Wee Beastie Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 For next project, I'm going to build an RF-4E Phantom II. The scheme will be one the Hellenic Air Force's Anniversary schemes. This one is from 2005, and seen at RIAT that year.I've got Ioannis Lekkas' superb Under the Skin book, as reference source, and there'll be Eduard seats, and Aires nozzles used. The HAF took delivery of 2 different versions of the RF-4E, the original US was sourced, and then some ex-Luftwaffe jets, of which this build is an example. There are some minor differences between the two, and this will be taken into account through the build.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrI've made a start on the cockpit. This will be OOB, as the detail is very good. The Eduard seats are brilliant, with lots of shiny, coloured PE. Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Wee Beastie said: Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr Like The Trooper screen background. Oh and a Phantom 1/48 build - whats not to like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phone Phixer Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 I like the colour scheme. This should look great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurrantBunbury Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Watching with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 (edited) So these Eduard Brassin seats. Astonishing! Detail level, of the resin, is very good, add to that the amount of PE there is, and I've great hopes for the end result. Main seat frame is black. This was then drybrushed with a mid-grey, and then some Aluminium to finish off. I've airbrushed the seats cushions. The head restraint and seat base are Olive Drab, and the seat backs are a lighter tone. They were then finished off by drybrushing the cushions with a very pale mix of Olive Drab. Next up will be the PE........cover me, I'm going in!! Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr Edited December 19, 2016 by Wee Beastie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 A big thank you to member Dandaire, for very kindly sending me a selection of his photo's of this particular RF-4E, taken at RIAT. They are a big help, as there aren't many reference photo's of the HAF anniversary around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 Just a small update today. The ejector seats are now complete. Done in a number of short sessions, all the belts are individual (argh, the eye strain!). The main belts came printed a light blue, so I've repainted those a light khaki, as per the reference photos I've got of the Greek Phantoms. Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 5, 2017 Author Share Posted January 5, 2017 I've now finished the cockpit, and it's all ready to fit into the fuselage. I am using the kit supplied parts, as the detail is pretty good. The kit comes with 3 different instrument panel options, so I have picked the front & rear panels that closely match the Hellenic ones. The seats have also been test fitted too. Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 With the cockpit done for now, I'm starting to make some progress on the fuselage.This photo shows the difference between US sourced RF-4's (bottom wing pictured), and the ex-Luftwaffe ones. Reference source, Phantom Under the Skin Vol II, by Ioannis Lekkas.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrThese next two photo's show the difference before, and after the alteration made to the wing tip.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrThere was a rectangular "lump" on the wings upper surface, which has been removed, filled and sanded back, then panel lines re-scribed.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrThe are no slime lights on the ex-Luftwaffe Phantoms. This is easy to rectify, as they are engraved into the fuselage halves. So, I skimmed with filler, and sanded down, and they are now dealt with. Also, some of the gaps have been filled too.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrIntake mouths added. Aires resin nozzles assembled, which will be fitted after painting.Untitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Ian.. OMG.... Those seat are one of the BEST I have ever seen and the Cockpit and instrument panel is SO real . SUPERB workmanship ... MY favorite jet too. keep up the excellent work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Made another small alteration, this time to the rear-most camera bay's lower viewing window. The ex-US supplied Phantoms had a wide, rectangular, window (first photo), whereas the ex-Luftwaffe jets had a narrower window, which protruded out.So I've cut off a piece of clear plastic sprue, cut it to shape & size. Painted the inner surface Tamiya Clear Orange, to represent the camera lens, then cemented it lengthways over the original window (subsequent 3 photo's), and masked it off. The last photo shows everything ready for priming, now all the remaining antenna, etc, have been attached.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 You will need the entire angled nose profile for the ex-German RF-4Es. The correct parts are included in several RF-4C, RF-4B and RF-4E kits. Jens 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 Hi Jens Thank you for the information Jens, but I am using an RF-4E kit, and far as could see there isn't an option on the nose cone. Also, the shape looks ok to me. There is a distinct lack of RF-4 kits out there, the E version the only one I could source, so I'm doing the best I can. Perhaps if you have a spare RF-4B, or RF-4C, the C preferably as the the HAF RF-4's are early E's (info I was given by a source in the HAF), I'd gladly make the changes. I am intending to build another HAF schemed RF-4E, at a later date, but after several months of waiting for the correct kit, I bought the version I have here, and decided to do what I could. It may be that I will have to do the same again for building the second one. Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 Small update. Black primed all the necessaries on Tuesday morning. Yesterday morning, I tried some "marbling" pre-shading. Not tried this method before, but I've seen it done by some of you fellow modellers, so thought I'd try it. What do you think?Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordstrpe Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Looking good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 On 11/1/2017 at 8:24 AM, Wee Beastie said: Hi Jens Thank you for the information Jens, but I am using an RF-4E kit, and far as could see there isn't an option on the nose cone. Also, the shape looks ok to me. There is a distinct lack of RF-4 kits out there, the E version the only one I could source, so I'm doing the best I can. Perhaps if you have a spare RF-4B, or RF-4C, the C preferably as the the HAF RF-4's are early E's (info I was given by a source in the HAF), I'd gladly make the changes. I am intending to build another HAF schemed RF-4E, at a later date, but after several months of waiting for the correct kit, I bought the version I have here, and decided to do what I could. It may be that I will have to do the same again for building the second one. Cheers Ian There is a general lack of Phantom kits on the market because they are all in my basement. Joking aside, the original Greek RF-4Es are Block 66/FY77 airframes, while the ex-German ones are Block 46-47/FY69 airframes. The block 66 airframes are unique in that they are the only RF-4s with slatted wings. Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 14, 2017 Author Share Posted January 14, 2017 18 hours ago, Jens said: There is a general lack of Phantom kits on the market because they are all in my basement. Joking aside, the original Greek RF-4Es are Block 66/FY77 airframes, while the ex-German ones are Block 46-47/FY69 airframes. The block 66 airframes are unique in that they are the only RF-4s with slatted wings. Jens Hi Jens Yes I was aware of the slatted wings on the Block 66 jets. These were the ones originally supplied by the USAF. The Phantom Under The Skin reference book show these, and other slight differences, too. And you're right about the lack of Phantom kits. Having said that, since I replied to previous post, Lucky Model have had some new stocks of Hasegawa 1/48 Phantoms in! So, I've ordered the RF-4E "Hellenic Special Scheme", which is the correct version of the RF-4E, and it's in the other scheme I won't to do too! Very happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 Now for a bit of colour!I bought Hataka's HAF pt1 paint set, which has the 3 colours for this scheme, plus the colours for SEA coloured schemes they have. I had heard some mixed reports about these paints, but Hataka changed their formula last year, which improved the paints. This set is one of those improved sets. I had no problem with them, and although designed specifically for airbrushing, I still thinned them down (3 pts paint, to 1 pt thinner - 18psi). Paint went on very well, and covered well too. Field Green ( FS34095 / RAL6003) applied first, then the Dark Green (FS34079). Black Grey (RAL702) will be the last colour to be applied. All free-hand, no masking! Took the plunge, and it seems have gone ok........... so far!Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Got the last of the camo colour on. I'm still happy with the way the Hataka paints have turned out.Nose cone sprayed too, after fitting the Master Model pitot tube.Also started on the tail colours, starting with the dark blue. The forward part of the tail fin will be light blue.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Some careful masking, and the lighter blue tail colour is on, and I've also sprayed the exposed metal area around the exhaust area, and the bare metal on the tail stabilisers. This has been done with different Vallejo Metal Colours.The excellent Aires resin exhaust nozzles are painted, and weathered too. They just need a varnish to seal them.Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 superb paintwork, looking excellent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 46 minutes ago, Val said: superb paintwork, looking excellent Thank you Val. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 "And so it begins....."Decal time!Untitled by ian gaskell, on FlickrUntitled by ian gaskell, on Flickr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Wow that's looking good!! Luv a Phantom and your's look to be doing the beast the justice it deserves 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Beastie Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 7 minutes ago, Simon382 said: Wow that's looking good!! Luv a Phantom and your's look to be doing the beast the justice it deserves Cheers, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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