modelling minion Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 (edited) Well I can't resist any longer! I tried not to but resistance is futile, or so it seems. Despite already building for another GB I just have to build a Phantom. So here is my entry. I am going to build the Hasegawa RF-4E as an RF-4EJ of the JASDF. I bought this kit second hand last year and some of the interior has been sprayed black but no construction has taken place. The kit I have is for a special scheme Luftwaffe RF-4E and a picture of the box is below. I am not a huge fan of these schemes and would like to do an actual service aircraft and for a long time I have liked modern Japanese aircraft, especially their RF-4E's with their unique colour scheme so I intend to build mine to look like the aircraft below. A good friend of mine who has built a couple of JASDF is hopefully coming to my rescue with some decals, but if not I think I have enough to do one in their original grey and white colour scheme. And if that's a complete failure I know I have some markings for an IRIAF RF-4E, nothing like keeping your options open is there! Don't expect stellar advances with this as I am already building for the French GB and have tentatively promised them another (I seem to have zero will power lately!) but I shall hopefully make a start later this week. Thanks for looking. Craig. Edited July 25, 2015 by modelling minion 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air-to-Air Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I will be following this with interest as I am also building a JASDF bird. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Right then time for my first update. First thanks to Rob for showing interest but your F-4EJ Kai is moving faster than my RF-4EJ! I have made a start and almost completed the cockpit, now I am aware that Hasegawa's cockpit is not up to the standards of Aries and co. but it is what I have got to work with so I have tried to tart it up a bit with painting and adding a few extra bits of plastic and some decals to represent some instruments on the fuselage sidewalls. Now this is by no means 100% accurate but I believe it makes it look a little busier. The two pictures below show the cockpit sidewalls and you can see the extra bits of plastic etc and the piece which I have added on either side to help to hide the gap which is made for the moulding of the support for the intakes. The two photos below show my attempts at painting the front and back cockpits (complete with my fat fingers in one shot!). I have done nothing to this area other than painting it. When I have installed the cockpit in the fuselage I shall add some wiring to the rear face of the rear cockpits instrument panel, I shall also build and paint the seats separately and they shall be installed later. Thats about it for now, I am off to build up the cameras for the nose. All comments and criticisms gratefully received, and thanks for looking. Craig. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Nice start. I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress. Sean 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Thanks Sean. I shall try and make some use of the bank holiday and get some more done. Hopefully I will be able to get the fuselage halves closed up by the end of the week. Craig. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Nice work, the tiny decals look very convincing! Look forward to more, such a tempting scheme to do David. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 What happened to the progress? PYFFO as they say at work. Looking good so far though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Just got back from holiday, hope to post some progress pics tomorrow after I've removed all the non-aircraft pictures from the camera! Might be having a change of operator after checking what comes in the box and what decals I have. We shall see...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 Okay it's time for the long overdue update. Looking at the photos could have you believing that the majority of the build is behind me, but those of you who are or who have built one of these beasts before know that this is far from the case! The main airframe components are assembled and I have to say that they went together very well without the need of buckets of filler which I seem to get through on other kits. The cockpit fitted in quite well and the added detail looks okay (from a distance!), but I still need to build up and detail the seats and to install some wiring from behind the RIO's instruments to make it look more busy and hopefully more realistic. One of my main gripes with this kit is the plugs to fill the rear Sparrow missile recesses, they simply do not fit! They are way too small and quite frankly Hasegawa would have done us much better service by actually tooling a proper replacement wing centre section as Revell have done with their 1/72 RF-4E, I can think of a few other kit manufacturers who would have been slated for taking this approach. It took a great deal of superglue and re-scribing for me to be happy with this area. The under-nose section has been glued in place on one side and will be fixed on the other this evening. This area of the kit is giving me the most grief, not because of fit problems (it fits quite well) but because the under-nose glazing in the kit is not suitable for a JASDF bird, oh dear. This is where doing prior research would have helped, also actually buying the JASDF boxing last year when I had the opportunity would have helped, DOH! This means I have to make a choice over which version I am now going to finish her as I can't do her Japanese. These are the options I have open to me for which I have decals; Iranian, either IIAF or IRIAF (preferably the black bellied one if I can find out what camera nose she had). Greek, one of their ex-Luftwaffe machines. Spanish, I just need to fit some engines from an F-4C/D and maybe build a refuelling probe (if I can find some engines!) So these are my choices, neither of which will stop the build progressing for now. Any thoughts as to which option I should go for? As usual thanks for looking, all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 The black bellied IRIAF Phantom II had a squared camera nose. Here you will find all you need: http://www.hyperscale.com/2007/reviews/decals/hidecal48023reviewdm_1.htm Greetings Diego 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Nice job mate, pit looks great already! Hasegawa sure captured the shape of the jet well, looks awesome. I feel your pain with those sparrow inserts, think I filled/refilled and sanded about 5 times to get the seams to go, no idea why they just would not play nice! Any of those options you listed would look cool (sorry not very helpful ) David. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 Thanks for the replies Diego and David, Yes David those Sparrow inserts were a real pain, I saw the "fun" you had with yours as well. A separately moulded centre wing would certainly have made matters easier for us all. Thanks Diego, that is the sheet i have, I was just seeking confirmation which has very kindly been given to me by Tom Cooper who has provided me with a couple of photos of the aircraft which clearly show her to have a squared camera nose. Now that I have that sorted my build will continue as an Iranian aircraft. Thanks for your help and interest guys. Craig. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Okay it's time for the long overdue update. Looking at the photos could have you believing that the majority of the build is behind me, but those of you who are or who have built one of these beasts before know that this is far from the case! The main airframe components are assembled and I have to say that they went together very well without the need of buckets of filler which I seem to get through on other kits. The cockpit fitted in quite well and the added detail looks okay (from a distance!), but I still need to build up and detail the seats and to install some wiring from behind the RIO's instruments to make it look more busy and hopefully more realistic. One of my main gripes with this kit is the plugs to fill the rear Sparrow missile recesses, they simply do not fit! They are way too small and quite frankly Hasegawa would have done us much better service by actually tooling a proper replacement wing centre section as Revell have done with their 1/72 RF-4E, I can think of a few other kit manufacturers who would have been slated for taking this approach. It took a great deal of superglue and re-scribing for me to be happy with this area. The under-nose section has been glued in place on one side and will be fixed on the other this evening. This area of the kit is giving me the most grief, not because of fit problems (it fits quite well) but because the under-nose glazing in the kit is not suitable for a JASDF bird, oh dear. This is where doing prior research would have helped, also actually buying the JASDF boxing last year when I had the opportunity would have helped, DOH! This means I have to make a choice over which version I am now going to finish her as I can't do her Japanese. These are the options I have open to me for which I have decals; Iranian, either IIAF or IRIAF (preferably the black bellied one if I can find out what camera nose she had). Greek, one of their ex-Luftwaffe machines. Spanish, I just need to fit some engines from an F-4C/D and maybe build a refuelling probe (if I can find some engines!) So these are my choices, neither of which will stop the build progressing for now. Any thoughts as to which option I should go for? As usual thanks for looking, all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 That went wrong! Anyway, what I was going to say, was if you insist on stepping away from the 'true path to enlightenment' Craig, then it has to be Iranian. Reading your first comments on the build, you were starting to sound like a real modeller with all the complaints about fit and restricting, but then you let yourself down with a lack of research on the correct window shape Having said that, a non-real modeller would have just done it anyway! that is a bit chicken and egg isn't it? it is certainly looking good whatever happens and I hope you had a good holiday too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 IMHO one of the black bellied Iranian aircrafts would be a much more interesting choice. Nothing against Greece or Spain, but the Iranian ones are much more exotic and interesting from a modelling point of view 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 that's two votes. Get on with it Godwin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Thanks Andy for your usual brand of subtle "encouragement". Yes I will be getting on with it, and yes she will be Iranian with black undersides as this seems to be the most popular choice (thanks Diego and Giorgio). I have received some more info on the subject from Tom Cooper which will be very helpful for my build, some of which I will share with you as I go along, such as the fact that these aircraft were officially RF-4C's but were re-engined and had the latest US electronics fitted. I shall be building her as an aircraft of the IIAF (pre-revolution). Craig. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 good stuff. Have you finihsed it yet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Yes Andy I finished it, but I enjoyed building it that much I decided to strip the paint off and remove some of the parts as well so it looks almost the same as it did in my last photos 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Now, now. Best get cracking though as the Beau has primer on. Wouldn't want me to finish before you, would you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Very nice and lovely detail. Dermot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 Thanks Dermot, I hope to get the seats finished soon (building and detailing them at the moment) and hopefully do some more detailing in the cockpit area. Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Do you need some encouragement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 Time for a quick update. My new job is really taking a toll of my modelling time but I have managed a little progress. All the main airframe components are together and I have even managed to put the first coat of paint on, unfortunately I used a Humbrol acrylic. I think I would have been better off taking it outside and throwing wet sand at it the surface is that grainy. No doubt when I rub the paint down it will remove most of it and I will have to try again with a different one, oh the joys of modelling! Anyway here are a couple of pictures of how she looks now before the paint smoothing/removal process. All comments and criticisms gratefully received as usual, and thanks for looking. Craig. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Coming along rather nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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