MiG Killers Group Build, 7/07 to 6/08

Wow Rand, It looks like you won a tough fight with resin and styrene. 

Glenn, welcome to the build, gotta love the Phantoms.  Although, I can't wait to see the many other fighters too. 

Work has been going pretty smoothly for me.  The fuselage/wings have been screwed and glued, but the seam sanding is going to wait for the weekend. 

The Martin Bakers are all painted up.  I won this kit in a raffle and the resin seats were included in the opened box primed and ready for painting.  I did have to attach the grab handle loops.  They're just set in there for now.   

Here are some views of the pit.  I'm glad I decided to go with the Eduard set.  I love how it looks, and it's accurate to pictures.  

Semper Fi,

Chris

 aboard Glenn. Got you listed with a 1/72 F-4B.

Yeah it will Mike, now that the hardest part of this build is out of the way the rest will be a piece of cake. Still hope it comes out as good as my Crusader did. Thanks again.

Hi Rand,

Just saw your work on the aircraft forum, and didn't realize there was a MiG killers GB. I'd like to sign up. Just got a Fujimi 1/72 F-4B with decals for VF-161 of Mugs McKeown and Jack Ensch who flamed two MiG 17's on 5/23/72.

Thanks

Glenn

Here are some more pictures. This pit is finished

Air Master Modeler wrote:

Mike, I think the Legend 1/48 F-4J set is more trouble than its worth. Thats my honest opinion of it.

Hard to tell there were any fit issues judging from the pics you posted, Rand. You made it look easy! Excellent work!

AHHH,  The bride and groom look like they were made for each other, a very good looking pairing. Congats on the assembly of the two and very nice looking pit, great paint job.

Steve

Mike,

I think the Legend 1/48 F-4J set is more trouble than its worth. Thats my honest opinion of it.  I followed the instuctions for cutting away the called out sections and when fitting the resin pit the gaps between model and resin pit were HUGE!!!!. I had to chop bits of scrap plastic and glued in to fill the gaps so the pit would sit snug. Another problem is alignment, I had to glue plastics tabs on to make sure it lined properly with the fusalege. Also it needs a heck of a alot of putty and sanding to make it look half way decent. I dont think I will ever use this Legend set again.  

Wedding Pics! Franken-Phantom F-4J and the Bride of Resin Cockpit Set.

Here are my first set of progress pics. Resin pit is assembled and mated to model. I still need to putty and sand around the forward section on IP hood. The Legend 1/48 F-4J resin pit set is very challenging and complex to work with. I would would not recommend it to anyone that doesn't have the patience to work slowly with it and do what needs to be done. I think it came out pretty darn good for my first resin pit set.   

Next on the list the belly and wings which are ready to be attached and I'll most likely get to that tonight after I get some detail painting done to the inside of the intakes.

Enjoy! 

Comments and critques welcome.

Update Follow UP!

I have sucessfully proformed plastic surgery on real plastic! Franken-Phantom is now resting in box recovering and awaiting the Bride of Resin Cockpit to be mated at the joints. Operation took serveral hours and left some nasty huge gaps which I quickly filled in with bits of scrap plastic, Testors Model Glue and super glue (and a tad bit of dental floss for the stitches ). Next Franken-Phantom and Bride of Resin Cockpit will be married. Dr. Air Master-stien is very happy. Honeymoon will take place in Oklahoma City at the Workbench Hotel. Wedding and honeymoon pictures coming soon. Hahahahaha! 

ridleusmc wrote:

We can't wait to see the progress pics Airmaster and Charlie.  I count a total of 4 Phantom builds in this GB.

Yep, get some pics up, guys! I'm finishing cleaning up the fuselage & wing seams on my 'stang, so I should have some updated pics to show in a few days.

Oh, and we nearly had 5 F-4's on this GB. I was this close to finally breaking open the seal on my Hasegawa F-4E and the accompanying Black Box interior. When the F-84G fell through, the 'stang seemed like a cool choice.

We can't wait to see the progress pics Airmaster and Charlie.  I count a total of 4 Phantom builds in this GB.  I believe the saying goes, "even a brick will fly if you give it enough thrust." 

My pit is almost done.  I just painted the Martin Bakers, and gloss coated everything to get it ready for weathering.  It should be installed before the weekend. 

Semper Fi,

Chris  

Another progress update,

Scribing is done and just need to fine tune it after I have fusalage together. I have also proformed my very first plastic surgical operation to one fusalage half for the resin pit and it was a sucessful operation. Fusalage half is back in box resting and will make a full recovery for "Brain" transplant when other fusalage half cockpit area is surgically removed. X-rays....errr, I mean pictures to follow soon. 

The Doctor must rest now.   

I agree with Airmaster.  Use a light wash to bring out the recessed detail on your wonderfully painted pit.  Every aircraft gets dirty, but keep in mind that Air Force fighters are very well pampered.  They'd get dirty, but not as dirty as a helo that would land in dirt.  They'd get worn but not as worn as a carrier aircraft that is constantly exposed to salt.  Great work, that pit looks wonderful.     

Semper Fi,

Chris

deathrattler32 wrote:

OK, I am stuck here tryin to figure out on what else to do i got ideas swarmin but dont know would like to hear all of your ideas if u was building this thought about a wetwash and some drybrushing but i think the pit came out pretty good and dont want to go overboard with it so any ideas on what u all would do might help me figure it out i am at a modelling stand still.HELP!!!

Rattler,

Excellent paint job!!! The only thing I would do is brush on some Future really thinned out and then black or gray wash the avionics bay to give it some shading and worked on/worn effect to bring out the detail. No F-15 avionics bay is that clean, but go easy on the wash, dont apply it to heavy. A really light wash is all it needs. Darken up and thin out some tan and go over the seat cushions recessed areas. A single thin wash should do it.

OK, I am stuck here tryin to figure out on what else to do i got ideas swarmin but dont know would like to hear all of your ideas if u was building this thought about a wetwash and some drybrushing but i think the pit came out pretty good and dont want to go overboard with it so any ideas on what u all would do might help me figure it out i am at a modelling stand still.HELP!!!

Hey guys,

The Eduard interior detail set arrived today.  I think I'm going to sand out what I've already done and replace it with the detail set.  The dials and gauges look that good.