The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2012: Rhinomania III

Very nice, Jim. Solid work.

I've had to resort to the Dremel tool and improvising with toothpicks, etc, to get consistent stripes.  Yours look awesome!

Hey phantom phreaks!

Build update. FINALLY finished the cockpit tub. Took forever, but I hope you all like the results. I didn't glue the seats, just placed them inside for photographic purposes.

I think I will start on the engine exhaust/afterburners,  'keel' and horizontal stabilators (I think that's what they are called), so my question to you is this: I will be using Alclad, so what would you suggest for color combinations, especially the inside of the cans.

I'm a bad, bad, boy. Just acquired Revell's (of Germany) F-4F simply because it was on sale. Was selling for around 30 bucks at Squadron (close to $40 at my LHS!) and on sale at Sprue Bros for about $24. Squadron price: $17.99. Didn't need it it but.......

TarnShip

your bombs came out real well, and I bet you are glad you aren't doing Naval stripes, lol

please don't shoot the messenger, but, that belly pylon is for the USN version,,,the USAF types, and the F-4K/M types used a rack that matches the centerline gunpod pylon in the UK Fujimi kits, and Monogram USAF kits

the USAF pylon mounts so that the MER is in line with the fuselage,,,,the USN mounts so the the front of the MER dips towards the ground

in Rhino II, there was a photo comparison and discussion about the different pylon types for all three stations,,,,,,and Berney pointed out the differences between USAF and USN centerlines,,,,,,,fyi, the center tanks can be mounted with the attached pylon fairings that come in the kits,,,,,it is only the ordnance pylons that differed

I'm hoping that Gene K reads this group build thread, he posted the pylon and loadout TO's online somewhere, both USAF and USN types,,,,,but, I have no idea where on the web they are located

Rex

Rex, you have just given me chills up my spine and the whole bit! I sat here tonight, cementing bombs to the MER and then attached the pylon to the top of the MER. I then set the whole assembly in place (it's held for now by a couple of brass pins I drilled in for alignment purposes).

I looked at this, thinking it just didn't seem right that those bombs should be pitched nose down! I decided to jump on-line and ask friends here at the FSM forums about this and it seems that my question was answered before I even asked! I found a discussion over at ARC that said much the same thing. The author there also aid most kits available have the USN pylon where it is even provided. Another forum talked about this and the author there said that the stubbier centerline pylon from a F-15E would be a closer match. I couldn't find any photos to back this up, though I did find some of somebody's WIP photos of a Tamiya 1/32 Phantom that shows a shorter, straight pylon. I have several F-15E's that I may be able to use as a scratch guide to reproduce a similar one. Here I thought I was nearly done! HA!

From what I saw, the bombs would be mounted more forward than what I did here. I would post the photo of the Tamiya kit, but seeing how it came from somebody else's work at another forum, I didn't want to offend or step on toes.

Jim

your bombs came out real well, and I bet you are glad you aren't doing Naval stripes, lol

please don't shoot the messenger, but, that belly pylon is for the USN version,,,the USAF types, and the F-4K/M types used a rack that matches the centerline gunpod pylon in the UK Fujimi kits, and Monogram USAF kits

the USAF pylon mounts so that the MER is in line with the fuselage,,,,the USN mounts so the the front of the MER dips towards the ground

in Rhino II, there was a photo comparison and discussion about the different pylon types for all three stations,,,,,,and Berney pointed out the differences between USAF and USN centerlines,,,,,,,fyi, the center tanks can be mounted with the attached pylon fairings that come in the kits,,,,,it is only the ordnance pylons that differed

I'm hoping that Gene K reads this group build thread, he posted the pylon and loadout TO's online somewhere, both USAF and USN types,,,,,but, I have no idea where on the web they are located

Rex

Nearly there, Jim -- it's been a marathon! These stores look excellent and should be just the part slung under that beast!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

The weapons are almost done:

The stripes on the AIM's are not quite like the kit instructions say, but it is difficult to do at this scale in any case. Bottom line: it's good enough for me. The Mk-82 bombs seemed to have turned out well, and the rack for them came out ok also. Above them is my manufactured center pylon and above it is the Fujimi original I copied it from. I just need to figure the correct placement of it. That tab will have to come off as the Hasegawa kit doesn't have a slot for it-I copied it so I would be able to use it for a reference point.

Jim

Still decaling.  Got most of the left side done.  Have to a little repair job on the "eagle".  Fortunately have a spare sheet that I can use to patch it.   

Mark

Looking good, RC! I'm looking forward to some grey/white birds myself!

M/TB379

A couple quick camera phone shots of my 1:72 Airfix F-4B.  Did some decaling last night to kill some time during the red flag period during the Daytona 500. 

Switching  back and forth between this build and my 1:196 Revell Constitution.

Had a little bit of a tear in the left side "eagle" decal.  Not too noticable (except to me), but will see if some more Micro Sol will help. 

Mark

Thunderbolt379

Fantastic, Caspar! You have me drooling! What was the price? I was looking at one last week at my LHS, Aus$162...

I paid AU$185 for this kit. I don't mind a little extra. It's in stock, no postage and close to home. Also a very cool shop and the staff are passionate about their hobbies!

Cheers

Tempting! Very... But postage to Aus might undo a large part of the savings. I have over 80 Phantoms in stock, I guess I'd better build a few of those first!

M/TB379

Try Great Models - US$105 less 15% if you buy today + postage???

Fantastic, Caspar! You have me drooling! What was the price? I was looking at one last week at my LHS, Aus$162...

Cheers, M/TB379

I picked up the Tamiya 1/32 F4-C/D today. This is a BIG kit. Although nothing is quite as big as the 1/24 Sea Harrier I'm working on now

But this thing is massive. I had to have this kit after I read that the fuselage was molded in one piece. Tamiya fits are usually outstanding but this is going to look great with no putty cover up job and a smooth unblemished finish. I plan to build this in the F4-D variant.

I have purchased the Eduard Brassin ejector seat set and the Eduard exterior set only. The office is very nicely detailed and a few extra wires added will save me on blowing cash on an Aires replacement or something.

Cheers

Great work, Jim, and great persistence, your F is nearly there! She looks fantastic!

M/TB379

Ok, still working when I can find the time on all the bits that hang down. I still haven't attached the canopies or the stabs yet as I will most likely break them off if I do too soon.

I used advice you guys suggested to paint those yellow markings, painting the yellow first and then inserting the nose into a hole drilled into a flat sheet of stock, followed by the OD. The results weren't perfect, but I managed to touch up here and there with a small brush. The fuses were painted with a mixture of 60/40 gold/silver paint as suggested by Hasegawas instructions. The weapons instructions also would have me placing tiny decals on the bombs and the MER. Not sure if I will as they would be hard to actually see when mounted.

I don't know if you can see them, but I lengthened the flare and chaff dispensers on the pylons, plus angled the outer ones down as they should be. Not exact, but closer to the way they should look.

Also, you can see I mounted the wing tanks, and I need to add some stripes to the Sidewinders. Not sure if I will use kit supplied decals or paint them on.

This picture is blurred (sorry) but in front is the centerline pylon I copied from a Fujimi kit to hold my rack of bombs.

Jim

Beckyhead

You know, I'm still waiting on an answer to the question asked further back...what was the "craft glue" used to put canopies temporarily in place?

Dying to know!!!

BH This is the product I used:

Found these at my local Wal-mart. I am sure Elmers and others make similar products. Be sure it's 'washable'! In other words, it won't mess up your kids clothes and also easily is removed from canopy parts with a damp Q-tip!

BH -- "Post-a-note Glue," IIRC, is a stick version of the same glue as on sticky notes, very low-tack and almost like a dry wax, and which wipes off easily...

M/TB379

You know, I'm still waiting on an answer to the question asked further back...what was the "craft glue" used to put canopies temporaily in place?

Dying to know!!!

Rex -- no worries, have listed you provisionally for a Fujimi, details to follow. I would love to do some Skyhawks, colourful Scooters would look great among the (also-colourful) Rhinos and Slufs!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I am up to the ends of my last two (and most favorite) hair follicles in Skyhawk parts right now, almost done with those

Pencil me in for a Fujimi 1/72 Phantom, and I will get details on just what it will be when I get a chance to pick a decal sheet, if you would,,,,,,,,I know that is sort of open ended

I've wanted to do an RF in Berny's memory, and an SEA EF-4C with the Two Bob's sheet, and just got an OOP Aeromaster sheet of Jarhead stuff,,,,,,,so, I can't pick while staring at Scooter wing tanks by the almost dozen

I wanted to say,,,,,,,,those seats look really great,,,,,,,they fit into the "model you can use for reference" category,,,,,,great work

Rex

Rex -- good to see you around the Phantom assembly plant! That's a pretty intensive technique but sounds like it'll deliver the goods.

Hangar's always open if you wanna re-field that squadron of Fujimi builds at any time!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

oh, and I am 55, about as "mid" as you can get in the fifties, lol

Jim, as a fellow 1/72 scale builder with a fondness for Skyhawks,,,,,,I will share my solution with you for doing multiple bombs, keeping in mind that I have to do each bomb 3 times in order to get double stripes on the noses

measure the diameter of the back side of the yellow stripe,,,,dig through all your kits until you find the diameter of sprue you need, allowing for the thickness of tape that will be wrapped around the sprue, creating a tube with a handle, and a sticky part to shove over the yellow part of your bomb nose

make 6 , 12 or whatever of these at a time,,,,,,you can re-use them until the ends get a little worn out,,,,,,but, just for advance notice, making one, and trying to do a complete load won't work, they don't last that long

I have to have one for the biggest end of the first stripe, paint the OD, then one for the smallest end of the second stripe, paint yellow, then one for the biggest end of the yellow stripe, paint some of the OD,,,,and then,,,,,,,COVER the finished area with low tack tape while doing the main OD area

trust me again,,,,,,you don't want to have to re do these because of overspray,,,,,,and in this scale, I just hand paint Vallejo Acrylic Bronze for the fuses

if you hit a "standard" dimension for the diameter, you might be able to find plastic rod or brass tubing to put your tape rolls onto

A couple of things come to mind.  You could make a mask using a section of straw, a hole punched int a piece of stiff cardboard, a washer, even a piece of macaroni tube.  You just need to find something the right size.  If you have access to something like a Lathe, or one of those gizmos that kids use to hold easter eggs in place and rotate them, you could do that with a paint marker...  Just some ideas.

Rich

jimbot58

Ok, friends. I want to hang a few of these:

Or some Snakeyes:

The problem is creating that yellow band at the front. I am working in 1/72 scale, as you know, and what a pain that is. Tape won't work because of the curvature of the front of it, dipping the nose leaves me with too thick paint. I can't work it in a moto-tool because of the simple fact that the tool has three fingers in the chuck and the bomb with four fins-it doesn't add up. (pun intended!) I tried a circle template but had a hard time holding the bomb perfectly straight- proved just impossible for me. plus just trying to do that with six of them.

Any suggestions that are workable in 1/72nd scale that is also compatible with mid-fifties eyesight and finger dexterity?

Jim

 

This is a good one, Jim -- I have similar eyesight and dexterity going for me, and want to add them to a 1:72 -J Marine bird carried over from Rhinos I. It sounds like you've done the rounds of the techniques... How about painting the tips yellow first, then mask them with thin strips of flexible Tamiya tape that can conform to the incidence of the surface so long as it is on the down-slope (taper) of the cone, and then zap them into OD?

Cheers, Mike

Ok, friends. I want to hang a few of these:

Or some Snakeyes:

The problem is creating that yellow band at the front. I am working in 1/72 scale, as you know, and what a pain that is. Tape won't work because of the curvature of the front of it, dipping the nose leaves me with too thick paint. I can't work it in a moto-tool because of the simple fact that the tool has three fingers in the chuck and the bomb with four fins-it doesn't add up. (pun intended!) I tried a circle template but had a hard time holding the bomb perfectly straight- proved just impossible for me. plus just trying to do that with six of them.

Any suggestions that are workable in 1/72nd scale that is also compatible with mid-fifties eyesight and finger dexterity?

Jim

Well, at great personal risk to myself (if my Wife finds out), I have acquired a 1/48th scale Monogram Black Bunny F4-J which will hopefully get here soon.  I've never done a Bunny before.  At least the paint scheme is going to be easy.... lol

Rich

Great seats! They look ready for me to plant my backside in and...... well, maybe not!

Kind of a strange weekend as far as getting much done. Saturday involved a trip to the doggie beautician for Mom's Pekinese pooch. Half the day gone there, but then I developed a horrific migraine which took me out for the rest of the day. After sleeping away the afternoon, I finally felt well enough to sit down at the hobby desk. I separated all the Mk-82 bombs from their sprues, cleaned up mold separation lines and ejector pin marks from all of them. I then drilled tiny holes in them so I could insert a toothpick for a handle. Taking out the airbrush, I opened my bottle of Olive Drab and..... discovered I actually had a solid, rubbery mass of goo in the bottle instead of paint! Grrrr! End of work for that day! Oh, I also did manage to hang the outer wing tanks a set it aside to dry for a while.

I ran and got a replacement Sunday morning but spent most of the day catching up on house work and cleaning fish tanks! (Messy little buggers!) I finally sat down and painted my bombs and also cleaned up and painted the rack for the bombs and the Sidewinders as well.

I would have done a few pics, but it is late and must go off to work in the A.M. I'm not looking forward to it as the tyrant boss is supposed to return as well.

P.S. Mike/TB: You can also eliminate the multiple Re:Re: in the title by doing a quick reply to the first post at the beginning of the thread. Sometimes those Re:Re's start to stack up.