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My entry to this STGB is the Hasegawa F-8 Crusader, re-boxed with some p/e, resin parts and new decals by Eduard. The kit is of an F-8E and I will be back dating it to an F8U-2 from 1961, they were re-designated as F-8C in September 1962. VF-84 were the first Squadron to get the F8U-2 version of the Crusader in April 1959 and as part of CVG-7 on the USS Independence from August 1960 to March 1961 they wore some of the most colourful markings seen on a Crusader aircraft. It's an aircraft that I have wanted to make in 1/48th scale for some time, so here goes. Another difference with these aircraft of VF-84 when they had the intake flame paint scheme was their aircraft had the rear afterburner section painted Gull Grey over white, not left in natural metal. The name of the ship 'Independence' in red is only on this aircraft but points to notice are the natural metal area where the tailplane pivots and the small black painted aircraft type: F8U-2 and it's full serial number 145562 and just below the fin cap a repeat of the aircraft nose number 203 These details are missing from the MicroScale decal sheet and will need adding. Here is the decal sheet that has just arrived, I included the instruction sheet as there are errors like it being an F8E with a natural metal afterburner and the omissions noted above. No wonder in the early 80's I built the 1/72nd Hasegawa F-8E in these markings with out making any changes to the kit, my excuse, there was no internet then and I didn't have any books on the subject. The intake flame artwork slightly varied between each aircraft and these aircraft, being some of the first F8U-2 issued to the Navy, had the early Vought ejection seat and spoked wheels that I am waiting to be delivered from a supplier in Ukraine, so they may take a couple of weeks. Here is the kit I will be using. As I mentioned in the chat thread, I have some extras to go along with the kit, a Wolf Pack airbrake and wing fold sets, Aires resin cockpit, Master metal pitot Eduard resin wheels and New Ware mask set. Not sure I will use all those extra bits, when the GB starts I will start to backdate the airframe, first, the biggest job will be to remove the avionics hump off the top of the wing centre section, that and reducing the size and changing the shape of the radome are the main visual differences. I will get around to the other, minor things as I go along. Thanks for looking and any questions or comments are always welcome.

Well, as promised over in the W.I.P. group thread :BUILD THREAD Here are the finished pictures of my 1/72 scale Muroc Models F-8C conversion of the Academy F-8E kit, with raised wing and dropped flaps and slats: Had a few little glitches here and there, but I'm glad to have it in the collection! Thanks for looking in... Ed