Fastest land speed Record program
1/32 scale
North American Eagle Racer in 1/32 scale
Scratch model, using the Revell F-104 kit
last update May 25, 2003
Their goal is to break the current record of 763 mph, held by RAF Pilot Andy Green, back to North America by reaching speeds near 800 mph.
The racer, called the American Eagle, is based on a F-104 Starfighter airframe and engine, set on a fixed chasis with wheels. The record attempt is to take place in the salt lakes of the West in the USA with ample room and space. The team is based in Seattle, USA.
Check out the North
American Eagle Website for more details
[picture courtesy North American Eagle Corp.]
Having a very special model of this racer was very tempting and as a spare F-104 kit of Revell in 1/32 (no. 4708) was still in the stack, a conversion seems possible.
The basic racer is merely
the F-104 fuselage, so the wings and stores are not needed.
The cockpit parts were not
really used, only the floorpan (part no.1) and the canopy to be used.
The seat (part no.2 )was used with some reshaping. The tailfin needs
some reshaping and the fin itself is of the older F-104 C variant, with
the appropriate kit parts used. The main undercarriage bay was closed,
as the racer has a triangle wheels chasis to be made from plastic rods.
The only parts used of the kit!
Wingslots were closed and
the gun fairing on parts 41+6 also sanded flat.
Also the ventral tailfin
is to be removed with a flat belly.
A lot of putty was needed,
but otherwise it is rather simple to make these changes.
..
The overall fuselage is to
be red, the"eagle" marking to be made later with painting.
The basic fuselage was sanded smooth and a red coat of paint added with the air brush.
The eagle "painting" was hand painted with the brush with a couple of coats. An artist' attitude is required at this stage looking at pictures of the real thing.
The "cockpit" area was detailed as "a racing car". A seat based on the kits' part, with buckles, belts and leather cushions. Also, fire extingushing equipment and an ordinary steering wheel was added using kit part 24 !
The
model was now finished.
The
undercarriage "racing" legs were made of two metal rods from a bicycle
wheel and the metal wheel disks came from the kit's wheel hub parts.
The model is quite a special thing in the collection and it's something different from all the other planes in the collection.
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