Tag: Training

On the Bench

WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.1 – Construction

Seeing as how badly I’d done my 414th CTS F-16C and how it has fallen apart, I’ve decided to have another go at an F-16 for this year’s annual Aggressor build. Based on some research, I thought the Academy would be a simplified version of the Hasegawa kit and therefore would be a quick build. …...

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My Builds

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...

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On the Bench

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 …...

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On the Bench

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...

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On the Bench

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 …...

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On the Bench

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 …...

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On the Bench

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 …...

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On the Bench

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 …...

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My Builds

Completed : Airfix 1/72 BAE Systems Hawk 109 ‘TNI-AU’

Kit Info Brand: Airfix A03073 Scale: 1/72 Media: Styrene Markings: Scale Nutz A72019 1/72 TNI-AU Hawk 109/209 ‘Unity Guardian’ The Subject The British Aerospace Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, twin seat advanced trainer aircraft. It is used in a trainer capacity and as a low-cost combat aircraft. First flown in 1974,...

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On the Bench

WIP : Airfix 1/72 Hawk 109 Pt. 3 – Finishing

Time to finish this thing. The markings come from Scale Nutz, a defunct decal company based in Singapore. The sheet comes with full stencils for 1 aircraft but enough unit numbers to build any of the Hawk 109 and 209s in TNI-AU service in either squadron. I went with TT-1203 from Skadron 12 for this …...

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