RFN F-8E Crusader - WIP

**sparouty** · April 21st, 2013, 14:20

Hi,
I open this thread just to give you some visibility on this project which is now on the top of our priority!
I'm working on the exterior model, mapping the first set of draft textures and animating the main parts (so far only gears and doors are animated)

Here is a screenshot from FSX to show you the beast as it is tonight

Attachment 85103

Regards,
Sylvain

**Ian Warren** · April 21st, 2013, 14:31

Superb , Ive had a lot of fun just recent in this shooter , with doing an external update , now that would be something ill be looking forward to

**Bone** · April 21st, 2013, 15:38

Thumbs up x2

**dharris** · April 21st, 2013, 16:04

One of my favorite aircraft of all time. Thanks

***TARPSBird*** · April 21st, 2013, 19:58

Sylvain,
If you have any F-8 detail or performance questions please feel free to contact me. I have a whole community of former F-8 pilots on the F-8 list who can provide answers. These guys constantly amaze me with the extent of their knowledge, and such good recall of their experiences. :salute:

**FentiFlier1** · April 21st, 2013, 23:47

Thanks for the update!

I'll be following this closely - the last RFN productions have been really excellent!

Owen.

**Dino Cattaneo** · April 22nd, 2013, 04:40

Looking great so far! Good job!

**fxsttcb** · April 22nd, 2013, 05:32

Awesome! :salute:
Hopefully, we can also have a stripped model(like the one in the screenie). No Hardpoints, No weapons. Then we can have a real RF-8 for FSX to go along with RFN's "Last Gunfighter" versions.
Anticipation is...Making me wait. Doggone Ketchup jingle....Again! lol ...Don

**Dumonceau** · April 22nd, 2013, 08:50

*drooling*

**DagR** · April 22nd, 2013, 10:26

Superb Work Sylvain! :-D

Best
DagR

**delta_lima** · April 22nd, 2013, 11:00

What more can I say than has already been said?

Looking superb, and with the quality of the RFN Etendard IV as a benchmark, I know this will be mindblowing in its quality and (hopefully) the visual performance. I find it so remarkable how RFN's projects manage to look so good, both in model detail and in paint quality - and with corresponding minimal performance impact.

This will be a highly anticipated project, and with a good paint kit, I hope it'll get repainted more times than the Mona Lisa!

cheers,

DL

**sparouty** · May 7th, 2013, 13:57

Hi,
The Crusader is a plane that really looks like a true fighter, don't you think?

Don't look too much into detail it is still in Progress... very draft...
I like to share work in progress from time to time.

Regards,
Sylvain

***TARPSBird*** · May 7th, 2013, 14:17

Looks great so far! :salute:

**Mach3DS** · May 7th, 2013, 14:30

Looks great! I believe the prototype F-8 is currently being restored at the Boeing Museum of Flight Restoration center located at Paine field, WA (KPAE). It's a beautiful machine! Well done thus far!

**delta_lima** · May 8th, 2013, 08:38

Looks great Sylvain - your team knows how to conjur some real FSX magic!

Since in most of our lifetimes, we've seen the E (FN) version in the darker low vis grey ... here's a few shots in its earlier Aeronavale schemes, which was the standard USN white/grey .... shown here cross decking onto a USN carrier (guessing from the VF-14 F-14s, likely either USS Kennedy or USS Independence.)

Hoping that after the (E)-FN, an RF might make it ...

....

OK ... better run, before I get kicked out of this thread ...

...

DL

**Dumonceau** · May 8th, 2013, 08:46

WOW!! I love that low viz paint!! But no guns??

back on topic: that model is looking incredible!!

***Dimus*** · May 8th, 2013, 08:58

Originally Posted by Dumonceau

WOW!! I love that low viz paint!! But no guns??

back on topic: that model is looking incredible!!

That is an RF bird, no guns.

I thing the only RF jet with guns was the RF-84.

But yes, back on topic. That model looks great! Another classic in the making!

***Navy Chief*** · May 8th, 2013, 09:27

A ancedote about working on Crusaders. My first duty station was at Patuxent River in the early 70s, one Crusader was assigned to the unit (North Site Maintenance). The Egress system on the Crusader was a real challenge, mainly because of the way it was bolted to the rails in the cockpit. The Martin-Baker seat had two trunion bolts. The top one was easy enough to access for removal; but the lower one was a different story altogether. The bulkhead was so close to the bolt head, that a modified, shaved-down socket was the ONLY way to remove it. Believe me when I tell you it was not easy to remove that bolt. You had to use a drift punch, and pound it out. There wasn't much room to swing a hammer, either! My supervisor was always in a bad mood when the 210 Day inspection came due on the Crusader.......NC

**delta_lima** · May 8th, 2013, 10:15

Originally Posted by Dumonceau

WOW!! I love that low viz paint!! But no guns??

back on topic: that model is looking incredible!!

Indeed, as has been pointed out - that's the RF-8G, which along with the RF-8A, were the two photo-recce versions of the Crusader.

Here's another shot of that low-vis scheme - taken right before the decomissioning of VFP-206 ....

Though generally not a fan of the low-vis schemes, there are certain aircraft that sported it well, and the Crusader (in my view) is one of them. But then, I'm biased ...

Back to the E(FN) version currently being modelled, here's a few more pics of it in its French environment. Love this shot - you really see how much that front gear gets compressed on arrested landings - the mains are actually off the ground! ... I love the intense balance of kinetic forces in this photo ...

Another high vis ....

A final shot ... nice view of the flightline of some Flotille 12F Crusaders at Landivisiau ...

cheers,

DL

**sparouty** · December 23rd, 2013, 14:49

Hi,
It's a long time since I posted some news of RFN Crusader.
Today I compiled in FSX the result of weeks of modeling and painting : main parts of consoles and cabin sides are now done !