F-104 G gunbay

The box:

Here is the HASEGAWA model of the F 104 G , maybe you remembered my previous Zipper, a C model, but when I saw the new box, the G model, during a model show at Ransart ( Belgium ), I knew what I want to do with it!!!!

This model depicts a bird from the Tiger Sqn in Belgium, from 10 Wing, based at Kleine Brogel Air Base.

What I've used:

Well, the cockpit is from Cutting Edge, detail set from Cutting Edge, underwing tanks from Black Box, Wheels wells from Aires, exhaust from Aires too, decals are from Daco, paints is a mix of Tamiya; Testor and Daco, the rest is scratchbuilt!

The Idea: 

Well, my idea was not an original one, a friend from the Amay Model Club; Patrick Bouclan, made it before, and in 1/32 scale!! This idea was a diorama of the replacement of the ejection seat, with the cockpit hatch opened and the seat placed outside.  I also planned to opened the electronics bay, gun bay and engine bay.  So, let's get started!

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 The cockpit:  

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About the seat, I made the oxygen hose as wrapping a wire on a needle and gluing it. I also added some wiring to the back of the cockpit. The bottom of the cockpit was opened, it have the look of the cockpit hatch but I didn't use it.

All the defog system around the canopy was made from plastic tubes, mirrors from plasticard too. You can find detail shots on the walk around I made on the " restoration " of the FX 47, at Beauvechain Air Base, the job is made by the guys of the 1 WHC and Air Models Club .

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The inside of the front canopy saw some plasticard added inside, to give some relief.

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Made from scratch, in plasticard.  The references are the pics found in the  LOCK ON from VERLINDEN. The oxygen bottle is a resin block I carved.  The panel was made by using the one from the CE set, sanding it , adding plasticard and white glue around. Why the white glue....well, you could see that all those panels have a special face, with round border, it was pretty difficult to duplicate that with a plasticard. 

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RAT bay:

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Made from scratch, a guy told me that it was not possible that this hatch was opened like this when on the ground.....ok ok, but it looks great no?

Gun bay:

 

Scratched too, plasticard was used for the panels, the gun was a VERLINDEN one, the tubes are in plastic.

Patrick

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Part 2	Part 3
1/48 Hasegawa F-104G in Belgium markings (Part 2)	1/48 Hasegawa F-104G in Belgium markings (Part 3)