1/48 Academy F-4J USN "Jolly Rogers"

From memory the aircraft number of  this one I did is a CAG bird, which also had the radome tan nose

Exceptional build Grant! You are getting me excited about my next project which is the 1/48 Academy F-4C. Thanks for showing us your project!

Max

Excellent work. I have wanted a Jolly Roger for a while, and I picked up the Eduard Rockin' Rhino boxing of the Academy F-4J, with PE and resin upgrades, on a great deal, and was able to trade one of its schemes for the Academy kit decals. First, I'll be building the Academy F-4C, so hopefully I can do the F-4J justice.

I'm tagging this one as a reference though, because your build is sublime.

-BD-

After waiting for right at a month I recieved my Phantom a few days ago.

I was seriously looking at the new kit from Zoukei Mura however I felt I can't drop $75.00 on plastic at this time. Perhaps in a while. 

I got the Academy Phantom J for $35.00, just had to wait on the slow boat from S Korea.

It rattles my feathers a bit to see aftermarket parts costing more than the entire kit so I am building from the box, as I always do. I reporpose items I find laying around or just make my own part. 

Very nice work, I hope I will do as well as you did. 

I am also planing on the same color Radome, it just seems to set the rest of the aircraft off. I also love the Gull Grey main color, 

Does anyone know what the difference is between A/C # 211 and 212? 

This is my first 1/48 scale that I can remember ever doing, The eye's are fadding out so I need bigger stuff to fiddle with. I have always done 1/72 WWI and II birds. Love the WWI Biplanes. 

Took a break and built a few armor pieces after I did my first ever Armor build, The Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog. 

I enjoyed it so much I built a few other pieces. The Tamyia Bulldog is a perfect first armor build for anyone that wants to give heavy metal a try. After the Bulldog it was an AFV Club and a couple of Dragons. 

Again, Thanks for the pic's and sweet looking build. 

For anyone thinking of doing all of the Jolly Rodger's aircraft I did a little research and here they are. First the squadron does not have a direct lineage. Multiple squadrons over time have had the name.

VF-17 in WW2 1943 to April 1944 flew the F4U-1

A new VF-17 in 1944-1945 flew the F6F-5

Redesignated VF-61 in 1945

Flew FJ-3 Fury

then F3H-2M Demon.

VF-84 formed in 1955 taking the name in 1960 when VF-61 deactivated.

VF-84 flew the F-8C from 1959 to 1964.

VF-84 flew the F-4B then F-4J and then F-4N until 1976

VF-84 flew the F-14A from 1976 until it was disestablished in 1995.

VF-103 became the Jolly Rodgers in 1995. Flying the F-14B.

VF-103 transitioned to F/A-18F in 2004 and was redesignated VFA-103 in Feb. 2005.

So to recap you'll build: F4U-1, F6F-5, FJ-3, F3H-2M, F-8C, F-4B, F-4J, F-4N, F-14A, F-14B, F/A-18F.

Sweet looking Phantom,very nicely done Sir!

The Demon is HobbyBoss with just about every AM resin set available for it.

Nice set! Real rice. Which kit is the the F3H Demon?

That is a really nice F-4, i do like the weathering.

Cheers guys, the deck section is a printed plasticard, I got it from flyingmule.com, as well as a heap of different ones

She's a real beauty!  Very nice paint job!  What did you use for your flight deck?  Keep up the good work.

I love those F4's. Very nice work! Thanks for sharing.

BK

I really like your build.  And I'm patial to a good out of the box build.  

Exceptionally done, nice trio!

Toshi