Da Nang Starfighter
Comments
68 26 September 2020, 06:48
Christian BruerThe old Italeri scale 1/72 F-104C is still a kit with a good basic fuselage and wings. The overall dimensions are ok, but there is a misshap with the position of the wingtip tanks. They are to much forward and have to be corrected in postion if required. The cockpit and wheel bays lack a lot of details and the clear parts does not fit very well. But all in all it is the only available F-104C to built an early Starfighter that saw service in Vietnam. So up we go and modifie all the necessary details with aftermarket and scratch built techniques using styrene in variuse sizes and profiles.
Cheers, Christian
26 September 2020, 07:15
Hanno KleineckeCockpit and wheelbay/wheelstrut details are fantastic Christian, leaving me speechless.......
26 September 2020, 09:48
Christian BruerThank you all for your very kind comments 🙂
Cheers, Christian
26 September 2020, 17:27
Christian BruerMeanwhile the paint is on! I used Vallejo Metal Color, based on their high gloss primer, for the NMF.
4 November 2021, 17:07
Bruce HuxtableAnother master class in going the extra mile, and what amazing results. In awe, as always.... Congratulations on this superb creation 👍🙂
4 November 2021, 19:27
Maxim MalparteHow did you manage to re-scribe those round panels without making mistakes, not even the slightest? Just amazing! Wondering if you had your hands insured too lol
5 November 2021, 07:43
Christian BruerThank you all so much 🙂
Maxthe, even old, but luckily the kit is provided with engraved panel lines. So I only had to rescribe some areas where I had to fill and sand and along the longitudal seam line. But anhyhow, I always use a fixing pin and a tool holder for re-scribing panel lines. As a template I use differents PE stencils provided by the after market as well as Dymo Tape. Here you find a totorial, text is German but I think the photos are self explaining.
modellversium.de/tip..aillieren/8000-.html
Happy Modelling, Christian
5 November 2021, 08:00
Maxim MalparteMany thanks, Christian. For the patience and the knowledge. It is a very detailed and reader-friendly tutorial indeed. Got multiple new tricks from it. 👍
5 November 2021, 10:24
Sergej IExcellent cockpit and the details in gear bay and on struts are just crazy for the scale. Master modelling! 👍
5 November 2021, 10:51
Christian BruerYou're most welcome Maxthe.
Thank you Sergej for your much appreciated and kind comment.
5 November 2021, 19:40
Patrick HagelsteinNuh Uh! He didn't just install single instruments in the dashboard, did he??? 😮
8 November 2021, 20:16
Christian BruerHi Patrick, jess I did 😄 I used the excellent Mike Grant instrument decals and IMHO this was the best way to get a perfect fit for them inside of each of the instruments. Compare photo #14 and 17.
Thank you very much Eduardo🙂
9 November 2021, 08:07
Maciej BellosTurning the now humble but mega in its day ESCI kit into a stunner!
28 October 2022, 10:43
Christian BruerThank you all for your interest and kind comments. You remind me also to come back to some of my WIP, as the F-104C, as soon as possibel, but unfortunately 2022 was not that modelmaking year fro me.
Happy Modellin to you all 🙂
29 October 2022, 16:25
Christian Bruer@Palo M, it is easier than it maybe looks. I used different metalic colours so far, like SNJ, Alclad and Vellejo Metal Color. For the metalic surface on the F-104 I used Vallejo Metal Color. Anyhow what brand you use it is always important to use the brands own primer. The basic surface must be clean. Use the primer in thinn layers and build the paint up to get a regular and nice glossy finish. The same with the Metalic Color, thinn layers to build up a nice surface finish.
@S M thank you 🙂
30 October 2022, 20:13
Michael KohlI can only second Christian. Be aware that some Alclad II colors are very "hot". So if you apply it in layers too thick it dissolves the primer again, resulting in a messed up finish. Guess how I know. So: thin layers and slow build up is key.
30 October 2022, 20:47
Palo MI only use alclads. They end up with a texture, maybe even tiny flakes, rather than a beautiful smooth surface. I polish it before, but either it's still not polished enough, or it's "hot" like you said. Thank you for the advice!
30 October 2022, 23:15
Michael KohlAlclads occasionally go bad. Check whether the pigments suspend evenly when shaking the bottle. Sometimes they clump. Then you gotta discard them.
The texture of various Alclads differ. Airframe Aluminum e.g. levels nice and smooth, others appear more rough. Polishing is a good idea - but the base paint not the Alclad-layer. A perfectly smooth gloss base increases the chances for success significantly.
31 October 2022, 08:10
Palo MThank you, Michael and Christian, will check and retry. Apologies for detailing the conversation - back to central Vietnam and the F-104.
31 October 2022, 09:39
Christian BruerThank you Michael for the extra information. I often used Alclad but I never ever had a rough surface texture with them. The paint out of the bottle was always highly fluid. By the way, the same with Vallejo Metal Color.
@Palo, don't worry, this is why we share our work and information to help each other to have the most fun with our hobby 😉
31 October 2022, 13:17
Palo MThanks Christian! One more comment about the metallics - in your Photo 39, the texture below the cockpit is what I usually get. The exhaust part, however, is incredible - that's what I would like to achieve 🙂 .
31 October 2022, 16:06
Christian Bruer@Palo, keep the direction of light and the scale of the model in your mind. On the photos the model looks approx. 1,5 - 2 times larger than in reality. I painted the model in one session, so the area below the cockpit and at the read have exactly the same surface finish.
31 October 2022, 17:45
Album info
Italeri F-104C Starfighter, Quickboost ejection seat, MASTER pitot tube, ResKit weehl set, Aires nozzle set, Carcal Model decals and Mike Grant instrument decals. The model will present the F-104C 56-0892 Da Nang AB, Vietnam 1965. All NMF with white upper wings, gray lower wings and gray tailplane.
