The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

My 1/32 bird is the Revell F-4E Mig Killer kit.  The one that has decals for the 30 years of Phabulous Phantoms edition.  I could never afford a Tamyia kit in 1/32.  Way outside my budget.  If I hadn't taken a chance on a seller that only had a 90% rating on eBay, I wouldn't have the F4E.  No one else bid, and I got it for the opening bid of $5.  The box is in rough shape with split corners, but the kit was sealed in the bags and the decals are good.  I can't build it right now anyways.  I just don't have room to put it anywhere safely, and won't until we get a larger place.  And AM parts would be great, but not right now.

I agree 100% on the Testors kits.  The Italeri kits are the same mold and just as bad.  The Hasegawa kits are great.  A good compromise between the budget Monograms and the higher end Tamiyas.  Even without using AM cockpit resin and PE, they look pretty good to me.

Given all of the multitudes of variants of the basic F4, I am pretty surprised at the accuracly level of any of them.  LOL

Rich

berny13

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Wow!  That's pe     retty inaccurate.  What areas are the most inaccurate in the Hasegawa kits?  I shudder to think how bad my 1/32 Revell F4-E is....  Oh well, I got it for $5 so I suppose it's good enough at that price.

Rich

 

 

Is it the early or late F-4E?  If it is the early save it for trading.  If it is the late it can be built up into a nice kit.  Get the AM wheels and landing gear.  Get one of the AM cockpits made for the Revell kit.  Get the AM radome and you are set to go.  The Navy/Marine F-4J doesn't have any Navy parts other than the pylons to make a Navy version.  The wheels and all other parts are the same including the ciockpit.  The later kits are the only ones with the slats, so if you want to build a slatted version that is the only way to go.  The slatted wing won't fit on the Tamiya kit as then the intake won't fit.  

The Hasagawa kit early type doesn't have any cockpit side walls or rear decking garbage.  The Navy/Marine kits have the USAF style cockpits.  Only the retooled versions have the correct style cockpits.  They do include the Navy style wheels which is the only kit makers in 1/72 & 1/48 to do so.   

The Tamiya kit in 1/32 scale is by far the best in 1/32 of any F-4 kit.  Swap out the missiles on the Navy bird with the type used by the Navy   Dress up the cockpits with AM kits and sand off the boiler plate patches and the F-4C/D/E/J kits can be built up very closly resembling  a current F-4.  Even swap out the AIM-9E used on the USAF with AIM-9J's to build a later Vietnam war bird.

I will not get into the Fujimi and Testors kits as I consider them trash kit to be built only by beginners lerarning how to build. 

Sparrowhyperion

Wow!  That's pe     retty inaccurate.  What areas are the most inaccurate in the Hasegawa kits?  I shudder to think how bad my 1/32 Revell F4-E is....  Oh well, I got it for $5 so I suppose it's good enough at that price.

Rich

Is it the early or late F-4E?  If it is the early save it for trading.  If it is the late it can be built up into a nice kit.  Get the AM wheels and landing gear.  Get one of the AM cockpits made for the Revell kit.  Get the AM radome and you are set to go.  The Navy/Marine F-4J doesn't have any Navy parts other than the pylons to make a Navy version.  The wheels and all other parts are the same including the ciockpit.  The later kits are the only ones with the slats, so if you want to build a slatted version that is the only way to go.  The slatted wing won't fit on the Tamiya kit as then the intake won't fit.  

The Hasagawa kit early type doesn't have any cockpit side walls or rear decking garbage.  The Navy/Marine kits have the USAF style cockpits.  Only the retooled versions have the correct style cockpits.  They do include the Navy style wheels which is the only kit makers in 1/72 & 1/48 to do so.   

The Tamiya kit in 1/32 scale is by far the best in 1/32 of any F-4 kit.  Swap out the missiles on the Navy bird with the type used by the Navy   Dress up the cockpits with AM kits and sand off the boiler plate patches and the F-4C/D/E/J kits can be built up very closly resembling  a current F-4.  Even swap out the AIM-9E used on the USAF with AIM-9J's to build a later Vietnam war bird.

I will not get into the Fujimi and Testors kits as I consider them trash kit to be built only by beginners lerarning how to build. 

Wow!  That's pretty inaccurate.  What areas are the most inaccurate in the Hasegawa kits?  I shudder to think how bad my 1/32 Revell F4-E is....  Oh well, I got it for $5 so I suppose it's good enough at that price.

Rich

berny13

There really is no accurate kit of the F-4.  The closest is Hasagawa late kits, not the early ones.  Revell/Monogram kits of the F-4 are a close second.  The biggest draw back is the cockpits.  A little scratch building in the cockpits and you have a very good F-4.  The R/M kits of Navy/Marine Phantoms is not accurate at all as the cockpits are for the USAF Phantom.  Hasagawa late kits have the correct cockpit, except for the B/N kits.  They still have raised panel lines and the USAF style cockpits.  They retooled all of their F-4 kits except for their B/N kits.

Even the Tamiya kit of the 1/32 scale F-4 is not 100% accurate, I would have to say it is only 85%.  Still kit makers have come a long way in trying to make an accurate F-4 kit.

Below is how I would rate the F-4 Phantom kits.  It is from my own observation and does not reflect on any kit makers.  I subtract 5% for each non accurate item I know.  

Hasagawa kits

Early kits: 75%    Late kits: 80%

Monogram kits

USAF style: 75%   Navy/Marine:  65% 

Revell

Early: 1/32  40% 

Late:  1/32  80%

Early:  1/72 &1/48  40%

Tamiya:  85% 

Fujimi:  40%

Testors:  20%  

There really is no accurate kit of the F-4.  The closest 1/72 & 1/48 is the Hasagawa late kits, not the early ones.  Revell/Monogram kits of the F-4 are a close second.  The biggest draw back is the cockpits.  A little scratch building in the cockpits and you have a very good F-4.  The R/M kits of Navy/Marine Phantoms is not accurate at all as the cockpits are for the USAF Phantom.  Hasagawa late kits have the correct cockpit, except for the B/N kits.  They still have raised panel lines and the USAF style cockpits.  They retooled all of their F-4 kits except for their B/N kits.

Even the Tamiya kit of the 1/32 scale F-4 is not 100% accurate, I would have to say it is only 85%.  Still kit makers have come a long way in trying to make an accurate F-4 kit.

Below is how I would rate the F-4 Phantom kits.  It is from my own observation and does not reflect on any kit makers.  I subtract 5% for each non accurate item I know.  

Hasagawa kits

Early kits: 75%    Late kits: 85%

Monogram kits

USAF style: 80%  Navy/Marine:  70%

Revell

Early: 1/32  40% 

Late:  1/32  75%

Early:  1/72 &1/48  40%

Tamiya:  85% 

Fujimi:  Early  40%  Late  60%

Testors:  20%  

I've got the painting done. I'm sort of happy with it, but not my neatest or best effort. I find airbrushing very light gloss colours quite challenging. Also the Alclad didn't quite perform as well as I'd hoped. It orange-peeled a couple of times.

I'm hoping the decals and a good weathering will hide some of the imperfections. I remember a comment though from someone that the airbrushing is often neater than the real plane.

Cheers

Ken, I saw those and that's why I was doing a bit of a search for a C in 1/72 scale. The thing is, that after I finish the F-105G, I will most likely be burnt out on SEA paint schemes. The "E" in my stash will most likely be painted in a Gray/green European theme. I didn't find a whole lot of C's and I am not sure what would have to be backdated off of other later versions.

Hi Everyone, its been a while since I had some progress to report. Between work and being out for surgery I havent had any bench time. I took advantage of the holiday weekend to get back to my Tamiya 1/32 J. I finished off some construction on the fuselage and then went for some pre painting

At this stage of construction I decided to start the painting by doing a pre shading of the panels and hopefully main paint to follow. I will do the canopies and fiddly bits when its painted

Since these pics earlier today I got the white of the undersides painted and hope to tackle the gray soon. Thanks for looking

Steve

Hi Everyone,

If anyone is interested in building an EF-4C I found decals.  They are made by "Twobobs Aviation Graphics".  Their web address is http://www.twobobs.net  Do a search for "Phantom" and you will see in the results a set of decals titled "F-4C First of the Weasels".  They have them in 1/72 and 1/48.  Of course it is incorrect to say they are the first of the Weasels, but the first of the Phantom Weasels.

Ken

Thanks Ken and Need Beer;

The original idea was to use BareMetal foil to line the cans, so I could perforate the foil and replicate the look. Problem was the foil is so thin it couldn't take all the bendig, so I tried to put the foil on packing tape first, but it doesn' let go once it touches anything, then I tried shipping lables, but they were way too thick, so then I re-dry fittted everything, and the darn pieces kept falling out or twisting inside the can like a rifle-bore....duhhhh.....byt the time I got the second one done, as you see it was past 2a.m. and I was getting a bit ornery, and I was out of beer......so apologies for ranting a bit.....

I can't complain, like Ken says, it's the process, and in spite of my plans and confidence, I am forever being challenged and humbled by the properties of simple materials.....that is, i always thought of them as being simple....lol... 

Yeah, and I was out!

jimbot58

My "F" getting ready for some paint to be thrown at it. You can see a bit of a test I did a while back on the end of the wing.

Should be an easy pattern to shoot as it is all straight lines on the bird I'm modeling. Still, I haven't really decided how to go about the underside and what is called silver/gray. Most reports call for mostly a gray with a touch of silver added. I read that most f's have faded to a light gray in the field and little silver is apparent. But which gray, I don't know. The kit calls for silver, but I have had less than good luck spraying that in the past.

By the way, the canopies are being held in place with glue stick. Hope it goes well! (And comes off well!)

And Caspers:

Hmmmm....Jim has a point....lol....

I've now built two Hasegawa F4 kits and have one under way.  I actually prefer them a bit over the Monogram/Revell kits.  They seem to have crisper detail, and a slightly more well thought out design.  I still love the Monograms though, I have a couple in the stash still, including the Black Bunny.  I did not like the old Revell one though.  I mean the one before Revell started using the Monogram molds.  It's the one in the ai aces double kit pack.  The pack with the MIG 21 in the same box.

Rich

sidure

My simple answer to the F-4 in 1/48 scale is Hasegawa, especially the J model. I cant speak to other varients but I have built at least 10 -J's and I like them a lot. They are definetly more expensive but I think they are worth it.. Speaking of which, I went to a model contest and show and I picked up 3 Monogram F-4J's the black bunny version. I built it about 25 years ago so whats the take on this kit. I bought a ton of aftermarket decals for them since the kits were about $5 a piece. Thanks for your input in advance

Steve

jimbot58

My "F" getting ready for some paint to be thrown at it. You can see a bit of a test I did a while back on the end of the wing.

Should be an easy pattern to shoot as it is all straight lines on the bird I'm modeling. Still, I haven't really decided how to go about the underside and what is called silver/gray. Most reports call for mostly a gray with a touch of silver added. I read that most f's have faded to a light gray in the field and little silver is apparent. But which gray, I don't know. The kit calls for silver, but I have had less than good luck spraying that in the past.

By the way, the canopies are being held in place with glue stick. Hope it goes well! (And comes off well!)

Hi Jim,

Your "F" is looking good!  I know you have been doing a lot of research on the color for the underside.  I am sure you will be pretty accurate when you decide on the color.

Ken

Bockscar

So; 

The J79's are still in process:

Hi Dom,

Very nice work on scratch building those J79s!!!  Nicely done!!   

Ken

oortiz10

Son Of Medicine Man:

Remember, it is the journey that is important, not the destination.....

 

 

Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  

-O

 

Ken

Steve /Ken

It looks like Hasegawa is the way to go but wow what a list!

http://modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48d.htm

I'll be looking ...

The sun is going down, I'm drink ing Stella, making supper for the kids, then back to the workbench ...

Steve

That looks like hard thirsty work

My "F" getting ready for some paint to be thrown at it. You can see a bit of a test I did a while back on the end of the wing.

Should be an easy pattern to shoot as it is all straight lines on the bird I'm modeling. Still, I haven't really decided how to go about the underside and what is called silver/gray. Most reports call for mostly a gray with a touch of silver added. I read that most f's have faded to a light gray in the field and little silver is apparent. But which gray, I don't know. The kit calls for silver, but I have had less than good luck spraying that in the past.

By the way, the canopies are being held in place with glue stick. Hope it goes well! (And comes off well!)

So; 

The J79's are still in process:

Cut the cans to fit, yeah for those of you turning purple waiting to inhale:

Feathers in place:

Side view, YES, they are not quite aligned ...shish.......stop shouting already....lol......:

There they are, hope they align with the intakes, used a straight edge....shish.....

Looking okay so far,

Why did i bore you with that, hey, the pot of paint is $6.99 dammit! how else you gonna know????

YES, I finally put away tanning oil and all of those hot young females just ripping at my non tanned....lol...

Put those after burner finger-sander-offers in.....chicks just waiving good-bye from the bus........okay I'm back.....

Yeah, this definitely ain't rocket science.....20 ffuffuffufffufffuuuudding segements, right, do you think the name of **** anything would actually align? Well, I thought they might be close....lol.....

Looks like ****ing Las Vegas up that *** pipe!

Apologies to the sensitive, and if you are sensitive, go ****, oh wait, this is a family channel!!!!!....lol....

Yeah, I had packing tape, adhesive lables, metal foil, all ready to line that Las Vegas pipe, and nothing would Flanigin Usefully stiCK! yikes I am actually cursing.......must be winter already, apologies to Texas.....

oh man....where's that needBeer guy........

TB379

I'll definately look into those retailers of the putty. But after reading Mike Adamson's build of the Hasegawa -E, where he removed most of the raised detail and left it without scribing, I think I might take the same way, even if it is the cheap and easy way. Will the 3 tone camo I'm using on both (different schemes though) make a difference to how it looks without scribing?

Cheers

MA101

Gosh O, after drilling fer oil in all the wrong places..........you need a break man.......but keep drilling, i saw a 1/72 kt that needs to reverse its outlook, ere.....turn those rivet nubs into rivet divets.....lol....

Hey, wait 'till you see my roughed in J-79's....lol....i'll be on that there rig pal,.....lol...

Son Of Medicine Man

Remember, it is the journey that is important, not the destination.....

Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  

-O

My simple answer to the F-4 in 1/48 scale is Hasegawa, especially the J model. I cant speak to other varients but I have built at least 10 -J's and I like them a lot. They are definetly more expensive but I think they are worth it.. Speaking of which, I went to a model contest and show and I picked up 3 Monogram F-4J's the black bunny version. I built it about 25 years ago so whats the take on this kit. I bought a ton of aftermarket decals for them since the kits were about $5 a piece. Thanks for your input in advance

Steve

Sparrowhyperion

The thing I like least is that the only room in my house with an air conditioner is my bedroom.  And when it gets this hot and humid, I can't do any painting.

 

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Well in OH today we went from the upper nineties to the mid 50s.  I don't know whether to clean the windows or get out the winter coats.

 

 

Hi Rich,

I know what you mean.  Yesterday we had a high in the upper 90s, tomorrow the forecast is calling for upper 60s for the high.  A thirty degree swing in two days!

Ken

 

Well then you are most likely loving the forecast for the remainder of this week.  Highs only in the 70s!

Ken

The thing I like least is that the only room in my house with an air conditioner is my bedroom.  And when it gets this hot and humid, I can't do any painting.

Son Of Medicine Man

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Well in OH today we went from the upper nineties to the mid 50s.  I don't know whether to clean the windows or get out the winter coats.

 

 

Hi Rich,

I know what you mean.  Yesterday we had a high in the upper 90s, tomorrow the forecast is calling for upper 60s for the high.  A thirty degree swing in two days!

Ken

Sparrowhyperion

Well in OH today we went from the upper nineties to the mid 50s.  I don't know whether to clean the windows or get out the winter coats.

 

Hi Rich,

I know what you mean.  Yesterday we had a high in the upper 90s, tomorrow the forecast is calling for upper 60s for the high.  A thirty degree swing in two days!

Ken

oortiz10

OK, 

So here I am sitting at my desk, thinking that I'm finally making progress.  As I sit waiting for glue to dry, staring at two fuselage assemblies, I begin to make a mental list of what I have to do before I can start spraying paint.  

 

 

Then it dawns on me...

I'm nowhere close to paint.

There are still a million little things to do, but the big things left to do are rescribe the spine and wings of the Hase -C, and replace the raised details on the Revellogram -D.

Oh well.  Progress, no matter how small, is still progress.  Right?  At least that's what I keep telling myself...

 

-O

 

 

Hi "O",

Remember, it is the journey that is important, not the destination!

Ken

NeedBeer

Hi Rex

Thanks for your input ..

This is my my first F4 project. It was cheap, definitely needs more detail, but its been a good learning experience,thanks to all the members here... 

Next one will be 1/48 and better quality - any recommendations?

NB

Hi NeedBeer!

In 1/48 scale the general consensus is the Hasegawa kits are the best.  However, the F-4C/D kits have raised panel lines.  In fact, the older kits have a mixed bag of raised and engraved panel lines.  Here is a web page that gives a very detailed description of all the Hasegawa Phantom II kits:

http://modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48d.htm 

So, depending on the exact model of the Phantom you want, you can figure out the kit to look for.  Of course some kits are harder to find than others.  And about the only place to find the older ones is on eBay.  When it comes to eBay, I have found that if it is a kit that shows up on a semi-regular basis, it is hit or miss on getting it for a good price.  It only takes one bidder that has an unlimited supply of funds to make the price go to ridiculous levels.  So if you have patience, you can usually get one at a decent price.  But if it is a limited edition, be prepared to pay through the nose if you want to win it.

The Hasegawa kits are more expensive than the Revell kits, so it is another matter of what you want.  And another thing, since the Phantom II was around for such a long time, and was also used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines, and a large number of other countries, you will need to pin point several other factors as well.

The good thing is that the F-4 Phantom II is a very popular subject, and being such, there are a great many kit makers and aftermarket parts available.  I know that I have thrown a great deal of information at you for a simple question, but this is a great place to ask it!  And with Berny here, we have a really great resource of information.

Ken

OK, 

So here I am sitting at my desk, thinking that I'm finally making progress.  As I sit waiting for glue to dry, staring at two fuselage assemblies, I begin to make a mental list of what I have to do before I can start spraying paint.  

Then it dawns on me...

I'm nowhere close to paint.

There are still a million little things to do, but the big things left to do are rescribe the spine and wings of the Hase -C, and replace the raised details on the Revellogram -D.

Oh well.  Progress, no matter how small, is still progress.  Right?  At least that's what I keep telling myself...

-O

I'm very sorry, I don't have any recommendations in 1/48, I only build in one scale,,,,I'd help if I could, though

Bocks, also sorry,,,,,I don't throw the kits out, they get "another option" for cockpits,,,,,,I stick the Air Force with most of them, lol, sometimes they become Jarhead J's

whenever I get this @#$#%$@#% cam going again, I'll share my method for making Phantom cockpits when I don't have something like resin, monogram or "new Fujimi" to work with

Rex