ground pounder

[Sisko]

Well I decided after my Land dreadnaught to take a break and do some quick builds. Well quick builds for me anyway.

One is the Bird of Prey from Star Trek and the other is this 1/72 scale Academy F-89 Scorpion in a ground attack configuration.  

The kit is Ok with passable fit. The fit would be a lot better and the kit not as much of a chore if the fuselage assembly had not been broken into 3 pieces. This made alignment a challenge. Also for some strange reason the fuselage has raised and scribed panel lines and the wings all scribed.  

This made filling seams and general clean up interesting. I am not the kind of guy to re-scribe panel lines for me at this scale it not really worth it.

Overall the build was not to bad and has been fun which is the main criteria for me.

As mentioned this is in a ground attack configuration with a 50mm BFG up the front. I also added a spine hump ala sky hawk, for no other reason than I was hiding an ugly seam that I could not be bothered filling.
I had to scratch build the outer 2 pylons on each side as the ones with the kit were not appropriate for what was going to slung to them

This baby will be wearing a SEAC camo job over a generic grey underside. I have not decided what markings if any to add to this one. I have a few ideas but if anybody has some suggestions I am open.

1st pic

[Sisko]

BFG!!!!!!!!!!

[Sisko]

Last pic

[GTX]

Great idea.  I can imagine it diving down and letting loose with the rockets in each wing-tip pod now.  Put some appropriate weapons under the wings and with that 50mm cannon you have a predecessor to the A-10 - Just the thing for the Korean war.

Regards,

Greg

[Archibald]

Very cool model! Always thought that the F-89 could have a been a terrible ground-attack aircraft... Well you can also add AIR-2 Genies underwings and use it just like the Tiny tim of the Skyraiders in the Korean war.  

[Ollie]

Well you can also add AIR-2 Genies underwings and use it just like the Tiny tim of the Skyraiders in the Korean war.

Why?  Just add Tiny Tims!

 :dum:  

[Archibald]

And what do you do of the Genies (if there's genies in the box )    ^_^  

[The Rat]

Beauty job there Sisko!

But, I will admit to not being up on my weapons terminology. Does BFG mean 'Big F*cking Gun'?    

[Ollie]

You put them on another aircraft, like a F-86D.

 

[Brian da Basher]

Wow Sisko that's one mean looking Scorpion! The F-89 has always been a favorite of mine. There's a park just across the border in Ohio that I visit that has one on static display. What a treat to see one up close and personal!

My vote would be for South Vietnamese markings on this bird!

Looking forward to seeing more,
Brian da Basher

[B777LR]

Does BFG mean 'Big F*cking Gun'?  

yes

[BlackOps]

Lookin' Good Sisko!

[Shasper]

I say throw a few CBUs or other pig iron & more rocketpods u/w.

looks bichin!



Shas B)

[Sisko]

a predecessor to the A-10

Regards,

Greg

Actually that was my thought.

It will be Vietnam as a sampan buster working the Mekong against pirates and communist insurgents.

I am alos planning some gun pods on the inner pylons.

It will be like a hail storm of lead. In fact that sounds like a cool nickname. Wonder what hailstorm in Vietnamese is?

I have a Tamiya A-10 which I could do up as a replacement.  

[upnorth]

To me, this is practically begging for some Central or South American air forces' markings. For some reason, it just reminds me of the A-37 that so many of them took into service.

Barring that, I think it would also look great in some European NATO markings. That BFG would be just the thing for the Norwegians, Danes and Germans to patrol the Baltic with in the early Cold War years. Can you imagine the looks on the Soviet and Polish fleet sailors watching a three or four ship of these babies coming in fast on them.

Got to admit that a 50mm shell would make a hell of a warning shot across anyone's bow.