Hey Joel,

Yup, I guess we have to make the most of our strengths. I empathise with your research head start too. I have folders full of links and pics for projects. Actually, I have to admit I get a kick out of doing the research.

Happy modelling.

HI Steve,
I limit myself to about 3 builds on the go at once. So, I can have all four stages of building available to me depending on my mood.

I define a build by these stages:

1. Slapping the plastic together.

2. PE and other things I don;t enjoy doing so much because I don't do them very well, like figures.

3. Painting.

4, Weathering and figures.

I have 2 stalled builds. But they are stalled because: I was building one for the express purpose of competing in a show, which is now cancelled. And the other because I committed myself to too many group builds for the first half of the year.

Keep that 104 going!

Gaz

Hey Gaz,

I admire your ability to multi-task. One thing is sure in my mind - I'll be reaching for an easier project once the 104 is done.

Have a great day,

Steve.

Excitement, adventure and really wild things; possibly not what's immediately associated with the world of plastic modelling. But, I have to confess after working on this kit for ages, getting to the point where I’m peeling off masking tape and thinking that the end is in sight is exciting.

Here she is with the airbrushing and weathering done and waiting to be spruced up with decals.







Maybe the best is yet to come?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQIZ-Esbg_c

Happy modelling guys.

Looks amazing Steve

Indeed it does!

Thanks very much guys. I have a busy few days but I hope to get some decaling done over the next week or so.

How do you feel about decals? Love ‘em or hate ‘em, unless you’re a wizard with masking, sooner or later you have to tackle them. I approach them with a combination of excitement and anxiety; there aren’t many second chances with these delicate make or break markings. I’ve been eyeing the big, high-quality decals for the F-104C for some time, and I just gave in to temptation. Earlier work on the drop tanks gave me some confidence that this would not be a traumatic experience.

I’ve seen on-line modellers get great effects by sanding decals after they are applied and dried. I wanted to blend the F-104’s into the weathered surface, so I thought I would give it a go. The decals themselves went on beautifully with the help of Tamiya Mark Fit Strong. There is some carrier film showing but that’s my fault. I really don’t like applying gloss coats so I put the decals onto a fairly mat surface. I guess I will have to go there in the end. Sanding them was actually fun. I was gentle of course and took my time. The end result is some pleasing fading especially around panels. To my eye it looks authentic and interesting and I’ll do more. What do you think?





Happy modelling guys.

I'm glad to see you still at work, Steve.

I'd rather have good decals than bad masks. But carrier film is the bane of all modellers. It's not bad if you can make the film disappear. Masking takes a fair amount of time and effort, and that bogeyman Paint-lift is always threatening.

Conversely, decals can hide the silvering until you've applied the matte coat, necessitating much picking, pricking, slicing and applying of decal softener.

At any rate... we can only make masks so small. So we'll always be at the mercy of decals.

That's how I feel.

And you've plenty of stencils to lay, young man.

Gaz

Hey Gaz,

I hear you. Generally I prefer masks for the big stuff if I can get hold of them, but you're right of course - there's a limit.

And, yes stencils are in my future. Isn't this the kind of thing that artificial intelligence and robots should do for us? Hmmm, maybe I'm reading too much sci-fi.

Have a great day, and thanks for ripping in.

Hi Steve - I’ve been a bit of a lurker on this one . Well done all around - tremendous scope , effort and execution. Beautiful.
Cheers - Richard

Steve,
Like Richard, I've followed your build for years, but generally don't post as I'm a car modeler for the last several years.

Your decaling came out darn good if you ask me. With that being said, I've learned from the masters like Paul Budzik that you don't need to apply a heavy coat of gloss to decal on that hopefully fills in the nooks and valleys to prevent flash and silvering. Actually, you don't need any clear gloss at all. Just a light rub with 6,000 to 12,000 micro mesh emery cloth will give you a super smooth surface. I've been decaling that way for years and almost never have any flash or silvering issues.

I do gloss over the decals so that I can blend them in for a painted on look. Then either a gloss or matt finish.

Just some food for thought.

Joel

Steve, these look amazing!

Like masking, decals are a necessary part of model making...

There are many ways to a good finish, personally I prefer laying down decals over a gloss coat, and then another gloss coat to seal them in before applying washes... but you must find what works for you ultimately

Hi guys,

Thanks for the feedback, it's great to have you along.

Richard, that's high praise! Thank you. I lurk in all sorts of places, often meaning to leave a comment or two, but not finding the time. I really must do more because it's great to hear from people.

Joel, I sort of feel your presence and you've been a huge inspiration over the years. I'm hoping to offer you a finished Starfighter to look at soon. I like to sand the paint gently too - it can give a wonderful smooth surface finish as you said. There's also a great video on decalling by Will Pattison - check it out on Youtube.

Russell, I hear you. There are some nice variations in finish after all the weathering that I want to preserve so I'll try and avoid a gloss coat but it might not be possible in the end.

Guys, thanks again for dropping in. The end is sight! Then what will I do???

Have a great day, and happy modelling.

Sit back, relax and admire your work!

After that, grab a cheap 1/72 kit that can be slung together and brush painted all in one evening just for the fun of it...

I really like the sound of it and I'm already rifling through my stash. There are three or four kits whispering seductively, all 1/48 scale or above. I think maybe a break for a week or two to get some sun and admire the Starfighter, then some time reorganising my desk, then a new project and definitely not one that takes years!

I don’t often swear, at least not out loud, but as I watched the big serial number decal on the rear fin disintegrate like shattered glass, some very blue language filled the air. A disaster like this in the final stages of a three year project is, er… not helpful. I’d love to blame Italeri or (less credibly) Cartograph, but the real problem was me. A combination of too much softening solution and a little sanding to get some weathering before I apply the decal, led to its down fall. If I can resort to some stereotypical British understatement, I can say I was a bit miffed with myself.

After a few moments of inner tantrum the inevitable question bubbled up - what to do? There are other marking options provided but not for the ‘C’ version I was building in the colour scheme I’d chosen, and the underside is done, which limited my choices even more. In the end after weighing up all sorts of options I decided to commit a sin. My ‘C’ version from 1964 is going to get ‘A’ version markings. Now before people start calling lawyers, I know (all too painfully) that this means I will end up with a non-existent mongrel; a plane that never flew. That pains me, but it will still look like a USAF Starfighter and I need to move on to a new project. One of the reasons I messed up is rushing because I’m so close to the finish line.

So with the on-line equivalent of talking through gritted teeth, here are some shots of the decaling so far, including the weathering effects I wanted. I’m trying to recreate the look of faded and worn paint seen prominently in some of my references. Oh, and I checked; none show tail markings so totally fractured as to be unreadable. You might summarise this whole last episode with the phrase ‘Nice decals, shame about the accuracy’. Ugh.

Happier modelling guys.

Hello Steve. Still following your build.
Been a long time I send a reaction.
It's one hell of a job your doing with this kit. I purchased one some time ago, but dare not to start yet. First finish my Hasegawa I started more than a year ago.
Your build is a great inspiration for me.
Thanks for all the great photos you share, techniques and dedication to the subject.

Steve,
Just love your weathered decal look. In 1/32 scale it really works. As for your decal issue, there's quite a few After Market decal sheets available that you could use to solve your problem as far as the markings for a particular plane.

I'm quite sure that 9 out of 10 modelers would never know that the plane you modeled isn't a replica to the nth degree. The real test is if you can fool Jessica.

Joel

Hey guys

Jan (sorry, I think that's your first name yes?), I am honoured to be an inspiration. I have the same feelings looking at all the great work here and elsewhere too. I want to get better, and make fewer mistakes This isn't a terrible kit. I made life interesting by deciding to add so much extra detail and pushing my weathering skills to the limit. Are you building a Hasegawa Starfighter?

Joel, of course you right about the aftermarket. I thought about that then arrived at your last point. Few people will notice, but the refuelling probe is a give away for those in the know. LOL, and now everyone :-)

Thanks for looking in guys.

Hi Steve.
Actually my first name consists of more names.
Full name is Robert Jan Gerardus. Where Robert is my personal name, Jan and Gerardus are my grandfathers first names.
So there are some options. Friends call me Robert or RJ. In Thailand it's also Robert, at work even 'Mr. Robert', in Thai they say Pi' Robert.

So it's up to you.

Hmmmmmm............

This is the penultimate part of this F-104 story. The photo below shows all the sub-assemblies ready to go together. There’s a little bit of detail painting to do, but the next time you see this model it will be finished. Before we get there, I want to say a few words. They are: decals wonderful, instructions not. Cartograph lived up to their reputation both in the quality of the decals and the way they applied. And in a sense, so did Italeri. The instructions can be vague or confusing, for example the illustrations didn’t always look like the decals on the sheet. A combination of references and guess work got me through. Luckily the Cartograph printing is first class and the decals can be read. That helped to.

So here it all is, awaiting some fiddly assembly. At this point I’m thinking detail really is a double edged sword, and I hope it's all worth it.

Happy modelling guys.

Great work, Steve!

Thanks Gaz,

About an hour more and she's done.

I can't quite believe it!