Sword – SW72149 – F8U-1P/RF-8A Photo-Recon Crusader over Cuba

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a Vought F-8 Crusader carrier based fighter aircraft introduced in mid 50s in a photo-reconnaissance variant F8U-1P (later designated RF-8A), an unarmed modification of the F8U-1E with around 144 units build.

Kit includes a resin cast seat and decal sheet with one single marking for an aircraft which saw service during the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962. The RF-8As performed low altitude photo reconnaissance providing evidences of the Soviet medium range ballistic missiles deployment, and later were used also to monitor the withdrawal of the missiles, totalizing over 160.000 images took in a work of six weeks.

Thought in reserve, the photo-reconnaissance F-8s lasted in service of the U.S. Navy till the late 80s, and other countries like France of Philippines retained F-8s in service even later.

Kit is a limited run as usual in Sword production. Kit can turn into a nice and good model but need to be careful cleaning parts and fitting the assemble. Consists of around 86 parts including a nice resin cast seat. Our recommendation is for some experienced modelers. Also includes adhesive paint mask.

As per 2024 this Sword kit (and it sister kit Sword – SW72150 – RF-8G Photo-Recon Crusader over Vietnam) are the only available kits in injected plastic 1/72 scale for this topic, the Vought F-8 Crusader Photo-Reconnaissance variants.