Completed : Platz 1/72 Mitsubishi F-1
Kit InfoBrand: Platz AC-9Scale: 1/72Media: StyreneMarkings: Kit The SubjectThe Mitsubishi F-1 is a Japanese single-seat, twin-engine supersonic strike aircraft that was in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) from 1978 to 2006. Jointly developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries, it...
WIP : Platz 1/72 Mitsubishi F-1 Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Due to how the gearbay doors work on the real F-1, this kit requires the landing gear to be installed from the beginning. At first, I was worried that I would break them during the painting stage. However, it allowed me to a make sure that they fit properly and strongly. The landing gear were …...
WIP : Platz 1/72 Mitsubishi F-1 Pt.1 – Construction
Took me a while to get this post up but it’s finally here. This is a modern kit of this 1980s strike fighter and is the only other option besides the old Hasegawa release. I began as usual with dryfitting the majority of the parts, using masking tape to keep the parts in place. The …...
Preview : 1/72 F-4 Phantom II kit comparison (Fine Molds, Fujimi and Hasegawa)
The fine folks at Fine Molds have a reputation of superbly done kits and the latest kit in their quiver is the F-4 Phantom II, the first versions (the Japanese EJ and EJ Kai) of which were released in December 2019. With this new kit in my hands, I now have F-4 kits from four …...
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 …...
