F-8E Jolly Rogers

Microscale 72-205 Sheet with VF-84 Markings  

Completed cockpit, I intentional left off the ejection rings above the seat and the heads up display to protect them from damage. I will add them when I close the canopy 

The internal components in the starboard fuselage ready for dry fitting, I need to trim the wheel bay a bit to get a good fit.  

One of my least favorite parts of the build masking the canopy. I outlined int with Tamiya flexible tape a decal goes over the inside edge so I did not have to be dead on the lines; 

The completely masked canopy with additional masking tape. I used to dip my canopies in Future but I find this step did not add much and I can clear any mistakes with acrylic solvent without harming the clear plastic, you cannot do that with future as it will also disolve.  

For the front of the canopy with some complex curves I used Microscale liquid mask, This is the first coat I needed a second to ensure coverage 

Since there is no pilot and I did not want to do surgery to drop the flaps I am building the model with the in the retracted position not its takeoff position. I was dry testing the fit and found the bulkhead installed even though it is not seen improved the fit.  

The forward fuselage with the HUD and ejection ring installed just prior to cementing the canopy 

The completed fuselage and wing. As the aircraft will be finised cold war USN Gull grey and white, I decided to keep the kit as sub assemblies to simplify the maskng. Some parts will also be painted on the trees. Its ready for primer to look for seams and clean up. After that I will go on to do some random pre shading with black and then on to the main colors in Part 2 of the build