F-104G: exhaust color?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Hey, guys:

I’m currently building the Hasegawa kit. This being my first jet since getting back into the hobby, I’m not sure what colors to use for the inside or outside of the exhaust assembly (mainfold, flameholder; and external part–afterburner?).

I’m using MM enamels, and don’t plan to weather much (ie, it’ll be a new looking bird).

For the outside, use maybe silver or steel, and for the inside (manifold and flameholder) just airbrush it all flat black and call it a day…? The instructions call for MM burnt iron, but IMHO, their burnt iron doesn’t look very realistic. So I’m looking for colors and/or weathering techniques that’ll make the interior and exterior bits look realistic.

Thanks!

PB

PS–Did any of that make any sense at all?

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Try MM Jet Exhaust with a wash of Flat Black and very light drybrush with Steel. The F-104 uses a GE J-79 engine so an image search may give you some ideas. Try Aircraft Resource Center or Cybermodeler’s walkaround sections on the F-104 or J79.

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Maybe these will help…

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That engine looks like it’s never been run. Did someone scrub it out with steel wool? It’s sooo shiny!

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Most jet exhausts including flameholders, tailpipes, and, afterburner petals that I’ve seen

are predominantly a light tan with some light streaking of gray and black.

The early J-79’s were pretty smokey, too. So, a little more dry-brushed black wouldn’t hurt

it any. The tan, gray, and, black should be dry-brushed over steel…

Ray

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Har! That was my thought–that’s a wicked clean engine.

Thanks for the info, guys. I have some MM Jet Exhaust, so I guess I’ll use that as a base, then dirty it up a bit with either drybrushing or a wash. Hm. As for all the bits on the inside…dunno…maybe just flat black…?

Cybermodeler has a pretty good photo:

http://www.cybermodeler.net/aircraft/f-104/images/pima_f-104d-15.jpg

PB

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Here’s a shot of a less clean one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2145/1804955070_5f476689d9.jpg?v=0

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Thanks! So what color would you say that is? Tan? Rust?

PB

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I think that last picture is Bonneville salt and a touch of carbon black! Neat shot!

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Well, based on that last photo, I started with a base of MM Jet Exhaust, then a thin spray of oily black, then a thin spray of rust lightened with dark tan, then drybrushed some dark tan and rust separately, then a black pastel wash, then a lighter tan pastel wash. Here are results:

I love doing all that work for something you won’t be able to see when the build is complete! :slight_smile:

PB

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Modern engines burn clean, older engines like that of the F-104 could get somewhat sootie.

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Thanks for the photos!

I can do soot. LOTS of soot. :slight_smile:

PB

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J-79 = SOOT!