theplasticsurgeon Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 (edited) Following on from my Cessna FAC - I'm diving straight back in with this MiG killer Crusader. Intending to build this option, virtually straight from the box. So here's a view of the parts. Why did I say straight from the box? Planning to modify that wing to fully drooped flaps and slats. Edited November 1, 2015 by snapper_city 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Watching with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Well pulling the airframe together. A lot of selotape clamping it together. Kit says this aircraft is VF24 - BUT all evidence I've found says VF211, so that's another deviation I'm planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Yes you are correct in saying it is VF-211 which is a Fighting Checkmates scheme. I think the confusion comes from both squadrons being on the same carrier. The thing I'm not sure about is 112 being a MiG Killer. VF-211 scored most of their kills flying the E version of the Crusader. There is one account of a VF-211 F-8J engaging a MiG and the number is quoted as 101. However, the kill wasn't credited as before the pilot could launch his Sidewinder the MiG pilot ejected from his plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 I had wondered why this 'kill' was not mentioned in my Crusader book, and my Vietnam book. Researching this 'plane - I found it referenced on a MiG killers decal sheet. It would have been the first Crusader kill for about 3 years, and was right at the supremacy of the Phantom. Some confusion comes from both VF-211 and VF-24 having chequers in their schemes, and the photos all being monochrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breaker Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've got the Furball MiG Killers decal sheet which has all the kills listed, can have a look later if you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 (edited) OK, so fuselage smoothed down and pilot installed.And I've modified that wing - this is how ThePlasticSurgeon does that. Edited September 24, 2015 by theplasticsurgeon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Coming along well Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 And here's how that wing came out - flaps and slats And fitted to fuselage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 (edited) Airbrushed the white tonight - so you wouldn't notice much difference. So here's my previous Crusader form - all 1/72. Hasegawa F-8E built about 1988. Another Hasegawa built around 2000, need to droop the leading edge for this one. An Esci F-8 with Final Touch conversion to an RF-8G, and Talisman decals. Edited September 26, 2015 by theplasticsurgeon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) Airbrushed H166 grey earlier this morning - it's resting in the sun now. Revisiting my Crusader book, I've found that models A-E were first generation, and those afterwards were re-manufactures - almost Crusader IIs. All new 4000 hour wing, and slightly longer nose leg strut. The J also had Boundary Layer Control, also used on the (FN) to reduce carrier approach speed (is this sounding familiar to the Phantom?!?) requiring larger horizontal tailplanes (which are in the kit). Photos, hopefully later tonight. Edited September 27, 2015 by theplasticsurgeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 As I said this morning - airbrushed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted September 30, 2015 Author Share Posted September 30, 2015 Decals - VF-211. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Very crisp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 That looks lovely, very tidy work! W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 So last night I installed the face-curtain. final peek inside before I seal the pilot in. Canopy locked. And applied final decals before I installed the wing, and fitted the mssile rails. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 5, 2015 Author Share Posted October 5, 2015 Declaring completion. Finished a few minutes ago. An interesting feature of this kit, that I've not seen with others is the airbrake, which I've depictedslightly open, as seen in a few photos. As we know jet engines don't spool up very quickly, so navy planes land at full throttle with the airbrake open. Bolter, well the engine is already at max - so retract the airbrake and fly away. Easy. So LTV's decision to put the airbrake in the belly - where it can't be used for landing is, well mysterious to me. Can anybody explain. Gallery photos at the weekend - if the light is good. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Nice model, and very colourful too. Always loved the Crusader, good to see this one finished Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Great finish Tim. What's the next build? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Looks very cool and a great finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Beautiful model, sure look good when clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) More that I took this morning. This is Tim signing off, Last of the Gunfighters. Before rushing off to Staverton to watch a Vulcan. Edited October 11, 2015 by theplasticsurgeon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Great finish Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 That's lovely that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts