Luftwaffe Vought F-8 Crusader, Carrier Graf Zeppelin, April 1974

[nönöbär]

Vought F8 Crusader

The Plane:

In Spring 1972, the Luftwaffe introduced the F-8 as a secondary fighter aircraft for the ageing carrier Graf Zeppelin. While not being a first class fighter aircraft at that time, the F-8 was the best compromise of size and capabiites for the carrier. A total of 24 aircraft - used US Navy ones - were bought, but only 6-10 of them were based on the Graf Zeppelin simultaniously. Together with the A-7 Corsairs, they were the last planes used on the Graf Zeppelin.

When the ship was decommisisoned in October 1980, the F-8s were all relocated to the Marinefliegergeschwader in Eggebek as part of the MFG-2. The F-8 were used until 1986. As no buyer was found, three of them survived in Museums, the rest was scrapped.


The model shows a F8 on the Graf Zeppelin in April 1974 during the NATO excercise "Jumping Squirrel" in the GIUK-Gap.
 



Together with a Luftwaffe A-7 Corsair II



The Model:
The Model is a 1/72 scale Hasegawa which I got from ebay and which was already started. The plane fits quite well and was build without any additional parts. Painting was done with Revell Aqua color, airbrushed and hand painted. Main colors used were 79 (blue gray) and 5 (white). The deacls were partly from the orginal model (quite good ones), the Luftwaffe decals were taken form the spare box.

[sandiego89]

Very nice, I like that a lot.  Looks great in those colors. Mk 82 dumb bomb on the wings? 

[Tophe]

As no buyer was found

Hey, they forgot to ask me! (I was 12 years old, I would have bought 2 or 3... in my dreams)

[NARSES2]

That has come out really well

[nönöbär]

Very nice, I like that a lot.  Looks great in those colors. Mk 82 dumb bomb on the wings? 

I don't know for sure, but I think they look a big too big for Mk 82s. I think that those on the Corsair are Mk82. Those of the F-8 were the ones included in the kit

[PR19_Kit]

That's excellent, makes a good pairing with the A-7. 

[Captain Canada]

Beautiful ! Looks perfect. Love the refueling probe extended like that....always like that look.

Great job on this one, and as said, looks excellent beside the A-7.



PS-You just need a better 'tarmac' for your dio 

[nönöbär]

Beautiful ! Looks perfect. Love the refueling probe extended like that....always like that look.

Great job on this one, and as said, looks excellent beside the A-7.



PS-You just need a better 'tarmac' for your dio 

Hmm, you don't think that the kitchen table is the right place for some carrier aircraft.... 

But I am working on this issue....

[McColm]

Well done.

[eatthis]

That's excellent, makes a good pairing with the A-7. 

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