CF-104 Dual Seater

[AX 365]

Although I hadn't planned another entry to this GB, I think I can pull it off before the deadline. I have three single seat CF-104's on display. They are a 32nd scale overall green and two in 48th scale; 421's Toothbrush scheme and a varigated camo job. Here's the opportunity for me to do the dual in NMF finish that I've wanted to do for a while.

I'm starting with the Hasegawa TF-104G. I know it's not a true CF-104D but that's ok with me. As with most of my build, I go for overall effect and not complete accuracy. In the end it should look like a two seat CF-104 and that's good enough for me.

It's unstarted and I will be using the Leading Edge CF-104 sheet.

Paints will be Alclad and Model Master, as usual. I hope to start on Sunday or early next week.

Thanks for letting me play a second time.

Mike

Edited June 23, 2014 by AX 365

[phantom]

Beauty, that is the leading edge sheet by the way.

[AX 365]

Beauty, that is the leading edge sheet by the way.

I knew that! I was just testing your powers of observation. :D

Thanks Shawn. Correction made.

Mike

[Siegfriedt]

Marvelous to see one in Canadians markings. My favorites with the belgium starfighters !

[tobiK]

I just cross checked the CF-104D kit with the TF-104G kit: due to Hasegawa instruction the difference is:

seats (canadian version has other seats)

and main landing gear: the tires and doors (german F-104 mostly had the wider tires and therefore bulged main doors)

That's all so far. Maybe I m wrong, but AFAIK the other seats are included in the 104 kits!?

[Paolo Maglio]

Correct, CF-104D only had Lockheed C-2 sheet.

I fear there could be some difference in the IP too, will check.

Mind to cut off the IR seeker from the windshield.

[phantom]

If I remember my TF-104G had all the Canadian stuff except the flat main landing gear doors. Just filed them down flat and used all the parts marked "Not for use".

[AX 365]

Shawn: - thanks for the heads up. That is good news. I'll check to see what the bags contain later on.

tobiK and Paolo: - thank you very much for your observations and subject knowledge. As I suggested in my initial post, complete accuracy is not a big deal or must have for me. If I can fix kit limitations by sanding off bulges and unneeded bumps and antennas, I'll do that, I'm not overly worried about incorrect instrument panels, etc. As long as the finished model basically looks like the subject I want to portray I'm happy with that.

siegfriedt: - thanks for checking in.

Mike

[falcon20driver]

Wonderful! You can never have to many Starfighters around. I'll enjoy watching the build.

[ALF18]

Where's that popcorn-eating icon when you need it?

This one should be good! Now that the Sens are golfing, you should have more time, right Mike?

When it comes to accuracy for your dual, it's really your choice. I really wouldn't sweat the wheels and gear doors; those differences are really minor. The seats are somewhat different, in the headrest area, but that is up to you as well.

ALF

[tobiK]

here, for you, Mister Alf!

I agree...the main wheel topic is not so significant. YOU know about it and a real F-104 geek too! But when you take part in a model show there are 95% of visitors who don't know about the specific details of a CF-104 double seater. So come on...

[ALF18]

:popcorn:/> here, for you, Mister Alf!

I agree...the main wheel topic is not so significant. YOU know about it and a real F-104 geek too! But when you take part in a model show there are 95% of visitors who don't know about the specific details of a CF-104 double seater. So come on...

Thanks TobiK! I've been looking for the code for that icon for a while now.

To be quite honest, I never really paid attention to the seats until recently anyway, when I wanted to do a 1/32 CF-104 as a tribute to my late father, who used to fly them in Baden-Soellingen. As I looked at photos of his, I realized there was a difference between the C-2 and Martin Baker seats, but for sure almost nobody who looks at a model knows the difference.

That's why it's perfectly all right for anyone to build a model without worrying about such tiny details.

Model on, Mike! :popcorn:/>

ALF

[AX 365]

I've checked the box and there are no C2 seats included. Thanks for dashing my hopes, phantom!

Only a couple of golf courses open around here and none that the Sens would play at but at least they beat Toronto in the final game and finished ahead of them in the standings. The Leafs slide continues.

What a game last night with Max scoring in the last minute. Gotta admit that the Lightning made a game of it until that penalty call with 2:11 left. I think that the Habs will end up playing the Bruins in round 2. No history there. <_<

After checking the box and looking at the seats included (MB's), they suck. I've broken down and bought a couple of C2' s by True Details from Gord-o at Sprue Brothers. They have shipped already (like there was any doubt!) and my fate is now in the hands of the USPS and Canada Post.

Although no photos, I've started building things that I can to help move the project along after I get the seats. So far, I've glued together the wing tanks, nose cone, intakes, wings, landing gear bay but have not attached the gear struts and part of the exhaust.

I've looked at filing down the bulge on the gear door but I fear that is a disaster waiting to happen. I don't think I can do it successfully. When I post photos, I'll explain why.

Thanks for looking folks.

More to follow.

Mike

[AX 365]

Here's a couple of photos of the progress so far. The left wing looks the same. I have to sand the seam on the nose cone and do a bit of clean up on the joints of the fuel tanks.

Here are the main gear doors. The inside is concave. If I try to sand down the bulge in the outside, I fear I'll sand right through the door. Dagnabbit!

Thanks for looking in and as always, constructive criticism and suggestions are always welcome.

Mike

[phantom]

Sorry about the seats, if yours go missing I can se.d you a couple from a Hasegawa kit. For the main landing gear doors, I filed down the bulge, filled the hole with putty and sanded it smooth.

[CorsairMan]

I see what you mean about the doors and sanding through. You could line the inside with some styrene or a few layers of melted sprue.

When are you coming out to build night again?

[AX 365]

phantom - thanks for the offer but I've ordered a couple of resin C-2's form Sprue Brothers.

CM - if the next build night is 20 May, I should be able to make it. That's the way it looks for now.

I'm still torn about the doors. I might sand off the bulges and fix the hole with styrene. Nobody will see the insides of the doors so the majority of the repair would be devoted to ensuring the outside looks good. No other real progress. Still waiting for USPS and Canada Post to deliver my seats from Gord-o at SB.

[AX 365]

The C-2's have arrived. I didn't think they'd be here that fast. Because of that, I started another quick project. Once that CF-100 is done, it will be back to this project.

Mike

[AX 365]

Done something I've never done before; have two kits on the go at once. I've gotten the C2's put together and painted, along with the cockpit tub. I used the kit decals for the IP's. Doesn't look too bad. Now to let everything dry and then I'll put it together. Will post some photos when that's done.

Mike

[AX 365]

Cockpit tub is assembled and here are the photos, along with photos of wing tanks completed and main gear bay and exhaust glued in place. The C2's are much better than the kit seats but they're a tight squeeze into the kit tub.

I can now close up the fuselage. After test fitting the completed tub into the fuselage, everything seems to be going to plan. I don't think the seats will sit proud so I'm still hoping to display with the canopies in the closed position. I'll let you know how that goes.

I've also contacted Hasegawa USA ( http://www.hasegawausa.com/techsupport.html ) to ask about ordering Sprue "E" (the non bulged main gear doors from their line of RCAF CF-104 kits). Price is reasonable but if it takes the time they say it will (anywhere from 6 - 11 weeks) to get from Japan to Canada, I might not make the deadline. I'll let you know how that goes too.

Thanks for looking in. As usual, comments and constructive criticism is always welcome.

Mike

[falcon20driver]

Thats a good looking office.

[AX 365]

Thanks very much 'driver.

I have closed up the fuselage and glued a few other panels in place.

I have ordered the correct gear doors from Hobbico and they will take the previously stated 6-11 weeks to arrive; 4-8 weeks from Japan to Illinois and then 2-3 weeks from Illinois to Ottawa. With the doors on the way, I'll be able to scavenge a correct set of doors from one of the other CF-104's I have in my stash on order to complete this build by deadline.

Thanks for looking in.

Mike

[ALF18]

Cockpit tub is assembled and here are the photos, along with photos of wing tanks completed and main gear bay and exhaust glued in place. The C2's are much better than the kit seats but they're a tight squeeze into the kit tub.

I've also contacted Hasegawa USA ( http://www.hasegawausa.com/techsupport.html ) to ask about ordering Sprue "E" (the non bulged main gear doors from their line of RCAF CF-104 kits). Price is reasonable but if it takes the time they say it will (anywhere from 6 - 11 weeks) to get from Japan to Canada, I might not make the deadline. I'll let you know how that goes too.

Thanks for looking in. As usual, comments and constructive criticism is always welcome.

Mike

Mike

Seats and cockpit are looking really good!

E-mail sent about Sprue E.

ALF

[AX 365]

Thanks ALF. Reply sent.

The landing gear have been glued in place and a minor bit of filler has been applied where required. As I'm working nights this weekend, there will be nothing else done before Monday afternoon. Here's how my Friday to Monday is shaping up starting in a couple of hours - sleep, work, sleep, work, sleep, work, sleep a little then do a bit of construction on Monday afternoon. Fun, eh? I'll paint the three pieces that will be glued in front of, in between and behind the pilots seats. Thanks to previous guidance from ALF, I know what shade of green to use.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Mike

[AX 365]

The gear and their respective doors have been glued into place. As stated, I scavenged a pair from another kit and they will be replaced with the replacement parts from Hasegawa / Hobbico.

I've also started gluing canopy pieces in place after completing the tedious job of masking. I thought I had a set of EZ Masks but I don't. I've also painted the coamings the lime green as suggested by ALF in his CF-104 build thread. Although you can't see it, the pnel behind the rear seat is painted an darker drab green. All were then given a a dark wash to tone down the colour a bit.

Progress is slow but sure.

Thanks for checking in.

Mike