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

Hi Mark,

I remember building that kit when i was a kid, I still have it in a box somewhere. It's great to see older models given TLC and modern techniques, and this one should look great when those markings go on!

One point -- the Phantom was of course an area-ruled design, so it was meant to have at least some 'wasp-waist' effect to the fuselage. It's fairly apparent on most of the marques, though the bigger engines in the British birds pretty much put paid to the effect, which in itself would have contributed to them being the slowest Phantoms around. Do you feel that Airfix took this characteristic too far in their tooling? Or were the parts just really warped? :-)

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Did some trim painting over the weekend on my MPC/Airfix F-4B.  Needs some touch-up here and there, but making some progress:

I love old Airfix kits.  Very basic detail and some fit issues, but the overall shape is pretty good.  It's fun to see how good you can make them look. 

This is going to be pretty much out-of-the-box, mostly just to show off the colorful VF-51 markings and to look good on a shelf.    As you can tell from the photos, I did cut off the flaperons so I can droop them.  Not doing anything to the cockpit, but may add some paper harnesses and wire ejection handles before I seal it up.

I just plan to use the centerline tank, so I cut the pylons off the wing tanks and will add them later (I also figured that was easier than filling and sanding the slots on the wings.)

One of the characteristics of this kit is the sides of the fuselage are warped in, creating an unintentional coke-bottle effect.  I made some sprue spacers to spread it out, straightening the sides of the fuselage and helping to minimize the gap between the fuselage sides and wing top. 

Using this this kit as a warm-up for the 1/32 Revell F-4J Blue Angel waiting on my bench...

Mark 

Dupes -- welcome aboard, I've added you to p1. Jim -- looking great, it's a long process but the result will be top notch!

M/TB379

Hey all, I just wanted to stop in and do a quick update of my WIP. Still slow going as it is hard to find the time. Still messing with the bottom bits and other small details.

I stripped all the masking off the back and then realized I intended to spray the rest of the model with my flat finish before jumping into the metal parts..... now I have to go back and remask! Oh well!

By the way, that stab is just stuck in there temporarily for looks.

Also painting the tanks and adding wash to those panel lines:

Still haven't decided my next Rhino build, as now I'm looking into some Airdoc decals for my RF-4E. Problem is: am I ready to do another Norm 72 German aircraft?

T-bolt - count me in! I've missed out on the past couple versions of the GB, but this time I know I'm good because I've already started the build!

Cracked into the Revell 1/32 RF-4C last weekend...adding some True Detail seats and wheels, AMS Resin FOD covers, Xtradecals, and I'm planning on confiscating the LORAN towel-rack antenna from my Tamiya C/D boxing as well. Might have some extra cockpit bits from that kit to use since that one will be replaced with the Verlinden offering.

Pics soon!

A quick teaser cell-phone photo of my 1/72 Airfix  F-4B.  Just out of the paint shop with its shiny gull gray paint.  Will be doing some trim painting this weekend for the VF-51 "supersonic can opener" scheme ( red wing tips and black anti-glare & cockpit surround).  More progress photos this weekend.

Mark

Beckyhead

No, not really; integrity and all that hokey stuff. 

"hokey stuff"? - never

Hey, your seat build looks great.

Just wondering because most guys, me included, can't paint a spiral on a wire that small.

Looking forward to the rest of your office.

Berny posted some pics of the ejection seats, i think they were Baker, back on the original thread, you may have to go back a bit to around page 28 or so, but guys help out here if you can.

As for your additional upholstery efforts, that's lookin' about as comfy as an F-4 can get!

An interesting note: I ended up painting the bottom of my "F" with a gray color instead of silver as I was afraid of using Testors chrome silver as I have had less than good results when I sprayed it.  A trip today to the LHS revealed to me a bottle of enamel paint labeled as German Silver Metallic #2714:

http://www.testors.com/products/136542

I wasn't aware of this and it's a bit late to go back now. I did buy a bottle as I still want to get that Revell/Germany F-4F and will have to give it a go. I will test a bit of it in the mean time and let you other Luftwaffe Phantom builders know how it works.

I believe it to be an automotive finish, but it might work if toned down with a semi-gloss finish.

I'm not at home now and I will have to update you on the progress of the current "F"build later on.

Jim

Probably going to finish the RAAF Phantom that I didn't do for the 2011 Build, but also a Tigermeet RF-4 and an IAF F-4E

The two F-4Es will be Hasegawa and the RF-4 - Revell.

No, not really; integrity and all that hokey stuff. 

Beckyhead

The ejector seat pull handles were part of the after-market kit from Eduard's, most of the PE was pre-colored.

26carlos

Hello Thunderbolt379 :

I´m in, this time with a F4B VF-14 TOPHATTERS 1/72 Hasegawa

Cheers

 

Cheers

The ejector seat pull handles were part of the after-market kit from Eduard's, most of the PE was pre-colored.

Beckyhead

Well, started on the ejection seats first, these things are kit unto themselves and I am only half-way finishd with one. Added some details such as cabling and painted based on references. I am using a combination of Model Master Acryl and Tamiya paints.

Front view.

Side View

I used 4mm wire for details. MM Interior Black for overall color. According to the references, the upper and lower seats were never the same colors, so I varied a little. I also used a little yellow pastel for highlight the chute kit by the headreast, and used white and brown pastels to add a little depth and "used" feeling to the seats. I drybrushed with a light gray, but used Tamiya Chrome Silver for some highlights..based on references.

The frustration with the kit was that the cushions were part of the seat, instead of being a seperate pieces. This made airbrushing a little complicated. 

I could use some help on how to use those seat stencils that came with the kit. They are so darn small, but I know how cool they  would look!  Any ideas?

Great looking seats,

how did you get the yellow and black spiral pattern on the ejector seat pull handles?

Tx

Welcome to the squadron, Greek and Carlos, p1 is updated!

M/TB379

Hello Thunderbolt379 :

I´m in, this time with a F4B VF-14 TOPHATTERS 1/72 Hasegawa

Cheers

i would like to participate in this year rhinomania with a revell f-4f in 1/32nd converted to a super detailed HAF F-4E aup.Although i have to mention that i started building in late september 2011

Count me in again!

I am going to finish that Revell 1/48 F-4C. 

Really I am!

Not kidding this time!

It's gonna happen!

Jim

Thunderbolt379

JB -- I have several of the ROG F-4Fs and just pulled one off the shelf to have a look. I've not built one yet so can't vouch for fit, but the parts breakdown is very similar to Hasegawa, all details are engraved and the decals look well printed. My impression is it should be a very nice build indeed.

Cheers, M/TB379

I did manage to pull up a few reviews and one author compared it to Hasegawa and even said surface detail is a bit more crisp, with lots of decals to make you crazy! Biggest complaint seemed to be lack of other offerings. I'll have to pick one up when finances permit! I just had to perform some truck repairs this morning and.....$$$$$$

JB -- I have several of the ROG F-4Fs and just pulled one off the shelf to have a look. I've not built one yet so can't vouch for fit, but the parts breakdown is very similar to Hasegawa, all details are engraved and the decals look well printed. My impression is it should be a very nice build indeed.

Cheers, M/TB379

Hey gang, I was just wondering if any of you has built Revell/Germany's F-4F in 1/72 scale? I've seen them around and thought of adding one to my stash/collection. I have a couple of other RoG kits, an F-22 and a Typhoon and though built, seem to be decent kits.

Beckyhead, I think your question about "How old is that Monogram kit you are building" was meant for me.

It's a current re-release of an old kit. The original kit probably did appear sometime in the 1980s.  

There are Monogram experts on this forum who can probably give you the exact year.

Did you use acrylics or enamels? How did you do your sludgewash...it looks realy great and makes those panel line pop?

How old is that monogram kit you are building? The last time I build a 1/48 Monogram Phantom (Black Bunny from the "Evaluators") was in the early 80's!

Here are a couple of more in progress photos of my build of the 1/48 Monogram F-4C.  The first photo is of the wings (upper wings glued to lower wings).

Here's a photo of the putty needed around the horizontal stablizer.

I guess I will join in.. I have a Monogram F-4C I am going to build up armed with Falcons and a gun pod. I haven't decided on markings yet.

...

Well, started on the ejection seats first, these things are kit unto themselves and I am only half-way finishd with one. Added some details such as cabling and painted based on references. I am using a combination of Model Master Acryl and Tamiya paints.

Front view.

Side View

I used 4mm wire for details. MM Interior Black for overall color. According to the references, the upper and lower seats were never the same colors, so I varied a little. I also used a little yellow pastel for highlight the chute kit by the headreast, and used white and brown pastels to add a little depth and "used" feeling to the seats. I drybrushed with a light gray, but used Tamiya Chrome Silver for some highlights..based on references.

The frustration with the kit was that the cushions were part of the seat, instead of being a seperate pieces. This made airbrushing a little complicated. 

I could use some help on how to use those seat stencils that came with the kit. They are so darn small, but I know how cool they  would look!  Any ideas?

Here are a few pictures of the progress so far.

This is a picture of the parts that needed filling.  Everywhere you see white is filling.

Here is the beginning of construction.  I added some fishing weights to the nose to make sure the model won't be a tail-sitter.  Did I use too much weight?  Don't want the landing gear to collapse some day. 

The fit of the horizontal stabilizers was very loose, not good at all, so I snipped some pieces of sprue and glued the pieces inside the tail to "trap" the tabs of the stabilizers in place.  It turned out to be pretty sturdy and won't show when the fuselage is closed up.

I have an Airfix F-4B that I started over 30 years ago, looks all there. So that is my entry

Don