Weekend Build

[AeroplaneDriver]

Love your Hawk so far!

Cant wait to see it with the rear canopy covered and the camo on!

[AeroplaneDriver]

11pm Eastern time, US-12.5 hours into the weekend build, about 24 hours to go.

Aircraft structure is complete.  Very little filling since fit on the Italeri F-100D is pretty good.  The only real trouble spos it the panel with the inboard cannon ports that fits into a space in the lover fuselage in front of the nosegear.  Not really sure why this is a seperate panel, but it is smaller than the hole it ifts in, so a bit of work was needed.  Otherwise, no filler.

Landing gear is done and ready to attach once the model is complete.  Drop tank seams are sanded too.  Pretty simple kit really, and it goes together well.

Weapons fit will probably be 2 GP bombe on the outboard pylons and maybe 2 Bullpups inboard.

No more pics to post for now, so lets have a little backstory instead...

********

In 1965 the Royal Australian Air force issued a requrement for a ground attack aircraft to supplement the Canberra bombers and replace aging F-86 Sabres in the air support role.  With deployments to Vietnam imminent, there was a feeling that a smaller, faster ground attack aircraft than the Canberra could be a useful asset.

Bids were submitted by Hawker Siddley, with the Hunter FGA.9, North American with the F-100D, Vought with the new A-7, and finally from Dassault, with the Etendard IV.  The Hawker and North American bids were for refurbished aircraft, and on cost grounds the competition was quickly narrowed down to these two aircraft.

On October 30, 1965 the contract for 42 aircraft was awarded to North American.  Though the Hunter performed well during the flyoff, the F-100 was seen as the better platform, not least because of its higher performance.

By August 1966 the first F-100D Super Sabres were entering squadron service with 1 Squadron.  This was the first operational Australian F-100 squadron, and in late 1967 became the first deployed to the Vietnam conflict.

***********


More history of this specific Aussie F-100 with the finished build.

[AeroplaneDriver]

So far today:

A bit more sanding/polishing.

Masking to paint the titanium rear fusealge.  I experiemented a bit with the burnt metal/titanium effect, so I guess we'll see how that works out.

Heading our for ice cream in a few.  Unmasking and remasking when I get home, then Metallizer on the main aircframe.

[B777LR]

u gotta hurry, just 3 hours and 3 minutes left

[AeroplaneDriver]

The schedule is being pushed after an afternoon at the park with the family + dog, and now the lovely wife is prepping for an evening out (dinner and jazz).  

Since it's Sunday night though, we have to be home early to get the kids to bed, plus Mrs. AD will have to be up till midnight to watch Footballer's Wives and Eastenders, so I sohuld be able to finish by midnight.

I'm down to some masking, spray metallizer (rattlecan, so pretty quick process), then get the odds and ends ready to glue on while it dries.  Decals may have to wait till morning.

I'm sure it's because I do something wrong, but I prefer Testors Metallizer with no sealant/future/clearcote.  to me it takes away from the natural metal look of it, so I always mount NMF stuff on a base so it can be handled without touching the model.  Anyhoo...that drops a step or two out of this build.

[Captain Canada]

I was gonna guess RCAF, but I'm too late !

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/air/tpomerleau/cf100.htm

Is that the Italeri kit ? Very nice to build.....just the memory makes me want to build another !

 

[AeroplaneDriver]

I was gonna guess RCAF, but I'm too late !

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/air/tpomerleau/cf100.htm

Is that the Italeri kit ? Very nice to build.....just the memory makes me want to build another !

Thats the exact kind of thing I was originally aiming for! (So much for originality).  I planned Canadian to appease the huddled masses on here, but the only decals I have that would work on a Canadian NMF are from the TSR.2 set, and I hate to use them on a quickie build instead of an epic build.

Anyway, the Aussie markings are also from the TSR.2 set, but they arent as imressive a set as the Canadian ones, so I dont mind them finding a home on a quick build.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well the weekend build obviously wasnt, but as of 9pm eastern time US the paint is on.

[K5054NZ]

Best of luck Nick! RAAF Super Sabre should be awesomely spectacular!     Always liked the -100, I've got the Osprey book on it.