RF-80

[OBIO]

A little bit ago, I had to go sit on the "throne" and do my daily "thinking". To enhance my "thinking" I took a book with me.....a nice thick book entitled "The World's Greatest Aircraft". This book gives a quick over view of the history of each aircraft covered in the book. Well, as I was flipping through the book, I came to the Lockheed F-80....which is one of my favorite early US jets. While reading the blurb on the Shooting Star, I was surprised to learn that there was a photo recon version of the plane....the RF-80. That little discovery set my mind in action....why not take the paint kit for the Alpha F-80 (which can be found on the Virtavia Freeware Page....both the plane and the paint kit), modify it, and create the RF-80. I then did a Google search and found some pretty nice pics of the RF-80....including some detailed shots of the modified construction of the nose and the camera position and such.

Not sure when I will get to it, given my limited time for FS work, but I will crack out the RF-80...unless someone else decided to tackle the project.

OBIO

[TARPSBird]

As much experience as you've had, I'm sure it's do-able. One advantage: The flat surfaces of the nose for the camera windows are not as pronounced on the RF-80 as they are on some other vintage photo birds, like the big slab-sided schnozz on the F9F-8P photo Cougar. I'd like to see what you come up with.

[OBIO]

I have a paint kit done for the Alpha F-84F/RF-84F and have some really neat camera set ups on the RF...you can see the lens behind the glass...well, there isn't any glass...but I managed to make it look like there is. I will use the same technique on the RF-80.....when I get to it. Have the B-2 to finish...then the Alpha 105 Project to wrap up (90% done), then the F/RF-84F project. And then I will get on the F/RF-80 project. The F/RF-80 project will be the first time that I have used a pre-made paint kit.....all the rest of my projects have started with the created of layered templates. I will modify things here and there on the F/RF-80 kit, but most of it will remain as Alpha created it and supplied it.

OBIO

[Jagdflieger]

Thanks for the effort Obio. I've always liked the early jets for FS 9. The recon variants have always been intriguing.

[OBIO]

Thanks for the effort Obio. I've always liked the early jets for FS 9. The recon variants have always been intriguing.

Jag

The thanks go to you and all the men and women like you.....soldiers who have fought and died to give us the freedoms we enjoy in this Great nation and soldiers who have fought and died defending those freedoms that we enjoy in this Great Nation. Without all of you, I would not have the freedoms and liberties that I wake up to each morning. The little I do in the flight sim world pales in comparison to what you have done in your 40 plus year career as an American Soldier, as a Giver and Defender of Freedoms.



Tim