Wow that office looks good Toshi, best one yet.  Good luck on your NMF what ever technique you decide to use.

Hi Everyone,

Using Bare Metal Foil can be difficult at times. I am working in a 1/48 P-51 in Bare Metal Foil. This is a really difficult model to cover with Bare Metal Foil due to the complex curves at the underbelly air intake. However, I was able to make it  work by breaking up the air intake into seperate panels of foil. Also, it is really easy to stretch Bare Metal Foil around curves.

Gamera

Hey Toshi, the cockpit looks good. 

And btw you might either dig up some old scrap models or buy something small and cheap to practice NM finishes on. Both foil and Alclad will give good results, I think it's a matter of what you prefer using. Personally I was never able to get the foil to work very well around complex curves but I've seen some people like JohnnyK get perfect results from it.  

 

Toshi

Hey Toshi, the cockpit looks good. 

And btw you might either dig up some old scrap models or buy something small and cheap to practice NM finishes on. Both foil and Alclad will give good results, I think it's a matter of what you prefer using. Personally I was never able to get the foil to work very well around complex curves but I've seen some people like JohnnyK get perfect results from it.  

Here is a quick start on the F-104G Starfighter.  Everything is just in a dry fit stage with a little bit of AB work.  Yes, thanks to Mrs. Toshi, I finally got my AB fixed by replacing the 0.35 needle as well as the 0.35 nozzle.  I still need to add a few more things in the cockpit and make some minor adjustments needed.  Thank you forum members for your support.

Toshi

Yes, there were three seat types used in the F-104. The early A had the downward firing Lockheed C1 seat. After its' shortcomings were discoverd during actual flight operations, they were replaced with the upward firing Lockheed C2 seat on later As, as well as the B & C USAF models. Better than the C1 type, but it still had minimum altitude and airspeed limitations. Most export/foreign built types (G, J, & S) had the later improved zero/zero type Martin Baker seats.

XF-15DCC

I think the first F-104's ejected down. That would raise the casualty rate. Lockheed sub contracted to Stanley and then went to Martin Baker to make the seat. I may be wrong ...

 

I rememeber some old F-4 crew chiefs would say, "meet your maker in a Martin Baker". I believe this saying was due to a ground safety pin that was hard to reach under the seat or maybe an early reliability rate.

 

 

Kevin

 

I think the first F-104's ejected down. That would raise the casualty rate. Lockheed sub contracted to Stanley and then went to Martin Baker to make the seat. I may be wrong ...

I rememeber some old F-4 crew chiefs would say, "meet your maker in a Martin Baker". I believe this saying was due to a ground safety pin that was hard to reach under the seat or maybe an early reliability rate.

Kevin

patrick206

Toshi -

What's up? The box has been opened for several hours, and you still haven't completed it yet. Are you on strike for some reason???? Get some glue and paint on that thing, your speed build reputation is on the line.

Patrick

 

I was contemplating which type to build as stickpusher brought to forum members attention that the F104G flew in US colors.  I originally was going with Canadian colors and I'm still considering this as I have no Canadian color aircraft.  Descisions descisions!  LOL!  Thank you my friend for the visit and making my day!

ihsot  LOL!

Toshi -

What's up? The box has been opened for several hours, and you still haven't completed it yet. Are you on strike for some reason???? Get some glue and paint on that thing, your speed build reputation is on the line.

Patrick

Yes, and Japan had the F-104J, which was similar to the G but with Japanese avionics.

I was wondering about that. The sources I have say that the USAF operated the F-104A/B/C.

The two main non-US versions were the F-104G and F-104S. The F-104S added the AIM-7 Sparrow.  

stikpusher

 

 

seasick

US markings? I didn't think that the USAF operated the F-104G.

 

 

 

 

The 104Gs in USAF markings were at Luke AFB in AZ, where they were used by the Bundesluftwaffe for training in the better flying conditions there. They were owned and operated by the Germans, but flew there is US colors. 

 

 

Toshi

1943Mike

Toshi,

I'll be following. It's my favorite (looking) aircraft of the 1950's 100 series. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to fly one though - had a very bad reputation - lots of pilots lost.

 

 

It all depends upon who flew it and how. The Spaniards flew it with zero losses, while other air arms endured varying loss rates. It was not for the novice or complacent pilot. 

seasick

US markings? I didn't think that the USAF operated the F-104G.

 

The 104Gs in USAF markings were at Luke AFB in AZ, where they were used by the Bundesluftwaffe for training in the better flying conditions there. They were owned and operated by the Germans, but flew there is US colors. 

1943Mike

Toshi,

I'll be following. It's my favorite (looking) aircraft of the 1950's 100 series. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to fly one though - had a very bad reputation - lots of pilots lost.

 

 

Toshi

JohnnyK

Toshi,

You are a really good modeler, why not try using Bare Metal Foil for the natrual metal finish? I recently finished a P-47 with BMF and I am currently working on a P-51 and a B-29. I have stopped trying to simulate a MNF using paint. IMHO, It just doesn't look right because paint cannot simulate real metal. Only metal looks like metal. Let me know if you will use BMF and I'll share my experience and pass on a bunch of tips. 

 

John

 

Toshi

P.S.  I did see your P-47, that sir is an amazing build!

seasick

US markings? I didn't think that the USAF operated the F-104G.

 

1,122 aircraft of the main version produced as multi-role fighter-bombers. Manufactured by Lockheed, and under license by Canadair and a consortium of European companies which included Messerschmitt/MBB, Dornier, Fiat, Fokker, and SABCA. The type featured strengthened fuselage and wing structure, increased internal fuel capacity, an enlarged vertical fin, strengthened landing gear with larger tires, and revised flaps for improved combat maneuvering. Upgraded avionics included a new Autonetics NASARR F15A-41B radar with air-to-air and ground mapping modes, the Litton LN-3 Inertial Navigation System (the first on a production fighter), and an infrared sight.

crown r n7

nice kit that goes 2.0 the speed of Toshi lol man you can really put them together

 

Toshi

Toshi,

I'll be following. It's my favorite (looking) aircraft of the 1950's 100 series. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to fly one though - had a very bad reputation - lots of pilots lost.

Toshi,

You are a really good modeler, why not try using Bare Metal Foil for the natrual metal finish? I recently finished a P-47 with BMF and I am currently working on a P-51 and a B-29. I have stopped trying to simulate a MNF using paint. IMHO, It just doesn't look right because paint cannot simulate real metal. Only metal looks like metal. Let me know if you will use BMF and I'll share my experience and pass on a bunch of tips. 

John

US markings? I didn't think that the USAF operated the F-104G.

nice kit that goes 2.0 the speed of Toshi lol man you can really put them together