Alan P Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 F-4F 37+11 Wittmund ...when the stuff arrives.....! Al 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Lovely choice! Phantoms always look better in black. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eludia Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 And they're obviously faster, everyone knows that 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 Yes! The kit has arrived. Also using Eduard exterior set (mostly for the engines) and awaiting news on Sierra Hotel model parts for the nose and ailerons. Also using Master brass pitot tubes and Brassin wheels. Pictures to follow when I have done something...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 (edited) OK, started at last! There are some issues with the kit which i will address, and others I won't. I always seem to run out of time on groupbuild subjects trying to fit too much in! The two big issues i will correct are the nose profile and the rear cockpit depth, as these are very noticeable. I have started off using these True Details seats for the F-4E, so they are not entirely correct. Cockpit depth issue is immediately apparent, even with a shim under the seat! The easy fix is to raise the seat, but that throws out the seat position relative to the side consoles. That leaves this... The tub needs raising by approximately the height of the moulded box on the rear right hand console. With the tub repositioned, it looks better but still not quite high enough: There's still a bit of wiggle room for the front panel, so it might work out eventually. I've since decided that the TD seats are not correct in shape for the F-4F, and in fact appear a little underscale for 1/32. I'm going to use the kit GH7 seats, and fit some pilots as well. Not my original plan, but it'll look interesting! Also fit the fuselage together - took a lot of fiddling to line everything up, but once it's glued, it fits very nicely. Still waiting on word from Sierra Hotel models regarding the nose, if it doesn't materialise then I'll have to try to reprofile it myself. (that'll be worth watching for gag value alone!) Al Edited May 15, 2015 by Brokenedge 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 OK the last of my aftermarket bits are now procured and making their way over from Sierra Hotel Models (our very own Mike V.) Very reasonable considering the quality vs the competition. Spent the last couple of modelling sessions working on the non-existent cockpit details in the Revell kit! Firstly the sidewalls: Although the sidewalls are just window dressing (the entire area is blank OOB), I felt the cockpit sills really need to be replicated. It just looks weird otherwise. I've added other details to the cockpit tubs - again it's just blank plastic otherwise: I don't actually have any pics of the areas at the back of both positions, so I've just done my best from memory. The padding may not be accurate, but it adds some visual interest! I made it very simply from blu-tac. As mentioned before, I've decided to use the kit seats. Although they are pretty good, they definitely need extra detailing. I've added various straps, piping and boxes, along with some placards. I also put the 3D detail on top of the headbox along with the canvas cover. Luckily, everything I've tried so far with this build is working! Hopefully it will bode well for the rest of it. Cheers, Al 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) Nice detail! I like the textured rear bits, what did you use for that? David. Edited May 16, 2015 by mirageiv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 Nice detail! I like the textured rear bits, what did you use for that? David. Thanks David. It's just standard blu tac. I made the lines with a metal ruler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I was thinking that, learn something new every day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Lovely detailing so far on the "pit" love the quilting effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Looks great- where you gettting1/32 pilots?have a couple of reds Hawks, kids want on ceiling, need 2 pilots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 Looks great- where you gettting1/32 pilots?have a couple of reds Hawks, kids want on ceiling, need 2 pilots! Thanks. I have a couple of Tamiya pilots from the Tomcat kit, they don't fit these seats so you can have them if you want? I'm now going to make this one without pilots (sacrilege, I know!) Send me a private message if you're interested. I also thought I had some pilots collected over the years from other kits, but I've only got one seated figure left - the others are standing or climbing ladders. They also have the wrong helmets. Best pilot figures in this scale are from PJ Productions, but they're nearly £10 a throw! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 18, 2015 Author Share Posted May 18, 2015 Somehow all I've managed for the past couple of days are the ejector seats. But i love how they've turned out! Still need a wash and tidy up, but considering these were the kit seats, I'm happy! Al 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 I can see why you're happy, those seats look really nice. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air-to-Air Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Somehow all I've managed for the past couple of days are the ejector seats. But i love how they've turned out! Still need a wash and tidy up, but considering these were the kit seats, I'm happy! I'd be very pleased with those seats, they look terrific. Your colour choices were very good. I like how you picked out the small details such as the time release mechanism in blue and the survival kit in yellow. If I can make one small suggestion, why not add the drogue chute withdrawal line (usually a bright metallic braided cord) from the drogue chute on top to the drogue gun on the upper left side of the head box frame - it is often quite prominent in images of the aircraft. Perhaps it could be achieved with some appropriately sized wire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks guys. A2A I'll be doing another pass on the details before the final installation, so I'll check that pipe as part of it. Cockpit details painted and fitted: Front tub - pretty nice details out of the box. Rear tub with altered depth and sidewalls. Instrument panels in the powered down configuration with fail flags and blank screens: The rear screen is a standard CRT apparently Just waiting on the Sierra Hotel parts to arrive before i can close up the cockpit and forward fuselage, so.... Moving on to the main fuselage section: These auxiliary inlet doors always seem to be open on the ground, along with the airbrakes and drooping ailerons. I cut them out with scalpel and files. Boxed in the inlet areas for detailing - won't be too extensive as this will model be permanently on its feet. Added some detail to the fuselage underside to make the tops of the inlet boxes Added a bit of PE and wiring Looks busier, and not just big empty holes! Lastly, built the doors themselves and the actuators out of plastic card and tube. I believe that the interior spaces (like the airbrakes) are ZC Green, and the door insides and actuators are red. I don't know if that's a fact on Luftwaffe Phantoms, or this particular aeroplane, but it seems to be standard for the USAF versions. Cheers, Al 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Lovely job on the cockpits mate! The kit looks like great value for money, nice job on those seats too. I found a pic of the doors on an F-4F, good walk around too: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_colin3/f-4f/images/f-4f_44_of_59.jpg http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_colin3/f-4f/index.php?Page=1 Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 3rd Placer Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Nice paintwork in the cockpit. Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 3rd Placer Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 (edited) Not that you need any help with your panel painting skills, but I find this product a helpful tool in cleaning up the lines around each panel...a general refinement of the panel edges. http://thedetailer.net/index.htm Its water based and can be cleaned up very easily. Not really a true wash as it needs to be "pushed" around each panel but works great to outline them. I mean it wont go running everywhere when you apply it to the model like a thinner based wash. The only drawback is it dries glossy and will need a matte overcoat to flatten it out. It has the consistency of cough syrup. I'd also add the that the Black and Grey have a blue to purple tint to them wet, but seem to go back to black and grey once dry and flatted out. This would be your last step after painting each panel, I wouldn't do it before. Ryan Edited May 21, 2015 by The 3rd Placer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) Not that you need any help with your panel painting skills, but I find this product a helpful tool in cleaning up the lines around each panel...a general refinement of the panel edges. http://thedetailer.net/index.htm This would be your last step after painting each panel, I wouldn't do it before. Ryan Thanks Ryan. A useful tip, possibly for the future Still waiting on the parts from SH, so just trying to pick up on the things i can for now. First i put some detail in the main gear bays: The brass are from the Eduard set. The fret is © 1996 so must be one of their earlier products! Filled in the holes in the wings as this will not be carrying any stores: The nose gear well has the sidewalls as separate parts, which makes detailing them a lot easier: The reason I've suddenly decided to detail up the underside is that this scheme had a fantastic piece of artwork on the belly which I'd really like to be seen, so I'll probably mount this on a mirror when it's done - so some work will be required on the bit I normally ignore! (Picture courtesy masm.fr website, photographer unknown) Reprofiled the fin cap - it was a squared-off profile which I can't find any pictures of, so not sure where that idea came from Revell! This is the seam along the top edge of the fuselage halves - no putty, just sanded so far: Pretty good fit of such large parts. Not quite as good down the starboard wing root: To be honest this is probably my fault as the step is continued along the rear up to the edge of the nozzles, so I probably should have caught this when i glued the halves together! Al Edited May 26, 2015 by Brokenedge 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Hi again, Last thing for today is tackling the nose gear leg. This is noticeably (to me) too narrow in the kit, and one of the tasks I've set myself is replacing it. Kit part on the left, piece of tube on the right! I cut the kit part off at the top of the leg, CA'd a piece of brass rod into the end, and fitted a sleeved plastic tube to the brass rod. I allowed the brass to protrude a few mm so i could attach the nosewheel unit to the bottom. Extra details added with plastic rod and some spare white metal castings. After adding wiring and lead foil details, I can breathe a sigh of relief that one of the fiddly replacement scratchbuilding tasks is finished! Really hope the remaining aftermarket parts arrive soon - I need to get my skates on with this, I'm hoping to be finished by 7th June to start a mega Tornado build for the Spike Milliken memorial STGB! Al 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Looking good Al. Some really nice scratch work there. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Thanks Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grayson Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 ^ | That's impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 Thanks a lot Grayson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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