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Here's the Monogram F-100D, in 1/48. I
got this kit over a year ago, before they re-issued it. I think it's the
same kit as you'll find in the box with the newer box art. I got it from
a friend of mine, Thanh, and he threw in the Napalms as well. I planned
to do it in the SEA camouflage scheme at first, but I changed my mind to bare
metal scheme after the base coat was applied. At this point, I scrambled
for the decals for the bare metal scheme. None were available at the
local hobby shops, but this red striped scheme from the 494th TFS 48th TFW
17th AF. Microscale sheet # 48-78. So, my options were limited to
one single scheme, unless I want to use the kit decals. I also looked at
other schemes, but many of them had color bands on the a/c that looked like a
roll of Lifesavers candy. The kit was put together without much
difficulty. I like the way Monogram designed this kit. The top and
bottom halves trapped the wing assembly in the middle. This avoids the
seam line on the top of the fuselage spine. Super glue was used to seal
up gaps on the open service panels, i.e.. gun door bay, ammo door...My kit
came with a bent nose gear strut. Hot water didn't do the trick for me
to bend it back. I cut it off and replaced it with brass tube. Now, it's
the strongest nose gear in my collection.
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Paint was SnJ, and for the first time, I used
SnJ polishing powder to buff it. It works very good,
indeed. Thanks to Rodney's assistance. He told me about this
stuff after I saw what it does to his B-58 Hustler. I masked some panels and
painted them with SnJ without the polishing to bring out some different
shades of shines. It's very subtle, I don't know if you can
see them. The burn area in the aft section of the fuselage was
painted with ModelMaster Burn exhaust color. This area was supposed to
be titanium, not the same material as the rest of the a/c skin. Due to
the extreme heat generated during afterburn of this a/c.
I decided to paint the white and red stripes on
the a/c instead of using decals. I was afraid of the compound curves
will give it problem, so after talking to Rodney, I painted them on and
trashed the decals as well. Gloss white and gloss Guard Red were
used. After the entire plane was painted, the decals for the stencils
and National insignias went on with help from Microset and -sol.
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The plane is built OOB, except replacing the
Mk82 bombs with the Napalms from another Monogram kit. The Bullpup
missiles came with the kit. The ladder was included in the kit. I
painted it with ModelMasters Golden Yellow.
Enjoy the pictures.
Thang
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