I started this project nearly 10 years ago when these were pretty new. The idea was to have a Hornet that was not like everyone else's Hornet. Not out-of-the-box versions are what I'm after. I have an F-86F that has been converted to a fighter/bomber variant in SAAF markings, an F-104 Starfighter pictured in a previous post that has some modifications, and an F-14 (next on the bench) being converted to a "D" Bombcat and remarked VF-31. This Hornet started as a two-person attempt to make them "more than the others". My partner in crime was MIG29K who somewhat finished his (look in the archives here for the results) and the results were fantastic. Mine on the other hand was boxed after awhile and left for the future. Well, I finally stopped waiting and started working.
This is what I pulled from storage. The nose cone was cut off, the speed brake cut out, rudders and elevons removed, canopy removed, and the wingtip rails were changed. So I started with the tail...
The speed brake well is completely fabricated and the ram has been added, a little more weathering and adding the hydraulic lines....it's done.
The nose has been re-attached and partially painted.
The rudders and elevons have been hinged and re-attached.
So the saga continues...one of these days (soon I hope) this will be finished and then on to the next challenge!
