WIP Hasegawa 1/48 F-4 Phantom NFARS

Toshi

Looking goog keyda81, what kind of new toy did you buy in an AB?

Toshi

 

The Paasche VL kit from Hobby Lobby.  I've been using the one from Harbor Frieght up until now.  Figured it was time for a decent airbrush.  Can't afford the fancy stuff, so hopefully this does what I need it to.

What parts are missing?

I have a pretty well stocked spare parts box, with a fair amount of leftover F-4 parts....if you have no luck with Hasegawa.

I think you will find the Public Affairs folks very receptive when you explain that you are working on a collection of aircraft that were based there.

I had looked at the kit when I got it, but didn't realize it was missing anything.  Hopefully Hase will come through, though you might have to purchase the sprue or sprues.  I got it from Straycat, but I have four 1/32 Phantoms on the shelf and didn't think I would ever get to it, so passed it on to someone who would build it.

You really went to town on it, and is looking good, even though it is a "G" instead of a "C", it will be representative of Phantoms based there.  I love the old SEA (South East Asia) camo, that is the era I worked the birds back in the early/mid '70's.  All of mine will wear that paint.

I didn't realize they were missing either until I went to glue them on, lol. 

So I'm pretty annoyed with myself at the moment.  I thought I had everything sorted out with the airbrush.  Apparently I hadn't.  I got really aggrevated and landing up painting some of the green with a paint brush after giving up on the airbrush.  I'm pissed at myself for losing my paitence with it, and resorting to the paint brush, cause now I don't like how it looks.    I think my problem is too much air pressure, and I need to find a regulator and get that hooked up. 

A few pics at she currently sits.  It doesn't look too bad in the pics, but I don't want it to be one of those 5 foot models where it looks great from 5 feet away.

Either a regulator or a MAC (Micro Air Control) valve by Iwata.  It's in line and hooks up to the AB directly.  They make the Chinese MAC valves that are also quick release.  I have both and I use the Chinese version the most. You can have the air pressure at 50psi and still control the air pressure with the MAC valve.  

You can respray the camoflauge area when you get a regulator or in line valve.  Good luck!

Toshi

I must add, your Phantom looks great.  Add the rest of the camoflauge and decals with weathering and you'll be very happy with the final product.  You never cease to amaze us all.

Toshi

Keyda-

Not knowing what kind of compressor you have, if you have a Harbor Freight nearby, they have a regulator with a guage on it for under $10.  They are set up on 1/4 NPT thread, but you can get brass adapters at most any autmotive parts house, and not that expensive.  I would also say to get one of HF's red plastic "squashed punkin'" water traps.  Put both at the compressor and good to go.

Thanks Toshi.  Hubby rigged something up for me with a regulator on it.  I'm going to have to play around with it.  I still need to get the hang of an airbrush. 

I have the harbor frieght airbrush and compressor.  I bought the set up a few years ago for taxidermy.  Which really there is no need for it to be precise at all.  Everything in nature is more blended out.  I'm going to get back it and hopefully I can save the paint job.  This usually happens with every build, I get dicouraged thinking its going to look horrible, but in the end I'm usually pretty happy with it.  It must be my model building process or something, lol.  I've only every trashed one model out of 20 builds.

Keyda81

Thanks Toshi.  Hubby rigged something up for me with a regulator on it.  I'm going to have to play around with it.  I still need to get the hang of an airbrush. 

I have the harbor frieght airbrush and compressor.  I bought the set up a few years ago for taxidermy.  Which really there is no need for it to be precise at all.  Everything in nature is more blended out.  I'm going to get back it and hopefully I can save the paint job.  This usually happens with every build, I get dicouraged thinking its going to look horrible, but in the end I'm usually pretty happy with it.  It must be my model building process or something, lol.  I've only every trashed one model out of 20 builds.

 

I also use H/F airbrush and compressor...there's a fitting on the bottom of the moister trap (clear piece)...you can adjust that to drop the pressure...you'll hear the air escaping and see the needle drop. Full pressure is too much for most things, I keep mine in the 15psi range.

(Also...haven't had a chance to check yet, but I'll dig through the spares later and see if I can find any of those parts...I don't think I have any, but ya never know!)

So here's where I'm at now.  I added the darker shade of green, then touched up some spots with the tan.  I was still having trouble with the airbrush at points, but I think if I try to "fix" it anymore it's just going to make things worse.  I still don't get why the airbrush will work fine one minute and not the next, then fine again.  I guess I just need to get the hang of it.  I should of known I would run into issues when it came to painting, building it went so well, and everything went together really nice!  Lol.

Keyda-

Just an observation- the inner portions of  the horizontal stabs should be a silverr/metal/titanium color, above and below. There is a panel line from front to back about 1/2 way out from the fuselage that is the break point. 

Maybe try and split your three colors pretty much evenly on the upper surfaces and sides (each color should cover approximately 1/3 of the painted wings and fuselage).  At least from my weak memory-

Other than that, looking good.  More practice with the AB will help.  What is it doing as far as not working right then going back to good?   We might be able to help troubleshoot.

goldhammer

Keyda-

Just an observation- the inner portions of  the horizontal stabs should be a silverr/metal/titanium color, above and below. There is a panel line from front to back about 1/2 way out from the fuselage that is the break point. 

Maybe try and split your three colors pretty much evenly on the upper surfaces and sides (each color should cover approximately 1/3 of the painted wings and fuselage).  At least from my weak memory-

Other than that, looking good.  More practice with the AB will help.  What is it doing as far as not working right then going back to good?   We might be able to help troubleshoot.

 

Yea I'm going to go in with a paint brush and paint the stabilizers with titanium later on. 

I was having a hard time keeping with the reference I had printed out, between it being a pain in my ass, and trying to feather colors out, and make it look presentable, I got off track with the pattern.

I'll shoot a little bit with the airbrush on some scrap to make sure everything is working properly, pull back and get just a little bit of paint, everything is going well, then it seems to shoot out way too much paint and I land up with runs.  It very well could be my own stupidity.

Sounds like you are inadvertantly pulling back a little more without realizing it and getting more material flow.  Don't feel bad, happens to me all the time.  My eyes tell the brain "too light" and what is left upstairs tells the finger to yank back.  More practice and use is the cure.  I know I sure need it.  Just put a couple of light runs on the BUFF I'm doing for a GB.

Practice does make perfect, lol.  Just have to keep at it I guess.  I think I'm a bit too hard on myself sometimes.  I did just get into this hobby over the summer, and I've got quite a few builds under my belt, but I'm still learning with each one.  I still have a lot to learn.  I learn best with hands on experience, too bad there isn't a class or something to at least teach me the basics, lol. 

Probably be a few more days before I can get back to the Phantom.  Taking care of the house cleaning, and getting some other stuff in order before I get back to it.

From what I see, everything you've done, you've done to the best of your abilities.  Looks great and I love it!  Like you said, you got a few things to do before you can get back to it to clean up the Phantom.  

That's what I'm doing with my P-38 Lightning build.  Cleaned house and am now babysitting my grandson for a few days.  I'll then be able to primer my P-38.  Sometimes, it's good to step back and do a few things before going back to our beloved hobby to have some good ole' fun!

Toshi

P.S. As for the AB thing, you'll get it.  It's just practice, experience, and repetition.  Before you know it, you'll be getting to know your AB as if it were second nature!  A forum member described to me what an AB is; "Imagine painting without brushes".  This concept, helped me greatly.

I had some things to take care of this week, catch up on house cleaning, get a crap ton of blood work done, which I put off for over a year, lol.  Now that is all done I spent quite a few hours working on the Phantom today. 

Nose painted, and a few other bits.

Landing gear and doors in place.

All the fun bits, lol.

The moment of truth, standing on her own.

Hopefully I'll be doing the decals tomorrow.  Then comes the hardest part.....finding somewhere to put it! 

Now that's one beautiful Phantom!  Love the camoflauge!

Toshi

Toshi

Now that's one beautiful Phantom!  Love the camoflauge!

Toshi

 

I'll second that! Nice work Keyda!

Thanks guys!  It certainly won't be an exact replica, but a cool display peice representing a little of the history of Niagara Falls.  Will be heading off to get started on the decals shortly.  Soon as my coffee kicks in, lol. 

Nice save with it, good looking bird to add to the farm.  Good to see it got put together.

Practice with the AB on the silvers/titianiums, I think you will like the results better than brushing.  At least for me, brushing those don't lay out right.

I'll offer one nit-pik, from an old Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) guy.  Back in the day, granted it was 40 years ago, the ECM pods were gloss white, and the radomes on the ALQ 119's were black.  Don't know about currently or recent past. The paint on the 119 in the port forward missle bay is nicely painted, but jumps out. As an old ECM guy I appreciate seeing them so prominate, but a little out of whack.

Of course you could leave it as is, your build and bird. 

Got some decals laid down this morning.  I had ordered a decal sheet from Reid publishing that had the decals for the particular aircraft.  But in my excitement I failed to notice that they are indeed for that aircraft, but in the ADC grey scheme.  Oh well, trudging on anyway. 

Underside, can barely seem the decals they are so small. 

Rainbow and camo, lol.

We are scheduled to have an air show next summer, so if I can get to where the Phantom is on display at the base I will take a whole slew of pictures of it, and do another model someday.

I will just have to call this one a loose interpretation, lol.

goldhammer

Nice save with it, good looking bird to add to the farm.  Good to see it got put together.

Practice with the AB on the silvers/titianiums, I think you will like the results better than brushing.  At least for me, brushing those don't lay out right.

I'll offer one nit-pik, from an old Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) guy.  Back in the day, granted it was 40 years ago, the ECM pods were gloss white, and the radomes on the ALQ 119's were black.  Don't know about currently or recent past. The paint on the 119 in the port forward missle bay is nicely painted, but jumps out. As an old ECM guy I appreciate seeing them so prominate, but a little out of whack.

Of course you could leave it as is, your build and bird. 

 

I did wonder about that, seeing as I was going with my own version, lol.  I just painted it how the kit instructions said to.  I think sometime in the future I will do another model of the same subject, but  maybe in one of the other schemes it was painted in, but will match it more closey.  I've become quite fond of the Phantom, and think it will be worth it to pick up a few reference books.  I wish I could afford to do the same with every aircraft I build, but unfortunately being a stay at home mom, I have to choose wisely, lol. 

Sorry for the little hiatus, lol.  It's been a little crazy around here lately.  It's going to get even crazier in 2 weeks, I'll have a new puppy to keep an eye on.

I kind of winged it with the decals.  My fault for not having proper reference.

Anywho, on to the pics!

On display.

Nice finish, Keyda.  :)