USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

Excellent build Rob! Very nicely done and as Nathan said Weathering... Everything, Just right! Bravo!!!

Doug

Many thanks guys, my first ever Phantom. Dunno why? I've build hundreds of planes over the years and for some reason always looked over this one. It was a great kit, with the addition of a few AM parts. Highly recommend.

Rob, that is a phreaking phenomenal phantom! Great work on the decals, walkways, paint, weathering. Just everything looks right. Nice choice on the loadout too. You made all that 1/72nd scale details look right on!

Rob,

That is SWEET looking man! Fantastic job!

I really like the panel line shading.

Steve

Come on Brandon...give in, join the 'Phantom' side, LOL...Anyway, got some time today to finish mine off:

Rob,

The Phantom looks awesome !!  I wish you guys would stop building those up so nice, I want to add one to my builds but I must resist. Not enough time, must resist. AH CRAP, guess I'll start looking to add one or more to my stash. Thanks for the motivation. 

ALMOST done this build! Because it's xmas leave period (and I'm still at work for the week), and, there's literally nobody around, I got tons of bench time this week so far, thus, this F-4B is one step from done. Poured tons of time into the massive weapons load, weathering and the final matt coat (decanted Testors Dull Coat). For the bombs, each was painted Olive green, then I made a jig out of an old biplane wing with a hole drilled into it to mask each bomb's yellow nose ring. Anyway, it was great to have so much free time:

Each bomb (18 of 'em) got this treatment with the 'wing jig':

I couldn't resist doing this layout!!! (Note: NO canopy intalled yet, that's yet to come)

Bombs slung on left side:

Boiler plates successfully sanded off:

Here's what's to be done today: Canopies and windscreen to be finished and installed:

Cockpit close'er up..posted these pics now as it will be harder to see after canopy install:

Full weapons load:

Final pics, with neutral background will be up after I finish, thanks for lookin'!

It looks fantastic. I love the F-4.

Beautiful lines, thats a nice aircraft.

Rob... That Be Lookin Goood!!! Amazing detail...

Doug

Here's a quick update of just a 'few' of the hundreds (it seems) of decals. This is just the large decals...there are TONS of micro small ones to go. Also, I am in progress of sanding off the boiler plates as I missed that during assembly...oh well, thanks for the tip Nathan...I gotta pay closer attention . I considered saying to heck with it, but, it would bug me :

Boiler plate is a slang term for that triangular shaped doubler on the top of the stabs. There were cracks developing in that area which I think is where a gear box is located...? The doubler was a temperary external fix until a later internal mod could be made. Only certain AF Jets had them.

Hey thanks Nathan...you know, now, after the fact, I believe I see what you are talking about. What are 'boiler plates' anyway? Yes, the Hase instructions did have the 'cut me off' symbol, but, I really didn't notice...my bad 

Awesome stuff Rob. Great job with the scriber over the painted model. I woulda slipped a hundred times and would have been repainting. I usually deepen some panel lines before I paint...(if I remember too). Only thing off I see is you forgot to remove the boiler plates on the stabs. No Navy jet had them. Did Hasegawa's instruction show them to be removed?

Rob, the panel lines look great and she's looking to be a fine aircraft. So I thought dealing with a couple dozen wheels was a pain but dealing with all those rivets gives me a rash.

That 'bus' is looking great Jib!!

I got some bench time today, but, spent most of the day bringing back rivet details that I had previously sanded off. Also, I had an interesting time highlighting the panel lines. Because I had the primer, pre-shade, enamel Gull Grey and then two-coats of Future, I decided to re-scribe all the panel lines. Well, lo-and-behold, the re-scribing came out almost as though I did a pin-wash, SO, I decided to go with it. I will have to pin-wash the white underside, though. The biggest pain was pin-vice twisting hundreds of rivets. They were so shallow, no amount of pin-washing would have brought them out, so, again, the colour came out dark enough to allow them to stand out, if, however, they are a bit largish (I find the Hase rivet details are bit big in 1/72):

Decalling and oil pin-wash detailing starting tomorrow and then on to landing gear.

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The "Bus" is a really big vehicle which means a lot of clamping and long seams that I'll have to address here shortly. I left off all the side rails and smaller parts in order to make space for tape and clamps, but once resolved I have but a few parts left then decals and weathering. I've tossed around the overall base color because of all the different versions, from IJN Green/Blue to Olive Drab, so this is a custom mix of colors that closely resembles one good photo I found, but I'm still going to have another look at it when the seams are finished and everything installed. I left it so I can still change the overall color. Terry 

Sweet looking Gull Gray machine Rob! Can't wait to see the decals.

Glad to see you back Rob! Hope the vacation went well, the Phantom is looking pretty sharp

Speaking of Phantoms: Back from vacation, back to work on the Phantom. Got the FS16440 down and the insignia white detail bits, and, the white underbelly. After she sets up overnight, I will clear coat:

I know what you mean, I'm finishing up 2 other GB's right now. I'll get back to the Phantom soon.

Steve

Hope your builds are going well PJ and Jibber (and anyone else who is building for this GB currently). I haven't progressed any on the vignette...gonna repaint the figures, the color of the uniform is just too off. Haven't started on the M60 either, that'll come in the new year.

I'm not sure I could have chosen a kit with any more wheels, but they're finally done and I should start putting this together tomorrow. Thanks Josiah.

PJ, I haven't had a lot of time to look around but I'm always in awe of you wing guys with all the detail that goes into a cockpit, nicely done.  

Sharp looking cockpit you have there PJ

Terry, I do not envy the amount of road wheels you have to deal with

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An update on the "Bus". I've assembled and test fit the track on the vehicle then removed it for painting and weathering. Theres also a lot of wheels on this guy but they're finally finished and the body is painted and ready for final assembly. This is a large vehicle and assembling the sides and top will probably be my biggest challenge, everything must fit precisely to keep nice seems.

A small update. Got the tub partially done as the right rear console was scraped and sanded smooth to correct the kit's mistake. still have to shoot the grey over the white primer. Still lots of painting to do in this area. The IP's are done and will get some washes as the seats and belts will once they are painted to deepen the details and shadows.

Yes the correct door is included as are the longer burners and correct Navy inboard pylons and CL tank.

All relatively easy fixes.

Hey PJ, at least you can fix all that yourself with some good old modeling skill! How about the nose gear door, is that the correct Navy style?

As I was working on my Monogram 1/48 F-4J cockpit, I noticed something odd about it. It appears that the cockpit is that of a C/D variant as I compared them and sure enough they are the same. I have to delete the instruments on the right rear cockpit, and add plastic sheet to the area to make it look passable. I also discovered that Monogram did not scribe the Navy style refueling door on the right side of the fuselage and did not delete the USAF style refueling door on the spine. I also need to delete the arrowhead molded detail on the stabilators which were found on the Air force Phantoms.

So much for trying to stay as an OOB build LOL.

Got a second coat of spackle put on today. It's almost dry...hopefully it won't need a third, but I'll be putting the base layer of sand on it this weekend hopefully.