VT Red Sox Fan

@franky boy--James, well done--I echo the comments on this outstanding Gunfighter--I especially appreciate the immaculate work you did on the natural metal! Awesome! Erwin

Sir/Ma'am, Apologize up front if I am asking in the incorrect area, or if this question is answered elsewhere & I missed it Is there a way to see the total number of views on a thread/subject--ie includes those who do not post or respond? Thanks in advance, Erwin

Thanks Giemme, FWIW, I have only cut out the intake blanks--yes, your build is inspirational, well researched and looks awesome! Any thoughts on using the Quickboost F-4 seat backs on this project? Don't see myself grinding out the bottoms--am going to copy your way ahead w/ the wire handles https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB72011 Best Erwin

Thanks Sofusthecat... I should have thought of that--will give it a try tonight... best Erwin

I am not a Spitfire or 1/32 build expert by any means--but I would like to say your build made me realize why i love this hobby--you are making a dream from 1978 ready for the 21st century--I will be watching with a smile Best, Erwin

Just as long as the popcorn is butter flavored Cheers, Erwin

Recently completed my side by side F-105 builds had a lot of fun and learned a lot from the forum--this is truly a concentration of amazing talent. Special thanks to @RidgeRunner, @billn53 & @Corsairfoxfouruncle for the awesome inputs on my F-105 projects. I have decided to start & complete a 1/72 MDD F-4 C/D I purchased years ago w/o decals--I believe my next build will need to be 1/72 Airfix Typhoon... I believe I owe an RAF subject soon ! On to the build, I always start w/ an inspiration from the forum & I am leveraging the @giemme's gorgeous and in depth 1/72 F-4 build with comments & awesome inputs from @Gene K (thank you for your service). Their awesome build from 2015 can be found here: I will warn you that I have not built up the courage to chop up my recently purchased Hasegawa F-4C/D so I will be using the Monogram aircraft as my platform w/ relatively minor updates. I would also like to mention @David Lengyel awesome 1/48 build which is Awesome! His awesome build can be found here: Ok, on to my build... the objective of this build is to build an F-4C or F-4D from Print Scale's MDD F-4 PhantomII In Vietnam War (72-029)--I am thinking of building the Saint but can not find any reference photos. At this point I am keeping my options open between F-4D or F-4C--I may end up doing Col Olds' Scat XXVII given the better references, but hope to do one of the Ds instead. My 1st step was to start backdating Monogram's stabilaotors by sanding off the reinforcement plates--my research seems to indicate that most F-4s in Vietnam did not have these plates in stalled. One of the techniques I better developed on my Monogram F-105 build was stretching sprue, so I replaced sanded off detail w/ stretched sprue--my intent is use foil on the natural metal portions of the tail--I believe I am in the vocal Monogram Mafia minority that do not mind raised details I then leveraged @giemme's build, the NMUSAF cockpits site & Detail & Scale Early F-4 Phantoms to wire up the cockpit and instruments. Wires are copper wire & sprue up front--I built more respect for @giemme's build by trying to wire up the back seaters instruments behind the pilot--it was simply harder than expected! Colors are Model Master for the Dark Gull Grey, Tamiya Flat Black, Tamiya Black, Tamiya White, Tamiya Yellow, Tamiya Red, Tamiya Clear Red, Tamiya German Grey, & Tamiya Armor Weathering system (Gun Metal/Silver) My plan is to use the top/seat backs of Quick Boost's F-4 Phantom ejection seats--question to the forum, would these be appropriate for a Vietnam F-4 Build? I also tried to capture the fuselage details @giemme accomplished Finally, I plan on using castings I made from Academy F-4J--but maybe I want to use the intake template provided by @Gene K--does anyone have a master I can print and use to experiment? Thank you again for all the great info--I look fwd to posting more--cheers to all, Erwin

Thanks Dennis! Greatly appreciate you asking around--will link a new F-4 build soon... Merry Christmas... Best, Erwin

Great to hear Martin @RidgeRunner--I figured you beat me to the punch on that website --thank you again for the Honey Pot 2 pictures. I wonder if there is a website for Thud Crew Chiefs--I bet they could clarify a lot of marking questions modelers have. One last note on the Print Scale decals, while mine went on with no problem & I feel they are accurate, I do wish they listed their resources for each aircraft to assist in finding source material for reference (apologize if I missed it). Having a similar problem with Print Scale's Vietnam F-4s--very interested in building F-4C The Saint, but can't find any on line period photos to help--will post a new build thread soon! I am watching your builds with interest! Merry Christmas... Best, Erwin

Martin--Thank you for the note--I greatly appreciate all your help--I don't think I would have been as satisfied with the outcome unless you had been part of the journey--watching @RidgeRunner Voodoo build with great interest as we dive in to MDD products --the links aren't working today--will update later--speaking of broken links were you able to get into that F-105 website?

@billn53, high praise coming from you--thank you & means a lot... anybody who checks this blog out, please go & look at Bill's F-105 build--it is simply awesome--I always refer to it--his build as @RidgeRunner would say is a classic! Best, Erwin

Thanks Dennis, I greatly appreciate your thumbs up--Greatly appreciate the offer to support--I will be reaching out for sure soon... my next build will be Monogram's 1/72 F-4 C/D--thinking about building The Saint, but can't find wartime photos from Vietnam... thanks again for all your help on this build

Pics below are of my now complete, well near complete Thuds given Martin's input above (Revell is Memphis Belle 2 & Trumpeter is Honey Pot). 1st, these are probably my favorite models, not because of how they turned out--many have done better, but mostly from the input from fellow modelers who provided their lessons learned, research & inspiration allowing me to make the most accurate models w/ my limited ability. I am especially grateful for the help of @RidgeRunner, @billn53, @Corsairfoxfouruncle--you guys rock. When I started this build, I originally said I was going to compare the Revell & Trumpeter kits in 1/72, if for nothing more than to inform the great discussions that occur here on Britmodeller on what is a great Thud kit--both kits have their pluses and minuses. It is unfortunate, but the F-105 is really underserved in 1/72 given its impact on aviation & military--and it still looks tough yet sleek! In my estimation, the Revell kit OOB still beats the Trumpeter hands down--fit is good, dimensions to my eye accurate, cockpit is respectable, wheel wells, main year doors & weapons (I used Brassin M-117s/AIM-9B & an Accurate Miniatures QRC-160) all allow one to build a respectable Thud w/o resorting to after market. I do acknowledge that Revell kit' raised panel lines are a detractor (not to me though) & the kit decals are very poor (if anybody has an inside track, I ask them to put a squeeze on R/M to produce these kits again--might get the after market crowd to make resin for this kit)--my Revell kit also had a warped vertical stabilizer--really noticeable head on. Another minor shortcoming of the Revell kit is one needs to remove the F-105G sensors--minor, but still needs to be done. The Trumpeter OOB has significant shortcomings--cockpit is toy like, riveting detail is borderline golf ball, wheel wells are sparse, doors are poor--that said, it build up awesome w/ after market improvements. W/ aftermarket, I believe it does nudge out Revell--I also really like the option to open the gun and parachute compartments--somelthing Revell's version lacks. Finally, critique on myself--I used Eduard's F-105G exterior photo etch--one will note the underside cooling vent is too long for a D--frankly, the kit part is too toy like for my liking, so I decided to live w/ it. Would also like to give a shout out to Print Scale, I was hard on them earlier, but they have courage to put out decals of interesting subjects. As far new techniques for me, I discovered that I really enjoy foiling natural metal and then using Alclad 2 for weathering. Again, this has been a great build, not because of my talents, or necessarily how my Thuds turned out--it was because of the input from others who helped me build what I feel are the best F-105s I can complete--w/o further ado, here are the pics

Martin you da man--will likely add the Kill flag when I complete my F-4

Russ C--thanks for the info--it truly turned out amazing--very impressive! I can't wait to see your next build! Best, Erwin

This- is - an - AWESOME PHANTOM!!!! If you have time, do you mind a quick rundown on how you did the metal tail section--sorry if I missed the WIP--nevertheless--great job--I echo those who were originally fooled into thinking this was the real thing--Best, Erwin

Martin--I hear you--hit a snag on the M-117s for Honey Pot--long story short, I tried to cast my own M-117s from the Revell kit since I like the way they look--it was a self criticing failure --I have decided to follow @billn53's lead and use the Eduard set but have to wait for them to come in. I will give my self credit for casting Honey Pot's MER from the Revel sprue w/o issue--I am actually really happy w/ it--that said, I would not recommend the Revel MER as a stand alone piece--ie, it needs weapons. I also am using an Accurate Miniature's F-4C QRC-160 noise jammer & AIM-9B. Great ideas, but hurting the fan club in posting pics soon --a beautiful family, work and the holiday's are getting in the way of the updates... Memphis Belle 2 is done though to my satisfaction--my initial thought was to wait posting the the completed models until complete & then wrap up differences, strengths and weakness between what I judge to be the to best 1/7 F-105s available (Revel & Trumpeter)--what do you think? Just finished putting the gear on Honey Pot today--did mine a little different than @billn53's classic Old Dog New Tricks--I used the SAC gear & casted the bottom main get doors as resin copies from the Revel kit--actually to be honest, I loved how @billn53 casted the engine cooling scoops, so I also leveraged the Revel kit off his idea. Remainder of doors come from Eduard's set. Cant wait to show you guys... Bottom Line: Revel's Memphis Belle 2 is complete & Trumpeter's Honey Pot is having its antennas & lights installed, along w/ being bombed up

Gents, my mistake on one thing regarding the website, I have never been able to get to it from my mobile devices--always needed to use a computer for some reason... sorry for not clarifying--hope you guys are able to get in--I think you both would like it since you both are the Thud inspirationalists to me... cheers, Erwin

I am with @72modeler in thanking @Sabrejet & everyone else for their references and most importantly to me, their interpretations and willingness to share literally years of knowledge-- @72modeler, thats what I heard regarding the black range radar fairing, but had second thoughts once I learned about the all fiberglass nose--you guys all rock! Erwin

@Sabrejet--these are awesome--quick re-attack--I always thought the nose of a Korean War era F-86 was metallic in color & included a black radome at the top for an early radar--apparently these photos certify that I was wrong--is the correct way to paint (or foil in my case) is to use acft gray for the nose & NMF for the rest of the acft--I know dumb question, but this actually throws a lot of assumptions I have had about the F-86--thus knocking my socks off @72modeler--thank you for starting this thread and appreciate you allowing this dialogue on basic F-86 airframe questions to take up space on an F-86F detail thread--best to all Red Sox Fan

Martin, dang--that stinks--did you try a google search for "craig baker's f-105"--it should be one of the 1st sites--I do not remember ever paying for access--let me know--I think you and a lot of folks on this site will appreciate the site... cheers, Erwin

@Sabrejet--very interesting to me--I always thought the old fiberglass would weather well, i.e. stay the same shade of grey while perhaps going from a gloss to a flat--do you have any recommended areas on the web to go look for examples to support weathering a model--thank you again for the info--best, Erwin

@72modeler, @Corsairfoxfouruncle, @Sabrejet--Great discussion & thank you--I think it sounds like a good rule of thumb for a Korean War era jet would be a anodized metallic center box & the remainder acft aluminum--flaps, slats, wing tip, & fences where appropriate--obviously an individual machine might differ--do any of use alclad paint--if so what shades do use? Really appreciated @72modeler floquil old silver/flat black discussion for a B-29's center section as a potential solution for an F-86--Best to all, Red Sox Fan

@Julien--^^Was that during the Euro 1 days? Best Erwin

Martin, high praise & thank you very much--FWIW, I got the F-105D "Mary Kay" photo from http://www.burrusspta.org/thud.html This web site is AWESOME on all things Vietnam Thuds--if you look in the left hand corner, you will see photo submissions which is where the F-105 vets will post their pictures--well worth the time to surf... thank you again for the help--I am going to go ahead and decal--was waiting for at least one fellow modeler's thumbs up before I finished dealing Honey Pot