WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-2A Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Since I’m attaching the pylons from the beginning, I painted them first with the area around the sway braces being handpainted. The pins were all slightly oversized so I had to make the holes larger for the pylons to fit. The F-2 color scheme is an overall FS35109 medium blue with FS35045 dark blue highlights. …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-2A Pt.1 – Construction
The first build of 2024 is Japan’s indigenous F-16 variant, the F-2 Viper Zero. Hasegawa usually makes some extra effort with Japanese subjects, let’s see how this one builds up. First impressions are mixed. This mold is from 1998 but it’s barely more detailed than the F-16 that’s from the 1980s. A plus is that...
A shopping spree in Tokyo in December 2023
At the end of December, my family and I made a short trip to one of our favorite vacation spots, Japan! Scale modeling shopping is always on the to-do list when in Japan. As we decided to take it easy and not hit every tourist spot in Tokyo, this trip afforded me a chance to …...
Completed : Hasegawa 1/48 Lockheed/Mitsubishi F-104J Starfighter
Kit Info Brand: Hasegawa 09385 Scale: 1/48 Media: Injection Markings: TwoBobs 48-051 ‘F-104J Komatsu Starfighters’ The Subject The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft developed for the USAF, but would serve the air forces of more than a dozen countries. It set many world speed records...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 6 – Finishing
Once fully cured and wiped down, I sprayed another layer of gloss to prep for a panel wash. This time I decided to do it with Vallejo Dark Grey Model Wash instead of the usual Mig AMMO panel wash. I figured this one will give a subtler effect. I haven’t used it in a while …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 5 – Finishing
I begin with a gloss coat. I use AK Interactive’s Intermediate Gauzy, thinned 1:1 with water. There’s a tendency for gloss or flat coats to change the tone of metal paints but I’m glad to say that it works well with metal paints. Markings will be from the TwoBobs ‘F-104J Komatsu Starfighters’ sheet. As usual...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 4 – Painting
Painting the bare metal finish is next. I’ve had good results from the Vallejo Metal Color line which are acrylics, a more exotic choice than the usual lacquers like Alclad. I begin by masking off the colored areas with masking tape and paper. First on is Metal Color Aluminium. The paint goes on easily when …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 3 – Painting
Painting begins with a black base with Tamiya XF-1 Black. The F-104J I’m modeling is a unit from the 202nd Hikotai, 5th Kokuden out of Nyutabaru Air Base in 1979. It sported a custom scheme over its all metal finish when it flew as an aggressor. So out come Tamiya XF-2 Flat White for the …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 2 – Construction
Once properly painted, washed and weathered, the out of the box cockpit looks good. Fit in general is good. The instructions don’t call for it but I added some fishing weights in the nose just in case. The tip of the tail broke off during construction. This was fixed with plastic plates. As usual, some …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/48 F-104J Starfighter Pt. 1 – Construction
Trying to get my building routine going again, I decided to tackle a 1/48 kit next. This will be an F-104J flown by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force dressed in ‘Aggressor’ markings in the 1970s. I got this kit used from an online seller and it came with a set of aftermarket resin wheel bays …...
