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One of the most important factors in kit buying... The Boxart looked COOL! |
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The kit had these gun/ammo fairings molded onto the inner
hardpoints. I couldn't find many photos of Air Force
Nomads with these fairings so I removed them and
filled in the holes with custom trimmed pieces of
styrene and putty. |
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I also cut away the molded "air vent" doors
behind the engine cowling and replaced them with home-made vents to make
them flair out more accurately. |
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The cockpit is very nicely done for a kit of this age,
and after adding masking tape seat harnesses
and scratch built engine throttles, it was painted and
ready to be dropped in. |
The T-28's cockpit was very appealing to pilots due to the
cockpit layout. (It was the same as an F-86). |
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The cockpit glass was very crisp and clear, but molded in
the closed position. The Nomad looks so
much more interesting to me with the "office" opened up... |
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...so I chopped it into pieces, sanded the edges smooth,
and there it was, instant opened canopy!
This is actually quite easy if you're patient. |
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Here's a shot with all of the major customizations in place.
It's about ready for priming and sanding.
NOTE: I filled the nose with as much weight as I
could cram in and it was JUST barely enough! It tail-sits
with a good strong gust of wind. |
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After a bit of paint and an appropriate South Asian weathering,
it was done! |
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I added stretched sprue to simulate the brake runs.
It spiced up the gear quite a bit. |