Jump to content

Airfix 1/72 McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1


falcon

Recommended Posts

Been doing a fair bit of work on one of these for the past week.
26219146_1515156035229688_44486027394713

Cockpit is as the kit comes. Correcting some of the flaws as I progress with the build like the lack of 6 sets of vents (top and bottom of the intakes and just above the Spey cans), RHAWS (squared off fin cap) too slim on the new kit so replaced with a clone of the Fujimi one and fin probes have been replaced with brass tubing as the kit ones are very flimsy and almost broke off a few times.

Made an indentation in the top seat cushion with a 1mm drill to make it look closer to the real thing.
26647833_1515914745153817_149732877_n.jp

Used a razor saw to replicate the intake bleed air ducts.
26695824_1516382378440387_1564940086_o.j

Plenty of aftermarket decals to choose from if I don't want to use the kit decals.
26695834_1515919918486633_521869_o.jpg

Cockpit and seats.
26828508_1515933878485237_2031399631_o.j

Added the post-mod avionics panel.
26793748_1520813527997272_678793432_n.jp

Starting to look a bit like a Phantom now.
26829847_1521050937973531_950083000_o.jp

Replaced the fin caps on the kit fins with a casting of the Fujimi fin cap.
26854419_1520949661316992_1063026183_o.j

Earlier this afternoon.
26941957_1521651511246807_413979945_o.jp

Current state with the canopy on and fin probes replaced.
26972499_1521810317897593_2010134329_o.j

  • Like 24
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, 71chally said:

Watching with interest, not least to see how it stacks up against the Fujimi one.  The tailplane attachment inserts, do they move to allow the taiplane to change angle?

 

Looks a great build so far!

You can pose it at 2 angles but you have to decide before you close up the fuselage.

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, brianthemodeller said:

By ‘eck that was quick! Mine hasn’t made it out of the box yet...

Unbelievably quick. The sprues in mine are still sealed in the plastic bag. Not even removed for a grubby feel. The stencils put me in awe and that has stalled me. And all the other stuff going on. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/14/2018 at 2:21 PM, 71chally said:

Watching with interest, not least to see how it stacks up against the Fujimi one. 

 

I don't have my two copies yet, but I'm put off by the egregious lack of prominent vents. Inexcusable on Airfix's part. Nice work on cutting them in. :D

 

Gene K

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Harry_the_Spider said:

 Slight thread hijack... but what is the Tamiya reference for the grey on the upper surfaces?

One suggestion for a mix I've encountered is this:

 

Extra Dark Sea Grey (BS381C:640) - XF-24 Dark Grey + XF-2 White + XF-8 Flat Blue, in the ratio 50:6:3.

 

This mix probably pre-dates the release of XF-77 IJN Grey (Sasebo Arsenal), which is also a very dark grey and presumably can be substituted for the XF-24. I've not tried these mixes, having ready access to a good range of paints which carry Extra Dark Sea Grey in their range, but I hope that it helps all the same.

 

Chris,

 

Thanks for sharing your progress with us; I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

 

Andrew.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 16/01/2018 at 6:15 AM, PhantomBigStu said:

Ah exellent, someone else’s has finally started a WIP, save me from doing it with my inferior efforts, watching along :)

C’mon Stu.. practice makes perfect and with the amount of practice you’ve been doing you’ll perfect this silly hobby in no time!! 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

 

Apologies Falcon - great progress so far and plenty of courage to start this WIP of a subject that has plenty of worldwide interest. The global eyes are watching! 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said:

C’mon Stu.. practice makes perfect and with the amount of practice you’ve been doing you’ll perfect this silly hobby in no time!! 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

Haha, was Morereferring to those folks who like to use all bangs and whistles on the interiors and us 9 different colours to paint instrument panels rather than my paint by numbers job, happy enough with my standards, though always room to improve :) anyway i must start mine, now had a week and all I’ve done is primed the sprues 

Edited by PhantomBigStu
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A bit of extra work done on the Phantom today.

Airbrakes, flaps and auxilary doors fitted. Also assembled and test fitted the drop tanks.

26734377_1527187810693177_68795481892109

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking good!

 

I wondered who would be first, like many others it would seem mine has been out of the box for a quick look while I try to finish off other builds and give this bad boy the workbench space it deserves.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m liking the look of that very much. Can I ask one question, does the breakup of the kit allow you to insert the folded wings after painting and decaling has been completed or is this construction step part way through the build stage and need to be done when the wings are shut? 

 

Any other suggestions that you can provide to the viewing population would be great to know for this popular kit. 

 

Cheers.. Dave. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it can be built to allow the outer wings to be attached after painting and decalling providing you add the drop tanks as the seam would be under the tank pylon.

Edited by falcon
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got the white on the underside this evening. Earlier today I added representative vents that were missing from the back end above the Spey cans and scratched the nav light.

26814986_1528347400577218_89209262702198
26804884_1528347510577207_88407662883120
26907189_1528347443910547_95983301819217
26731470_1528347587243866_31225641421038

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice to see this kit, after so much wait.

I don't know the Fujimi kit, but this looks very nice, even if the panel lines look a bit on the thick side.

What was wrong with the tail?

Anyway You're doing fine!;):yes:

One will be RN, and what about the other one?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the way you have solved the missing vents problem.

 

I have just glued the fuselage together before putting the intakes in so that  I can paint behind the intake ramps and the back of the intake ramps before going further.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Masked up and sprayed the Extra Dark Sea Grey this evening.

Masking only took about 10 minutes to do, even with the outer wings folded.

27267672_1531546110257347_202960403_o.jp
27336007_1531546190257339_37602039_o.jpg

  • Like 14
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...