|
In
1969, my uncle Leonard Ward was killed in action in Vietnam
after his third Purple Heart. The months later my father Steve Sr.
enlisted into the Air Force as an F-4 Crew Chief and soon found himself on his
way to Vietnam. He was sent to a base called Korat Airbase in Thailand. I wound up working in the phase docks for his stay in Korat.
So six
months ago I decided to do a model for him, after asking him what tail flash he
was assigned to it was easy to find decals for it. I used the Revell kit
after doing some research here and heard that the kit was pretty good.
I order a Legend's resin cockpit; the cockpit had some outstanding detail.
The kit accidentally included two of the same upfront side panels.
To no avail, I tried to contact the company to get the right panel. I
pressed forward and ordered the Korat Decals, resin tires, and exhaust.
Click on
images below to see larger images
I did
some more research here and found a ton of cockpit and exhaust photos. I
can't even begin to thank all of the people for their contributions to ARC.
I used some photo etched parts for the rear cockpit and some 80lbs test fishing
line to get the wires to look right. I also used some cockpit instrument
decals for all of the dials. The instructions said to use a punch to get
them the right size; I was talking it over with my wife and was telling her I
didn't know what that was. She reached into her scrap booking bag and
asked me, "something like this?" I never thought her scrap
booking would ever help me out.
I used
the “G” string from a guitar for the oxygen hoses.
The
Revell kit did not come with any air-to-ground ordinance. I ordered the
expensive US forces weapons kit from Trumpeter. The kit had everything I need
accept a centerline pylon. I jumped on the forum page here and Colin
Ritchie, from
Scotland, came to my rescue. He airmailed it to me just in time for Christmas.
Thanks Colin!
I used
two pound test fishing line, painted silver, for the fuse wire. The exhaust was
painted with every MM buffing/non-buffing color I could find. The top two
shinny panels were painted with buffing steel. The rest of the panels were
painted with magnesium (buffing). In the exhaust path I over sprayed it
with burnt titanium. The exhaust nozzles were painted with non-buffing
steel then painted with burnt exhaust (buffing). I buffed it ever so
slightly and the steel came through on the highlights. I also used the
burnt exhaust to highlight the panel lines. A little too much, but it
didn't mess it up too bad.
The
base was constructed with matte medium, I purchased from the local art store.
It took me a little bit to get it even but after I did all I had to do
was put some baking soda on it and wait for it to dry.
I then painted it with voodoo grey.
I now
have a new found appreciation for Rhino phans.
With all of the different colors and processes I had to do to get this
model right, it’s no wonder all are such a tight group.
Steven
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
