The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

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....

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

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

Is this it?

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.

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

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!

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!

Yup you guys win

Hang on there...  Check this out..

Heres the first shot..

And another

And finally a shot with one of my P38 Build kits in it.  Note the broken off prop spinner pin.  Now I have to go fabricate something...

And yes, my workspace is usually this cluttered.  Too much stuff, not enough space.

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.       

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.       

Sparrowhyperion

LOL.. I have one Dremel that I got like 10 years ago as an Xmas gift.  It's the old style corded multispeed.  It's dirty and a few spots of rust, but I wouldn't replace it for anything.  The newer ones just don't seem to be built as well.  I originally got it for use with metal cutting wheels when I used to do PC Case mods for folks. I have been thinking of getting some accessories for my dremel, but it's hard to find the ones for my old unit.  I have always wanted to pick up the drill press attachment for it, as well as the extender.

I don't particularly like to use putty either.  I find CA gap filler leaves a smoother surface when it doesn't mess up and have to be removed. lmao...

I will take a couple of pics to show my entire work area so you will know that I DO have the messiest one...

 

Rich

 

 

berny13:

 

 

Bockscar:

 

 

 

 

Rich, Berny's space looks pretty good, but, like, is that PUTTY DUST?

 

Hmmm...Berny has a Dremel.....I'm so good with a razor saw I swear I can drill holes with it, but maybe it's time to take a step forward on the evolutionary scale.....

 

 

That is just one of three Dremels.  I have one mounted to the table with a flex shaft that has a foot speed control.  And no, that isn't putty dust.  It is from sanding down the the detail on the fuselage side walls to make room for the resin supplied sidewalls.  Not everyone is a "Puttyholic".   

 

 

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!

LOL.. I have one Dremel that I got like 10 years ago as an Xmas gift.  It's the old style corded multispeed.  It's dirty and a few spots of rust, but I wouldn't replace it for anything.  The newer ones just don't seem to be built as well.  I originally got it for use with metal cutting wheels when I used to do PC Case mods for folks. I have been thinking of getting some accessories for my dremel, but it's hard to find the ones for my old unit.  I have always wanted to pick up the drill press attachment for it, as well as the extender.

I don't particularly like to use putty either.  I find CA gap filler leaves a smoother surface when it doesn't mess up and have to be removed. lmao...

I will take a couple of pics to show my entire work area so you will know that I DO have the messiest one...

Rich

berny13

 

Bockscar:

 

 

 

 

Rich, Berny's space looks pretty good, but, like, is that PUTTY DUST?

 

Hmmm...Berny has a Dremel.....I'm so good with a razor saw I swear I can drill holes with it, but maybe it's time to take a step forward on the evolutionary scale.....

 

 

That is just one of three Dremels.  I have one mounted to the table with a flex shaft that has a foot speed control.  And no, that isn't putty dust.  It is from sanding down the the detail on the fuselage side walls to make room for the resin supplied sidewalls.  Not everyone is a "Puttyholic".   

Bockscar

 

 

Rich, Berny's space looks pretty good, but, like, is that PUTTY DUST?

Hmmm...Berny has a Dremel.....I'm so good with a razor saw I swear I can drill holes with it, but maybe it's time to take a step forward on the evolutionary scale.....

That is just one of three Dremels.  I have one mounted to the table with a flex shaft that has a foot speed control.  And no, that isn't putty dust.  It is from sanding down the the detail on the fuselage side walls to make room for the resin supplied sidewalls.  Not everyone is a "Puttyholic".   

Thanks Jim and all of you.  As for martkings on aircraft, my jet F-4D, 66-8711 (Seven Come Eleven) was brand new and had every panel marked with numbers.  I have the dry transfer sheet to mark mine.  Each individual panel will be marked, so you can see when I get around to that phase, I will be half blind by the time I finish.