The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Yup you guys win

berny13

 

Bockscar:

 

Well, I did tidy it up a bit for the photo, I figured only two tubes of putty would suffice.

May the messiest desk win!

 

 

 

 

You definately win.  Here is your award.  It is a Round TUIT.  You were going to clean your desk, but never got a Round TUIT.       

But I was wondering if maybe I've robbed Rich. I can't say I didn't get a bit envious looking at his amoeba-like work space.

I mean, it not only has the breadth and width of a true champion, it also has depth!

Rich, Berny's opinion was most flattering, but you really deserve the TUIT award. Hey, I don't mind winning silver after seeing your desk!

Congratulations Rich!

I am truly honored.  I will almost miss the mess when we find a house and I have a full workroom...  Almost...  At least I will be able to find everything for a change...  Although unpacking and setting it up is going to be a monster of a job...

Bockscar

 

 

Berny, I'm honoured to have won such a prized and coveted award!

 

But I was wondering if maybe I've robbed Rich. I can't say I didn't get a bit envious looking at his amoeba-like work space.

I mean, it not only has the breadth and width of a true champion, it also has depth!

Rich, Berny's opinion was most flattering, but you really deserve the TUIT award. Hey, I don't mind winning silver after seeing your desk!

Congratulations Rich!

Okay, I am going to whine off topic. 

I have been searching a year now for the Cutting Edge B-26K 1/48 conversion kit.  Three weeks ago it appeared on ebay.  I got outbid and it sold for $120.90.  Much to my amazment, another one showed up on ebay the next day.  Once again I got outbid and it sold for $158.27.  Once again to my astonishment another one appeared on ebay the following day.  It is now getting ready to close but it is already out of my price range at $165.96.  And you can tell that these people who are bidding on it weren't really looking for it but just happen to see it shortly before the auction closed.

I just needed to vent, sorry.

Ken

Hey Ken;

I'll look around up here, I found three missile kits listed for about $90 each in a store, $15 each. That makes up for all the 'big bucks' I spent on collectors over the years. We have stashes crashing all the time, I'll let you know.

Is this it?

Bockscar

Is this it?

Hi Dominic,

Yes, that is it.  If you can find it, that would be just awesome!

My goal is to build every aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War in 1/48 scale.  (If possible, of course there are some aircraft that would make that nearly impossible such as the C-5A Galaxy!)

I am close to actually acquiring all of the kits or as close as possible to the version that has been produced.  I am thinking if I can't get my hands on this conversion kit I will try to scratch build it.  Of course that will be after I have built up my skill level.

Ken

Ken

Do you plan to build every variant of every aircraft, or just one type to represent the major type?  That sounds difficult to do in 48th. 72nd, sure (got one of those monster Anigrand 1/72 C-5s in the stash).  Are there vacuform 48th KC-135s out there?

Ish47guy

Do you plan to build every variant of every aircraft, or just one type to represent the major type?  That sounds difficult to do in 48th. 72nd, sure (got one of those monster Anigrand 1/72 C-5s in the stash).  Are there vacuform 48th KC-135s out there?

Hi Ish,

I would like to do every variant of every aircraft.  And yes, there are several aircraft not available in 1/48, the majority of which are the larger 4 engine variety.  I am envious that you have the Anigrand 1/72 C-5!  Very cool!  That is still on my wish list.  I also want the Anigrand 1/72 C-141A.  For the KC-135 I have two of the AMT KC-135A in 1/72.  One I am going to build as a KC-135A, the other I am going to make as a RC-135C.  I believe that I.D. Models did have a 1/48 vacuform KC-135.

Ken

Warmer weather approaches and I've noticed that like some of you, I've been spending more time outside than at my desk.

The fiasco with Sprue Bros kind of stopped me dead in my tracks, I had all this new styrene strip ready to roll then the wrong part showed up. I've got more excuses than motivation right now.

What it really is is that i haven't bought a new kit for a while, not that i actually need one, I keep whining about the Arizona, I'ld like a 1/48 Banshee, the new Airfix Valient, half a dozen Hustler kits from Al Bu$$$ie, an Apollo kit or two, a few more B-36's, ummmmm......a new house to fit it all in like Rich is doing, and yes, that darn Aires burner can kit to use as a guide for my scratch build J-79's. 

And I really do need to TUIT my desk. Oh well, we will see what the weekend brings, if it rains, I may become a model builder again. Hey - I have a 1/72 KC-135, and an AWACS. I had that weaponized version, I think it was some kind of laser platform, in my hands, for 10 bucks, two years ago, and i put it back on the shelf! I always feel styrene remorse over decisions like that!

I'm assuming that B-26K conversion is the Cutting Edge one?  Meteor Productions going under really took away some quality stuff.  There was one particular figure kit I had hunted for about 5 years, getting outbid on ebay maybe half a dozen times before scoring it for $50 last summer ( a bargain considering it usually went over $100).  Keep searching, sooner or later you'll snatch up that conversion set

redraider56

I'm assuming that B-26K conversion is the Cutting Edge one?  Meteor Productions going under really took away some quality stuff.  There was one particular figure kit I had hunted for about 5 years, getting outbid on ebay maybe half a dozen times before scoring it for $50 last summer ( a bargain considering it usually went over $100).  Keep searching, sooner or later you'll snatch up that conversion set

Hi Matt,

Yes, that is the one.  I totally agree with you about all the quality conversion and upgrade kits Meteor Productions produced.  They really had some great stuff.  I am surprised that someone else has not taken up filling the hole that they left when they closed.  There are a lot of other Cutting Edge parts I would like to get a hold of.  Another one high on my list being the HC-130H conversion sets for the Testors/Italeri 1/48 C-130H.  I am afraid that the supply on ebay is going to eventually dry up.  I mean, surely these persons buying them on ebay is actually using them to build something, not just simply being placed on the shelf to eventually be resold on ebay!

Ken

Bockscar

Warmer weather approaches and I've noticed that like some of you, I've been spending more time outside than at my desk.

The fiasco with Sprue Bros kind of stopped me dead in my tracks, I had all this new styrene strip ready to roll then the wrong part showed up. I've got more excuses than motivation right now.

What it really is is that i haven't bought a new kit for a while, not that i actually need one, I keep whining about the Arizona, I'ld like a 1/48 Banshee, the new Airfix Valient, half a dozen Hustler kits from Al Bu$$$ie, an Apollo kit or two, a few more B-36's, ummmmm......a new house to fit it all in like Rich is doing, and yes, that darn Aires burner can kit to use as a guide for my scratch build J-79's. 

And I really do need to TUIT my desk. Oh well, we will see what the weekend brings, if it rains, I may become a model builder again. Hey - I have a 1/72 KC-135, and an AWACS. I had that weaponized version, I think it was some kind of laser platform, in my hands, for 10 bucks, two years ago, and i put it back on the shelf! I always feel styrene remorse over decisions like that!

Hi Dominic,

I agree with the weather being a factor.  The humidity has gotten so high here that I finally broke down and turned the air conditioning on.  I can't paint while it is so high.  I will have to wait until tomorrow night after the air conditioner has had a chance to dry it out inside my house to get back to my bench. 

Ken

There is another B-26K conversion out there, but it is does include near as much as the Cutting Edge conversion.  It's from some company I don't recognize and just includes a new nose, prop blades, gun barrels and a couple wing tanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/OzMods-1-48-DOUGLAS-A-26K-INVADER-Conversion-Kit-/150601762225?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23109085b1

If you ever have the time, search the Hyperscale forum about the Cutting Edge saga.  I was getting ready to plunk down some serious $$ on some resin conversion kits when the company ceased production & closed up shop.

redraider56

There is another B-26K conversion out there, but it is does include near as much as the Cutting Edge conversion.  It's from some company I don't recognize and just includes a new nose, prop blades, gun barrels and a couple wing tanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/OzMods-1-48-DOUGLAS-A-26K-INVADER-Conversion-Kit-/150601762225?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23109085b1

Hi Matt,

Thank you for the link, I really appreciate it.  I do have that conversion set already, so when I am ready to build the A-26A I will use it if I still haven't acquired the Cutting Edge version.  I am lucky enough to live only three hours away from the United States National Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio.  I will see if I can contact them to let me get close enough to take measurements and detail pictures of the A-26A they have on display.

Speaking of museums, since this Saturday is the start of Armed Forces Week, I am thinking about taking a trip up to the museum at Grissom Air Force Base.  I will wait and see what the weather is going to do since most of their displays are outside.  The good thing about them being outside is that I don't have a good flash to use with my camera so I will be able to use the sunlight.  Here is a link to their website:

http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/ 

Ken

Ish47guy

If you ever have the time, search the Hyperscale forum about the Cutting Edge saga.  I was getting ready to plunk down some serious $$ on some resin conversion kits when the company ceased production & closed up shop.

 

Hi Ish,

I think I did read somewhere that the guy that owned it went through a nasty divorce and he didn't want to give her half of the profit.  Unfortunately, I started back into this hobby well after they had closed so I never had a chance to purchase anything directly from them.

Ken

I did find a website that is from the guy that did a lot of the master molds for Cutting Edge.  Here is a link to his website:

http://dmold.ucoz.com/ 

Ken

Hi ya'll!

Long time since I updated, but I'm finally done. I can't believe it took six months on this bird. I think a lot of what's wrong with it is due to my impatience at the end. Some good, but a couple of things I'm taking away from this build: Bare metal foil can be done for the exhaust area, but it didn't look right without a dullcote, and the overlapping pieces create unrealistic panel lines; not to mention the difficulty in getting the pieces to lay down without wrinkling up. Blocking in the gear bays went well; could have added some wiring/plumbing detail for effect. The front nosegear (from the Fujimi kit) has the wrong shape for the oleo strut, and I think the nose gear door (Monogram kit) ended up being too long, though I trimmed it down some. Fujimi supplied the wing tanks, and I'm not sure the angle that they're hanging in is right. Hasegawa burner cans did a lot of good in that area. Improved the mount of the stabilizers, but I should have gotten the mounting right on them before painting/foiling. I ended up tearing some foil trying to mount them, and there's too much of a gap there. I also think the nose is too thick and the IR sensor needed to be larger, but at least it doesn't have the buzzard beak it once did. Left a Future bubble on the canopy, and the framing isn't exactly right, though it's improved from the kit's outlines. I liked the pencil panel lines, but was using a .7mm pencil (tried to sharpen a point on it); next time I'll use a .3mm pencil (found some at Hobby Lobby). I still need to add the speedbrakes and the small air intakes at the front of the nose, but it's going on the shelf for awhile. 

Glenn

Glenn -- congrats! You've stuck with a long, hard build that fought you a lot of the time, and won in the end! She looks real good and is now gracing page 1 in the Honor Wall section!

Cheers and -- great stuff!

Mike/TB379

great job, Glenn,,,,,,,,I have two questions, if I may

first,,,,,are those two greens straight from the bottle, and what did you use?,,,,,,,I'm asking because I like the contrast between them, they balance just right

second,,,,okay,,,,,,bear with me here,,,,,,,,that's the Revell kit?,,,,,the one with the lumpy seat thingy's molded into the cockpit tub?,,,,,,that molding??

if so, this build deserves a huge wow,,,,,anyone that has seen that molding knows how much you put into your build

congrats

Rex

i have to second rex's "WOW", thats some fine work. and i would like to know the colors too - they look as good as ive seen on a phantom

Thanks for the kind comments!

Those greens are FS34079 (dark green), and FS34102 (medium green) with Tan FS 30219. I used the Model Master brand, and they are unaltered from the bottle.

That is the Revell kit, with the lumpy seat thingy's (they're still there) and other pleasant surprises. I need to put together some pull rings for the head rests still. I may get around to it when I make some for my next Phantom build.

Glenn

P.S.-I'm getting that nasty "exceeds 512 characters" message when I try to add the GB badge. Any suggestions?

Great build Glenn!

I like the smoke weathering you added to the underside of the tail and stabs, and nice panel work, I had to check it, it is 1/72! Then I noticed the little stainless ruler with the 'decimal equivalents' on the back, mine is a GENERAL, snagged it in the late 60's, it had a pocket clip long gone.....

Yeah, I'ld like to see the pull rings one day, which reminds me I need to practice sprue stretching....Aaron made it look easy but it might be the Tamiya plastic, I was using Revell....LOL...mine in 1/32 are easy compared to yours....

All you need now is a MIG to shoot down....

Bocks, that little stainless ruler showed up years ago needing a home. I still don't remember where it came from. It is probably third on the tools hierarchy behind the knife and tweezer, it's been so useful. As for the pull rings, I was going to roll mine from wire. It'll keep a consistent circumference, and would hold it's shape really well. Speakin' of MiG's, maybe we can do a "Phantom Fodder" build next year

Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Very nice job!  I especially like the foil job.  It looks real smooth.  Did you use regular aluminum foil and added adhesive or did you use a specialty foil?  I think you could do a real nice job on a natural metal finish on say, a Voodoo!!    I also noticed you armed it to go Mig hunting.  Very cool!

Ken

Hi Everyone,

Well yesterday I received a big order of Acrylic paint I ordered to use for adding shadow detail.  I realized that I was running out of room for all my paint.  Then I got an idea.  Make a shelf on the wall behind where I sit at my workbench.  It will keep it out of the way until I need it, then it will make it easier to find the color I am looking for if I sort it by FS number.

When I got home from work this evening I started going through the lumber that I have accumulated over the years stacked in the corner of my garage.  That turned into an all evening job.  Once I finally found what I was looking for, I decided to sort the lumber to make it easier the next time I go to look for something.  It was quite a job but I think it will be worth it.  It actually made more room in the corner where it is all standing, looks a lot better, and I can get to most of it fairly easily now.

Tomorrow I will actually work on putting up the shelves which will be very nice when I get it done.  I will have more room on my workbench which wil make it a lot nicer to work.

Ken

Missisippivol - Well done, fine looking bird. I will try the pencil shading on mine. Your underneath colour is excactly what I was trying to produce by mixing Buff with Medium blue - which I failed miserably at but have stuck with it as I find it a real hassle getting paint here.

I broke one of the ejector pull hoops on mine and done a reasonable salvage by tying a fishing knot on some 4 lb fishing line, pulled it tight until I had the correct sized hoop then locked it with a small touch of Tamiya extra thin cement. Once that dried I snipped of the loop and glue it on.

Son of Medicine Man - Exciting stuff sorting the man-cave. I have the builders in at the moment and will have a new room by time they finish, part of a whole house renovation.

I have specifically stipulated a lock on the door and also a lock on the solid cupboard door , so I can lock my models away with my other man toys (like my Remington Model 700) away from the rugrats.

Still much to do, but I finally got all the decals on that intend to. I will likely shoot on a clear coat today and after that, I will remove the masking around the tail and start shooting on some metallic colors. Then I can worry about gear, pods, pylons, etc. Maybe I will actually finish this bird before the years end!

Ken;

" It was quite a job but I think it will be worth it.  It actually made more room in the corner where it is all standing, looks a lot better, and I can get to most of it fairly easily now."

I always knew model kit building promoted industriousness and organizational skills, hmmm.....there must be something stacked up in the garage i can use to further my modelling......finally get it cleaned up in the deal!