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

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I kind of burned out on my F-4E, so I took a break from it and tried to a quick build, the Italeri 1/35 MTM Barchino, which turned into a major build due to trying to a bunch of filing and sanding, followed by some scratch building, followed by lots of cussing.  I'm on the home stretch with the 'quick build', so I should get my F-4E going again soon.

 Henry

Oh, I thought that maybe the squadron marked the aircraft that way.  The fact is, that Navy and Marine Corps squadrons don't always follow their "Paint and Insignia manuals" to the letter.

It's a great idea to give the model back to your friend.  I'm sure he'll enjoy it, and think of CDR Flynn when he sees it. 

Semper Fi,

Chris   

Thanks for the comments Chris glad you liked it. You are correct about the kit. It is a total piece of junk. Had to rescribe most of it and nothing fit well on it. The canopies seemd like they were from another kit they were so off. Still trying to fix the front window. The plastic was also very strange, acted weird when sanded, it just felt funny. I have built Hasegawa kits with the Superscale decals before and they look fine but the NAVY on this one does look large, photos of the plane do show it large but I think the problem is the kit scale out. The tail decals also had to be trimmed back a little. The reason I had this kit in my stash was because it was given to me by a VF-31 pilot who was there during the Mig Kill. I built his aircraft last year and he gave me four F-4 kits as a gift for building his plane. This was the only 1/48 scale he gave me so this GB gave me the excuse to build another. I will be giving this one to him also as he was very close to CDR Flynn. As a side note, Cdr Flynn just resently passed away.

Steve

Great work Steve, It looks great.  You're a brave man to build an AMT kit.  They'd be overpriced even if they're free.  But you were able to turn yours into a beautiful model.  Congrats. 

That squadron has some interesting markings.  The "Navy" on the side looks much larger than the usual Phantom markings.  I also like the bombcat on the side.   

Semper Fi,

Chris

Thanks a lot Rand. It was a tough kit to build but not too bad that it could be beaten into submission. I have a Eduard interior set but the kit was so bad that I could not put it in withouth major surgery. The interior was very basic and nothing like an J model.

Steve

Steve,

You did a FANTASTIC job and it's been a pleasure hosting this GB.

WELL DONE!

Well fellow Mig Killer GB'rs here are some completed pics. Just to recap this build for ya. It is the AMT Ertl kit and it is one of the worst kits I have ever encountered. Nothing fit well and the detail was non existant. I did do some rescribing on this one, that was a first for me. I used the Super Scale mig killers decal sheet and they were terriffic. I noticed they are very fragile and lift very easily if handled too much. This after a few coats of gloss on top?, go figure. I could not get the canopies to fit properly as a result some paint got on the windshield. I poped it off and sanded the paint off and re-futured. In the photos it is not glued back on yet.

As for the subject. This is the aircraft of CDR Sam Flynn who shot down a Mig -21 in June 1972 from VF-31 flying off the USS Saratoga.

Hope you enjoy the photos guy's and all comments and critizism is always welcome. I enjoyed this GB just wished I had a Hasegawa kit for it. Thanks Rand for hosting this GB and I may build another if I can find a subject I like

Steve

OK, so I finally finished up the F-4 yesterday. I pulled the canopy masks off and kinda like I was worrying about , some paint got inside a gap. The windscreen had paint inside of it so I pryied it off and ran some sandpaper on it to lift it. Not great but not too bad either. I will wash it in some future to see if it clears up better. Fingers crossed. I had a family emergency today so I will try to fix the canopy and post photos tomorrow.

Steve

Duke Maddog wrote:

I would like to see this extended too since I just found this Group Build. I have a 1/72 scale F-4 Phantom MiG killer I'd like to submit to this. Plus, I may have another model I could do for the MiG Killers II Group Build too.

Duke,

We'd be glad to have ya aboard! WELCOME! Grab a badge from first page and jump on in.

I too have not posted for awhile, that 1/32 Thud is giving me such fit problems that I had to take a break or I would wind up tossing the kit into the trash. I got myself a Nikon D-40 so I can now post pics of the bird which I will do shortly.

Scott

yahoo i have gotten the i/p and hud done. the only thing i really have to do is add the film part to the hud but to me its done.so here is the only pic i was able to get before my camera died

Thanks to all the time off for the holidays i am just about finished the F-4. Between yesterday and today I thought I was finished and went to put the fuel tanks on only to find that I have not sanded the seams or painted them yet. UUUGGGGGHHHH. So, sanding right now during the game and hope to paint tomorrow after my golf game. Will post photos soon.

I am up for an extention or for that matter a II Gb. I was looking for a marine Mig Killer, I have already built the only Marine F-4 kill but I think some other a/c had a kill in Korea and Nam. Since I am just about finished I will look for another subject. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Steve

Happy Belated Holidays All!

Sorry I have not posted in awhile. I have been busy on my 1/32 Tomcat as some of you know, although it doesnt count for our GB. I am considering extending the GB here to the end of December 08 and want to know what you guys think. I for one would like to get another MiG Killer done before we end it. I am also considering starting a new GB, "Mig Killers II GB", in Jan 08 and this time we will include foreign nations that have Mig kills also and same rules apply.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks.

I hope to get back on track with the Skyhawk.

I got a little sidetracked trying to finish a Tomcat for the F-14 GB before the deadline.....but now I am ready to focus on the scooter until it is finished. Which isn't that far away anyway....just need to take her into the spray booth, and weather it and then hang some iron

Great looking bang seats GA, bang up job on it, looks all the business. Sorry to hear of all your wowes in the cockpit, been there done that. Take a deep breath and go at it again my friend. I did get some work done on the F-4 in the last week and a lot of the fiddly bits were worked on today. I was going to decal it today but instead decided to get the weapons, whells etc finished up first. If all goes well I will decal tomorrow. One more bad progress shot.

Hope to post more progress soon.

Steve

well guys here is the bang seat all done and weathered. i am finishing up one side panel and then i can button this one up and get it ready for painting. i should have the i/p done tonight also and pics will follow later tonight. thanks for loooking rob.

I concure.  The pit is very nice, and those burner cans look awesome.  What scale was that again? 

Semper Fi,

Chris

That is a very nice looking interior. Is that a PE set from the kit or is it AM. It is very realistic and will be great when the fuselage is buttoned up. Nice work.

I hope to get some work done on the F-4 this weekend.

Steve

ok got some more done on the f-16 even some on the cockpit. here are some pics of the afterbuner can and of the pit i hope to have this all closed after i get the side panels done with the photo etch and the top and bottom fuslage together by friday and then over the weekend ready for paint. so enjoy the pics.

GA,

That Viper looks good! Looking forward to seeing it finished. I have a 1/32 Viper in my stash I am a long way off from building. She will be a Navy Aggressor when I get around to starting it.

I am still working on the pit of my 1/32 Tomcat. I have been doing a lot of detailing from scratch and its almost finished. I will post WIP pics in the Aircraft forum as soon as I am finished. I have added levers, handles, and seat belts all from wire and foil. I think its the most realistic looking pit I have done to date and all done from photo references. I think you guys will agree once you have seen it.

as promised here a just a few shots of the f-16. i am still working on the cockpit and the bang seat. all the other parts have been put together and are waiting for the paint booth more pics to come

Ga, good luck with the F-16 and looking forward to seeing some progress shots of it.

Steve