Marcin Wojciechowski Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 (edited) I am a fan of models belonging to the vintage category, i.e. old models released until the end of the 1980s (the limit date is 1989). I also like to renew models and I love the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter plane. I decided to renew and modernize the F-104 model from the Matchbox set with the catalog number PK-28, which I bought as model scrap at one of the auction sites. darmowy hosting obrazków I started working on the model by putting it together and removing old paint. I used a caustic soda solution for this. I removed paint residue with a toothbrush and fine grain sandpaper. darmowy hosting obrazków In accordance with my work plan on this historic model, I cut a hole for the front landing gear hatch and widened the pilot's cabin opening. darmowy hosting obrazków I began working on the cockpit by reworking the original armchair, which was in no way similar to the armchair used on a real plane. As a model, I used the Martin Baker GQ-7A chair. These seats were used on German and Italian F-104G / S. Another work on the instrument panel. I have added some small ones on the board and it will be glued together so that the whole cockpit is ready. Friday evening was spent installing the floor and the rear wall of the cockpit. The whole looks very strict and requires refinement, but with the instrument panel and armchair the cockpit should look much better. Work on 104 is still ongoing and focused on the cockpit. The side panels have been angled correctly for the real machine. Now I will drill holes for the throttle lever and the joystick Edited September 23, 2019 by Marcin Wojciechowski 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 This could be interesting to watch! What are your plans for it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.1127 Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 This is right up my street, a great idea to stop a model heading off to landfill: "green" modelling! look forward to seeing how you get on with it. What's your plan regarding the paint scheme? Jack 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 9 minutes ago, JohnT said: This could be interesting to watch! What are your plans for it? Valorisation of the cockpit, hatch of the front chassis, independently pressed cab cover, completely new painting. The model will probably be painted in the colors of the German Navy Vikings. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 4 minutes ago, P.1127 said: This is right up my street, a great idea to stop a model heading off to landfill: "green" modelling! look forward to seeing how you get on with it. What's your plan regarding the paint scheme? Jack I will probably choose the painting scheme of the German Vikings show team, which in the 80s performed a turn around the USA and Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Long time gone since I've built the Matchbox kit. Nice to follow your "rebuild"Marcin! Cheers / André 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 On 05/09/2019 at 01:36, Andre B said: Long time gone since I've built the Matchbox kit. Nice to follow your "rebuild"Marcin! Cheers / André I am pleased to. I have three completely new F-104G sets and four TF-104G from Matchbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The joystick is made of pieces of rods and thin pieces of polystyrene and masking tape. It is possible that I will make a second version of the rod with a plastic handle and pieces of tape only at the top and bottom of the handle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizon Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Awesome, great to see someone with a similar mission to mine... Currently I am dissassemblying and cleaning a number of models built whem my skills were not all that good. I usually use break fluid to remove the paint, as it also desolves the glue joints. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 26 minutes ago, Rizon said: Awesome, great to see someone with a similar mission to mine... Currently I am dissassemblying and cleaning a number of models built whem my skills were not all that good. I usually use break fluid to remove the paint, as it also desolves the glue joints. Could you give the name of this paint stripper or include a photo of it? Is this plate safe for plastic and does not damage its surface? I use caustic soda dissolved in cold water to remove the paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 2 minutes ago, Marcin Wojciechowski said: Could you give the name of this paint stripper or include a photo of it? Is this plate safe for plastic and does not damage its surface? I use caustic soda dissolved in cold water to remove the paint. Oven cleaner will strip plastic and attack the glue joints as well, but it will make the plastic brittle, and obviously will cloud clear parts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rizon Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 1 hour ago, Marcin Wojciechowski said: Could you give the name of this paint stripper or include a photo of it? Is this plate safe for plastic and does not damage its surface? I use caustic soda dissolved in cold water to remove the paint. Normal automotive brake fluid, usually the cheapest works best (not synthetic one, that dont work). I prefer brake fluid over other chemicals as it does not smell strongly and is easy to apply and sticks to the surface, as it is oil. Takes a night or so to work on the paint and glue. It also makes the plastic a bit brittle if left for more than 2 days. Clear parts also frost a bit, but is quickly polished out. Of course it is also important to then clean the parts afterwards with detergent to remove the remaining brake fluid. R 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 The shelf behind the armchair is made. Soon it will feature Starfighter rails to which the armchair was attached. Armchair in the picture without mounting rails. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 Continued coverage of Starfighter's construction with Matchbox. This time, the work involved mounting the chair, cutting and adjusting the fairing. One of the photos shows a comparison of the fairings of the original set and embossed by me. free image hosting 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Excellent reconstruction work, Marcin! 👏 The seat and the canopy looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 Work on the renovation of the Starfighter is still ongoing. Now they are working on painting the cockpit and instrument panel. Soon I will paint the pilot's chair. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Nice work and very dedicated - I'd have binned it after a couple of hours at most! That restored set is very impressive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 1 hour ago, mackem01 said: Nice work and very dedicated - I'd have binned it after a couple of hours at most! That restored set is very impressive. I like to repair and renew such old sets of aircraft models, especially if it is my beloved Starfighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) Instrument panel ready for assembly. image share Edited October 24, 2019 by Marcin Wojciechowski 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempestwulf Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 There's a primal urge and satisfaction from seeing a scratch built cockpit of an old Matchbox kit come to fruition. They're still fine kits and some are the best, if only, in scale still. A real blank slate for any artist to build up. A Matchbox Wellington was the first real attempt at scratch building a cockpit I made. Kit didn't survive but it was great practice. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted October 29, 2019 Author Share Posted October 29, 2019 Continued work on rebuilding Starfighter. Part of the hull glued together, the cockpit needs to be supplemented with a throttle lever and a box recording flight parameters behind the seat. The instrument panel is now in place. This weekend I plan to paint a reclining chair. On the main chassis covers, I made Bulip plastic bulge for larger chassis wheels. It still requires polishing. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 Work on 104 continues. Today is the time to attach the black box behind the pilot's seat and correct the length of the front arch of the chassis and polish the protuberances on the hatch covers of the main chassis. I used a two-component Milliput mass. serwer na pliki 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Today, modestly only the front landing gear hatch, which received walls. Now you will have to fill it with small things 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Hi Marcin. Thanks for alerting me to this build (via your comments in my old Eiko thread). It's very satisfying to see an old kit being brought back to life in this way. Where did the new canopy come from? Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcin Wojciechowski Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 4 hours ago, CliffB said: Hi Marcin. Thanks for alerting me to this build (via your comments in my old Eiko thread). It's very satisfying to see an old kit being brought back to life in this way. Where did the new canopy come from? Cheers Cliff The new cabin cover is pressed by myself using the vacuum method. I used VIVAK for pressing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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