This
was a quick build as I wanted to make a Bearcat before I left Thailand and
didn't have much time. This
is one of the great piston engined fighters and as one of the first to arrive on
the UK airshow scene in the early 1980's, its one I always loved the sound of.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
Thailand
bought F8F-1 Bearcats from the US support program in the early 1950's and they
served from 1951 to 1960 under the designation "Fighter type 15".
Many were ex French aircraft from Vietnam. This represents a plane from 43rd
Bomber sqn, 4th Wing at Takhli AFB, Nakon Sawan in 1955 which saw action over
Cambodia in the Late 1950's. The history of the plane in the museum is that it
sat outside an airbase on a pole with another until the French wanted one for
their museum. The deal seems to have been for the French to restore both and
then donate one plus a replica Breguet 14 to Thailand.
The
kit fitted together well and with a bit of resequencing of the construction I
finished it it 2 weeks with 3 spraying sessions. I set out to copy the plane in
the RTAF Museum at Bangkok airport but on closer inspection its markings were a
bit spurious so I used a set from the sheet by ASI decal. These decals are made
here in Thailand and come with 3 sets of plans, 3 sheets of colour profiles and
markings for 2 complete aircraft with 12 options. The whites coloured easily
over the blue, stuck well and were very thin. Excellent value.
I
usually use Mr Colour paint but their Midnight blue' is totally wrong so I tried
Xtracolour thinned with Tamya X-20 enamel, (which worked better than with
Xtracolour thinners). The planes in service were well worn so I might do
some weathering when I get time.
Colin
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|