Hundriver

I stumbled onto this web site concerning the F-104B and it's canopy/ejection system. Screen cap below has the pertinent info, link is to the actual web page. http://yellowairplane.com/museums/f-104_starfighter_ken_marlatt/Page_8_F104_Ejection_Seats.html

Rob, I am not that familiar with the 104's escape system. So, later models used pneumatic lifters to open the canopy enough for the wind blast to blow the canopy away, huh? The 104 would definitely need something pretty strong to get the canopy away at high Mach. I know the fear with the early seats was that the seat would not clear the T-tail at high speeds, thus the downward-ejecting system. I assume those were simple ballistic seats and not rocket seats.

Hmmm. The absence of pneumatic lifters is not necessarily a determinant. I flew the T-38 for 2200+ hours. Its canopy was completely manual for opening and closing, but it was ballistically removed during the ejection sequence. Having said that, the B seats were still probably downward ejecting.

From the same site: There does appear to be a metal "canopy bow" between the front and rear canopies (red arrows) upon which the aft pilot has left his helmet. I have no idea if there was glass (polycarbonate?) there, too. I doubt it would withstand the air pressures at a high Mach upwards ejection. So, I suspect you are correct in your comment about the canopy configuration being tied to the ejection direction (sounds like a medical issue with men.)

Dang! You are correct. That is the first time I have ever seen an image of the B with its canopies open. That actually only complicates building the B if you want the canopies open. I didn't plan on having them (it) open, but I will certainly not have them open now. Step one remains obtaining the different canopy. I may have to look at butchering the kit canopies. I have two TF-104G kit. I'm wanting to build a B from the TENN AIR GUARD in Knoxville...from the last century. Thanks for helping me clarify the issue...I think. 😉 BTW, someone in the forums was as

Hmmm. I have never seen a photo of an open F-104B canopy, but it sure looks like a single piece when closed. That "brace" across the middle doesn't look very substantial if it is indeed a connection between two pieces. I'll keep looking and contact a fellow who flew the C model. He may know. Thanks, Rob.

Does anyone know of an aftermarket 1/72 scale "long canopy" so a modeler can convert an TF-104G or F-104D to an F-104B? The B had a single long canopy covering both cockpits... kind of like an F-100F. -- Joe

Not sure this is the correct forum. An old kit I need to build to complete a collection is missing the clear parts. Does anyone have the canopy parts for the ESCI 1/72 A-4E that I could trade or purchase? Or, does anyone know where I might find that item? Contact direct: hundriver@earthlink.net TIA

That is correct, and only "slow movers" used them. (That included the A-37) They would not hold up to air loads on fast jets.

OUTSTANDING! Thanks so much. That exactly what we need. I told my friend that the warbird guys wouldn't know, but I bet modelers could help. I was right. Thanks again.

I am trying to help some friends restore a Skyraider (1/1 scale) to its Vietnam state. They need markings for the SUU-14 CBU dispensers and the SUU-11 "mini-gun" pod. If someone has the Zoukei-Mura 1/32nd weapons kit, could they possibly send me a scan of the markings for those two items and the associated part of the instructions? Thanks in advance, -- Joe Vincent IPMS*Memphis hundriver@earthlink.net

Yeah, I saw that one, but there's no way to tell what the size is, and therefore how many I'd need.

Seems that Custom Dioramics made one about 3 years ago, but evidently they have gone belly up. Didn't find any on eBay. Anyone know of a source? -- Joe Vincent IPMS*Memphis

AMEN! I wonder how many models could have been built in the time that was spent reading and discussing this issue on the computer. Perhaps the markings in question were painted vertically and became slanted due to repeated flights at high speeds... ;-)

This might help: http://www.ejectionsite.com/vbar_sg.htm Good luck. -- Joe Vincent IPMS*Memphis

Thanks, Turtle. I contacted N-G. They will probably be getting back to me with this same info, but this gives me a 2-3 head start.-- -- Joe Vincent IPMS*Memphis

Does anyone have a definitive answer to which color of gray the Navy's X-47B Pegasus is painted? I have only three opinions myself, but I can only paint this model one shade of gray. TIA, -- Joe Vincent

I'm trying to finish the very nice Eduard F6F-3 weekend kit of a VF-27 plane - #17 flown by Lt Stambook. I'm having a problem with the decals. There are numerous duplicates of things such as names, aircraft types, and kill markings. Many of them are simple dupes of what actually needs to be applied to the model, but some are not. Specifically, his kill markings. The sheet supplies two copies each of his kill markings for each side of the fuselage, but the instructions show them on the starboard side only. I can't find photographic confirmation of the actual placement of his kill markings. Doe

I'm building the new Has 72nd Su-33. I have the Authentic Decals 7210 decals which I planned to use, but I seem to have misplaced the main instruction sheet. I still have the sheet with the plan-views of the camouflage schemes. it's the other I can't find. Does anyone have this sheet that they can scan and send me, please? Email to: hundriver@earthlink.net Thanks in advance. -- Joe Vincent

It's all here under topic "Bad Trader Alerts:" http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....p;#entry1973922 I finally gave up on getting any replies or products after more than 60 days of trying, and filed a mail fraud claim with the USPS. I was not alone.

Does anyone have the Cutting Edge Decals # 48-010 ? I need the colors listed for the desert camouflage scheme - VMO-2 aircraft. I want to do it in 1/72nd, but can't find a definitive answer for the color numbers. Thanks in advance, -- Joe Vincent

Use caution: MH failed to fill an order for me in March of 2010. Nor replies or reasons ever given. I emailed him 11 days ago requesting reply. Still no answer. There may be a reason he's in Canada now.

I am trying to find info about a Hasegawa F-16 kit. I am not sure if it is an F-16B or F-16D, but I'm pretty sure it is 1/72nd scale. The important issue is the kit has a box art and markings of "HS" tail code for the 31st TFW. I suspect it is an older boxing of the Has. F-16D. If I can find confirmation and perhaps a kit number, then I can accurately search for the kit. TIA,

I have found numerous good photos of just about all versions of the paint scheme. I decided I wanted to do the two-tone "gray" upper surfaces scheme and realized that I can do both sides of the tail, but have little to no photos of the scheme on top of the wings. Plus - I have no info on the supposed colors. The Trumpeter 1/48th single-seat J-10 kit has the very scheme with paint numbers which I need. I don't particularly want to buy a kit that I will never build just to get the painting instructions. I have found a photo on the web of those painting instructions, but it is distant and a bad

Does anyone have a good scanned copy of the two-tone gray camouflage scheme worn by J-10s? I'm looking for the scheme that has light gray belly and a light and medium gray pattern on the upper surfaces. Evidently, this was a previous scheme to the current one of solid upper medium gray, and solid lower light gray. Either a scan, or a link to a "three view" of the pattern would be greatly appreciated. TIA,