The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Berny, I really do hope for the best for you. Makes my issue last week seem minor in comparison. Doc believes I have a case of diverticulitis, which is an infection and inflammation of "pockets" which can form on the walls of the big intestine. He saw no reason to subject me to the radiation and expense of a CAT scan, as by Tuesday, many of my symptoms had improved. He did start me on two different antibiotics that are both as big as the end of my thumb  (well, they seem that big going down!) and recommendations to improve my diet....I'm sure I'll do what I'm supposed to do there....

As to the Phantom: I set a personal record tonight and actually laid down around 25 decals in one sitting! All those little "NO PUSH" and" NO STEP" accounted for most. The original Hasegawa kit had almost no data stencils included, but the Italeri kit had plenty. I am also adding more from a set of Superscale Phantom data sheet I ran across years ago! I have a total of three sheets of the data sets and each has enough to do 4 aircraft! I don't plan to build a dozen Phantoms but figured I may as well use some of them. Still, I am not using every single one of those decals! Just enough to be interesting (I hope!).

I don't know at this point where I stand with the other build of the Luftwaffe "F" as I have been devoting my limited time to the "G". I really do want a gray/green German Phantom sitting on my display shelf, but I may be Phantomed out by the time I finish this one. We shall see....

As to the clutter of our work areas....you have seen some of mine when I posted some of my WIP photos! Might be tough to pick a clear-cut winner if there is to be a contest! Besides, I heard that a tidy desk is the sign of a sick mind! Well, it sounds good to me anyway....

Again Berny, my thoughts and prayers are for you, please keep us informed. After all, this is sort of a 'second' family we have here, is it not?

Jim

Bockscar, Thats a brilliant idea about the horizontal and vertical masking. I've gone from nervous to excited about painting the canopy.

Rex -- no worries, will adjust p1 to show which one is actually in play at the moment. I quite understand, the idea of production lining cockpits sounds great at first but when they stetch out ahead they get in the way of the rest of the build bigtime.

Berny -- hoping for a positive report from the doctors, you know we're all pulling for you!

RAG -- looking good!

Lots of good work happening, gents & lady!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

the Nuke Bullpups I mentioned a while back are based on the small ones, not the large ones

We are building simultaneously so yes.  Both will be getting paint as soon as we finish some sanding and putty touch ups at various spots.  Maybe by the middle of next week.  We both had a problem with some Zap A Gap that decided to bubble and develop holes in it at the wing roots.  More sanding and scraping to fix it now.  No idea why it did that.  It was a brand new bottle.  I hate using putty, but I might have to use some putty to make a fillet joint and fill in the holes since it refuses to sand smoothly now.  I will be doing it because this kind of stuff is just a bit beyond Marissa's skill level as of yet.

Rich

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Marissa,

Very nice looking F-4J!  Looks like you will putting paint on yours fairly soon as well.  I can't wait to see it!

Ken

Rough as guts

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Making some progress here. Will have 6x Mk 82 bombs under fuselage + 4 x Sparrow missiles + 2 x Bullpup 12 C on the inside pylons / fuel cells outside pylons.

Am enjoying the build just a lot of fiddly bits left now.

Probably not entirely accurate once finished but should look OK on the shelf

Hi Rough As guts,

I am loading mine with Bullpups as well, but mine will be the AGM-12E with an anti personnel warhead.  I totally agree with the "cool" factor.  To go along with the anti personnel armament I will be also loading CBU-24/Bs.

Ken

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.....

Okay Dominic, just how would you know anything about PUTTY DUST?   

Ken

TarnShip

T-Bolt Mike

I am changing my "build list" for this group build,,,,,,,I've decided to build them one at a time,,,,,,starting with a Fujimi F-4B kit, still in 1/72

My reason is simple,,,,,I think I will get all of them done, but NOT if I have to wade through these six cockpits at once,,,,,lol,,,,,,,I need to get on with some "real" model building, and see some jet shape coming along

Cockpits are my absolute least favorite part of the build process,,,,,,and that is where we have to start in order to close up the fuselage,,,,,I only have one cockpit close to ready,,,,,,so, I'm just going to do that airframe and add a new jet each time I get close to finishing the last one

I will continue to plug along at the other 5 cockpits, and when I get another one close I will add that jet back to the GB,,,,,,,but, I wanna do some weapons soon, darnittall,,,,haha

so, please modify my entry to "Fujimi F-4B built as F4H-1, with J-79 on engine dolly"

thanks

Rex

Hi Rex,

I know exactly what you mean about the cockpit.  I am still stuck on doing mine since I am starting over.  A lot of detail to take care of which makes it go that much slower and is also a very small area compared to the rest of the aircraft.

Ken

Well, as long as we are having a contest of who's workbench is the mos cluttered, I might as well join in.  Here is a couple of shots of mine:

Ken

Hi Marissa,

Very nice looking F-4J!  Looks like you will putting paint on yours fairly soon as well.  I can't wait to see it!

Ken

Hi Rich,

Very nice job on your Phantoms so far.  Looks like you will be putting on some paint fairly soon. 

Ken

Rough as guts

Hi Bokscar, yep, black around cockpit - getting nervous about that, going to have to even up black on nose as well. Still have to paint seats black on top. I think these are the largest of the Bullpups - 400pd warhead? I may be wrong. I just wanted something with a  menacing look to it poking out from under the wing.

I really don't like masking, I still doh knoh why nhot. But Hans Von Hammer had a system whereby he does all the horizontal first then all the vertical, or vice-versa, and it really simplifies the process.

Many pages ago someone mentioned 'nuke Bull Pups', and I have to admit, i had an adrenalin spike just thinking about it! 400 pounds of plutonium, very motivating indeed!

Hi Bokscar, yep, black around cockpit - getting nervous about that, going to have to even up black on nose as well. Still have to paint seats black on top. I think these are the largest of the Bullpups - 400pd warhead? I may be wrong. I just wanted something with a  menacing look to it poking out from under the wing.

Rough as guts

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Making some progress here. Will have 6x Mk 82 bombs under fuselage + 4 x Sparrow missiles + 2 x Bullpup 12 C on the inside pylons / fuel cells outside pylons.

Am enjoying the build just a lot of fiddly bits left now.

Probably not entirely accurate once finished but should look OK on the shelf

Hey Rough, I like that black scheme. That is the third version of the Bull Pup I've seen, I'll have to look them up. 

The cockpit work looks great from here. Will the canopy be black as well?

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Making some progress here. Will have 6x Mk 82 bombs under fuselage + 4 x Sparrow missiles + 2 x Bullpup 12 C on the inside pylons / fuel cells outside pylons.

Am enjoying the build just a lot of fiddly bits left now.

Probably not entirely accurate once finished but should look OK on the shelf

Sparrowhyperion

LOL, compared to my desk, that's really neat.   I usually can just barely see the surface of the desk.

Rich

 

 

berny13:

 

 

Bockscar:

 

Rich;

Nice job fitting the intakes and filling the gaps. Thought that was my desk for a sec, some of our associates are way, way too tidy!

 

 

 

Is this tidy enough for you?  You can see how organized I am.  

 

 

 

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.....

T-Bolt Mike

I am changing my "build list" for this group build,,,,,,,I've decided to build them one at a time,,,,,,starting with a Fujimi F-4B kit, still in 1/72

My reason is simple,,,,,I think I will get all of them done, but NOT if I have to wade through these six cockpits at once,,,,,lol,,,,,,,I need to get on with some "real" model building, and see some jet shape coming along

Cockpits are my absolute least favorite part of the build process,,,,,,and that is where we have to start in order to close up the fuselage,,,,,I only have one cockpit close to ready,,,,,,so, I'm just going to do that airframe and add a new jet each time I get close to finishing the last one

I will continue to plug along at the other 5 cockpits, and when I get another one close I will add that jet back to the GB,,,,,,,but, I wanna do some weapons soon, darnittall,,,,haha

so, please modify my entry to "Fujimi F-4B built as F4H-1, with J-79 on engine dolly"

thanks

Rex

I'll probably leave them.  They add a nice touch of extra detail.  Color is never a problem.  A bit of grey primer will take care of that.  I am just glad that you had them.  That kit was one part away from the dreaded spare parts shelf.

Rich

LOL, compared to my desk, that's really neat.   I usually can just barely see the surface of the desk.

Rich

berny13

 

Bockscar:

 

Rich;

Nice job fitting the intakes and filling the gaps. Thought that was my desk for a sec, some of our associates are way, way too tidy!

 

 

 

Is this tidy enough for you?  You can see how organized I am.  

 

berny13

Son Of Medicine Man:

Hi Berny,

What did you find out yesterday?

Ken

 

We don't know yet.  The pathology report will not be available until the middle or end of next week.  We are going to wait until the wife gets back from her trip before we see the doctors.  That will be the Monday and Wednesday after she gets back. 

I most certainly wish the best for you and your family.  Please keep us posted when you do find out.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Berny,

What did you find out yesterday?

Ken

We don't know yet.  The pathology report will not be available until the middle or end of next week.  We are going to wait until the wife gets back from her trip before we see the doctors.  That will be the Monday and Wednesday after she gets back. 

berny13

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.  I have a very sore neck today.  The doctor took eight samples, including the neck, throat, inside of my mouth and throat.  It is hard to talk and I will be on a soft diet for a day or two.  I should be back to normal in three to four days, what ever normal is?    

My goodness, eight samples!  I am sure you were ready to get that over with.  How soon will you know the results?

Ken

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.  I have a very sore neck today.  The doctor took eight samples, including the neck, throat, inside of my mouth and throat.  It is hard to talk and I will be on a soft diet for a day or two.  I should be back to normal in three to four days, what ever normal is?    

Hi Berny,

What did you find out yesterday?

Ken

Nice work so far on the Phantoms, Rich.  Sorry about the stabs not being the correct color but with a little paint no one will know. 

Are you going to leave the Beef up plates on the stabs or remove them?

Bockscar

Rich;

Nice job fitting the intakes and filling the gaps. Thought that was my desk for a sec, some of our associates are way, way too tidy!

Is this tidy enough for you?  You can see how organized I am.  

Thanks.  I prefer it a bit tidier though.  The thing is I have a 12x14 foot bedroom which serves as stash storage area, work area, entertainment room, and computer room, and of course bedroom, all at the same time...  I really can't wait to find a new place and get a real workroom...  Then I can break out the big kits.  My Daughter and I are going to do a dual build of some R/M 1/48 B17Gs as soon as we get out of here.

Bockscar

Rich;

Nice job fitting the intakes and filling the gaps. Thought that was my desk for a sec, some of our associates are way, way too tidy!

Rich;

Nice job fitting the intakes and filling the gaps. Thought that was my desk for a sec, some of our associates are way, way too tidy!

Well, I finally have some new progress images on all three of our current phantom builds.  We managed to get caught up to the same point (roughly) on all three kits.  Here are some images.

My F4-C kit is coming along nicely.  I have the intakes and tail stabilizers installed and some of the sanding work done.  Here is a shot of the newly installed stabilizers.  I had an issue with them initially.  The plastic didn't react well to the Model Master glue so I ended up using a couple of drops of CA instead.  They came out well even if they aren't the same vintage. LOL

Here's a front on view of the F4C with the intakes installed.  I have to make a new set of ejection seat loops and new pitot tubes for the vertical stabilizer, since I managed to snap one off.  I actually discovered that the fine metal tube that Testors uses for their Model Master glue containers are about the same diameter and have a hole in them.. Hmmmm...

Here is a diagonal side view.

Here are a couple of shots of Marissa's F4J.  This is just the practice kit for the Blue Angel yet to come when she finishes this one.

Here's another shot along the long axis

The next is a shot of the tail of the F4J.  The tail fins aren't actually off angle.  It's was just some perspective issue with the camera and angle I shot it at.

And yes... She also managed to mangle her Pitot tube.  At least we didn't snap off the fuel dump nozzles ...

Now for the FGR2.  Tail planes on and most of the underside sanding done.  The large areas that are gaps in the bottom of the fuselage are completely filled with CA and smooth.  But until it is painted they show because the CA is clear.

Here's the completed tail..

And lastly a bottom view in an odd perspective..

Good progress so far.

I am doing a couple of side kits to keep my mind from stagnating as well.  Currently I have a 90% complete Academy F86-F30 in 1/48.  Probably the best Sabre I have ever built.  I just love Academy kits..  They're almost as cheap as R/M and have some nice features.  Quick question.  Do you folks have any recommendations for a NMF finish for a sabre?  I'm thinking ALCAD but I have never used it before and need some opinions on the best ones to use.

Tomorrow I will be working on my P38s for that Build and trying to get my Mosquito for the Monogram Mafia build into paint if the weather lets up.

Have a great weekend.

Rich

Berny, 

Yes, all the best with that, our thoughts are with you, it is probably superficial, here's hoping there has been no spread, and yes, you'll be around a long time. 

Rex,

That's a great outcome, you guys have pulled through before, that's good news.