North American FX-53-N Stingray

[Gondor]

Why make a hole for a tail hook?

Why not make a V shaped hook and then all you have to do is to add the attachment points!

Should be easier to do and less damage to the paint to install.

Gondor

[Beanflick]

Hey, that's a good suggestion ... I'll definitely look into that, thanks!

[Sturmbock]

A V-hook, like the Sea Venom. That's some clever thinking..

[Gondor]

A V-hook, like the Sea Venom. That's some clever thinking..

Thanks for saying so.

Gondor

[Beanflick]

Made a first little plan for the color scheme. The decals are only temporary 'placeholders'...

[Sturmbock]

Very convincing profile! Something of an operational pre-series NAS scheme.

[Beanflick]

Well, on my quest for decals I stumbled upon this:



and it's just perfect: NAVY bird, natural metal, correct era. And it even comes with a nice tailhook! So I'm going to use this kit as a decal donor (the above picture is from a kit built by someone who's way more proficient than me - but I do have the kit lying around). No doubt the rest of the kit will see some good use as well as the cutlass is a highly whiffable plane...

Pictures of the paintjob so far later this week.

[Sturmbock]

A Cutlass makes excellent kitbash fodder! It crossed my mind that it would be great for decals and parts, but I still think in kit catalogues from 30 years ago, so this model didn't register in my universe.
Great find btw!

[pyro-manic]

This is looking good so far! That's a great colour scheme you've come up with. May I suggest replacing that enormous, ungainly nose wheel with something rather smaller? Either a single one similar to the main gear wheels, or twin tiny ones as seen on (for example) that Cutlass.

[sotoolslinger]

Yummy, please continue

[Beanflick]

This is looking good so far! That's a great colour scheme you've come up with. May I suggest replacing that enormous, ungainly nose wheel with something rather smaller? Either a single one similar to the main gear wheels, or twin tiny ones as seen on (for example) that Cutlass.

Hmm... I actually like that huge wheel barrow tire at the front, but changing it for something smaller would change the look and feel of the plane. And that might be good. On the other hand, I really don't like the teeny weeny rollerskate wheels of the Cutlass. So I might opt for something in between.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement, guys!

[Pablo1965]

This is looking good so far! That's a great colour scheme you've come up with. May I suggest replacing that enormous, ungainly nose wheel with something rather smaller? Either a single one similar to the main gear wheels, or twin tiny ones as seen on (for example) that Cutlass.

Hmm... I actually like that huge wheel barrow tire at the front, but changing it for something smaller would change the look and feel of the plane. And that might be good. On the other hand, I really don't like the teeny weeny rollerskate wheels of the Cutlass. So I might opt for something in between.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement, guys!



Do not forget that I am still waiting for his plane.

[Beanflick]

Ah yes... it's gathering dust on the workbench. For shame! Picking it up soon though, as a bunch of 'other tasks' have been completed. Now there's some time for styrene, putty and decals!

[Pablo1965]

Ah yes... it's gathering dust on the workbench. For shame! Picking it up soon though, as a bunch of 'other tasks' have been completed. Now there's some time for styrene, putty and decals!

Well, good news. 

[Beanflick]

Well, after ransacking the Cutlass kit I found me a nice tailhook and a front landing gear that's not as funky as the Hortens' original.
My good buddy Sturmbock came up with a donor carrier tractor that's going to be part of the display (as soon as I'm done with sexing it up).


paint job still needs some TLC