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Johnson last won the day on March 22 2023
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About Johnson

- Birthday 10/15/1955
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Male
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Somerset
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Aircraft 1/144 - 1/24, but mostly 1/72
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Fine Molds Phantom F-4D "The First Mig Ace"
Johnson replied to Johnson's topic in Work in Progress - Aircraft
The first wiring idea using old 5 amp fusewire (what we used before circuit breakers) didn't work, it was too stiff to bend, so I used simple copper wire. I have no idea if this is accurate, but it looks better than a bare piece of plastic. Assuming anyone does look. At the other end, I've made a start on the jet efflux area, trusty old Alclad 2. My knowledge of USAF Phantoms isn't great, so comments, suggestions and criticisms are most welcome. Cheers. -
Thanks Troy & Seawinder. Interesting to note that the scheme for 4 engined aircraft is reversed.
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This is very true. And something I take a lot more seriously now, though probably a bit late in my case. I have a spray booth with extractor for the really potent (leveling thinners, alclad etc) paints. And wear a professional 3M vapour mask, the old paper masks we used to have are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
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RAF 74(F) Tiger Squadron - Group Build in 2026?
Johnson replied to Johnson's topic in Groupbuild Proposals 2026
Thanks Alan - you're added! -
Posted on the TSR2 FB page. For those of you with complaining spouses... Not sure about the 'keeps stress at bay' bit though.
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If you don't get an answer here, or find out on www, posting the question on the BM 'Aircraft WWII' forum usually gets a good response. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/forum/23-aircraft-wwii/ Best of luck, Charlie
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I get flashbacks like that, they can be quite unsettling. Cockpits - I get a lot of satisfaction from trying to get the detail right, even knowing that at 1/72 it's almost impossible and probably won't ever be seen again anyway. The Mosquito is difficult to get right, so many variants with different requirements in a time when technology was constantly improving and changing. Kit manufacturers clearly have trouble. We're lucky with BM and the likes of Dave Swindell who has a great understanding and helped me a lot. And when it's all covered up, we still have the photos! Best wishes, Charlie
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The cockpit is looking great Murray. I like the wiring. I should have done that in my last Mossie build, I will next time. Charlie
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@Mike Starmer - Like this? I can see the logic of it apart from the stbd outer. You don't happen to have the actual diagram by any chance? Google searches for 'diagram for 4 engined RAF WW2 aircraft A.D.1161' didn't get any plans or diagrams.
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I think that probably sums it up. Thank you all. Charlie
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Great photo Troy @Troy Smith. Found this, photo by Charles Brown; Nearest engine Dark Green at front, next Dark Green rear, 3 hidden, 4 - Dark Green? I think this is going to be one of those inconclusive ones. I'll go for green. Charlie
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Hi Folks, I'm putting the finishing touches to my 1/72 Airfix 'Dambuster' Lancaster camouflage paint and I've just bought the very useful Wingleader 'Modeller's Special' Dambuster Lancaster book; https://wingleader.co.uk/books/damlancwms/ It's probably a trivial question, but the model in the book has Dark Green on the engine cowls, like so; It kind of makes sense considering the other Dark Green areas on the wings. The profiles I have, and other builds, are either just all Dark Earth on the engines, or as I've painted above, green on the inner port. Period photos, the ones I've found, don't show these areas very clearly. If I'm going to add more paint, easy at this stage, I'd rather do it now. Any opinions? Dark Earth or Dark Green engine cowls? Thanks, Charlie
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Fine Molds Phantom F-4D "The First Mig Ace"
Johnson replied to Johnson's topic in Work in Progress - Aircraft
Great detective work @Antoine! And many thanks for posting the photos. They add to my/our growing knowledge of the complicated markings of F-4D-29-MC Serial No: 66-7463. What I'd like to achieve (not the same as what will achieved!) is this; Not the best photo I'm afraid. But very useful as it shows F-4D-29-MC Serial No: 66-7463 just after Captain Richie and Captain DeBellvue made their first kill, indicated by the small red star just above the Combat Tree warning placard. Here is a crop from the 1996 Cutting Edge Decal set; The CED decal instructions are on the Scalemates website and look very useful. There's a great close-up photo of the jet with 4 airmen standing underneath the left intake splitter plate with 4 kills painted as above. Capt. Chuck DeBellvue is pointing to "their" kill - the smallest star bottom right. The other stars (kills) belonged to Lt Col Joseph Kittenger (the top/largest), Capt. Fred Olmsted (next largest, below/right), Maj. Bert Crews (smaller star below/left). The photo is in a monograph published in 1973 titled "Smash Four, Smash Five" written by John R Beaman Jr. I'm about 30 years too late for the Wolfpack and Cutting Edge Decal sets which contain the above markings, so making some home made decals maybe in store for me. Unless someone has the set, and would be willing to part with that decal? . Anyway, that's all in the future. Recent progress... I managed the surgery on the incorrect antenna, now replaced with the larger AN/APS-107 RWR antenna at the top of the tail; And now I'm back in the cockpit, wiring up the WSO's i/p. But where do they go? I've been unable to find any decent pics of this area. The only hit I got was in @Anthony in NZ's brilliant 1/32 Tamiya conversion to a FG.1, which I'm assuming, in the absence of any other information, to be the best I'm going to get. Yes, I know, we won't see much when the canopy and ejection seats are fitted. A few cables behind the WSO wouldn't go amiss either. Charlie -
Fine Molds Phantom F-4D "The First Mig Ace"
Johnson replied to Johnson's topic in Work in Progress - Aircraft
I guess I better had Gene! Though it will have to wait a while. Got to complete this F-4D, hopefully by end of March (Mosquito STGB - I'm hosting!). I need to finish my Dambuster Lancaster (another overdue build). Then later this year there's the UK Phantom STGB. I'll be doing a 6 Sqn FGR.2. Fancy a British Phantom? Quite right. My understanding is that they opened when the plane was powered down. Charlie -
Fine Molds Phantom F-4D "The First Mig Ace"
Johnson replied to Johnson's topic in Work in Progress - Aircraft
Has it really been that long? @Gene K quite rightly prompted me to finish my Fine Molds F-4D. Why I've left it so long I'm not sure, but time flies (when you're having fun making other kits). I was amazed how good the kit is when I rescued it from it's box, far too good to leave. Looking closely at the model it was immediately apparent that there's a mistake in the FM instructions, or more precisely the painting guide. It shows the smaller antenna at the top of the tail, but it should have the football shaped AN/APS-107 RWR antenna (included in the kit) on the trailing edge of the vertical tail. So some very careful surgery coming up. I was getting ready to apply the various NM finishes around the jet exhaust when I noticed my antenna error. Charlie