This all started with the 1/72 Sword P-80. Isn't that some pulse-pounding box art?
I've always had a soft-spot for the Shooting Star. It makes me think of those old Hudson autos with curves and lots of chrome. The P-80 seems to me to perfectly encapsulate the bridge between the 1940s and 150s.
This kit is a bit pricey, but as there was a dearth of venerable 1/72 Airfix P-80s, I took the plunge. The quality of the moldings and the detail of this kit, along with unused resin extras didn't disappoint:
Imagine my surprise upon discovering that for my $28.95 this kit HAS NO LOCATING PINS WHATSOEVER, NONE, NADA, ZIP, ZILCH, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN HERE BUD. Yup I was up a creek without a paddle and with glue all over my fingers...again.
All was not lost and I was able to sand off most of the fingerprints once I put it all together. I decided to upgrade the classic P-80 by adding the wings and stabs from a (1/100?) F-117. The tail from a (1/200?) Space Shuttle fit like it was meant to be there all along and I decided to swap out the kit canopy for a more modern, streamlined Squadron vac meant for a Banshee or early Phantom. Here's how it all looked before paint:
The missiles are 1/48 Bearcat rockets to which I added fins cut from sheet stock. The model was brush-painted by hand in acrylics and decals were all from spares, the shark's mouth from the much-maligned Academy P-40B.
It took me a little less than two weeks to put this all together if you take out the days work got in the way.
Many thanks to Bill and Jeff for their ideas and help and for sending me the Space Shuttle that donated its tail.
I hope you enjoyed the model and the story of when the Cold War briefly turned Hot.
Brian da Basher