The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Thunderbolt379

Interesting technique, there, Mobius -- painting before assembly! I'm watching with interest for assembly glitches, as this is one I'll be tackling in due course too.

I guess I'd better get my butt in gear and get some badges ready -- you'll be needing one by the weekend!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

i am always so much happier with results when i take the time to paint before hand, and it actually allows for faster assembly ive found as well, but this could just be because i am forced to hand paint for the time being rather then use an air brush, but theres really little difference once ive perfected my technique with it, and after 40 models i should hope i have. also any little spots from spurs are very easily covered up.

and thats just perfected with painting by hand i am a long way off from making perfect models.

Okay, at long last, I can reveal the plan (yes, I've made my mind up what I'm going to build!)

Besides completing the Fujimi F-4J I began for Rhinomania 1, which will be further down the track, I've decided to tackle a back to back 1:72nd scale build, subjects which are oddly conjoined...

Hasegawa's RF-4B is a beauty and should build very nicely indeed, but I rather fancy some more spectacular markings, and that's where the other kit comes in...

This is one of Fujimi's double offerings, not two kits in the box but all the parts to make one of two versions, in this case the -B or -E photobirds, plus two sets of plans and two sheets of decals... I really like the VMFP-3 Bicentennial scheme and for once Fujimi printed the decals very nicely, or so they look on the sheet. If I swap the decals to the Hasegawa kit I can build the Fujimi as the RF-4E, and use the other decal sheet which features the Norm 72 scheme that we've been thrashing out this week.

I can't wait to get to that splinter camo and see if I can get the acrylics to play the game all the way through to the topcoat, so the German bird should be first out of the traps, then I'll follow with the Hasegawa in classic grey and white for 1976 and paint the VMFA-232 F-4J at the same time.

That's the plan as it stands, now let's see what fate makes of it!

Cheers, Mike/TB379. (Oh yes, and I've updated page 1 for myself!)

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"

Sorry....I couldn't resist adding that.....

Son Of Medicine Man

Thunderbolt379:

ish47guy -- Well! So those are "Seamless Suckers"... I was going to ask how you used them but that set of pics is as good as a tute! I'm tempted -- nothing lets down a Phantom model more readily than blank, shallow intakes, but you get used to them in a 'grin and bear it' sense, and just don't look into them. As the replacement parts are white resin, can you get away without trying to paint inside them???

Cheers, Mike/TB379

 

From the description by the vendor they are molded with white resin to eliminate the need to paint inside them.  So from that I am assuming that they are supposed to be white on the inside.  But I am by no means an expert on Phantoms, so someone else with that knowledge would have to confirm.

Ken

The intakes were painted with an epoxy based gloss white paint.  However those big J-79 bug suckers would take anything down the intakes that wasn't glued down.  Over time the intakes would would get very dirty and discolored from all the insects (and an occasional small bird) going down the intake.  Start with gloss white, dirty them up and you can't be wrong.

OBTW, very nice work on the intakes.  First rate job.   

I got a new digital camera yesterday.  As soon as I figure out how to turn it on, I'll post some pictures.  

Thanks for the kudos on the intakes.  I do need to dirty them up a bit.  Almost all of the ones I've seen in person have a dirty white-ish-tan color to them

What kind of digicam did you buy?

Got an intake question for you too, Berny.  This is an F-4C at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Dallas. Is that the normal way the intakes were painted on the SEA scheme, with the green/ white demarcation line that far up the intake? 

Just a quick question.  Do the RAF Phantoms also have white intake tunnels?  I can't find an image where it shows them clearly.

Ish47guy

Thanks for the kudos on the intakes.  I do need to dirty them up a bit.  Almost all of the ones I've seen in person have a dirty white-ish-tan color to them

What kind of digicam did you buy?

Got an intake question for you too, Berny.  This is an F-4C at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Dallas. Is that the normal way the intakes were painted on the SEA scheme, with the green/ white demarcation line that far up the intake? 

 

No, that wasn't the normal way they were painted.  Early SEA camo, they were painted up to the lip with only about two inches extending back into the intakes.  When aircraft were painted in the gray over white and were repainted into the SEA camo in the field, it did not extend at all inside the intakes, stopping right at the lip of the intake.  After the SEA wraparound started to appear the paint extended about six inches into the intake.  That was the way it remained for all paint versions. 

If you look at the picture you will also see where the rear part of Vari Ramp is also painted green.  That is wrong, as the Vari Ramp was always painted gloss white.

I got a Canon EOS Rebel T1i.  I got it because of the 55 MM zoom lens.  I still haven't learned all of the features yet. 

Sparrowhyperion

Just a quick question.  Do the RAF Phantoms also have white intake tunnels?  I can't find an image where it shows them clearly.

Yes

Check out this pic HERE. You can see that there is some white visible just inside the intake opening. Hope that helps.

Mike, goooodd choices,,,,,but, I am a little bit biased, lol

a question about the Fujimi kit,,,,,,I have some of the "modern" kits from them, and they all have better decals than the older releases,,,,,,does that Fujimi decal sheet say who printed them?,,,,,,I ask because it's a given that I am going to get more Fujimi Phantoms,,,,,,,and if all the new releases have the "improved" decals I'll only hunt for them

so far, the F-4B/N "new kit" and the updated releases of the F-4K and F-4M have "new and better" decals in them,,,,,be nice to know if there was a running change

where did you find  a Ka-9 kit?,,,,,,,that is a very cool find in these days

thanks in advance

Rex

disregard the decal part, please, I did a "stash dive",,,,,,,the only one I have with Cartograf decals is the VF-154 F-4B kit,,,,,,the rest of my "new releases" have the same decals as before, but, they just look "like better printing" by Fujimi

oddmanrush

Check out this pic HERE. You can see that there is some white visible just inside the intake opening. Hope that helps.

I see it but that's a USAF bird.  I was asking about the RAF (British K/M FGR.2) birds.  Thanks for the link though.

Sorry Sparrow, my reference was more for Ish47guy...I have no idea about the RAF.

sorry about the quality, I just "grabbed the cam and shot this"

no matter if they are "purple F-4EJ's" or "Brit FG. 1's in RAF service",,they follow this convention

well, except for the inevitable one-off, lol

Rex

Hmmm...  I just got done parousing at the RAF museum site.  The couple of images there looked like it was a medium to light gray, not bright like white.  It was darker than the outside main scheme which was a light gray.

Here is the best one.

Then we have these.

The one above is the one I will be doing probably, it's the 41sqn. version without the boxy vertical stabilizer tip.

And lastly I have a shot of the massive Spey 168 engine.

See what I mean?

Rich

file:///C:/Users/The%20Mike/Desktop/pics/Breakdown.jpg

This is the parts breakdown for my RoG 1/72 F-4F.  Have no idea why it's molded in two colors.

Sparrowhyperion

Hmmm...  I just got done parousing at the RAF museum site.  The couple of images there looked like it was a medium to light gray, not bright like white.  It was darker than the outside main scheme which was a light gray.

Here is the best one.

Then we have these.

The one above is the one I will be doing probably, it's the 41sqn. version without the boxy vertical stabilizer tip.

And lastly I have a shot of the massive Spey 168 engine.

See what I mean?

 

Rich

In that top picture it looks like the Vari Ramp is partially closed.  If I am seeing it correclty, you can see where it hinges.  Pretty cool to see how it worked.

Ken

Thanks for the reply guys.  Just illustrates that you can't trust museums 100% of the time.

What you can see in the second shot of the operational aircraft looks like an even darker gray.  I sent an email to the RAF Museum and Historical society asking if they know a resource to get the official info on it.

Thanks for posting therse amaizing research photos, guys! Sparrow, I photographed that RAF bird at Hendon about four years ago, they must have had the lights turned up a bit for that shot as the museum is kept quite softly-lit. I had trouble with exposure but got some good flash shots into the cockpit.

Rex -- the Fujimi RF-4B/E kit has a copyright date of 1997 on the plans, but that's the date of the original single edition, and there's no date on the decals or box. My impression is that this is a later boxing with better quality decals, though not Cartograph by any means. The decal sheet says "Printed in Japan," and carries the Fujimi logo. It's way better than the decals in their standard F-4J, that's for sure.

Berny -- you're tech tips are always invaluable!

I made a start on the RF-4E last night, wings and tanks, as always with a Fujimi unless you start with paint!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

PS: We're still running faster than a page a day, if this momentum keeps up we'll have over 400 pages by the end of the year!

Rex -- to answer your other question, I picked up Ka-9 on eBay. I have about ten of the Ka series kits at this time, I just keep my eyes open and spot bargains when they come along.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hi Everyone,

I found this link that has a huge amount of pictures of the F-4.  Some are very colorful.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/lofiversion/index.php?t132477-0.html 

Ken

TB, I finally have my kit, Testors 1/48 F-4F, Luftwaffe markings. Will be starting as soon as I clear the bench.

I have my kit, I'm just waiting for some paint, the new airbrush, a hose for said airbrush, and some more CA debonder just in case :).  Oh yeh, the AM decals I ordered.  Hopefully they are more accurate than the Hasegawa stock ones.  They have the wrong reg numbers for 41 sqn.  Found a ton of images for the RAF squadrons.  Also the more I look, the more I am convinced that the RAF birds air intakes were not all white inside.  Some look gray, some look black, some look blue and some look white.  The problem is that most of the shots at the right angle and lighting have the darn intake covers on...  I saw some marking I like better than 41 sqn.  I don't remember but I hope the new decals have some for 56 sqn.  I love the phoenix on the tail.

Rich

HK -- I still have the Revell 1:48 F-4C listed for you, are you doing the Testors as well as, or instead of???

Cheers, M/TB379

TB, instead of. Sorry to make extra work for you. But the Testors kit was in budget and had markings I wanted.

Hey, no worries HK, I understand completely -- page 1 updated!

Cheers, M/TB379

Repairs still continue here. I already mentioned the various blade antenna I have to replace, but also I need to repair part of the wing tip. I tried to photograph it, but it didn't turn out too well. It's late and I'm tired so I will try to get a better one later. Here you see the piece I cemented in place (to be shaped after drying) and also the brass rod I am shaping for that missing probe located on the tail fin (to be cut down later but easier to handle this way). The fun continues.....

Got the intakes pretty much done till they are glued onto the fuselage.

Nice job on the intakes.  After you get them glued in place do not completely remove the seam at the rear.  That is where the fuselage join was for the forward, center section of the fuselage.  I have seen kits where that area was completely blended in where there should be a seam line.