Freedom F-104 ( Toon)

[ScanmanDan]

The only kit under the tree for me this year was this little gem from Freedom.  

 

 

A two kit boxing of a F-104, both single and two seater in the one box.

 

As we were having a very quiet Christmas I jumped in and bashed out some cockpit details and assembled the single seater.

 

 

 

 

Then buttoned up the lot and shot some semi gloss black from a Tamiya rattle can followed by some silver leaf from Tamiya on top.  Added some of the decals today after lunch and I'll hit it with gloss tonight before bedtime . 

 

 

 

 

 I'll work a bit on the landing gear and base tomorrow, ( I have to resist the temptation of touching the darn thing until the gloss sets hard.)  I might just get this one done and in the case by New Years.

I love these little critters and these ones from Freedom look pretty darn good.  They have a F-5 that looks mighty interesting.....

Thanks for looking in.

[RidgeRunner]

Oddly cute but, of course, anything "F-104" just has to be praised ;). Nice build.

 

Martin

[exdraken]

Cute is the right word!

[ScanmanDan]

Thanks for your kind comments, these kits are very cute

 

Knocked out the base while I'm waiting for all the tiny bits to dry.  Pretty standard fair and built as per all my other bases.  I did try adding in a bit of coloured grout to the plaster mix and that seams to have worked well though the colour is a bit too dark.  It added a nice texture to the concrete.  

 

 

 

I hope to do final assembly tomorrow.

[SandyBay]

That’s a good quick build, your base is really impressive, can you give some details o how you’ve made it?

[ScanmanDan]

I'm happy you like my little base.  

They aren't too much hassle to make.  I use a pre-cut wooden furniture leg that I get from my local hardware chain ( Bunnings)  by turning it upside down I get a nice chunky tapered base.  Next I superglue a lip made from 2mm  styrene Evergreen around the top to contain the groundwork.  To fill the end grain I use a thinned mix of Tamiya grey putty and Tamiya lacquer thinners.  This all takes just an hour or so. to get to this stage.

 

 

I often make a few at a time as it's just a bit easier and they can sit on the shelf in storage for when they are next needed.  For finish I use two coats of hardware store flat black from a rattle can( with a nice rub down with steel wool between coats) and a last top coat with satin black again from a rattle can.

 

I then add groundwork on top.  For the concrete I used a mix of plaster of paris, grey tile grout and light grey acrylic paint.  Used a small steel ruler as a screed and roughed up the surface once almost set with a stiff stipple brush and a brass wire brush.   After it set a bit I scribed the paving lines.   Before weathering I sealed the 'concrete' with a few light coats of gloss varnish from a rattle can once dry I added the white line with an airbrush.  Weathering is lots and lots of thinned enamels from Tamiya thinned with Humbrol enamel thinners and a little bit of ground pastels.  A couple of hours work some last night and then a bit this afternoon.

 

This is what a scenic one looks like ( About 90mm square)

 

 

IHTH.

Edited December 28, 2018 by ScanmanDan

[RidgeRunner]

Excellent

 

Martin

[SandyBay]

Very ingenious, thank you for taking the time to explain it so well.

[ScanmanDan]

I hope you give a base a try.  They are great fun and can really set off a model.

 

All done!

 

 

I have finished my little bird and more pictures available here.  

Finished pictures