Navy Bird Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) Hi mates, My latest project is the superb Academy kit of the Vought F-8J Crusader in God's Own Scale. The Crusader has always fascinated me, since it's such a dichotomy. Winner of many aerospace awards for technical achievement, yet a very dangerous aircraft to fly based on its accident record. Known affectionately as the "Last of the Gunfighters" yet it achieved the overwhelming majority of its combat kills with missiles. Nonetheless, it looks the part - it's menacing yet graceful, both important attributes of a fighter jet. In its day, many pilots preferred the Crusader to the Phantom II, and that says a lot. The build process is detailed in the WIP thread here. The model won Gold (1st place here in the US) at the recent Buffcon competition in beautiful downtown Cheektowaga, just outside of Buffalo, NY. Project: Vought F-8 Crusader Kit: Academy Kit No. 12412 Scale: You have to ask? This is me you're talking to! Decals: Xtradecal X72160 markings for VF-302 Stallions; stencils and other decals from kitResin: Aires cockpit detail set 7110; Wolfpack F-8J Crusader “Flap Down” set WP72026; Quickboost Martin Baker Mk.7 ejection seat set 72406; Quickboost F-8 Crusader Flaps set 72269, Air Scoops set 72107; Eduard AIM-9D Sidewinder set 672043; CMK 72062 Crusader wheelsPhotoetch: Frets included with Aires cockpit set, Quickboost ejection seat, and Eduard Sidewinder set; Eduard Remove Before Flight set 73008Turned Brass: Master Model F-8J Crusader Pitot TubeCanopy Masks: None - Ha! It can be done! Paint: Gunze H3 Red, H4 Yellow, H26 Bright Green, H77 Tire Black, H70 RLM 02, H90 Clear Red, H94 Clear Green, H305 FS36118 Gunship Gray, H317 FS36231 Dark Gull Gray, H319 Light Green, H315 FS16440 Light Gull Gray; Testors 1180 Flat Steel, 1181 Flat Aluminum, 2143 Semi-Gloss White RLM 21; Floquil 110004 Crystal Cote, 110015 Flat Finish; Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black; Alclad ALC101 Aluminum, ALC103 Dark Aluminum, ALC115 Stainless Steel, ALC314 Klear Kote FlatWeathering: Just a panel line wash - I kept the model pretty clean, after all there must have been a time when the actual aircraft had just rolled out of the paint booth. Improvements/Corrections Replaced kit cockpit with Aires resin cockpit set and ejection seat Replaced kit missiles with Eduard resin AIM-9D Sidewinders Seemingly random position and alignment of missiles on their pylons is intentional, and is required so the missile can clear the refueling probe, the RAM air turbine, leading edge flaps, and each other (during firing) Added Eduard “Remove Before Flight” flags Aftermarket decal sheet for U.S. Navy Reserve Squadron VF-302 Stallions Replaced kit pitot tube with turned brass part from Master Models Added canopy restraint strap made from photoetch metal Replaced kit parts with Quickboost afterburner air cooling scoops Replaced kit wheels/tyres with CMK resin wheels/tyres Added Wolfpack “double drooped” resin leading edge flaps Cut out kit flaps and ailerons, replaced with Quickboost resin and posed in typical parking position Detailed top of engine tunnel (underneath raised wing) with tubes, conduits and other fiddly things Elapsed Time: Only a month! I know, you want the pictures. OK, here they be. The oddball alignment of the Sidewinders in this head-on photo is accurate. The missiles were mounted in such a way to make sure they cleared everything when fired, including other missiles, leading edge flaps, ram air turbine, etc. Kudos to Academy for paying attention and getting this right. Adding the photos to the post has made me realize that I didn't take any photos of the underside. Let me do that and I'll add them soon. Thanks! Cheers, Bill Edited January 24, 2018 by Navy Bird Photobucket Eradication 48 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screech Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Well Done! Looked really good in the flesh as well, and can certainly see why you won Gold! Envious of the final finish! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah Greggs Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Awesome... A true WINNER!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Lovely result, Bill. I hope to see more in gull grey and white from your production offices. Andrew. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 That looks really smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Deservedly a medal winner Bill. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kampartiger Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Fantastic Crusader!I always have the belief that great details will probably be missing from any 1/72 kits due to its smaller size but the Academy Crusader proved me wrong!Love the colors,the yellow looked like flourescent yellow! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Gorgeous Bill, a great build thread and well deserving of the Gold! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_gn Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 As I said in the WiP thread, it's a beautiful model. The effort with the missiles was definitely worth it, especially since they are so prominent. The remove before flight tags also draw attention to them. Very well deserved prize too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 That is a real beauty! Its a beautiful looking machine and you have done an impressive job on the model 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foghorn Leghorn Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 A stunner! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) Great build, great model. I normally prefer "dirty" and well worn ACs, but this is an absolute stunner Ciao Edited April 14, 2015 by giemme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vppelt68 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 A Gold is not enough! V-P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanik Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 If it wasn't for the background, it would be indistinguishable from the actual aircraft. Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 stunning work, looks fantastic... some very touches and superb job on the scheme and finish... looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thats not bad.....who am I kidding that looks amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Stunning Bill. Brilliant detail. And well done on the win! Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin-42 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 What strikes me is you got the "stance" of the Crusader spot on. If you photoshopped it in with a real one, it would be a perfect match. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Just repeating what i said in your (excellent!) build thread Bill - an absolutely superlative piece of one true scale modelling - a simply stunning F-8!! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 A perfect model, and an equally informative build thread. Top work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Delta Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Outstanding work, Bill. How did you do the canopy caulking? Masking? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Superb Crusader, really nice work there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_Ukraine Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Perfect work! Congratulations! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel Vaillant Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 I like, no i love Crusader... And this one too! This colors scheme you chosen are really beautifiul for this interceptor! Big Bravo!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 It's been a relatively quick build for you Bill, but by no means compromised, perhaps a better starting point in terms of kit quality compared to what you've tackled over the last 12 months, not to mention your personal challenges. I'm not a huge fan of the F-8, but the quality of your paintwork & detailing and the choice of scheme have made it an absolute beaut, who could not like this? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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