F-104X: an enlarged version (work in progress)

G.Marcat · February 16, 2009, 02:28:28 PM

Hello from Italy.

In the beginning I was interested to modify a F-104 adding to it parts taken from a F-16, but cutting here, glueing there at the end the project is gone in a totally different way.

This was the original image of the F-104X as it have could be (with the tail and some pieces not used later):

work in progress:

And this is the F-104X as appear today, ever not completed but a decent point:

For the engine exhaust I'm changing idea and probably the current exhaust (a Tamiya's F-15 piece) will be replaced with the exhaust taken from an Hasegawa's F-16.

The cockpit interior is a mix of F-104 base with F-16's intruments.

The canopy is a F-104 piece polished in the way to let it look like a F-16 unit (no front frames).
The ejection seat is that of the F-16.
The wings are taken from the A-7 Corsair.
The T Tail is an ENLARGED version of the original because the original piece was too much little if compared with the enlarged shape of the F-104X.

John Howling Mouse · February 16, 2009, 03:33:43 PM

Wow, modelers in Italy are COOL! This is exciting. Ron: have you seen this yet?

You've found a good home here, G.Marcat. Looking forward to more.

JHM

Eddie M. · February 16, 2009, 04:13:23 PM

A very exciting design! It's always good to get new blood in the forum. Welcome aboard!!

BlackOps · February 16, 2009, 04:28:50 PM

Gret looking modifications!

sotoolslinger · February 16, 2009, 05:00:02 PM

Silly persons G.Markat is who I stole the idea for the Barracuda /Stickleback from. I think I put a link to his origonal thread Honey I shrunk the F-104 on my build thread.

Glad to see you back G

Much greatness there

EDIT: yep I was right when I stole G.Markat's original idea I included a link ,see here
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,22304.0/highlight,f-416+barracuda.html

cthulhu77 · February 17, 2009, 05:20:50 AM

Very fantastic work ! It actually makes the Starfighter look fly-able.

ysi_maniac · February 17, 2009, 06:21:20 AM

Promising indeed

lancer · February 17, 2009, 02:07:44 PM

Now everybody on here knows how much I hate the F104. BUT, theres always a but isn't there?, I do LIKE the look of this beastie. She looks sleek and elegant and RIGHT!!!

G.Marcat · April 02, 2009, 02:30:01 PM

UPDATE:

Finally decided which camouflage to apply and finally begin to paint it.

Here are some photos.

The base color is SAND and in the next days will aplly the remaining camo

sotoolslinger · April 02, 2009, 02:41:42 PM

Wow

that is turning out slick

The Rat · April 02, 2009, 03:27:52 PM

I'm getting those tingles again...

This has got to be one of the coolest looking aircraft I've seen in a while, absolutely sexy!

tigercat2 · April 03, 2009, 08:38:01 AM

Great idea!! With the swept wings and tip tanks, it looks sort of like a developed version of the F-90, with area rule.

Wes W.

G.Marcat · April 15, 2009, 02:41:48 PM

I'm doing a battle

trying to apply decently the camouflage made by the green smoke rings on the sand base.

At today this is the work done:

Sisko · April 15, 2009, 03:18:51 PM

Wow vey nice conversion!!!!!

And I particularly love the retro camo scheme.

G.Marcat · April 16, 2009, 06:06:55 AM

Quote from: Sisko on April 15, 2009, 03:18:51 PMWow vey nice conversion!!!!! And I particularly love the retro camo scheme.

In the beginning the F-104 must have been painted as the first YF-16:

White & Azure.
But I were looking for an out of ordinary scheme and the green smoke rings on sand is appeared more appealing.
I thought that the "amebes" scheme could be difficult to reproduce but the truth is even worse: a correct application of the smoke rings scheme requires a good hand and an excellent knowledge of the colours to use and how to mix them.

The result obtained from me is 1000 miles away to that I was interested to reach, but after several sessions of correction to the smoke rings this is the maximum I can obtain.