It seems that model building is a lesson in problem solving: Before I got too carried away with painting the bottom of the 'Geasel', I needed to think about the ALQ-119 pod to be mounted in the LH forward Sparrow bay. Naturally, the Hasegawa kit doesn't provide any underwing stores, so I had to get one of their add-on weapons kits to obtain one. (Same with the required AGM missiles) The other problem was the pylon for the pod! They don't provide that either! I knew I would likely have to scratch one, but I didn't know what it looked like.
I came up with an alternative: The Italeri kit in my stash has a "G" option and provides both the pod and the pylon! The part in question is already mounted to its pylon, but like the rest of the kit, details are 'soft', poorly done, with ejector pin marks deeply embedded in the side. The pylon would be usable though.
Cutting off the locater pins from the bottom, I cemented the whole piece into the bay, using the other kit part as a guide:
![](http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4339/0226110104a.jpg)
The Hasegawa part that will be used is held there by a bit of tape for comparison.
Once set, I cut away the crappy Italeri pod, leaving the two tiny rods that where the new one will mount (hard to see with my stupid camera, I know!). How I will mount it securely will be a problem for another day, but maybe some brass wires drilled in may be the answer:
![](http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5893/0226110108.jpg)
New part taped in place to get a 'feel' for it:
![](http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3947/0226110110.jpg)
Comparing the good and the bad:
![](http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6204/0226110114.jpg)
Hopefully, it will someday look somewhat like this:
![](http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/9519/800px276594372ff230e2b6.jpg)
As always, sorry for the quality of my pictures, I wish I had a better camera.....
Also I would mention that after examination of the Italeri kit with its raised panel lines, poor fit, lots of ejector pin marks in all the wrong places, and lack of decent detail issues, I decided this kit is fair game for savaging parts, including the decals that will go to the Hasegawa 'Geasel'! No intentions to ever build it.