Spad Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) Hi all I started this one as an attempt for the F104 STGB but I completely underestimated the amount of work/time needed for the paint scheme - mainly down to the number of colours and amount of masking needed so I missed the deadline! (sorry GiorgioN!) It's the 51 Stormo 50th anniversary scheme - Hasegawa did this scheme some years ago on their superb 1/72 edition and I fell in love with it then so I was well chuffed when I saw they had a 1/48 version. The kit, as I'm sure you know, is fabulous and is one of the first kits I have felt like building another of just for the pleasure of putting it together. Mind you, as an Italian 'S' variant it's not entirely accurate. The most obvious is the ventral sub-fin which is moulded with a vertical (ish) leading edge whereas it should be raked back at some 45 degrees or so. There are no Sparrow antennae on the rear fuselage so I made some up using a rounded-off section of strut material and a teardrop shaped piece of 5 thou card. The intake auxiliary doors are incorrect and Hase make an attempt at this by telling you to fill the panel lines and apply a decal to represent the much larger and rectangular doors that are unique (I think) to the 'S'. I chose to fill and re-scribe some doors and add a small section of stretched sprue to represent the prominent piano hinge along the lower edge. The only other changes I made were to use an Eduard pre-coloured set for the cockpit. First time I used one and it's very effective but in retrospect I'm not convinced by the benefit on such a tiny cockpit. The seat, however, is another story. The seat is OK but the additional detail and impact added by the straps etc is well worth the effort. Paints are almost entirely Xtracolour except the white which was Tamiya rattle can. Decalling went fine and Testors Dullcote is used for the camo matt finish. Enough waffle - here she is - hope you like her. As ever, all comments and critique is welcomed. Thanks for looking. I thought about trying to add air-conditioning pipes but it beat me in the mental battle - maybe next time! The Sparrow data-link antenna - that little white dot down there! And finally, here she is with baby sister - seat and pitot have gone missing somewhere along the line - they're round here somwhere! Thanks for looking. cheers Rick Edited November 27, 2012 by Spad 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louiex2 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Very nice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXGR1 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 'nummy, a very challenging scheme that you have successfully accomplished...... -I have taken notes on your 's' mods. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Very nice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fu_manchu Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Nice work, i love the port side scheme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gundylunch Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Nice Zipper Rick !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Great work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plasticbutcher Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Very nice indeed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Very nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcclure Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Really nice stuff and that colour scheme must have been bloody hard to do so well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Magnificent, and to do it twice, insane! Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spad Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 Thanks all for the kind comments @sean - yes maybe a bit mad but you'll notice I started with the smaller, fiddlier one first! @IXGR1 - take a look at the 2 104S threads in the Group Build forum (in "Completed" section now) - you'll find a few useful pics and 2 or 3 really useful weblinks to sites with great pics. cheers Rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMChladek Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Holy Crap! That is indeed a masking job from hell! Excellent results though as the demarcation between the camo side and the high vis side looks so crisp! Very nicely done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 It's well worth to miss a GB deadline if the final result is so good ! Great job, the painting is very good and you're right, that seat is now really impressive ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelo M. Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Hello, I like this one, I saw the real one in the 80s whan I was at 51st wing. I know the pilot and the artist who made that cat, he made a lot of drawings and caricatures for the Wing and the Air Force too. His nick name was Brugar, he sadly left us few years ago. I'm proud to have a funny portrait he made to me. I built the same plane too, take a look at my collection here http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelomoneta/collections/72157601963027397/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GForceSS Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) Don't feel bad. I too missed the F-104 STGB deadline. Your effort would have been worthy of my vote in the final tally. An excellent job! Edited November 28, 2012 by GForceSS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 That is a lovely piece of work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Stunning example !! Love the bi-color scheme, it looks very realistic. Congrats. Karen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noeyedears Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 very cool scheme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex77 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Well done Rick! Very good you haven't rushed this one towards the end of the GB! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnylurve Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 jekyll and hydetastic! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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