A 104some...
Comments
92 8 December 2019, 20:50
Erik LeijdensPlanning to make four Dutch 104s, or "Zippers". One F-104G in the early RAL7001 QRA scheme, one TF-104G in RAL7001, one RF-104G with the Orpheus recce pod in RAL7012 and RAL6014 and one TF-104G in RAL7012 and RAL6014
8 December 2019, 21:16
Wim van der LuijtSome good old fashioned madness....good luck keeping the sprues apart 😄
12 December 2019, 11:27
Erik LeijdensWelcome mates! I still don't know if it's wise to start 4 kits at once.. But the risk of building just one is that the other 3 kits will never be build 🙂. Also it's nice to the diffrences in loadout, one will be fully loaded with 4 tanks and a recce pod, one with 2 sidewinders under the belly and 2 tanks, one twoseater will be as clean as a baby's ass and one two seater with eeh I don't know yet.. Also for the two single seater pits I'll use PE from the kit, one twoseater pit will be detail painted and in the other twoseater i'll use the kit instrument decals. And will use a mix of Eduard/True Details and Quickboost C2 ejection seats...
12 December 2019, 15:05
Slavo HazuchaThe rewards go to the brave! And those instrument panels are true beauties to behold 👍 watching with pleasure.
12 December 2019, 16:19
Stephan RyllErik it seems that you started the production belt for 104's again😉 very nice start 👍
13 December 2019, 16:24
Erik LeijdensNot a lot of progress lately due to other time consuming activities, but the cockpits are done now and mated to the fuselages. This also is the last update for a while since I'm about to begin with a big renovation of my house...
4 February 2020, 15:01
Erik LeijdensHalf way trough the renovation of my house and the most important room is as good as ready, the new hobby room! A bit smaller than my attic were I used to sit but it's a room with a lot of light.
Also continued my 104s, sprayed the inlets in the appropriate colours for the different camouflage schemes.
16 April 2020, 09:49
Wim van der LuijtNice workplace Erik, now you start your starfighter production line again
16 April 2020, 13:26
Slavo HazuchaA beautiful place... even the picture feels comfy😉 👍
Looking forward to this quadriga of speed gaining fresh traction!
16 April 2020, 13:47
Nathan DempseyYes, its good to see this one going again as the initial post had me out hunting a 104 kit 🙂
16 April 2020, 14:01
Martin von Schreckensteinthat's a nice flock you got there. would like to build many F-104s like that too but my bench and display case are stuffed with F-14s already🙂
16 April 2020, 15:28
Erik LeijdensThanks mates! Nice to see this project has interest from master modellers! Progress will be slow though, as there are some small different details between Dutch 104's. The recce, mud move and interceptor role all gave them unique details which are not present on the Hasegawa plastic. Especially some naca ducts which are or are not present. I'm also still searching for the particuler birds I will build, I want at least a couple of pictures of it as reference. Two 104's will be in the initial all grey scheme, but color pictures of those are very rare.
But will do my best 😄
17 April 2020, 06:54
Mid FranconianHi Erik, great project! You now have a new follower! Did you consider the Daco upgrade kit?
23 April 2020, 21:14
Erik LeijdensHi Mid_Franconian! Yes but only sprue A, the whole set is too expensive and with a lot of parts not te be used. I only have ordered one A sprue from DACO, for my 306 recce squadron 104, the fuselage without the wings on the last picture. That one will be the flagship of my 104some🙂. Welcome!!
23 April 2020, 21:58
Erik LeijdensHehe well Spanjaard, I bought a new 55" tv for the living room so I thought I can use my old 40" one as a PC monitor. Works and looks great 😄
24 April 2020, 07:02
Michael PhillipsOh, this is cool! Following with great interest, you are off to a great start with that assembly line.
24 April 2020, 14:42
Erik LeijdensAdded the CMK para container to one of the 104s, looks nice I think. A dual will also be adorned with an open container when I receive the A sprue from DACO, on which there's also a para container
28 April 2020, 21:28
Mid FranconianGreat! Looking forward to see those 104s finished. What decals do you plan to use?
29 April 2020, 07:15
Erik LeijdensHi Franconian, for the main markings I will use 2 different sets from DutchDecal, for the stencils it will be mix of Eduard and Hasegawa. Luckily in the Nato/Bundes-fighter boxing from eduard the Nato fighters decals came double. Off course it will be a pain to get the stencils 100% correct on all 4 of them, there are a LOT of stencils on the 104 and I'm sure i'll miss a couple.. Also 2 104 will be in the early all grey scheme which also requires different stencils... But let's build these birds first 🙂
29 April 2020, 07:30
Mid FranconianHi Erik, than you for reply. I used the Dutch Decals sheet for the 104 already - they are simply great.
29 April 2020, 10:29
Erik LeijdensThanks Slavo, a easy one!
@Mid-Franconian, yes they are very good most of the time. But occasionally I have issues with some of the decals. Sometimes the carrier film reacts very good to sol and stuff but were there's ink from roundels i.e. they don't react at all or it's very minimal. I know the owner/designer of Dutch Decal personally and he doesn't print the decals by him self. Last years they were silk screen printed by Fantasy Printshop but now the Brexit is coming he is looking for another good quality, and affordable, silk screen printer company for his decals. The new Sea Fury sheet for instance is printed in Russia..!
30 April 2020, 06:03
Erik LeijdensPlaced a NACA duct for the cooling of ECM equipment on a reconnaissance F-104, unique to Dutch RF-104s
10 May 2020, 21:08
Erik LeijdensAll the glasswork will get a treatment in Future, a couple of masks and then it's time for some primer I think!
19 May 2020, 11:44
Choppa NuttaFor my next trick I'll be giving it What Four with my Hammer Four !!
I like Four Play !! 😄 😄 😄
21 May 2020, 22:16
Erik LeijdensThe seats for the two duals are done, not my strongest point but I think they came out alright. Two of them are from Quickboost and the other two from True details. Will mix them between the two TF-104's because that way the harnesses aren't identical.
26 May 2020, 14:18
Erik LeijdensSprayed some grey primer around seams etc to check for imperfections, and there are a lot..😄
9 June 2020, 05:22
Slavo HazuchaLove this project, not fast, but hey - every step a pleasure to watch! Keep them updates coming - really looking forward to the colors 👍
5 July 2020, 14:21
Erik LeijdensThanks Slavo, yes it's a bit of a long ride.. It's quite a challenge to get this foursome done. There are 2 duals and 2 singles but all they will have a different livery because of the role and era they depict. Which makes it extra difficult to make them "right". Also, Dutch subject are a favourite of mine but it also gives some extra pressure to make them "correct". So all in all this will take some time, don't want to rush things hey! From the Dutch Starfighter Foundation(they are restoring a Dutch 104 to working condition) I received 4 stencil decal sheets, and there A LOT of stencils on 104s!! Something to look forward too 😄. Also the difference in camouflage also requires specific stencils...yeeah 🤔
5 July 2020, 19:45
Clifford KeeslerLooking great Erik, they are going to be awesome when you are done.
6 July 2020, 16:48
Erik LeijdensThanks Nathan and Clifford! Can't wait to finish them to be honest..😄
7 July 2020, 20:16
Erik LeijdensOnce you go black..! Now to work with some 3000 grid pads to make the surface smooth
8 July 2020, 19:39
Slavo HazuchaApologies in advance for somewhat bombing this thread... but it´s a best "live" F-104 thread I am aware of (apologies to all of which I am not...)
I recently got hold of the very nice Eduard Eikó F-104J (Thanks Palo M😉 ) with some mustard on top of the basic box package... one of which is the BRASSIN J-79 engine chamber & nozzle "late". This is the one recommended by Eduard inside the kit for this kit. Yet in the kit´s instructions itself (build & paint), the plastic part to be used is clearly the early nozzle type, as appears to be the case on most F-104J pictures in the booklet & online... I yet failed to find a clear logic & reference in this topic... the engine in the J´s apparently is a license-built J79-IHI-11A but I did not find any clarification if both nozzle versions were built/provided/early exchanged for late for the JSDAF...
Would be very grateful for any help with navigating the (for me) mostly unknown waters of F-104 minutiae to get a nice, yet at least reasonably plausible result!
+ Erik I assume the G & J are essentially similar Eduard box contents, minus Art & decals, so this thread has just got 300% more attractive to watch for me 😄 already yielding an additional 👍 for the seamless intake transitions😉
20 July 2020, 10:19
Nathan DempseyThat's the cleanest wing join Erik! Nice work 🙂
Slavo: Sorry, but I have zero knowledge on the 104. I have the Hasegawa Marineflieger kit and hope to keep it a simple build if possible.
20 July 2020, 12:10
Clifford KeeslerAgree with Nathan, great wing joint. Love the Hasegawa F-104 kits.
20 July 2020, 20:24
Erik LeijdensI'm on vacation in France mates. Will reply you all when I'm back in a couple of weeks 😄
20 July 2020, 21:17
Erik LeijdensFinally it's time to give the first two Starfighters it's camouflage. But for the dual the area around the the lower tail was bare metal so I sprayed some AK aluminium and steel first. The camouflage for the early DUtch 104s was overall grey for which I will use Gunze 308. Unfortunately due to some poor planning and experiencing some very thin paint I only had enough to spray 2/3 of the TF-104G 😄. Ordered a couple of new paint jars so I have to be patient...🤔
19 August 2020, 05:18
Erik LeijdensThanks Clifford!
@Slavo, welcome mate! Now I have to do my very best knowing you are watching here too..! I don't have any knowledge about J79 nozzles but unfortunately. For my 104some I haven't yet sorted out if the kit nozzles are usable for the Dutch 104s.
Indeed you have to take care around the intakes, they don't fit flush. But they are the only parts which will give you some troubles cause besides those intake parts fit the kit is flawless imo. Just some sanding and filling and checking with primer, but I don't have to say that to a modeller of your status 😄
19 August 2020, 05:34
Erik LeijdensAdded some night black as anti glare on the two overall RAl7001 104s
23 August 2020, 18:28
Slavo HazuchaBeing close & personal with this kit now, my respect for your work grows daily...😉 Nice clean job on the pointy ends! 👍
23 August 2020, 19:39
Erik LeijdensThanks mates!
@Slavo, now to figure out a way to make those nice red/white bands around the pitots..🤔
24 August 2020, 14:51
Clifford KeeslerThin red decal stripe wrapped around a white painted pitot tube?
25 August 2020, 00:05
Erik LeijdensYes they are supplied in the kits but I don't know how that will turn out..?
25 August 2020, 05:16
Björn SvedbergLooking great so far, Erik! 👍
About the pitots, I probably would have painted them before attaching them to the fuselage. Then you could have attached them to an electric drill at slow speed and painted each stripe with a paint brush. Kind of like you do with a lathe, but with paint instead.
But I'm sure you will find a solution! 🙂
25 August 2020, 05:52
Erik LeijdensHi Björn, yes that could have been a solution! But it still requires a very steady hand I think 🙂
26 August 2020, 07:38
Spanjaardred decals, or masking tape and airbrushing the red.....i would certainly go for the second. just need to be very careful in not breaking them....
26 August 2020, 10:09
Slavo HazuchaAt this stage, them being firmly attached to the noses, tape is probably the way to go for a clean & thin result... will need one quiet, concentrated & determined evening´s work...😉
But definitely worth it considered how well this is underway! 👍
26 August 2020, 10:26
Erik LeijdensWell I'll will paint the white first, the nose cone is off-white but the pitots are really white. I'll first try the supplied decals, if that isn't satisfactory will use the tape-way 🙂
26 August 2020, 11:23
Clifford KeeslerErik, I used the decal stripe on my 1/32 F-104 and 1/48 T-38's. I just wrapped the decal carefully and used a good amount of Micro-Sol decal softener and they settled right down. How ever you do them, I am sure they will turn out fine.
26 August 2020, 15:15
Erik LeijdensComing alive now 🙂.. But they are everything but done.. maybe I'll try something "Slavo-ish"on the bare metal end of the fuselage of the grey dual. And then there's that mammoth task of placing al those stencils on these 4 "flying descriptions" lurking at the horizon...🤔
8 September 2020, 12:09
Nathan DempseyComing alive for sure Erik. All that decal work is going to be epic!
8 September 2020, 15:24
Slavo HazuchaThe 4-ship formation looks awesome already! 👍 And so does the metal base on the trainer - hope you´ll enjoy!😉
I admire your consistence in not choosing a "preferred child" and going steady with all 4... I can´t imagine bringing up the patience & discipline to do one step 4-times before moving on to the next one... If you carry this through the stencils, it´s worth a medal!
8 September 2020, 18:41
Erik LeijdensThanks Nathan, Clifford, Alexander and Slavo!
@Slavo, yes it IS very tempting to finish the "preferred child" first, but that will be a MOJO killer I think to finish the others. I'm even thinking to start a little kit on the side, just to finally finish something this year..
8 September 2020, 19:02
Erik LeijdensDry fitted the Dutch Orpheus recce pod. Looks nice under the 104
14 September 2020, 16:08
Slavo HazuchaGreat looking pod - and as far as my humble recent experience goes, working with the lovely fine engraved lines & rivets on the actual plane should be just as much rewarding in result... 👍
15 September 2020, 16:08
Spanjaardhi Erik , may i ask your opinion in regards to the quality comparison between Hasegawa and Eduard kits (if any), in regards to surface details, fit etc. i got some idea in mind and i would love to get your input, specially when you have both brands in the bench at the same time 🙂
11 December 2020, 10:00
Erik LeijdensWell Spanjaard, that is quite easy. The Eduard is a rebox from the Hasegawa 104, so they are exactly the same. No flash at all too.
11 December 2020, 10:45
Erik LeijdensDecaltime for one One-O-four! Received 4 sheets of decals from the Dutch Starfighter Foundation! See their sites here: www.DutchStarfighterfoundation.nl www.historicalfighters.com
22 December 2020, 21:59
Jos JansenGreat job Erik...excellent dedication and resilience to build a foursome...👍!!
22 December 2020, 22:20
Erik LeijdensThanks Jos, but it's the first and last time mate.. Decided I will finish one at a time now, otherwise I'll be mad when it's mid 2021!! 😄
22 December 2020, 22:32
Donald Dickson IIDoing 2 at once is bad enough. Tackling 4... I dont blame you for going to one at a time
23 December 2020, 00:06
Erik LeijdensThanks Nathan, Donald and Clifford! Merry Christmas to you too mates
23 December 2020, 20:13
Slavo HazuchaStill Star-fighting I see... But coming to some decisive finalization steps and looking great on the way..! 👍
Did I mention there should be a medal for applying all the stencils to 4-104´s at the same time..?😉
1 January 2021, 15:09
Erik LeijdensAh yes Slavo, slowly working on them! There are a lot of stencils on the 104. From the Dutch Starfighter foundation I received 4 sets of stencils, additions for the duals are on their way too..! A hell of a job, so for the sake of not getting mad I'll started a Tempest kit too 🙂
1 January 2021, 19:55
Erik LeijdensSo finally some progress on my 104some 🙂. Finished stencilling on the grey dual so this one will be the first one finished. Time for a gloss coat now!
23 September 2021, 12:39
Mid Franconian...wait... 4 superb 104s so far so I missed one thumb-up: 👍👍👍👍
25 September 2021, 07:25
Jos JansenOutstanding Erik...great you picked up this nice project of yours again!
26 September 2021, 06:34
Erik LeijdensThanks mates!! Yes Jos, it was about time.. Will finish them one by one now!
26 September 2021, 08:18
Erik LeijdensYeah!! The first one-o-four is ready!! Not the most beautiful of the foursome with it's very clean configuration but it's a 104 so she IS beautiful anyway! Next up is the RF-104 with a full load of 4 tanks and recce pod, a classic Dutch load-out.
1 October 2021, 09:57
Jan PetersWow, I must say, I always liked the camouflaged starfighters better, but seeing this one in plain grey it changes my opinion... I might just build the 72nd in my stash in grey also 🙂
Looking forward to the rest of the bunch Erik!
1 October 2021, 10:19
Maciej BellosGreat looking one-oh-four! Looking forward to seeing the recce version. I plan to build an italian one during desert storm with a recce pod and an ECM pod.
1 October 2021, 10:21
Erik LeijdensThanks mates!
@Jan, wise decision mate!
@Maciej, cool. Never knew the Zipper flew during Desert Storm!
1 October 2021, 15:49
Maciej BellosErik, some RF-4Cs and F-4Es from ANG unit also flew!
The one I will build sported the dark green - gunship gray over silver camo which is kind of nice.
1 October 2021, 16:02
JohnPerhaps the coolest looking jet of the Century series. Your model looks great - well done.
1 October 2021, 16:15
Nathan DempseyGreat finish Erik. That 104 looks very dapper in the grey scheme.
1 October 2021, 17:35
Jos JansenWow Erik, another great build from your hands. It almost complete your Dutch flight line....👍
2 October 2021, 04:39
Erik LeijdensThanks Sebastian, John, Nathan, Calvin, Eelco, Arif and Jos! Nice to see you like it 🙂.
@Maciej, I've looked in to it and learned the F-104s had a brief deployment called "Ace Guard" based on Erhac AB Turkey from 6-1-1991 to 10-3-91. Always nice to learn things!
2 October 2021, 09:26
Erik LeijdensAfter completing the first 104 the mojo to finish them is back so started decalling the RF-104G!
4 October 2021, 21:57
AlexanderI'm looking forward to seeing the whole family assembled - as it seems, it will be a great looking bunch. Great work with the first bird so far! 👍👍
23 October 2021, 01:03
Erik LeijdensThe hundreds of stencils are breaking my balls!! Once in a while I add a few on the RF, will post a update soon mates.
22 March 2023, 13:10
Jan PetersThose stencils can be a pain in the @ss, but it makes a model a lot more realistic.
I had the same feelings when I did the stencils on both mig 21s , and those where in 72nd scale. It seems like it never ends 😂
22 March 2023, 13:44
Maciej BellosOh yes, I put something like 110 stencils on the F-15 and the I lost count of them on the Su-57 and I know how it feels. Keep it up!
22 March 2023, 14:51
AlexanderI consider myself a fan of doing details, including stencils. But when doing my Su-33 in 1:48, I did not put all the stencils on the Begemot sheet on - I think some (dozen) for the inside-lower part of the engine nacelles.
On something round and small like this 104 (which is basically a big missile) I guess it might even be worse; generally I think putting stencils on weaponry or alike is even worse than on the planes themselve.
So in that case take your time, you know we are patient 😉
22 March 2023, 15:55
Clifford KeeslerStencils sure can be a pain. One of the more famous one's is the F-4.
23 March 2023, 20:25
Erik LeijdensThe "problem" is that I have to cut out the stencils one by one because it is 1 big decal sheet. Also, they are pretty much invisible too. And so I can come up with some more excuses....😎
23 March 2023, 23:00
SpanjaardNow it is a pain,... but when done, it will always bring a smile to your face when you look at the finished model 😉 (I know, I have that after placing more than a 1000 dry transfers in a F-4J)
24 March 2023, 10:27
Clifford KeeslerYes it is worth it, in the end. @ Spanjaard, 1,000 stencils "OUCH".
26 March 2023, 00:32
Bernhard SchrockA model mit history... well done! 5816: a lot of stencils🙂. Are the flat position light at the end of the rails extra parts or the whole rails of colored resin?
1 April 2023, 03:45
Erik LeijdensSorry for the VERY late answer Bernhard!! Yes those lights are from coloured resin. This project also begs to be finished, so I went on with the RF-104G, putting a lot of stencils on it!
19 September 2023, 19:43
Album info
Will build 4 at once, insane actually..
