The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Berny, if you got a nickel for my thanks

The mail just arrived with my Verlinden kit 1406. I'm planning on using the PE stuff. I wasn't that interested on the cockpit or seats since I already finished my Eduards Brassin. In fact, I didn't even know that the Verlinden was going to include seats. Boy I'm glad I went with the Eduard Seats. The are just clean out of the package. Both, Verlinden and Eduard Brassin have their own way to interpret they ejection seats but in this case my vote goes to Eduard Brassin. Eduard's has even rivets and details were Verlinden just have a faint idea.

berny13

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Guys.  Between either a Revell F-4C and a Testors F-4S both 1/48 scale.  Which one would you pick?

Rich

 

 

Go with the Revell kit.  The Testors kit is not accurate as far as the cockpit, seats, landing gear, shape, fit, and everything else on the kit.  I got their F-4F/G in the early 80's as soon as it was released.  After looking at the blob of plastic they call an aircraft model, I threw it away.  I couldn't even get some parts of it to fit on other kits for kit bashing.  The Testors, Fujimi, and Italeri Phantoms are from the same mold and IMO are worthless.

Thanks for the info Berni.  I think I will go with the Revell if it's still up on eBa.

Rich

Thanks for looking anyways Berni.  I appreciate it.

Rich

berny13

Rich, I went through my decal stash and came up empty handed.  Nothing in 1/48 scale for the F-4F/G.  I don't even have anything tp piece together for them.

A little progress this week. I got the holes for the stabilizers filled in and smoothed out. Now it's on to cleaning up the stabs by filling in the slats, and cutting off the mounting stubs and creating new ones. I had to make mounting plates for the stabs as the kit is devoid of that detail. I'm going to have to make new mounting hardware so I can get them stuck on there. I'm thinking of Bare Metal Foil for this area and the stablizers, and using Metalizer for the under side. BMF is more durable than Metalizer, and is cheaper than Alclad.

I ran across a picture of a drone "B" that was painted orange overall. That's sounding awful tempting right now.

Glenn

Glenn -- that would probably be the one from the Naval Missile Center, her nickname was "The Iron Butterfly." 1:72 markings were done by Superscale but the sheet is very rare these days, 72-137 IIRC. The shade appears closer to a dark red in many photos, I think I have an FS reference for it somewhere. I saw a model many years ago and knew then that I'd do that one when a day came that I could do it justice.

Cheers, M/TB379

there were many QF-4Bs converted,,,,,,the one I'm doing doesn't have the PMTC logo on it,,,,,,,it's one that had a pic posted on the F-4 Yahoo group a longggg time ago,,,,,overall Int'l Orange with 2 White wing tanks

there also seems to have more than one "Great Pumpkin" in the fleet, too,,,,I've seen that lettering on at least two different BuNos over the years

Rex  -- Racking my brain here -- all orange with white tanks, that seems familiar... It would be amazing to catalog every last scheme F-4s ever flew in. There must be hundreds!

M/TB379

I can't recall exactly when it was emailed out to the group,,,,it was about 4 years ago,,,,,,it had the old alternate tanks also, the shorter and fatter ones

I liked it so much, I almost built it with a Hasegawa kit, lol,,,,,,caught myself just in time and finished that kit as an "on topic" bird for my Squadron collection, though

I can't recall the exact number,,,,,but, 4 times the number of letter designations comes to mind as to the number of Phantoms one has to build to get each actual combination of the  variations in the hardware covered,,,,,schemes,,,,omg,,,,no clue of how many that would take, lol

Shawn over on ARC may know, or even he might not know the final number, there are so many

Remember there were 500 Phantoms on the table one time in Telford, and that didn't seem to "have all the possibles" covered, lol

I need to upload some pics of the "starting moldings" for these 6, and one Italeri S,,,,,,just to show how the kits have evolved over the decades,,,,,,one molding will flat make y'all laugh,,,,but, I'm still going to build the beast

Rex

Mike and Rex,

I got the idea from an image search last night, after seeing one on a CD I got from some catalog. The "Great Pumpkin" was one of them; and there was a buildup article on the Hyperscale website (I copied and pasted the link below). I remember seeing the NMC one in an "F-4 Phantom in Action" by Lou Drendel in '74. I doubt I'll change tact now, but it sure would standout in the collection!

Glenn

http://hsfeatures.com/qf4bda_2.htm

I do apreciate all your expert advice youve been given Us! Ive got Aero Master "Phancy Phantoms Pt.V" plus a some seamless intake stuff and a few resin seats.

You more than likly may not want any of these items,just tryin to help if I can.

One question,do all aircraft have that probe type deal inside the port intake?

                                                                                                 thanks

                                                                                                   Skip

Hi everyone,

Tonight I lined the inside of my paint booth with aluminum foil.  The only thing left is the window insert to run the exhaust vent to.  I will make that tomorrow.  Then I will be all set to start building my Phantom!  I can't wait!

Ken

Revell

Havent take pic's of mine yet but as of now Im building the Hasagaw F-4J Showtime 100 with a good amount of resin aftermarket detail.

Ive got a True Details SUU-23 Gun Pod for the F-4. Unopened for sale if someone wants to add it to their build. 

Rascal 1957

One question,do all aircraft have that probe type deal inside the port intake?

                                                                                                 thanks

                                                                                                   Skip

That is the PTSP (Pressure Temperature Sensor Probe) and is found in both intakes.  It is used to control the vari ramps and bell mouth at mach speeds.

I won the Revell 1/48 kit on eBay.  It is going to have to be done OOB.  I just can't lay out any more funds for AM stuff.  As for the FGR.2 kit.  Here are some info and images of the exact plane I will be building.

It was flown by 56sqn. RAF Wattisham (EGUW).  These images were taken April 16 1979.

Here's another shot.

I have gotten some different information on the plane's disposition but it appears to have been scrapped in 1992.  If anyone has more info, I would be interested.   BTW as you probably guessed, the Squadron's nickname was the Firebirds.

I will be getting back to her once the PE detail set shows up.  If the Revell kit gets here first, then I will start with that one.  I tried for a 1/32 Revell kit but I got sniped at the last second.  LOL

Rich

Hi Everyone,

I just finished with the exhaust window insert and hooked it up to my paint booth.  The job is done!!  I will have to spend the rest of the evening clearing the snow from my Mom's driveway and sidewalk.  If I have enough time when I get back home I will start on my Phantom.  I am so tired of this freakin' snow!  We are expecting more tomorrow and Monday.

Congratulations Rich on scoring the Revell Phantom on ebay.  I made a score on a few things myself.  Don't worry, it wasn't me that sniped that 1/32 Revell from you!  I got sniped on a few things too but for how much they paid for them, it was more than I was willing to pay.

How are you holding up with the weather in Australia Mike?  I keep seeing news reports about all the rain you're getting down there.

Ken

Ken -- the wild weather was in the eastern states, all we got here in SA was humidity! It's been very hot here, but that's about it...

Cheers, M/TB379

Heat and humidity...sounds good right about now!

Glenn

Well, I'm in the Midwest (Toledo OH) and we just got about 6 inches dumped on us...again..  And it's supposed to snow until Monday night.

Thunderbolt379

Ken -- the wild weather was in the eastern states, all we got here in SA was humidity! It's been very hot here, but that's about it...

Cheers, M/TB379

Hey guy's ; 42C/104F yesterday here in Sydney , man was it hot !

Mike , I forgot I had these Superscale decals , F-4B VMFA-513 "Flying Nightmares"

So I'll add another Fujimi F-4B into the mix ;

I'm sanding the putty and the seems on the current Phantom fleet , hopfully tomorrow I'll start masking the rear for some silver and steel around the exhaust area .

                                                             John .

John -- page 1 updated. At eight builds you are way out front now! Can't wait to see this fleet come together!

Cheers, M/TB379

Thunderbolt.  Could you add  my Revell F-4C 1/48 scale.  I have to get some more decals for the Testors kit as it turns out so it is going to be last on the list to get done.  I'll be starting with either the Revell kit, or the Hasegawa depending on what shows up first, the Hasegawa detail set, or the Revell kit. lol

Thanks

Rich

John, awesome scheme!  That is the one I did in 1/48th last year.  I would love to score that sheet for one in 1/72!  I've gone a little nuts on ebay lately myself.  I picked up a Fujimi Fg.1, a Hase J, Monogram J, Fujimi RF-4B, and an Esci S, all in 72nd scale.  They were all really good prices.  I am itching to start a Rhino!  Keep up the great work fellas! 

Cheers,

Greg

SH -- page 1 updated. That's the 67th announced build!

Cheers, M/TB379

Gregbbear

John, awesome scheme!  That is the one I did in 1/48th last year.  I would love to score that sheet for one in 1/72!  I've gone a little nuts on ebay lately myself.  I picked up a Fujimi Fg.1, a Hase J, Monogram J, Fujimi RF-4B, and an Esci S, all in 72nd scale.  They were all really good prices.  I am itching to start a Rhino!  Keep up the great work fellas! 

Cheers,

Greg

Greg , sounds like you and I are in-sinc with a lot of our builds , I also recently picked up some 2nd hand 1/72 F-4 kits , two Esci F-4C/J , Fujimi F-4K RN and F-4M RAF and a Monogram 1/48 F-4C/D . Also a whole bunch of 1/72 Fujimi A-4 Skyhawk kits for my Israeli stash . Oh and yesterday when I went to the hobby store to stock up on paint , they had a 1/72 Hasegawa IDF RF-4E . All great stuff !!!!!!!!

                                         John

The bottom wing-forward fuselage didn't fit with the top forward fuselage, I had to cut black 'shims', here are the surgical photos for those of you with morbid tendencies:

See the misalignment, the thin white strip is the first shim:

Here' the starboard side between the splitter plate and fuselage, nice tolerances, huh?

I cut two styrene shims/liners in black, two different thicknesses:

Here's the port situation, hey, a much closer fit!!!:

Here's the starboard shim/liner pre-fit, many long miles to go!!!:

The sims/liners:

I'll let you know how the gluing and plasty went.

Before I go, here's a weapons package in 1/48, I saw it on Old Model Kits:

-Dominic

Dominic -- that's quite the plastic surgey going on there, we're all going to be qualified rhionoplastic surgeons by the time this GB is finished!

Badges are up, gents, see page 1 for a choice of four beauties, courtesy of my sister, the Digital Diva!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Dominic -- that's quite the plastic surgey going on there, we're all going to be qualified rhionoplastic surgeons by the time this GB is finished!

Badges are up, gents, see page 1 for a choice of four beauties, courtesy of my sister, the Digital Diva!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

WOW!!!

Badges

Looking forward to earning one!

Sparrowhyperion

Actually I have 2 identical kits.  Both the monogram 1/48 kits.  It's funny, my first Bomber was the old Aurora Big A Kit of the B-58.  The cool one with the red paint job.

I got one of my kits last year for a great price and then I lucked out again a week or so ago and found this one for so little I had to bid on it and I actually won.   I think I won because people don't like to trust new sellers and this guy only had like 16 sales.  I will always give them a chance as long as it's under $30.

I am keeping my first one sealed and I plan on building the new one.  I already broke the shrinkwrap and I'm getting a supplies list together.

Rich

 

 

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

Rich,

Happy Birthday!!!

I also have a B-58 Hustler in the stash that I want to build someday.  It is one of the kits I built as a kid.  The one in my stash is a Monogram 1/48 scale.  What is yours?  I did a little research on them and it turns out that Grissom Air Force Base, which is just about an hour's drive from here, was one of the bases that they were stationed at.

Ken

 

 

Gents:

Ah yes, the B-58, my second favourite aircraft!  I have a few of the 1/48 Monogram B-58's, and it has a major symmetry issue I'ld love to share, but I don't want to hi-jack this thread. Correct me, but the B-58 had 4 J-79's, the same basic engine as the F-4, so, at least these aircraft are related by powerplant!

Dominic

Dominic -- that's right, four J-79s.Ii once heard the F7F Tigercat described as being like two Corsairs flying in close formation, and that would make the B-58 two Phantoms flying awful close!

Is there interest in a B-58 group build developing here? If so, I'd sure think about taking part, as I have half a dozen Hustlers in my stash, across six scales, some of them fit-the-box...

Cheers, M/TB379