Tyas Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 On 9 October 1966 Cdr. Richard M. Bellinger became the first Navy pilot to shoot down a MiG-21. He was flying an F-8E (149159 AH 210) leading three other “Hunter” F-8s as escorts for A-4s from the USS Intrepid. During the flight they were intercepted by a group of MiG-21s which were the newest communist aircraft and a real leap in technology. Using two Sidewinder missiles, Bellinger was able to nab one of the MiGs marking the first Navy kill over the new MiG-21. Back aboard Oriskany, Bellinger said, "I've waited 20 years for something like this. It was a tremendous feeling.". Cdr. Bellinger was awarded the Silver Star by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara aboard the Oriskany one week later. Now to the kit. Academy's F-8, eh... One of the best F-8 Crusader kit around, and the reputation is not without reason. I could go on and on about it, but I won't bore you guys since you can read all the reviews on the internet. Long story short, this is a build I really enjoy despite several complexities like the main landing gear. The reason why I decided to take 149159 as my build subject is because of the story of Cdr. Bellinger's kill that I read once when I was a little boy. As for the decal itself, Academy didn't actually provide decals for BuNo 149159, so I have to improvise by looting numbers from my friend's F-8C conversion build, and cut out the colourful stars on vertical tail plane decals and in place painted the rudder in yellow so I can get the normal all-yellow stars. Now some of you might notice that orange rusty panel on the gun ports, that was because I followed Academy's painting instruction a little too far and forgot to check my reference back so that's that. Enough banter, now for the (not-so-good) photos taken with my Sony Xperia Z1 phone camera. There will be more photos from my actual camera soon but for now this is what I got. Any comments and critiques would be more than welcomed. 36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niknak Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Very nice, great work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 A US Navy plane from the colorful days is always welcome! This Academy F-8 is very special indeed and you have done yourself proud. Great build, well painted... it ticks all the boxes. Congratulations JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Great looking Crusader with a nice piece of history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyas Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 As promised, more (better) photos taken by my proper camera. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 That's great, I do like a Crusader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Beautiful rendition of the Crusader in my favourite period of US Navy colours not a criticism just a tip, run a sharpened pencil around the tyre/wheel rim after painting gives a positive edge especially on white rims and hide's any overpaint(my hands aren't as steady as they were!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyas Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share Posted February 2, 2018 17 minutes ago, stevej60 said: Beautiful rendition of the Crusader in my favourite period of US Navy colours not a criticism just a tip, run a sharpened pencil around the tyre/wheel rim after painting gives a positive edge especially on white rims and hide's any overpaint(my hands aren't as steady as they were!) Thanks for the protip, Steve. Greatly appreciated 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Fantastic work, a lovely kit and very well executed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIGHTS ON Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 gorgeous looking build there, although I not sure the corrosive control department on O-boat would thank you for the description of "rusty" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Good story, good model, good show! Starboard main wheel looks a bit wonky, but that's an even easier fix than repainting the gun panel. I really need to get one of these kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyas Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share Posted February 2, 2018 45 minutes ago, FIGHTS ON said: gorgeous looking build there, although I not sure the corrosive control department on O-boat would thank you for the description of "rusty" Ah. That's what I'm looking for. The anti-corrosion paint. My small brain sometimes went a bit wonky. As wonky as those wheels I painted 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phone Phixer Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Nice work. Looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMSCHLOM Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 I love the rust covered paint around the 20mm guns. I've seen this before on the CAG's bird on the Ticonderoga. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Lovely, I remember seeing a pair of French ones at a Greenham common display back in the 70's. The noise they made! pure power and speed. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyas Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 Whoa, I didn't expect to receive lots of compliments from you guys. Thanks for all the compliments and tips...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Very nice Crusader, Tyas. Great looking model of a great looking aircraft. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 A beautiful aircraft for sure Great work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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