HISTORY:
In 1977 the Philippine Air Force acquired 35 ex-US Navy F-8H
Crusaders. The F-8H is actually a remanufactured F-8D fitted with the more
powerful J57-P-20A engine, amongst other modifications. These F-8Hs were
assigned to the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 5th fighter Wing stationed
at Basa Air Base, Pampanga, in northern Luzon. As part of their job in defending
Philippine airspace, the F-8s of the 7th TFS intercepted many Soviet bombers
which overflew the northwestern area of the country.
Along with the demise of the Marcos dictatorship, almost all of the Crusaders
went into disrepair, and were finally decomissioned in 1987. The eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo in 1991 permanently damaged the surviving F-8s in Basa Air Base.
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THE KIT:
The kit used was Kangnam's 1:72 rendition of the Vought F-8E. Although it's
workable, this kit is so poor in accuracy and detail that it wouldn't have been
used if only Academy's Crusader came out much earlier. Because an accurate model
was next to impossible to finish, the kit was constructed OOB except for a
scratchbuilt pod near the top of the vertical fin.
MARKINGS:
The kit was made to represent plane number 310 of the 7th TFS of the
Philippine Air Force. The decals used were homemade.
This kit is lovingly dedicated to my wife with whom I saw this plane in
static display at the Philippine Military Academy campus in Baguio City.
Hope you liked it.
Jonjon
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