Finished - F8C-Crusader VF-24 August 1967

Christian Bruer
A rare kit but I managed to get one

The surface detail is nice and crisp for that scale. The fuselage halves went together well, but a slight pressure was needed because of some warping. Filling and sanding is less required. The two piece wing fit well, but you have to take care with glue because of the really sharp wing tips. I use Tamiya extra thin cement to get the best fit.

Once dry I start cutting of all flaps with a sharp knife. I like the unique flap system and want to represent it on my last gunfighter. Some filling and reshaping is required but at the end it went out well even in this small scale.

Cheers, Christian

Burkhard D
Cannot remember to have seen a 1:144 kit built with flaps and slats down, cool!😎

Hanno Kleinecke
Clean cutting Christian, I am in for this one !

Christian Bruer
Thx mates for your kind comments and for your interest. A small update, landing gear is assembled an fit in place. Only the nose wheel is not glued yet. Mmmhh, to my eyes it looks well so far. The kit kept the aggressive look of the bird very well.
Cheers, Christian

Choppa Nutta


What a monster this model is going to be !!

It looks HUGE !!!

Looks like you are running out of work bench space for this rather chunky build Christian 😉

Christian Bruer
Hehe Choppa, yep this is going to be the biggest plane I work on since years ago🙂 Space of work bench is safe, remember I'm working on battleships😉

Soeren R.
Awesome and that in 144......

Christian Bruer
Thx Soeren! ... building mostly scale 350 this is somewhat big scale for me🙂

Christian Bruer
Nope Guido I will use decals from Starfighter Decals for the plane and squadron markings but maybe the kit decals for national markings etc. The Starfighter Decal set for the F8 seems to be sold out?!
Where did I get one from? Well, best source to find something of your interest in plastic or resin - Scalemates🙂
Tim add some cool functions, not only to see the shops where you can get kits listed in your stash, but also to see if one of the mates listed it for sale.

Cheers, Christian

Christian Bruer
Hehehe, sometimes me too does not see the wood for the threes😉
And by the way, there a no silly questions but only silly ansers.

Choppa Nutta
....... "not see the wood for the threes"

yeah those numbers can really get in the way sometimes😉 😄

Christian Bruer
🙂

Choppa Nutta
Mmm, as for no silly questions, here's one-
What is the square root of a pork chop ? 😄

Christian Bruer
Well Choppa this was not a silly question but somehow a question about Life, the Universe and everything. And everybody who read his hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy should know it is 42🙂

Choppa Nutta

.

I rather think his point in that brilliant book was that questions like "Life, the Universe & Everything ?", "WHO !? made us ?" and "What is the square root of a pork chop ?" are the very definition of silly questions and that just because a sentence may be grammatically correct it does not mean it is coherent of which Douglas Adams was the master.

I think that the book was a wonderful philosophical treatise on sillyness juxtaposed by the underlying pragmatic metaphor which underpins the surreal disposition of life, the universe and everything, and I really do mean that. 😄

Youtube Video

Thomas Bischoff
simply beautiful - I am looking forward for the painting and decaling!

Christian Bruer
I totally agree Choppa. He was a genius to try to get to the bottom of our self. I much like his stories and sense of humor🙂
@Thomas, thanks a lot🙂

John Thomas
Very cool video

Choppa Nutta
His "Oooh I'm a puddle and doesn't the world fit me very neatly, it must have been made for me !" story was epic ! 😄

Christian Bruer
Another one I had let for a while. Paint is on my Crusader. I first tried Vallejos 71121. This paint no. should represent FS36440. Well, I found it a bit to dark, so lets see what I can do with white oils after a washing to bring more brightness to the surface.

Cheers, Christian

Sven Schönyan
Lode, you´re not the only one who missed it - me too!

Wonderful work Christian as usual!

Burkhard D
Awesome!

Christian Bruer
Don't worry they're all there 😄 Thank you for your interest in this one.
Mhhhh, I think I have to repaint the boundaries between gray and white. The white should come a little higher at the nose and the gray a little lower lang the fuselage.

Cheers Christian

Christian Bruer
I repaint the boundary between gray and white according to a reference photo. It comes out quite nice so far.
Cheers Christian

Christian Bruer
The painting is done, next weathering.
Cheers Christian

Stephan Ryll
Looking good Christian 👍

Christian Bruer
Thx Stephan🙂

Christian Bruer
Thank you my friend🙂

Christian Bruer
Yep airbrushing the tiny models is always a challenge. A bit to much paint or airflow and you can start again. Still trying and learning.
Thank you very much James for you kind comment.
Cheers Christian

Christian Bruer
Meanwhile in small scale. The display for the Crusader is started. Now up to some paintwork and weathering.
Happy Modelling, Christian

Choppa Nutta
loving the setup here, really gives motion to the scene ! 🙂

Mark K
Impressive,

Björn Leichsenring
An Ideen mangelt es bei dir nicht. Sehr schön.

Sven Schönyan
I´m curious how you will display the thrown away steel cable from the lauch 🙂 ?

Robert Podkoński
Following with interest! Great work so far.

Christian Bruer
Thank you all for your kind comments 🙂

@Sven, me either 😄 I guess some brass wiring will bring it to life

Eric Honaker
Looking very good so far. Can't imagine doing this a 1:144. I did a 1:72 harrier and by the end I was ready to kick puppies.

Christian Bruer
Thank you Jorge and Eric 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice.

Christian Bruer
Thank you Clifford 🙂

Christian Bruer
The Carrier segment is painted. Weathering is done on the Crusader. Making progress step by step.
Happy Modelling, Christian

Christian Bruer
Thank you Jorge 🙂

Christian Bruer
For the colour modulation and weathering effects on the deck segment I used oil colours.

Happy Modelling, Christian

Clifford Keesler
Looks amazing. I love what you do with such small subjects, a great talent.

Christian Bruer
Thank you Roland and Clifford for your kind comments 🙂

Christian Bruer
The base is done. I am really happy about it 🙂
Now clear coat, decals and a finish.

Happy Modelling, Christian

Spanjaard
Wow, 6 years in the making. But looking awesome. Looking forward seing the rest of it. Amazing as all your builds, Christian

Christian Bruer
You know Spanjaard, I am a slow builder 😄

But this year I have a run. This is #6 in the making, next to some others. I think I need a larger table next year at the Show.

And thank you my friend for your kind words 🙂

Hanno Kleinecke
I am speechless about the highly professional and realistic look of this display, Christian. Scratchbuilding on the highest possible level !
Love the Tonking Gulf Yacht Club patch 👍 🙂

Spanjaard
Christian, Rome was not build in one hour. also applicable to your wonderful builds 🙂 take your time, and enjoy the ride. we will certainly enjoy watching from over your shoulder
i hope to see this beauty next year since there will be no chance in 2021 🙁

Slavo Hazucha
This looks all great, but where is a 1/144 office chair and little magazines?? 😉 😄

Joking, fascinating job once again, with all the scratch & mods (1/144!) 👍

Still, would you have kept it 72-scale, one day you'd be able to piece together a full carrier! 😉

Oleg Smilyk
Wow, amazing for 1/144!

Christian Bruer
Thank you all for your kind comments. But wait, the main protagonist is not finished, so stay tuned🙂

Dmitry Agafonov
Looks awsome. But how Crusader stand on deck? Magnets? Hooks? Magic?

Christian Bruer
Thank you Jorge and Dmitry 🙂

Dimitry, no Voodoo to hold the Crusader. There is just a brass rod to fix the Crusader. Take a look to photo #19, there you can see the rod in between the lower fusleage and the deck.

Meanwhile I scratch built the Bridle and Arresting Lanyard and placed it on deck.

Happy Modelling, Christian

bughunter
Simply unbelievable, in that small scale. Again. 👍

Christian Bruer
Thx again bughunter, your kind comments are much appreciated 🙂

Skyhiker
Wow

Clifford Keesler
Awesome detail.

Dmitry Agafonov
Anyway it's Devine Magic !!!

Norbert Steffens
Simply awesome build...again. Very inspiring. As always I'm curious in some details. I can learn a lot from your builsing skills.
How did you cut out the oval shaped holes in the carrier segment? And how did you print your label with the checkerd paatern? Thanks

Christian Bruer
Thank you all for all your kind comments 🙂

@Norbert, amongst other things this is exactly why we are all here, to learn from each other. I am glad to help with the one or other feature shown in my WIPS.

Well, about the oval holes. Draw the desired contour using a template onto a sheet of styrene. Then drill holes along the contour, but not to close by. After that cut out the material in between the holes and bring the countour into shape using a knife, file and sanding paper.

The label was drawn by myself and printed on 1mm PVC plate. The printing was done by the professionals, for this I like the work and service from Digitaldruck Fabrik. www.digitaldruck-fabrik.de Unfortunatley they no longer offer printing on Polystyrol, PVC is also ok but harder to cut.
I choose Hart-PVC Kompaktplatte1 mm, UV-Direktdruck in Fine Art. They are not able to print small labels, so you have to put some more into one print job.
But you can print it by yourself and glue the paper print onto a Polystyrol plate or whatever you desire to use.
I hope that answers your questions.

Happy Modelling, Christian

Norbert Steffens
Hi Christian, yes..thanks for the detailed answer. For my next project I will try the Digitaldruck guys also.
That you had cut out the holes by hand and sanded them into shape is unbelievable. They look like lasercut e.g. Great work.

Treehugger
What happened in photo 13? 🙂

Christian Bruer
You're welcome Norbert 🙂

Treehugger, photo #13, below wrong dividing line between white and gray, top correct dividing line. My first attempt was wrong, so I correct it.

Happy Modelling, Christian

Christian Bruer
I put the decals on. The VF-24 markings are from a Starfighter Decals set, National markings are out of the kit. They all went on quite nice using Micro Sol and Set. I sealed the decals with a coat of Future and added a wash along the covered panel lines. I also put some higlights on top of the national markings using oils. Now the oils need some drying time before I can add a final semi gloss.
Happy Modelling, Christian

Clifford Keesler
Looking great.

Christian Bruer
Thank you Clifford 🙂

Christian Bruer
Well, I call lthis done 🙂

Happy Modelling, Christian

bughunter
You can be proud of it! 👍 The last picture with the size comparison is most impressive!

Christian Bruer
Thank you bughunter. Yes indeed I am. I never expected that it will look so dynamic at the end.

Greg Baker
As always, a thing of beauty.

Bruce Huxtable
Superb 🙂

James C
Really nice work Christian 👍

Hanno Kleinecke
I can hear the hissing roar of the engines and catapults, like in those documentaries about the Vietanm war carriers.
Excellent work Christian !

Spanjaard
Amazing!

Sergej I
Excellent! I love it! 👍

Clifford Keesler
Beautiful, well done sir.

Slavo Hazucha
Top! No one could even guess 144-scale... And it´s a really great action-pose too. Scratch-work at it´s best with a light breeze of kit in it... 🙂 👍

Alec K
An outstanding build Christian, and the scale makes it even more remarkable.

Vincent
Really amazing work. At any scale even.

Christian Bruer
Thank you all so much for your kind and much appreciated comments 🙂

Robin (WhiteGlint)
This is some really fine work in a dynamic presentation! 👍

Christian Bruer
Thank you WhiteGlint 🙂

Choppa Nutta
Superb work ! 🙂

William Adair
Amazing craftsmanship and wonderfully imaginative. Well done!

Christian Bruer
Thank you Choppa and F_IV for your kind comments 🙂

Stefan Schacht
very nice model and display 👍

Thomas Bischoff
simply gorgeous. Very dynamic scene and the scratchbuilt carrier deck section is again a masterpiece.

Rui S
Great Work as usual 👍

Björn Leichsenring
Fantastic.

Dominik Weitzer
Awesome!

Bart Goesaert
Stunning work...

Christian Bruer
Thank you all Mates for your kind comments 🙂

Rui
Agreed…great work! Would have never thought it was 144 scale. Great action and the innovative diorama!

Nathan Dempsey
Love when this one pops up in the feed. I've been seeing (and sharing) it elsewhere on the interwebs too 👍.

Robert Podkoński
I am just speechless... True beauty it is. Fantastic work, Christian!

Christian Bruer
Thank you all for your supporting comments 🙂

Christian Bruer
Some test shots using my new photo box. A great improvement for the photo quality - image #44.
Happy Modelling, Christian

Bas Tonn
Great work, always a present when someone lowers the flaps !! Too bad it's a F-8, would have loved to see the A-7 😉 But that's just me...
Very well done !!

Christian Bruer
@Bas, thx for yout kind comment. Well there are so many ideas in the pipeline 🙂

If you'd love to have a look on an A-7, check this out:
Finished - A-7E Corsair, NL306 VA-22 | Album by Christian Bruer (1:72)

Happy Modellin, Christian

Jörg Schäfer
Das Diorama gibt deinem gelungen kleinen Flieger eine sehr kraftvolle Dynamik.

Christian Bruer
Dankeschön Jörg 🙂 Eben genau diese Dynamik sollte zum Ausdruck gebracht werden. Ich war selber überrascht, dass es so gut rüber kommt.