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

Just having some fun with ya Glenn, I have a lot of flying aircraft hanging from the ceiling with no pilots in sight.

Chris you lucky dog, I wish I had known about that airshow more in advance so I could have gone. Love the Tee. Iam an old F-4 man and would have bought a ton of those. By chance did you happen to take any photos and if so please post some.

Steve

Awwww, Chris, did you have to rub that in? I heard about the fly in a few months ago and was wanting to go, but it didn't pan out. Did they have a huge formation flyby? Gatherings like that don't happen that often, I'm glad you got to go. Cool shirt!

About that missing pilot thingy....I'm still working on that one, but no one will fly with me I do hope to rectify that in a month or so. I have tons of extra pilots in the spares box at my dad's.

Thanks for the kind words

Glenn

Glenn, It's Beautiful

Those are some colorful markings.  I like that you posed it inflight.  The burner cans and exhaust area look great as does the Phantom as a whole. 

Steve,

You're a brave man for even buying an AMT kit.  I haven't tried one since I was a kid.  However, yours is looking pretty darn good. 

I have all kinds of excuses for not even getting to my workbench.  This weekend I went to The "Gathering of Mustangs and Legends" in Columbus, OH.  It was great seeing those increadible machines take to flight.  I bought a great T-shirt at the show.  I think you guys might like it.

Front

Back

My phantom is finally ready for decals.  I tried to apply some to the missilles last night, but they kept splitting severly off of the backing paper.  So I sprayed the sheet with Decal Bonder, I hope it works.

Semper Fi,

Chris

I like it a lot Glenn. Very cool squadron markings and very sharp. Overall I would say a very nice job on your build and one you should be proud of. By the way, if it's in flyght where are the pilots?. Just kidding, good job.

Steve

VF-84? I forgot about those guys. I don't know if they had any MiG kills in 'Nam, but I've seen some of their early cruise photos in "B" models with a jolly rogers flag on the tail instead of the all black tail. That would be an interesting version to build. I'm done. Done, done, done. I'm through dancing for the man! It's an F-4B of VF-161, the Chargers, sister squadron of VF-151 on the USS Midway. Mugs McKeown and Jack Ensch got two MiG-17's on May 23, 1972. Next to the Sundowners, they have perhaps one of the prettiest schemes to ever grace a Phantom. This was a 1/72 Fujimi kit with aftermarket decals. I posed her in flight in order to save space on the shelf, the kit's details in the wells were nonexistant, and it looks cool! The cockpit details were suspect as well, and the surface scribing was inconsistent. Hope you like...

Glenn

Another weekend and still filling and sanding. Here is where I am on this one. Some photos of the gap problems, first at the wing root and second of the underside wing to fuselage joint. Threw in one of the cockpit.

It's taking a lot to fill in the wing gap so I am building it up slowely. Hope to have it done this weekend.

Steve

Chris,

The F-4J that I am building is an AMT kit. I have never built one of these before and it is a early 70's kit. It was given to me by a friend who was a pilot in VF-31 and I built him a model of his aircraft. The Mig killer I am building is also from his squadron commander and he was his wing man on  the day of that mission, so I have a eye witness account of that day and the Mig kill. What a perfect refrence. From time to time he also flew this aircraft and today it is in the Smithsonian  Udvary Hazy museum outside DC only it is in Marine Corps colours. (YEAH). VF-31 have been lobbying to have it put back to it's Mig killer colours. I plan to give my friend when it is done.

If I had the choice to choose I would have built a Hasegawa kit for their fit and detail but seeing as I had an F-4 ready to go I figured on using this one. Dont think I would buy any of their kits after this expierence.

Steve

Glenn,

It's looking great and we can't wait to see her finished.  I especially like the fact that you're going to pose her in flight.  Let me guess, you're going to paint her up as Jolly Rogers bird (VF-84 right?) 

GA Modeller,

Sounds like your 15 is coming together nicely.  FOD covers are a good thing. 

Steve,

It's good to hear that you're winning your battle.  What kit was that again, so I know not to buy it?

Progress has been slow here. I've been working on it, but just tiny bits at a time.  It seems like every day I find another flaw or inaccuracy to correct.  I'm really not looking forward to the missile decals. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

Hey Guy's,  just a quick update on my F-4J progress. I finally got the fuselage together on Friday but it was so warped that I had to glue it in sections from front to rear. No matter how hard I tried I still ended up with large steps. The wings were pre assembled a week ago and they did not fit too weel either. Snug on one side and a large gap on the other. It was also off center so I have a hugh gap on one side where the wing front meets the fuselage. I have been sanding and filling since saturday and have only the gap at the wing root to finish. At this stage I am sick of sanding so I am taking a break from it. This one is fighting me hard but I am winning. I cant wait to see what else does not fit on this kit. Photo updates in afew day's.

Steve

Guys,

 Great jobs on what I've seen so far. I have most of the colors down on mine, will start decaling shortly. That's if Mugs can avoid hitting the trees

 Glenn

I'll do my best, progress is slow for me.  I've been working on some of the smaller exterior parts, and fixing problems here and there.  AMM, we hope your personal issues are not too sever. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

I have decided to hold off on starting a new build for now. Personal issues have arised and I think it would be best to get those taken care of. I may not be online much but I'll check in now and then.

Chris, if you could take over GB host duties for me til I get settled I would really appreciate it!

Thanks

In my defence i did try and read it all, but went cross-eyed in the middle somewhere and started skimming through posts

Air Master Modeler wrote:

EDIT: I did some reasearch and did infact find out that RAAF Squadron 77 flying Gloster F8 Meteors had Mig Kills in Korea. The official record acords 2 comfirmed kills (2 Mig-15's comfirmed kills, 3 probable Mig-15's kills.)

Yeah, i may have already known that bit! They may have even had one land at their base and brought it back to australia with them as well, but I hope you expand the build for sure.

BushyFromOz wrote:

Pitty about the US only bit. An Aussie F8 Meteor would have looked good in among the US hardware

Bushy,

I think you should have read the entire thread. In January I am considering expanding this GB in include Mig Killers from other countries. This will allow for aircraft with other nations that have comfirmed Mig Kills. To my knowlege there are no Aussie aircraft that have Mig Kills. I could be wrong but, I have no recollection nor have heard of any RAAF shooting down a Mig. WWII aircraft do not count here.

EDIT: I did some reasearch and did infact find out that RAAF Squadron 77 flying Gloster F8 Meteors had Mig Kills in Korea. The official record acords 2 comfirmed kills (2 Mig-15's comfirmed kills, 3 probable Mig-15's kills.)

Well it has been awhile since i posted in here so i got a chance to catch up.

Showtime looks awesome. and for the other f4 lookin good cant wait to see it done i have always loved the camo F4's one of these days i will add one to my collection.

Everything is lookin good in this build glad i got in this one for my first group build.So on that thought i am goin to build another one i am goin to do the skyraider goin to pick one up this week or next and order all the goodies for it.Lookin good all.

Good Choice

I looked up the squadron, and the aircraft look pretty cool.  They definately have cool markings.  Contrary to my last post, this is a great choice for the Mig Killer build.  Plus, you can jump in on that Tomcat GB. 

I remember one from VF-31 visiting us in Djibouti, Africa.  Tom Cruise broke the leading edge slats.  They were cool guys, so we traded squadron patches (a long held tradition in squadrons all over the world).  We were bummed, because they didn't give us ones with "Felix" the "Bomb Cat."  Oh well, we wouldn't part with our best patches either. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Rand, Reading this, and the other thread in the Aircraft Forum, the answer to the question is obvious;  Ritchie/Debelvue F-4D Phantom, Oyester 3.  You'll have both Navy and Airforce Vietnam aces.    

For another Daily Scat XXVII update:  I'm almost done with all of the bombs and missiles.  I finished painting then I realized that that the rails for the sidewinders are white not camo.  I'm going to fix that tomorrow.  Other than that, everything's painted.  However, not everything is Futured for decals and weathering.  It's a big model with a bunch of big external sub-assemblies, so I expect to go through a half bottle of Future. 

See white 

I'd fix it now, but I think it may be time to make myself a nightcap. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

OK guys, I have not decided on what to start on next. I have a few prospects and they are....

1/48 Revell F-4J (1979 release), this kit will need a major overhaul and I am not sure I want to spend the time on it to make it look decent. It will be a Marines bird with markings for VMFA-122 which doesnt count for the GB.

1/48 Monogram F-4E (Monogawa Pro Modeler), Has decal markings for Ritchie-DeBellevue MiG Killer

1/48 Revell F-16C, but I need a set of aftermarket decals to build up as a Cold War Mig Killer.

1/48 Revell F-14A, which I will need decals for Libyan Mig Killers VF-32.

These are my choices and right now I am undecided.

bondoman wrote:

Hey you Phantom Phreaks, I've got a question for you. Which might lead to a build for me, albeit in 1/72. Navy attacks such as this probably refueled sometime, right? What aircraft would that fueler have been, on these particular missions? Your depth of knowledge is very impressive to me.

Navy birds, now and then, often refueled off of Air Force Machines, such as KC-135's (very similar to a Boeing 707).  True Airforce and Navy Machines use different refueling systems, drouge and probe, but all AF tankers have the capability for both.  However, Navy fuelers only have the drouge, so they can only refuel Navy/Marine Corps aircraft. 

Oh, so that's a Kewpie Doll.  If I won one, I'd put it next to my Phantom.  However, it couldn't be naked.  That's just Lewd. 

Rand, we're looking forward to seeing your new project. 

As for my Phantom: It's painted, and it has its first couple coats of future.  I think I'll add a couple more tomorrow.  I spent today on that and I did some painting on landing gear doors, armorment pylons and the like.  Tomorrow's plan is to work on the missiles and bombs as well as some more future for the plane.  I'd post pics, but there's no real progress to show.  It's been a busy week. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

KA-6A is the first to come to mind. It was a modified A-6 flown as a refueling tanker.

http://www.cgsd.com/RefuelingSim/Image3_thumb.jpg

And I am LMBO at the kewpie doll.

Hey you Phantom Phreaks, I've got a question for you. Which might lead to a build for me, albeit in 1/72. Navy attacks such as this probably refueled sometime, right? What aircraft would that fueler have been, on these particular missions? Your depth of knowledge is very impressive to me.

Going off topic here, but Miss Bondo Jr. is a serious collector and wishes her Dads friends to know that a Kewpie Doll is a valued collectors item, depending on the vintage, that is worth anywhere from several dozen to several hundred $$$.

Warning: the following image contains full frontal female nudity and may not be suitable for grown adults.

I'm so, so sorry.

ridleusmc wrote:

What's a Kupi Doll? So what're ya gonna build next? Semper Fi, Chris

A Kupi doll is a doll you used to win at carnivals. Usually as a consolation prize. LOL  

I am seriously considering another F-4J but a Marines bird this time, VMFA-122 Crusaders with markings from 1976 but I want to leave off any bicentenial markings. Two other considerations are an F-16 or my F/A-18E SuperBug. I also want to talk the wife into letting me get another Monogram 1/48 F-4J kit to build into a VF-92 Checkmates F-4J. They were VF-96's sister squadron and accounted for one MIG kill the same day Showtime 100 became an ACE.

What's a Kupi Doll?

So what're ya gonna build next?

Semper Fi,

Chris

ridleusmc wrote:

Hey Rand, Great work on Showtime 100.  Don't worry about whatever mistakes you've made with this kit, because I can't tell.  I like the weathering, especially around the exhaust areas.  It's a great looking Phantom.  And you thought I'd be done first.  I haven't even finished painting.  Great work, Semper Fi, Chris

Sid, Chris, Thanks for the warm words.

OH well Chris, You can still be second and win the Kupi Doll.

Hey Rand,

Great work on Showtime 100.  Don't worry about whatever mistakes you've made with this kit, because I can't tell.  I like the weathering, especially around the exhaust areas.  It's a great looking Phantom.  And you thought I'd be done first.  I haven't even finished painting. 

Great work,

Semper Fi,

Chris