1/48 Monogram F-80 Shooting Star

Gallery Article by Michael Keogh on May 7 2013

 

 

This is my second attempt at the Monogram F-80.  My first was a released issue.  The plastic was inferior and my paint job was a failure.  I picked up this original issue on eBay for a good price.  It was built out of the box except for the decals.  For them, I used the Microscale sheet 48-0163 that I bought from Rare Plane Detective.  It depicts F-80C "Salty Dog" of the 35th FBS based in Japan in 1950.

 

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This original kit was much easier to work with compared to the re-release.  The re-release plastic was much softer and had many fit problems.  The original had less fit issues.  I chose to built it with the tail removed and access panel open.  I could not get the tail to fit properly with the engine installed, otherwise it would have work fine without. For paint, I used Testors Model Master Acryl and Enamels.  For the gloss coat before decaling I brushed on Future.  For the final matt coat I used Rustoleum Painter's Touch Matt Clear.

Enjoy the photos.

Michael Keogh

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Photos and text © by Michael Keogh