1/72 Academy Vought F-8E Crusader 

by Eric Bade

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The "last of the gunfighters" has been released by several model companies in 1/72nd scale. Heller and Hasegawa were the most common. Still both models were originally released a long time ago, and although with work they could be built as decent models, they could no longer conceal their old age. Moulded panel lines and all around details were the most obvious evidence that a replacement was long overdue. The Crusader itself needs not to be presented. The aircraft is famous thanks to its records over Vietnam both in US Navy or US Marines Corps service. 

The model

Academy improved a lot during the past few year to reach the highest levels of quality, and I now anticipate their new releases as much as I do for Hasegawa, Tamiya or Revell new models. Their Crusader model is very nice and crisply moulded.  It is a vast improvement over the Heller and Hasegawa forerunners.  The model comes in their usual light greenish grey hard plastic. It has 103 grey parts plus 7 clear parts.  Most details are here. Panel lines are recessed and complemented with rivets representation. Cockpit, landing gear or air brake wells are well represented and this kit can easily be build out of the box.

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Building

This model can be built out of the box, but I wanted to try some aftermarket details. Few actually. I had ordered the pre-painted Crusader detail set from the Eduard range and I wanted to make a try of it. I also used a Verlinden MB Mk7 ejection seat (designed for 1/72nd scale F-4 Phantoms actually). It is extremely sharply painted with minute details. Some could complain against the ready for use nature of these details but after all it's the same if you use decals. The only possible default I found on these pre-painted accessories is that their base colour seems very light (it should be FS36231) and it doesn't mate with my enamel colours. The Verlinden Mk7 ejection seats I used were designed for F-4 Phantom II kits and they differ somewhat to their F-8 Crusader counterparts. I believe that the differences were acceptable In the small 1/72nd scale.

The rest of construction is quite straightforward and very little putty if any was needed. The air Intake builds easily and completes into a deep air sucker. The main landing gear and airbrake box builds into a detailed unit. It would not spoil a 1/48th model. The landing gear units were detailed with photo etched parts for hydaulic lines and fastening rings (remember that is a carrier aircraft).

Wing builds as a 2 parts assembly which is easily cemented to the fuselage complete with the correct angle. 

Painting

The US Crusaders flew mostly during the light gull grey and white scheme with the Hi Viz colours. So I did not have a long time choosing the overall colours from the Gunze range of paints. Light Gull grey (FS26440) and white are the main colours for that project.

At the time I built my model I only had the kit decals in hand though I have ordered several sheets ever since. They unfortunately did not arrive in time. Kit decals are sharp although they are on the thick side. They adhere quite well, but I had some difficult experience with large US National markings on the fuselage sides, especially the port side one that goes over the IFR fairing. No matter how much I tried or how strong decal softener I used (Micro, Carpena and Daco ranges – that much) I could not make it conform tightly. I eventually was happy to use the kit decal for VMF232 because I found a photograph of that very machine and it came to me that I had not a single US MARINES Corps aircraft in my current collection; I had built an F-18A ages ago but it is no longer there.

I basically painted white first, then the light gull grey of the upper surfaces. Some masking was exercised over the flying surfaces (flaps and rudder) and nose cone that must remain white, whereas the fuselage grey/white line was airbrushed freehand. Some more masking was done around windshield for the black anti dazzle area.

Once the main colours are painted the Crusader looks the part but the paint is dull. I therefore used variation (darker or lighter) of the light gull grey to paint panels – as a representation of older faded panels or new darker panels). I also painted vertical stripes freehand to give an impression of airframe stress.

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Decalling and Finishing

The decal sheet is quite complete and sharply printed. It is also complete and well designed. Except for the above mentioned large US National markings on the fuselage side I had no problem with them providing I used decal softeners (Microset/Microsol combination did the job). 

As I paint with acrylic paints, I use oil based colours for my panel lines. A thin wash of amber, sepia or dark greys is used over the aircraft depending of the main camouflage colour. Use relatively light colours for panel lines on this model (no black here) because the recessed lines though sharp and thin are deep.

It was time to add a few spots of colour around the aircraft to complete weathering and paint all the lights (red and green translucent colours mostly) before I could welcome this new model into my collection. 

A very good model indeed that was worth waiting. Sure I will have some more to build and I will do so with pleasure.  

Eric

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Photos and text © by Eric Bade