1/48 NASA Starfighter W.I.P. Finally

Just an observation but I'm always amazed at the detail of resin parts and how crude and clunky the back of the mold is leaving you holding the fragile side while you saw or grind off the excess material. Minor complaint and I am underway fitting the new cockpit and seat.  

Max

It's been a departure from the path on the NASA Starfighter project of months ago and maybe its time to uncover it once again. Lots of excuses here on my part, some made, some fate.

One of the excuses is a new 1/1 scratch build vintage motorcycle project that I've talked about for years with the theme of attempting a land speed record for its class. Not too scary, it's only 100ccs and the record is a bit over 100MPH. In reality it's just a model on a slightly larger scale. I'm old and the project may never be finished but one needs a goal in projects and it does look good in the shop and supplies that feeling of well being. 

The next excuse was a replacement of my old motorcycle knee last month with an unobtainium one that keeps me from crawling around on the floor for a while. All is well, but the land speed record is on hold. Back to model building and the 104 is first on the list. 

It will be fun to be active on the Modelers Forum again as I did miss the gang but had nothing to talk about.

Onward!

Max

Here' a shot of the competing project, progress on Hodaka Forum/2 the Max Project

The NASA Starfighter lives!

plasticjunkie

Hey Max, I don't know how old you are but back in the 1960's the 3 TV stations we had in Miami played this clip at sign off time every night. I love this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3WueJWlb4

 

PJ! I had forgotten about that! Fun. Yes, at 75 I'd been alive quite a while, LOL!

Hey Max, I don't know how old you are but back in the 1960's the 3 TV stations we had in Miami played this clip at sign off time every night. I love this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3WueJWlb4

I'll get by,with a little help from my friends.  A couple of great projects ahead of you.

As I said, The NASA decals have arrived with a long story and a good Samariten person tale of a fellow modeler. I posted the story on the Forums General Modeling Disscussion under Latest Acquisitions where it kinda got lost. Too long to retype so check it out there along with a silly picture of me.    Actually the're all silly, I never do straight pictures.

The jist of the story is a large box came with the decals and a surprise 1/72 F-111G kit that I was kinda looking for about a year ago. There are still really nice people on earth as I now remember.

Max

I love that plane...

Gang, A fellow modeler has saved the day. NASA Victory Production F-104 decals have arrived for the specimin I need, all cut out of a sheet of many versions. Long story, more to follow!

Max

I always liked the 104.  I'e only see a couple functional ones but remember the covers they put over the leading edge of the wings to protect people. 

Maybe later you could do a F-106 in NASA markings.  I saw 3 or 4 of them at Langly when I went there to help the 48th FIS.  I think they wew being used for lightning strike evaluation and studies.

Hasegawa also had a 1/48 version with several NASA decal options. 

Ken

Both Microscale/Superscale and Victory Productions offered NASA decal sheets in 1/48. However they are now out of production. Testors and ESCI both had boxings of the F-104 in NASA markings, that also offer you a way to obtain the decals. Or you can print your own.

BTW, looking at photos, it appears that NASA used both short tailed A models, as well as the long tailed N model based off of the G.

Awesome.  I love the 104, so I'll be following.  Great idea to do a NASA version.  Will your astronaut friend will be guiding you in this next build? 

By the way, your space shuttle build was excellent. 

Cheers, Mark