John Jeffers, La Habra, California
“It is a 1/48 scale Ertl/AMT F7F-3 Tigercat, mostly,” says John, “and other parts from a Monogram A-1E Skyraider, an F-84F Thunderstreak, an AH-1 Cobra, and an A-4M Skyhawk. I don't have an airbrush, so all my work is with a rattle can and masking tape. It took me three tries to get the camouflage pattern I liked. I added Snakeye bombs from Hasegawa and a rocket pod and minigun from Monogram. I also used True Detail wheels and Microscale decals. I had to use 2 ounces of lead in the nose, an ounce behind each engine, and cut and shorten the nose oleo so the plane would sit on its landing gear. I cut the prop hubs off and flipped the props over to get the right pitch.”