Hobbycraft F8F VNAF

[LyleW]

Looks pretty smoothly! Let’s see some paint!

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Lyle. Not quite ready for paint yet… still need to add a few more bits here and there before I can start painting. Soon….

[Stuart]

That's looking good Carlos!

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Stuart. I’ll get more updates posted soon.

[Stikpusher]

A little more progress to report…

First up, I drilled out the exhaust stacks and installed them in place





Then I installed the bomb racks and rocket stub launchers. I also added some sway braces to the pylons. And lastly I glued together the ordnance that I’m going to mount- four 5” HVARs and the centerline drop tank



I also polished up the canopy & windscreen and gave those items their dip in Future. Those are drying now, so no photos until they’re masked off and glued in place prior to painting. Hopefully that will be tomorrow….

[Stuart]

Very nice, those drilled out exhausts look much better!

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Stuart. Those pipes are tiny. Each one is maybe .5mm or so in diameter…

[speedgraflex]

Read through this again, Carlos. It is always a pleasure to read your narrative and follow along with you. Your painting so far is extraordinary; using rubber black is a great choice. Nice deep tone! Also the Tamiya yellow green is likewise a beautiful rendition of zinc chromate.

I was thinking while reading that it takes a great deal to write and document photographically while we work. Congratulations to you for always, always making your projects available for a reader to follow. Your attention to detail, painting and assembly skills always make your projects stand out from the crowd. I know I have learned a great deal from you.

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Bruce! I try to keep the narrative informative enough to answer most questions, but not overly long winded in the description as to put the reader to sleep as I’ve seen some other guys do elsewhere. Thirty years of writing various types of reports has changed my writing style, but given me enough guidance as to know “when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em” with the amount of detail contained.

[Stikpusher]

More progress! Woohoo!

First up, I added some acetate for the reflector gunsight lens





Then I masked up the canopy and windscreen and glued them into place



Tomorrow I’ll work on the seams around the windscreen, and after that I can start initial painting!