john53 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Just arrived, shrink wrapped and original 1981 issue. I am building it OOB as it appeared in 1976 at an airshow in the U.K. It will have no alpha probe, no Phoenix pallets, no drop tanks and I have to modify the shoulder pylon as seen in the picture below.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt H. Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Good choice. It is neat to finally see a picture of the actual plane in those markings, I think I have only seen that squadron in that box art. It is one of the best boxes of that era. Any way, If you run into trouble with the decals, Microscale has a sheet with that squadron AC48-0044 . (currently available) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderchief105 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 (edited) Very colourful, love those early Tomcats. Edited July 20, 2018 by Thunderchief105 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 Thanks been mulling the after market decal idea, here's another picture from the 1976 U.K. airshow, note the Blue Angels pilot to the right.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Oh yes, did that many years back....But CVW-8. Just before your paint scheme. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 Still has that "new kit smell" even after all these years. Good find and great choice ! Regards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 (edited) Thanks, I have some detail painting of the cockpit done.---John Edited July 21, 2018 by john53 grammatical error Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 I just love that paint scheme. It isn't even the yellow stripes (which are cool, no doubt). I think its the white nose with the tan radome. I have a Tamiya Tomcat inbound, I'll need to find similar decalage for it. And seeing your cockpit photos is reminding me of 8th grade, which was the last time I had one of these kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 21, 2018 Author Share Posted July 21, 2018 (edited) Thanks, now I feel old, I was in 8th grade in 1967-68!!! But those were good times for me, I was building Revell's 1/72 B-17 Memphis Belle that year along with some Gemini space craft. I have the ejection seats started , just black paint so far and the fuselage interior walls and details done. I tried the 2 fuselage halves and they fit good, I tried building this a couple years ago with a repop from Revell. The molds were altered and nothing fit right, molds were old by then and I think it was molded in China, real crappy plastic, it failed miserably and ended up in the trash! This original molding and plastic are 100% better.---John Edited July 21, 2018 by john53 grammar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 Seats done.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 In 1967-68, my parents were just becoming teenagers 🙂 But don't worry. I'm turning 40 in less than 30 days. I'm old enough for some things to hurt when I wake up 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 45 minutes ago, RKic said: In 1967-68, my parents were just becoming teenagers 🙂 But don't worry. I'm turning 40 in less than 30 days. I'm old enough for some things to hurt when I wake up 😄 My daughters 40 next month! LOL still feel old!---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
k5ikl Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 12 hours ago, RKic said: But don't worry. I'm turning 40 in less than 30 days. I'm old enough for some things to hurt when I wake up 😄 Goodness, all 3 of my kids are older than you. I will be 78 next week and when I get up EVERYTHING hurts. Jerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 (edited) I have the instrument panels in the cockpit tub. Ready to start some serious building, tub into fuselage top next then the fun begins, intakes and swing wings.---John Edited July 22, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 I cut the shoulder pylons apart and modified them to what they look like in the picture. It's just a single pylon coming off the shoulder with no angled lower section for the Sparrow or side adapter for the Sidewinder rack. Now all I have to do is fill and sand to shape.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted July 22, 2018 Share Posted July 22, 2018 2 hours ago, john53 said: I have the instrument panels in the cockpit tub. Ready to start some serious building, tub into fuselage top next then the fun begins, intakes and swing wings.---John Great looking office! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 8 hours ago, k5ikl said: Goodness, all 3 of my kids are older than you. I will be 78 next week and when I get up EVERYTHING hurts. Jerry Its better than the alternative, and I hope I'm lucky enough to get to there someday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 John, fantastic work on the cockpit! I'm looking forward to the final reveal of the pylon. I don't think I quite get what you're going to do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 23, 2018 Author Share Posted July 23, 2018 Rick, what you see is what you get. That's it! scroll back up and look at the second airshow picture I posted, with Blue Angels pilot. The pylon coming off that Tomcat is what I have now, same shape and configuration. All I have to do is fill the end where I cut it and made it "hollow" on the end then sand it smooth. It's nothing more than a single pylon coming off the shoulder with no bend or side piece for the Sparrows or Sidewinders.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted July 23, 2018 Share Posted July 23, 2018 Aha, ok. Got it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 (edited) Cockpit installed in the upper fuselage.---John Edited July 26, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Crisp, very clean. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Thanks, The intakes interiors and the compressor faces are painted and assembled. I have a bit of putty to add to the intake-rear fuselage seam.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 I am seriously considering intake covers, the seam inside the intakes has always been a sore spot with this kit, also are there still closed exhaust nozzles and the early gun vent still available, don't see them for the Monogram kit anywhere.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 1 hour ago, john53 said: I am seriously considering intake covers, the seam inside the intakes has always been a sore spot with this kit, also are there still closed exhaust nozzles and the early gun vent still available, don't see them for the Monogram kit anywhere.---John It's getting tougher to find AM parts for the older Revell/Monogram kits, at one time it seemed most were directed towards "fixing" these kits one way or another. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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