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Showing results for tags 'VF-111 USS ROOSEVELT'.
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Hello and here's my entry for the Group Build: (Post started as a marker and photos to be added over the weekend, so please bare with me) This is the TAMIYA 1/32 F-4C/D that I bought on Evil Bay at Christmas for a bargin at £45. The real surprise was finding in the box some additional decals AND some frames from TAMIYA's F-4J...........with this Group Build announced this kit was crying out for a challenge, it was begging to be made as an F-4B or N..... WIP posts are normally for the very brave or the actually vaguely competent modelers, whilst I am normally happy with my finished models, my WIP efforts are normally awful, so if you re a real F-4 phanatic, this WIP post might have you feeling very sick. What Am I working from: Basic F-4C/D kit + key F-4J bits (lucky, lucky me!). The NAVY "J" extras I seem to have acquired include: Top Spine 'Blank@ where USAF refueling probe receiving hole is, slotted tail stabilizers, catapult hooks, centreline Tank, underwing correct shape pylons & the extended refueling probe. I didn't get the NAVY cockpit, but I reckon a "C" isn't far off with a bit of work on the rear cockpit. I have Harold's AMS F-4A/B/N wheels. Minimizing Risk: how far could I progress with this build as an F-4B/N but still leave options to revert building as an F-4C/D.......Clearly the biggest challenge is going to be those upper wings Options: 1. Attempt to buy (find?) a set of Cutting Edge 1/32 F-4B/N conversion sets pros: They look good cons: a set went on EBAY at the beginning of April 2015 for $200 2. Attempt to buy the New F-4B/N conversion offered by ????? link below shows you the pictures http://geb.ebay.in/ImportHubViewItem?itemid=390993318615&1-32-GT-Resin-F-4B-N-Airframe-Conversion-Set-for-all-Tamiya-F-4J-Phantom-kits Looks amazing, but is for the F-4 J AND is pricey... 3. suck-it-up and have a go at the upper wings myself.......... With a wife who STILL hasn't calmed down at the £45 expenditure back at Christmas time, clearly options 1 & 2 were a NO GO should I wish to remain married AND not have parts of my anatomy removed with a kitchen knife Step 1: The Upper Wings Whilst waiting for the GB to start, I have given this much thought. My plan has been to sand down as much as I dare of the upeer wheel bulge AND add a "scab" (scientific modelling term?) of putty adjacent to the wing bulge. My theory is that the more of the original wing I can save, then the less work I will need to scratch build into the wheel wells Photos (insert here!) show the progress so far. The courage required to start sanding away at a £45 kit is really something!!!!! The result is better than I had hoped for. After several visits with a spray of undercoat to show the blemishes, re-application of finer filler (squadron white stuff) it's not far off the mark. This represents my first attempt at serious scribing work and I would say I'm nearly there. ( well near enough to post some WIP pictures on Britmodeller!) Still more fine filling & sanding to get the last of that "scab" of filler smoothed out. The plastic on those upper wings is pretty thick, I have taken the bulges down to almost paper thin (very nearly went thru' at some points). What i am trying to show with the blurred head on profile of the wings is the almost flat (certainly no discernible "bulge") profile. Not withstanding the work I'll need to do to the speed brakes AND the undercarriage doors, the wheel wells should still fit. As I work away during the week pictures and any answers to posts will have to wait until the weekends.