Czech Model 1/32 F-80C Shooting Star by Roland Sachsenhofer

Czech Model 1/32 scale
Lockheed F-80C
Shooting Star

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star

Czech Model's 1/32 F-80C Shooting Star is available online from Squadron.com

Description

Since I saw as a kid Ray Cross impressive Airfix box art of the F-80C 10_LO 49-650 „Saggin Dragon“, I wanted to build it once. Great was my delight when I noticed that Czech Model offers not only a big scale F-80C but also this special variant.

Opening the box I was further delighted by two sets of resin wheels –late and early stile- and an impressive looking bang seat with cast on seat belts besides a bunch of smaller resin for cockpit and wheel detailing.

The overall layout of the kit is of formidable simplicity; sometimes it made me feel as if I did hold upscaled 1:72 kit parts in hands. On the other hand it has to be said that panel lines and overall appearance of the parts look quite convincing.

There is much room for further detailing and fit of parts is just the way you have to expect on a short run kit. Thickness of most of the plastic parts seems exaggerated, causing a lot of sanding work to make the air intakes fit to the construction.

You have to take time and patience to cut or sand the resin gun muzzles into correct shape: they are formed as six cylinders that will not fit to the varying angles of the aircraft's bow. Quite fiddly work!

Some detailing was done in the wheel bays and in the cockpit area. Besides that the bomb racks got new brackets made from spare etched parts.

Decals have been a pleasure to apply and did very well and the sealed Alclad surfaces. The blue areas on bow and tanks have been masked and sprayed.

After all, I am quite happy to have finished this demanding kit of the USAFs first combat ready jet.

Thumbnail panels:

F-80C “Saggin Dragon” has been used by the 16th FIS, 51st FIW in Suwon/ Korea in early 1951.

If you are interested in the building process and the kit parts please have a look at the JAM forum:
http://www.razyboard.com/system/morethread-f-80c-czech-model-132-raidenjack-2086023-6306977-0.html

As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

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