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F4H-1 Phantom Prototype Brigade Models


Rhino

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Hello Phantom Phans.

This WIP is for the forthcoming Brigade Models conversion set for Academys F-4B into the prototype F4H-1. I have obtained from Kevin a pre production test shot of the mouldings as seen at SMW this year. This does not include canopies or decals as they are not ready yet.

Availability of the set should be March next year. Kevin has agreed to add a second seat so later small radome aircraft can be built. Any changes for this will be up to the modeller, as the main purpose here is for a first flight aircraft.

Also, there are no instructions (I suspect I may be writing them now).

 

Onto what you will get. This first picture shows what you get. This first pic shows the parts, except for canopy, decals, and the pitot probe, which I do have.

IMG_2826_zpsxu7hb7vz.jpg

 

This pic shows where to cut on the wings (for the perforated airbrakes) and the fuselage.

IMG_2827_zps6ug0trzb.jpg

 

Close up of the wing where the airbrake goes. Note that either the wing can be cut, or alternatively, the resin part could be used as a master to drill your own holes in the wing.

IMG_2829_zpsmscmzopa.jpg

 

Here is a close up of the fuselage cut point.

IMG_2830_zpsxp6kmwob.jpg

 

And the cut made.

IMG_2832_zpsomhtyypl.jpg

 

Another part that needs cutting is the forward under fuselage (part F40)

IMG_2834_zpsfenvlc8i.jpg

 

The resin intakes and the kit trunking is being joined. Some fettling may be required for a perfect fit.

IMG_2835_zpsntlbbmal.jpg

 

Airbrakes being sorted.

IMG_2837_zpsftuchg8b.jpg

 

Airbrakes fitted. Note that the gap is my fault, not the kits (my cutting skills still need work).

IMG_2838_zps1lyyhcls.jpg

 

First look at the front fuselage. The black parts are kit parts. They mate to the resin perfectly.

IMG_2842_zpsmu3r2gdz.jpg

 

That is all for this introductory part.

 

Ted

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  • 2 months later...

Hi All,

 

I just discovered this thread and I'm waiting excitedly for this conversion! One thing I don't see in the photo of the parts is the fairing aft of the tail hook that was on the first flight jet. There is a good drawing and photo of it on Tommy Thomason's Tailhook Topics blog HERE, about 1/4 the way down the page. Will we be on our own for a nose probe (easy to do, I'm just lazy :D)?

 

Have you heard any news about price?

 

Thanks,

Ben

 

 

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3 minutes ago, Ben Brown said:

Hi All,

 

I just discovered this thread and I'm waiting excitedly for this conversion! One thing I don't see in the photo of the parts is the fairing aft of the tail hook that was on the first flight jet. There is a good drawing and photo of it on Tommy Thomason's Tailhook Topics blog HERE, about 1/4 the way down the page. Will we be on our own for a nose probe (easy to do, I'm just lazy :D)?

 

Have you heard any news about price?

 

Thanks,

Ben

 

 

Ben. the fairing is not included, though the nose probe is. The fairing should be easy to sort with milliput, I will be trying it out soon.

As for price, I'm not sure but somehere around £35 is probable. You will need to speak to Kevin at Brigade models. He will also be offering an option with an Academy F-4B as well.

I will be doing another update soon as well. I have the basic paint job done now.

 

Ted

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42 minutes ago, Ossington said:

I thought that early aircraft didn't have Martin Baker Mk 5's but McDonnells own design. Stanley (?) seats. 

The prototypes and a few of the F-4A's had the McDonnell seat as included in the kit, then the MB 5 came in later. I'm not exactly sure which airframe was first fitted with the MB seat.

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Progress on this one has been a bit slow due to other commitments but here as promised is the next instalment in the prototype Phantom (just in time for it's 60th anniversary).

 

This shows the completed cockpit (minus seat) installed in the fuselage. The Academy parts were used for panels in the front, while I left the rear panel devoid of instrumentation.

IMG_2904_zpswlpiibo9.jpg

 

IMG_2905_zpsgtb0cf0h.jpg

 

I've started assembling the fuselage here, with the internal details being added.

IMG_2909_zpshd1wfehl.jpg

 

IMG_2909_zpshd1wfehl.jpg

 

Here I am putting thge fuselage upper half on, and attempting to mate the Brigade Models parts to the rest. The cut I made on the fuselage was not accurate, but is easily sorted. In this case it is probably easier to leave a gap to fill later, but I'm sure everone building the kit will have their own ideas.

IMG_2910_zpsyoc3xzdl.jpg

 

IMG_2911_zpstychb3yn.jpg

 

The Brigade Models arrestor hook is shown here. Later it was to drop off, and still needs refitting.

IMG_2914_zpstkj2jlge.jpg

 

Here is the Mcdonnell seat shown with a Martin Baker Mk 7 seat for comparison. The kit will include 2 seats for those wishing to do the prototype later in life, or a later airframe, though extra work will be needed for that option.

IMG_2916_zpsbrh7bxte.jpg

 

This shot shows the seat installed, but I then took it out again to avoid damaging it.

IMG_2917_zpshjlzzm5w.jpg

 

Here I have removed the lower pitot tube as it was not fitted until later in the program.

IMG_2981_zps19mte65p.jpg

 

Here I have painted the grey and white parts of the fuselage.

IMG_2982_zpso7eqslon.jpg

 

IMG_2983_zpsjccggf17.jpg

 

One thing missing from the conversion is an additional fairing behind the arrestor hook. First is the standard look to the area, the rest of the shots show the fairing in whit milliput.

IMG_2984_zpsp0pl2cya.jpg

 

IMG_2986_zpsjfo4zs31.jpg

 

IMG_2988_zpsurhwxeqp.jpg

 

IMG_2989_zpsr6twwmsq.jpg

 

Next is the undercarriage legs being added. Straightforward enough, exactly as per Academy standard.

IMG_2990_zps4xyozyxc.jpg

 

IMG_2992_zpsznonkopu.jpg

 

Thats as far as I have got so far.

 

Ted

 

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On 1/25/2018 at 2:21 PM, Rhino said:

The prototypes and a few of the F-4A's had the McDonnell seat as included in the kit, then the MB 5 came in later. I'm not exactly sure which airframe was first fitted with the MB seat.

The 12th F4H, BuNo 145311, which first flew in February 1960, was the first to have the Martin-Baker seat installed on the production line. However, 142260 (ship #2), 145307 (the second Sageburner), and 145309 are known to have been retrofitted with M-B seats. There may have been others.

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This should be the 1/48 kit, since the parts are exactly the same as in my recently started F-4C.

 

@Rhino, how did you attack the landing gear att that stage? The instructions would like you to so that before fixing the top wing in place.

 

It's a cracking job so far!

 

Edited by Christer A
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8 hours ago, Tailspin Turtle said:

The 12th F4H, BuNo 145311, which first flew in February 1960, was the first to have the Martin-Baker seat installed on the production line. However, 142260 (ship #2), 145307 (the second Sageburner), and 145309 are known to have been retrofitted with M-B seats. There may have been others.

Thanks for all your help and info, the early Phantoms are a nightmare to keep up with. Can't wait to see your book.

 

Ted

7 hours ago, Gondor44 said:

What scale is this?

 

Gondor

It is 1/48th, and designed specifically for the Academy kit.

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I've had a decal sheet with F4H-1 markings for many years ( probably unusable by now ) but I think they might be 1/72. I've often considered getting an Academy Phantom, and this might just push me over the edge.

 

Good job so far.

 

John

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On 1/25/2018 at 1:30 PM, Rhino said:

Ben. the fairing is not included, though the nose probe is. The fairing should be easy to sort with milliput, I will be trying it out soon.

As for price, I'm not sure but somehere around £35 is probable. You will need to speak to Kevin at Brigade models. He will also be offering an option with an Academy F-4B as well.

I will be doing another update soon as well. I have the basic paint job done now.

 

Ted

Hi Ted,

 

Thanks for the info! I might have to add this one to my "to do" list.

 

Ben

 

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Hi

 

I was asked by Brigade Models to build this 1/48 resin conversion and leave it unpainted so everyone can see what I did. Here are the photo's of the finished model, minus canopy. The aircraft is as it was on the very first flight, so no rear seat or fittings. A nice straight forward conversion. Rear hook fairing to follow.

 

Chris

 

 

IMG_1115.jpg 

 

 

IMG_1117.jpg

 

 

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A few notes. The first 47 F4Hs did not have vents on the bottom of the inlet ducts; the unwanted air was dumped out between the inlet and the fuselage through holes in the first variable ramp.

 

The tailhook on the first few/several F4Hs was flat on the bottom immediately aft of its attachment point. See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2011/05/early-phantom-iis-redux.html

 

The first few F4Hs did not have the stabilator with the cambered leading edge. See http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2009/11/early-phantom-iis.html

and http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2011/09/f-4-flapstabilizer-change.html

 

I don't know much about the rear cockpit on the first flight other than an ejection seat was not installed. My guess is that the basic structure was there, certainly the circuit breaker panels. One detail was that the aft bulkhead of the rear cockpit was vertical, not canted, since it was originally a compartment full of aircraft systems components and the ammo drums for the AH's cannon. The rails for the ejection seat were attached to the floor and the top of the bulkhead like a ladder leaning against a wall.

 

For some reason, the first-flight F4H's first variable ramp did not have all those holes for boundary-layer air removal.

 

Also see:

http://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2013/02/f4h-1-flush-canopy.html

 

http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/03/f4h-f-4-phantom-index.html

 

http://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2012/12/early-f4h-rat.html

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Thanks for the additional info, Tommy! Perhaps Brigade can include a set of stabs, too.

 

Here are some good profile drawings of the evolution of the intakes: The Phantom Phacts blog  (A little off topic for this thread, but he also has some great info about the differences between the Phantom FG.1 and FGR.2)

 

Ben

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4 hours ago, Ben Brown said:

Thanks for the additional info, Tommy! Perhaps Brigade can include a set of stabs, too.

 

Here are some good profile drawings of the evolution of the intakes: The Phantom Phacts blog  (A little off topic for this thread, but he also has some great info about the differences between the Phantom FG.1 and FGR.2)

 

Ben

Let's see if this link works: http://phantomphacts.blogspot.ca/2014/07/f4h-1-intake-splitter-plates.html

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