - 11 May to 1 Sep 2024]

As long as its 25% or less completed its admissible.If it's over that you can still build it, but the final RFI images would go into the Inspiration Gallery instead of the Main Gallery.

[The Fleets In-U.S. Naval Air 1910 to Present - 11 May to 1 Sep 2024]

Sounds like a plan, or plans as it were. Christer. Welcome aboard!

[Missile with a Man-F104 Starfighter STGB 19 and counting]

Dont know how I missed this one,(actually I do, I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.Too many things going on behind the scenes.But no matter)count me in if you would kind Sir. I have an NF-104A and the an F-104C I want to do in Luftwaffe livery. Who knows, I might just do it as a Zero Length Launch as well.Going to have to do some studyfying on that one.Sorry to hear about the ankle and heart issues. I hope you're doing better. From one old duffer to another.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Well I think I've finally got all the parts printed for this build. Well with the exception of the M-52 Tractor I won't be able to get it completed in time for the close of the GB, even if there was an extension but thats ok, this launch set up is virtually the same for the Matador Missile system and I'll try my hand at printing all THAT out at a later date. What I want to do now that I've cut my teeth on this is eventually do the ZELL systems for the F-100 and the German Luftwaffe's F-104. Trailers are totally different but that's ok. Of course that also means I want to do the Matador, Regulus, Regulus II, and Mace. I've opened up one heck of a can of worms with ideas now. But for the moment let's concentrate on THIS build before I go off wandering around on a tangent shall we?

Though this trailer has been printed in many different parts, here is what it pretty much looks like in the computer.

The F-84 got it's Hi-Vis markings for tracking. Some Tamiya white Vinyl masking tape split down the center. There is still a good bit of touch up to finish along with adding the flaps, bomb racks, canopy and windscreen. Of course, paint and foil touch-ups here and there and adding the RATO assembly. Speaking of which..

The RATO doesn't have a lot of detail to speak of This was also adapted from the Matador. Getting closer to the finish. I'm hoping to have it ready for the RFI by Sunday. God willing and the creek don't rise again, that is. More to come!

 

[Back in Oz country... With a Sea fury....]

Beautiful job CC. So good in fact it sounds like it wanted be  a Star in its own  movie.... wait for it....Gone with the Wind. 

[What's your latest purchase?]

Lucked out and found an AMK Mig-31BM/BS going for  half the MSRP. on Evilbay. I'll save this for a rainy day when I can do a proper full build,

This is a monster of a kit.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

After getting a good portion of the trailer parts printed, I began assembly. Instead of printing out the diamond pattern on the deck I went with "O Gauge" (1/48) patterned plastic sheet. This saved me time in the printing process as the pattern added so much to the file size it took forever the go through the slicing software. I just indented the deck top .5mm to compensate for the sheet.

Assembled and painted up it's now starting to look the part. I have the launch rails, RATO and a few other small bits printing now. With luck the rails won't warp on me. otherwise I'll have to start cutting sheet plastic. Slow but sure it is coming along. Stay tuned.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

Once those were dry and set I began applying the foil skin.

Still need a bit of clean up but otherwise, just what the doctor ordered.

I've given everything a coat of clear lacquer in prep for painting the aluminum.

[What the Zell? Precisely. A Zero Length Launch F-84G with Transporter. In 1/48 no less!]

With days to go for this GB I must get on the move. S I haven't had much of a chance for a lot of build time of late but I did try to make the most of what time I did have. While the Trailer parts were being printed , I focused on getting as much of the test vehicle done.

After the filler had dried for a day(more like a week or so) I sanded everything down smooth in prep for painting some areas with aluminum and Laying don the tracking markers on the wings and fuselage.

From there painting the anti glare shield fore and aft along with the red nose. Probably should call this thing Rudolf.

 

[The Fleets In-U.S. Naval Air 1910 to Present - 11 May to 1 Sep 2024]

Remember the immortal words of  @Enzo the Magnificent "When in Doubt..... Just build 'em all it saves a lot of time"