These models are all based on the Monogram 1:48 F8 Crusader which is about to be eclipsed by the Hasegawa kit but is still to my mind a superb kit albeit with raised panel lines. The first of the trio is a French Navy F8E-FN. I was inspired to "raise and fold the wing" by an article in Fine Scale Modeller and using photo references in an Airlife book on supercarriers dropped the flaps and slats as well. I also extended the main gear struts as instructed in the FSM article. I used decals from a Carpena sheet for a French F8 serving with Flotille 12F of the Aeronavale on the Clemenceau in 1982 and replaced the kit supplied GRU7 ejector seat with a resin Martin Baker seat made by Airwaves. The model was brush painted with Humbrol enamels.

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The second aircraft is a US Marine Corps F8E of VMF(AW)235 "Death Angels" at Da Nang, Vietnam in 1968. This was built practically out of the box but with Microscale decals replacing the kit examples. I replaced the kit supplied GRU7 ejector seat with a spare resin Martin Baker Mk 7 seat. Photo references show a great deal of staining around the four nose guns on the real aircraft but I have yet to build up sufficient courage to attempt to replicate this. The model was brush painted with Humbrol enamels.

The last is a US Navy RF8G of VFP63 aboard the USS Hancock in 1972. I used the Maintrack Models resin forward fuselage and wing centre sections and a spare resin Martin Baker Mk 7 ejector seat.   

I extended the main undercarriage legs as per the FSM article mentioned earlier. I spray painted the underside of the model with white auto primer and brush applied the upper light gull grey and blue stripes using Humbrol enamels. All of the decals came from the spares box, the single white stars from a Hasegawa F86F being especially useful.

Darius Aibara

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