cool, so i'll have to make something up as there is nothing there on my kit at present, also i can't see that area at all on the ref photos like the one in my previous post

cheers, chris

Great looking stuff guys!!! Keep 'em coming!!!

Just for the heck of it I'll post two pics from before I started decaling about a week ago:

hey guys, There is some great looking birds being built here. I still have a few projects that are on a fast approaching deadline before I can start my Phantom but I'm getting jacked up for it.

Hello phellow phantom phans, I couldn't resist, sorry.

I figured out what I am going to build.  Looking at the F-4 stuff in my stash, I found some decals for VMFA-513 "Flying Nightmares".  I bought them a while ago and I must have thought they were for a J model.  Nope.  For a B.  I have a J, among others, but no B.  Some of the chatter early on in this thread got me a thinking....  I am converting my 1/48 Monongram Hi-Tech C to a B.  When I got the idea, I jumped around a bit to see if it indeed was feasible.  Sanded down and rescribed wings.  Removed rear consoles in cockpit.  Rescribed navy style fuel probe door.  Making new non-bulged gear doors.  So far the only AM I am going to use is:  True Details B/N wheels, and their ejection seats.  Will it be as good as a Hase?  Most likely not.  Am I having fun?  Hell yeah!  I'll try and post some pics soon.  My camera sucks, so I want to borrow a better one first.

I found out from someone in the know, that it was indeed an F-4 that flew into Lackland AFB a couple of weeks ago.  It is an RF-4C to be exact, set up for drone duty, as I understand it.

For any Texans out there, don't forget that Model Fiesta is tomorrow!  Have a safe weekend.

Cheers,

Greg

Caribwill – Pit looks good; I always prime, not only to help paint stick, but also to help me detect seams and constructions errors. I always use MM enamels, never had anything peel off, but I let every coat dry for 2+ days before I stick tape or give another paint coat. Only done white for ships, and always hand brush it… I know, does not help you! ;)  

Berny – great seat pic, thanks for sharing!

O – Furlough?  Ick, worse than my university…. I am at the teaching end of things though ;) no raises for  years straight! Look forward to your nice WIP

Gkicsak /Gabe – nice start, good looking pit!

morefirejules08 – are those Scale Aircraft Conversions metal LG? I got a couple, never tried them…  Hard to tell from the light, but it seems the detail pickup looks good.  The middle LG has a seam on the side that is quite noticeable. I have never sanded metal seams… simply use the edge of an Xcto blade?

JMart yes they are Scale Aircraft Conversions metal LG and im not overly impressed, there better than the revell offerings and the detail is ok but i had to deal with bent parts and the "seam" you see is more like a step where the two mould haves didn't line up?? it also looks allot worse  in the images i posted

I bought couple of the SAC LGs from Squadron (they were on sale last couple months) for my Revell's 105 and 106 (Thud and Dart). ... and as you say, not overly impressed. And they are NOT cheap, even on sale! I don't think I will be ordering any more....  I understand what you mean about "halves not lining up", something you see in cheap plastic and should NOT be present in 12-15$ USD metal AM parts. Sorry about that....

All - any recomendations for landing gear AM makers?

i think i paid close to $18 for my L/G, which is nearly as much as the kit itself! i too would be interested in other companies making AM L/G

Not good to hear that about the SAC landing gear...just ordered some for my 1/32 Trumpeter F-105's...hope they don't have the same issues for that price.

Wish I had more building/forum time these days. Good looking stuff, fellas!

A note about the Hasegawa kits - there's really no such thing as an "old" kit from them (at least not in the Phantom Phamily with the exception of their C/D boxing). All of their plastic is from the same molds as the original issue. There might be some additional or different sprues as well as fresher decals and a new box, but the plastic is all the same as day one.

right, Dupes,,,,,if you are talking only 1/48

there are 3 distinct generations in 1/72 though, and believe me,,,,they stand right out, lol

Rex

I totally spaced mentioning the scale!

My bad, I was definitely talking only about 1/48.

I hope you someday get a B/N for all the 1/48 modelers out there

in 1/72, we are spoiled,,,,,we are able to build all but the F-4K/M from Hasegawa, and have the K/M from Fujimi to round out a "full set" (the Hasegawa K/M kits are really very old B's with Spey "burner can thingy's")

someone must know about the gap in 1/48, maybe they will fill it

Rex

Hi everyone,

I was looking through the forums and discovered this link.  I've never participated in a gb before, but have a few F-4's in my stash and was actually planning one as my next project.

Am i too late register my interest?

I have:

1/72 Tamiya F-4G (which is apparently a rebox of the Italeri model);

1/72 Fujimi F-4E with bonuse Aussie Decals for a RAAF plane; and

1/48 Hasegawa F-4B/N with the Jolly Rogers decals (my favourite scheme).

Given the time frame and that I'll be overseas for a month, i plan on aiming for two 1/72's, starting with the Tamiya (i'm a pretty slow builder).

Hope to join in the fun and will post some pics when i get started.

Chris.

I don't remember if I said I was joining or not when I chimed in so if not, here's my entry! I am doing Revell's 1/32 RF-4C completely OOB. I won't be starting until maybe March sometime but I will be starting, and with four months for building, I will be able to get it done. Thanks.

Josh

Oh, yeah forgot to add, mine will be completely OOB.

chris

Hi Chris and Josh, welcome to the squadron! I'll update the leaderboard right away -- rip into your builds whenever you're ready!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Attention all personnel, this is the CO. Just bringing to your attention that as of the 26th of February (this side of the dateline) this squadron has 33 serving members. If you'd all like to check the leaderboard on page 1 for squadron Order of Battle, just let me know if I've omitted anybody at this point (I've been busy on other duties lately and while I've tried to get back to base as often as possible, I can't guarantee to have entered up all data correctly).

So, in summary, good job, men, and I look forward to the rollout of the first completed aircraft! Badges WILL be available at that time!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Does anyone know if the Revell 1/32 RF-4B is the same as the Revell 1/32 RF-4C as far as basic moldings and what not?

Josh

Ok guys, i'm taking a poll.

Whilst i haven't started either of my builds yet, i did take them out of their boxes last night to inspect the instructions (i guess that's a start).

I was originally going to do both in SEA camo scheme (USAF & RAAF), but, have discovered one has the option of a German splinter scheme.  It caught my interest, but i then thought "looks too hard".  Plus, it looks to be largely 4 different shades of grey.

So - help me decide, 2 x SEA or 1 x SEA 1 x Splinter?  Having thought about it, I'm now leaning toward the splinter.

Opinions wanted!

Chris.

I vote for 1 SEA and 1 Splinter. You don't see splinter jobs very often.

cml

2 x SEA or 1 x SEA 1 x Splinter?  Opinions wanted!

Splinter!

FastasEF

Does anyone know if the Revell 1/32 RF-4B is the same as the Revell 1/32 RF-4C as far as basic moldings and what not?

Josh

I didn't know RM had a RF-4B in 1/32 scale.  If they did release one, it is probably a re release of their RF-4C and it can't be built into a RF-4B.  The RF-4C had the thick wings and tires while the RF-4B had the thin wing and tires of the F-4B.  The Marines did receive a very short number of thick wing RF-4B but they were basically USAF type RF-4C.  The RM kit has the early flat underside camera windows and not the late rounded type found in the RF-4B thick wing. 

Here is the link to the plane on eBay: Revell 1/32 RF-4B

I have started on my 1/32 RF-4C. I like working in this bigger scale sometimes, actually being able to see the detail, lol. I have the cockpit done minus the seats. I'll post pictures once the seats are done. Nothing fancy, I think I over dry-brushed a tad but it doesn't look horrible. Actually, I need to pick up some Tamiya clear blue and the pit will be complete.

Josh

Started on the cockpit of my RF-4C. Once I get the other seat done I need to go back and finish two other builds before I continue on this one. Other than the seat, I'm going to pick up some Tamiya clear blue for a couple gauges. I might have dry-brushed too much but oh well, I think it has turned out alright so far.

Josh

Josh, I looked at the RF-4B in that link

It's a BuNo for a thin winged RF-4B (the first 36),,,,but I can't tell from that angle which wing it is molded as

If it's molded as a thick wing,,,,it needs markings for 157342 to 157348,,,,,as those are thick wing like C's,,,with "Angular" noses,,,,,,,157348 to 157351 are the three with thick wings and "rounded" noses, like late RF-4C's

I don't know if there are any aftermarket decals for the three different RF-4B versions, though,,,,or I'd give you a link for sure

here's a version summary of RF-4B BuNo's and types

36 thin wing  151975 to 151983, and 153089 to 153115

7 thick wing, Angular nose 157342 to 157348

3 thick wing, Rounded nose 157349 to 157351

if you want more variation,,,,after SURE and then SLEP,,,,check pics for the sensor upgrades (SURE), slotted stabs,,,,and late "J" type engines (SLEP)

you can get 6 or 8 variations of airframe appearance in the RF-4B, if you want to build something no one else has built

hth

Rex

edit: I just thought of another thin wing RF-4 that would be cool

YRF-4C numbers 62-12200 and 62-12201, both are thin winged with Angular noses, in Lt Gull Gray and White camo, the early USAF scheme

put a gun in the Recce nose of 62-12200 and you have the first YF-4E, in SEA Camo (this is the jet that went on to fly in 2 other configurations, also, the slatted Agile Eagle, then the Canard equipped FBW)

4 different looking jets,,,,from one aircraft number

Josh I don't think you dry-brushed too much at all!!!! What you have done is made all the molded detail really pop out!!! I think it looks great!!!! Adds a lot of depth!!

Thanks for that info. Rex. I was wondering mainly because, contrary to everyone's previously mentioned words on the Revell 1/32 RF-4C kit, (so far, lol), I'm having a blast building this one and haven't run into any huge dilemmas and wouldn't mind picking up another one. I'm not very far in though yet so we'll see how the rest comes along but, for the price you can't go wrong. I got mine for $3.50

Thanks for the kind words sim! Hopefully I can get some time to finish my other builds because I'm really looking forward to doing more on this one. I dry fit the fuselage and nose all together and the fit seems tight and lined up so far, even with the pit in there. Let's see if I can keep it that way!

Josh

3.50 for teh 1/32 Revell RF-4C? You stole that kit!

Thunderbolt

in case you are wondering why I'm typing in this thread, but don't have a model entered

I am doing 4 Phantoms, and having another modeler do 2 Phantoms,,,,,for a "how to" article on another site

I don't think it's right to include those as GB models on here,,,,,,but,,,,,,I do think I should help out whenever I can,,,,,,hence the "typing without an entry in the GB"

in a couple of months,,,,,modelers will be able to see the differences in the 6 versions of the F-4B online

if I had more time,,,,I'd start another F-4, but, lol,,,,,more than 4 of them at once is a bit much

Rex

Hi TarnShip,

You're most welcome, and many thanks for the reference materials coming available in future. It's a shame you can't contribute to this GB, it sounds tailor-made for you -- but with far too many projects in hand myself, I know precisely what you mean! There'll be Phantom builds in future -- "Rhinomania II" may very well be in the same timeslot next year, if the popularity of this one is anything go by.

Cheers, Mike/TB379