Here is part 2 of a
3-part article on the 102nd FW Legacy Project I recently completed.
Some of the decals were available in commercial form, and some I had to create.
All models are 1/48th scale, and will be donated to the unit for
display at Otis Air National Guard Base.
F-84F
For the F-84F, I used Monograms’ P-84F kit. For the kit’s age, I was
really impressed with it. I made the numbers and letters on the computer and
printed them, and once again, had a bit of a silvering problem. To make the
clover leaf trim fuel tank markings, I painted them white, and then used
Microscale’s green trim film and clover leafs from an F-4J Eagle Strike sheet
that included VMFA-333. They are a bit oversized, but acceptable.
Click on
images below to see larger images
F-100D
The unit only flew the F-100D for a couple of years before switching to the
F-106. The markings I chose are worn by a plane on a pole at Otis, and I don’t
think one was ever marked this way operationally. I used the Monogram kit, and
made the tail band with Microscale green trim film. I covered it with Future to
seal it, because I would be applying the letter decals to the band before
placing on the kit. It was easier to work with it on a flat surface, and needed
to protect the green band from the water on the letter decals. Other markings
were from spare decals, and thanks to Dave aka “The Phantom Two”.
Click on
images below to see larger images
F-106
The Monogram F-106, using Experts Choice decals, was done completely out of the
box. To prevent a tail-sitter, I inserted quite a lot of fishing weights in the
forward fuselage; I don’t know how much, but it is very
heavy.
Click on
images below to see larger images
T-33
I used the Testors T-33 kit and Experts Choice 1/72nd F-106 decals
for the markings. Also, thanks to “breadboard” and “Trigger” for extra
T-33 decals that were used as well. The tail markings were a bit tricky, and not
100% the same as the real plane, but close enough.
Click
on images below to see larger images
F-15A
Old School
For the F-15A Old School (ghost grey scheme), I used the Academy F-15C backdated
to an A, and the Experts Choice decals for the unit. I had to change the wheels,
and after some dilemma of which gear parts to use from the kit and the Monogram
F-15 kit, I decided to use the kit’s main gear, back wheels and the Monogram
front wheel and hub. The Monogram gear was much different, and this was the best
solution as a solid gear connection was critical. I also dropped the ailerons.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Part 3 will be a
single model article…an F-15 depicting its launch on
11 September 2001
.
Ken
Click
here for Part 1 of this article
Click
here for Part 3 of this article
|
|