billn53 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I'm in process of adding to my collection of Wisconsin-related aircraft. Currently, I'm building three classic fighters of the Wisconsin Air National Guard: F-89C Scorpion, F-86A Sabre, and F-51D Mustang. Here's a link to the WIP: First to cross the finish line is the F-89C Scorpion! Let's get straight to the pics . . . . A few detail shots: Cockpit is mostly stock, except for the bang seats, which are from Pavla: For some reason, this little detail brings a smile to my face 😁 . It is an HO-scale locomotive windshield wiper, re-purposed. I used Albion tubing to add the gun barrels (one of which needs to be cleaned out, I see): I added steering hydraulic lines to the nose gear with lead wire. The engine compressor fan comes with the Hobby Craft kit: I also used Pavla exhausts, but in retrospect the kit items are just as nice: Decals specific to the Wisconsin ANG were home made. The star & bars insignia are from a Microscale sheet, and other stencils were scanned from the Revell F-89D/J decal sheet (which, unfortunately, resulted in loss of detail). Wing tank lights are resin items by CMK: Tail lights were made using UV-activated acrylic gel: The natural metal finish was done with AK Interactive XTreme Metal paints, which were a joy to use. The base coat was XTreme Metal "aluminum" over a layer of Alclad Gloss Medium Gray. To create the worn appearance, I lightly over-sprayed the base coat with polished aluminum through a mottling mask. 49 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich G Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Really nice work, very clean build with some smart detail work, not as bright as some of the others out there with all the high vis red markings but I like it, it's a nice cold war subject! Rich 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 That seems to be a rather worthwhile Hobbycraft kit! I've always had some soft spot for the Scorpion, so many thanks for this evening brightener! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 It’s very attractive model, Bill! 👍 All the small things along with the build quality is superb. The NMF is on the top, too! 👏 Top-notch build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRealMrEd Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Well done, Bill! A very neat and pretty model! Ed 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 7 minutes ago, TheRealMrEd said: Well done, Bill! A very neat and pretty model! Ed Thank you, Ed. High praise indeed considering the source 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 The model is wonderful, the setting superb and the photography is excellent. It doesn't get any better than that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Excellent build on the Scorpion, I’m a big fan of the National Guard ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Duvalier Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I kind of like the plainness of the markings compared to the vibrant colours one expects on a Scorpion. The stencilled WIS-ANG markings on the prototype have a rushed and temporary look about them, as if somebody high on the food chain wanted those F-89s marked by close of business tomorrow or else; it's a fetching look for a model. I can't help but think a battery of six 20mm cannon would be more effective than the rocket pods added to the later marks, based on the less than stellar performance of the documented F-89 air-to-air rocket engagements. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 minute ago, Jackson Duvalier said: I kind of like the plainness of the markings compared to the vibrant colours one expects on a Scorpion. The stencilled WIS-ANG markings on the prototype have a rushed and temporary look about them, as if somebody high on the food chain wanted those F-89s marked by close of business tomorrow or else; it's a fetching look for a model. Not to mention the faded “FV-439” on the rear fuselage, as if the ground crew did the best they could with what they had to remove the “FV” markings, before stenciling in the ANG codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin-42 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 (edited) Thanks for sharing. I find it ironic that the older Scorpions would be the only ones likely to shoot anything down, given the accuracy of the unguided missiles and unreliability of the Falcons. Until the “Who cares if we miss Genies”. Edited February 16, 2021 by Robin-42 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 The removed waist markings, is that a grey decal? Looks great to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 44 minutes ago, busnproplinerfan said: The removed waist markings, is that a grey decal? Looks great to me. Yes, it’s a gray decal that I oversprayed with a very light coat of thinned aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 They were a handsome rather than good looking aircraft, your model though Bill, is quite beautiful Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 6 minutes ago, stevehnz said: They were a handsome rather than good looking aircraft, your model though Bill, is quite beautiful Steve. Thanks so much, Steve. I’ve not been attracted to the Scorpion, but it’s starting to grow on me and I now have two others in the stash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 37 minutes ago, billn53 said: Yes, it’s a gray decal that I oversprayed with a very light coat of thinned aluminum. I had an idea like that and was wondering if it would work. Now I know, thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus999 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 That looks wonderful! I really appreciate the weathering and the scrubbed out buzz code in the back. The diorama is really nice too! I have to agree with others here that building the occasional "workhorse" without the flashy colors really hits the spot like this one does. I've enjoyed the WIP so far and have learned a few things along the way... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 38 minutes ago, opus999 said: I have to agree with others here that building the occasional "workhorse" without the flashy colors really hits the spot like this one does. Thank you. If I had wanted a flashy Scorpion, I could have gone with this one: Known as the "Blue Streak", this aircraft belonged to the 433rd Fighter Intercept Squadron and was the base commander's plane at Truax Field (Madison, WI) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Nice job, I've always liked the F-89, looks like a really good build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 I didn't know that the early F-89s had a cannon armament. Not only a site for great models (like yours) but educational too. Bonus! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Natter said: I didn't know that the early F-89s had a cannon armament. Not only a site for great models (like yours) but educational too. Bonus! The original government requirements called for gun turrets in the nose and tail. the requirement for the tail turret was dropped, but there are photos of a Scorpion with a prototype nose turret fitted. Other armament options were also examined, and would make for interesting kit conversions: The turreted nose: More lethal nose armament: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swralph Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Lovely build.😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Very nicely done, great job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Magnificent work! The NMF is exemplary! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Keg Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Very nice ( again! ) Bill. I look forward to viewing the entire collection once you have it completed. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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