Thanks to the release of the Hasegawa F-8, a bunch of nice Crusader sheets are on the market. This one is the first of those that concentrate on planes that took part in the Vietnam War (called the American War in Vietnam).  Though designed for the Hasegawa kit, these markings should fit with a bit of trimming on the Monogram version as well. All are light gull grey over white.

There are two F-8Cs on this sheet, and those cannot be made right from the box. You'll note that the C model does not have the 'hump' on the upper wing. Nor does it have the same radome. The F-8C had a smaller radar dish so its radome is 'flattened' on the side as well as being shorter and more pointed. This means that the nose structure behind it is flatter as well. You'll have to do these mods yourself as the only F-8C backdate set available seems to miss the proper shape of the radome. I'm not sure about the afterburner cooling intakes being valid for the F-8C (they are, thanks to reader inputs for pointing this out). I'd suggest the Squadron/Signal F-8 Walkaround when doing the F-8C versions to be positive on what differences there were.

First up is an F-8E from VF-53 aboard the USS Hancock (one of my old ships) during 1967. Later in its life, it was a MiG killer.

The first F-8C is this one from VF-111. The notes say this aircraft got the last F-8 MiG kill . Most F-8Cs were updated to K standards.

The second F-8C is from VF-24 aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. This aircraft was flown by Bob Kirkwoodland who achieved the lone 'guns only' F-8 kill of the war while flying this aircraft.

Enough insignia and data markings to do one of the aircraft on the sheet.

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