Just completed this Hasegawa 1/48 F-8J. I cut off the wing tips and used the Wolfpack detail set for the folding mechanism. Also used the Eduard PE set for the pit and replaced the kit’s seat with a resin one. Paints used were Testors MM enamels and Alclad metallic paints. The kit decals went down very well with the help of Solvaset. Weathering was done with Flory Washes and oils but kept very subtle since it was the unit commander’s aircraft. Click on the pictures for close ups. All comments welcomed.
PJ, Your Crusader is absolutely stellar. Really beautiful work. The wing folds definitely add to it a lot. I’ll have to look into getting that addition for my F-8 kit. I am a huge fan of Flory washes and your use of them is excellent. Thank You so much for sharing this fine example of your skills and techniques.
Thanks Joe. If you have this one in the stash, the canopy ears and rear frame area needs to be sanded down and thinned on the inside so the canopy can be displayed in the open position, no need for further mods.
The engine sticks out about 1/4 " which is incorrect and needs to be flush with the skin. Otherwise it’s a really nice kit. The Wolfpack wing folds also supply the entire wing tip that is cut from the model.
While the masks were still on I used a 10/0 brush and yellow craft paint to make the yellow stripe. I use craft paint for this because it can easily be corrected with a water damp brush even it it bleeds under the mask and comes off in a pinch. You have to make several passes to build up the color.
I thought the det cord was in the canopy above the pilot, to break the canopy if it failed to detach in the ejection sequence. Isn’t the yellow actually a sealant on the windscreen panels?
double checked and even the Nam era ones I saw on my search had it on either or both canopy and windscreen. Replacement canopies? I thought this is some type of seal/putty?
The det cord was used in later aircraft. The “yellow” is in fact a sealant. If the canopy should fail to separate for an ejection there are pieces on top of the ejection seat that will break the canopy (in theary). That is a great job on the F-8.
Thanks ranger. I know I read somewhere about it being a sealant so thanks for verifying it. I also recall that it was whitish as new and yellowed with age and exposure.
Forgot to mention about the landing light I rigged up. I punched out a small disc from a chrome colored plastic chip bag to use as the light’s reflector. The clear light was painted white and glued in place. I then glued on the mylar disc with clear parts cement on the light’s face and added a drop of the clear cement on top for the lens. Once dry it looks and reflects as an actual light.
