giemme Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) Hello Britmodellers; here's my new project, the probably well known 1 72 Hasegawa F4-J Phantom II. I'm moving out of my comfort zone here, as I normally build in 1 48 scale, but I got this kit at bargain price and I decided (after a very challenging RE2002 from Italeri) to try with this. I intended to build this OOB, but then I got tempted along the way ... and I ordered the Eduard Pre-painted zoom set for the cockpit (hasn't arrived yet). Plus I sourced an old Eduard PE detail set at my local shop (sorry, forgot to take pics before starting cutting out pieces..) So I started with a quick dry-fit of the main parts: Fit is pretty good, a breath of fresh air compared to my previous build ... Probably a couple of tricky points from what I can see now: main fuselage to wings join and main air intakes to fuselage. Then it was time for som PE parts: first of all the speed brakes The moving part is made of two pieces, and you have to conform it to the kit parts before proceeding Then I removed the corresponding section on the wings The third PE part (sorry, I wouldn't know how to call this in English): Other side, this shows a bit how I did it I've also added some PE details in the wheel bay area Tail chute cover PE detail Next, it was time to start gluing the fuselage main section; I've added a reference tab to the lower part, to allow for a better alignment ..which turned out to be useless, as I had to enlarge the first pin hole towards the front (you see the corresponding pin on the above pic, top right corner) to have a good fit, so the tab isn't touching the opposite fuselage half. Gluing this per sections, trying to achieve a stronger adhesion: That's it for now. Comments, suggestions and any kind of tips are more then welcome. Ciao Edited February 16, 2015 by giemme 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Good to see you've got another project underway. This looks like it should be interesting - especially with the amount of PE you're going to use!!!!! Wow!. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Hi Stix, thanks for popping in. Can't quite compete with your pace, but I'm also considering a parallel figure painting project. Will see, I've already started some minor things on it but now I'm focused on this ... Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 I forgot to mention that I'll be doing this specific aircraft: Ciao 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimpy Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 That's a pretty good kit you have there but the fit around the fuselage to wing join is very tricky to get right I put some sprue inside the fuselage to widen it a bit and that worked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 Hi Stimpy, thanks for joining; you mean the front part of the fuselage (the one with the cockpit) or the back part? Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene K Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Nice thread and build! Gene K 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 Thanks for looking, Gene. Stay tuned, more coming soon Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Bit of an update; since the PE pre-painted set hasn't arrived as of yet I went on with: air intakes From the second pic, you can see how Hasegawa's plastic is reacting to Tamiya's green cap glue. I cleaned everything now, but I'm not really happy with that... Then wings: to get a better alignment, I had to insert some stripes of tape ... and I had to glue them in various steps: here's the first one and here's the final result (only one wing) Then it was time to start trimming the main fuselage: there was quite an annoying step between the two halves, and I still have more to do about that That's it for now Ciao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Looks like there's a couple of issues with this kit! I'm sure you'll knock it into shape though. Keep up the good work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Looks like there's a couple of issues with this kit! I'm sure you'll knock it into shape though. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the encouragement Stix, but this really seams a piece of cake compared to my previous build ... Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene K Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Looks like there's a couple of issues with this kit! I think "issues" is an overstatement. There are a several challenging areas, but nothing that a little trial fitting and adjustment can't handily "fix". (I've built more Hasegawa Phantoms than I care to admit). Giemme - the Tamiya cement is first class ... just touch a little to parts that have been joined, and hold them together with Tamiya tape until the glue sets. Apply it from behind (as in the intake shoulders of your build) when possible while holding the parts together. A good way to control the amount of glue is to trim the thread end of a sewing needle so that you end up with a "U" - dip that in the glue to pick a little up, and then touch against the joined parts to release the glue into the joint. Very "tidy", with no melted plastic oozing out from around the joint. By the way, for your next Hasegawa Phantom build, keep handy that tape (that you used to build up the inner surface of the wing to eliminate the step) - you'll need it again when joining the vertical stab halves to avoid a step when you attach the fin cap. BUT .. since you already glued that area, suggest you pry it open and insert a small sliver of plastic. Gene K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 19, 2014 Author Share Posted September 19, 2014 I think "issues" is an overstatement. There are a several challenging areas, but nothing that a little trial fitting and adjustment can't handily "fix". (I've built more Hasegawa Phantoms than I care to admit). Giemme - the Tamiya cement is first class ... just touch a little to parts that have been joined, and hold them together with Tamiya tape until the glue sets. Apply it from behind (as in the intake shoulders of your build) when possible while holding the parts together. A good way to control the amount of glue is to trim the thread end of a sewing needle so that you end up with a "U" - dip that in the glue to pick a little up, and then touch against the joined parts to release the glue into the joint. Very "tidy", with no melted plastic oozing out from around the joint. By the way, for your next Hasegawa Phantom build, keep handy that tape (that you used to build up the inner surface of the wing to eliminate the step) - you'll need it again when joining the vertical stab halves to avoid a step when you attach the fin cap. BUT .. since you already glued that area, suggest you pry it open and insert a small sliver of plastic. Gene K Gene, thank you very much for your help. As for the glue, I agree Tamiya is first class, but it does react differently on, say, Italeri's plastic as opposed to Hasegawa's. I was able to clean out (quite) properly the area, but I think your advice about the sewing needle it's going to be very helpful in the proceeding of my build As for the vertical stab: you're totally right, stupid me that didn't dry test it before gluing the fuselage halves together. However, I didn't glue the specific portion where the fin cap is supposed to lay on, so I'll probably be able to fit in a spacer. Thanks again Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 (edited) Here we go, Monday update after some work done during the week end (not much, it was warm and sunny here, so ... ) Gene's advice turned out to be very helpful; luckily, as I mentioned in my previous post, I didn't glue the top part of the fin, which ended up in being already "split" in some way, so no actual spacer needed (just a bit of tidying up). Fin cap: (sorry, don't know what happened with the first pic) I reworked a bit the underside of the tail Outer wings glued to main wings, plus some tidying up Added a small detail (using Tamiya tape) to the tail chute cover, ready for priming: That's it for now. Ciao Edited September 22, 2014 by giemme 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom61 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Giemme, nice work ... I'm a fan of Phantom and this box, I built 2 one of the VF31 and one of the RAF ... if you are interested I'll put the link where you can see the WIP https://www.flickr.com/photos/92879412@N06/sets/ ciao e buon modellismo Silvano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Giemme, nice work ... I'm a fan of Phantom and this box, I built 2 one of the VF31 and one of the RAF ... if you are interested I'll put the link where you can see the WIP https://www.flickr.com/photos/92879412@N06/sets/ I followed your link ... is this the same 1 72 kit? At first glance, it looked like 1 48, and superbly detailed. Looks like I'm going to need your advice here, too. Stay tuned Grazie e a presto Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 By the way: is there any WIP thread you've done somewhere, or only the pics collection of the link? Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Hi giemme - thank you for the Monday update! - Good progress again and I do like the detail work you are doing. Looking forward to more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom61 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 (edited) are all in 1/72 Hasegawa F4J UK Fujimi all other the same link you will find both photos and WIP sorry... this is the link of F4J VF 31 https://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=new_set ciao Edited September 22, 2014 by phantom61 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene K Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Nice update - thanks for the excellent pictures! Here's another comment for a future build, if you do another: The ailerons on the F-4 started slowly drooping down after the engines were shut down and hydraulic pressure started bleeding off, as shown here (exaggerated - that's extreme): In that regard, what can be done is shown here: Be careful bending the aileron down so as not to snap the plastic. After the aileron is bent down and glued on the bottom, a light line can be inscribed on the top wing surface. As an over-the-top aside, note that the fuel dump mast (the flat section between the outboard edge of the aileron and the outer wing panel) is "separated" as shown in the top picture - that is, do not fill that seam, but rather separate it. Please don't take my comments as being critical - I love the F-4 and am sharing some trivia that may be useful (or not) on another of your excellent builds. Gene K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Please don't take my comments as being critical - I love the F-4 and am sharing some trivia that may be useful (or not) on another of your excellent builds. Gene K Gene, thank you very much, I totally appreciate your comments here, no doubt about that Coming to the point: I had considered working on the movable surfaces (ailerons, rudder ...) but being this my first go at a jet in 1 72, I was very scared of screwing up badly, so I limited it to what (and not all) the PE parts would allow (i.e. speed brakes). I'll be definitely doing more F-4s, so maybe next time I'll risk something more. As for the fuel damp mast: got it, it's an easy fix, as I used a water based putty there; thanks for pointing that out and for the pic, very clear. Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Looks good to me mate. One step at a time...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 are all in 1/72 Hasegawa F4J UK Fujimi all other the same link you will find both photos and WIP sorry... this is the link of F4J VF 31 https://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=new_set ciao Silvano, sorry, this link isn't working. It redirects me to the Flickr login page. Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom61 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Giemme, I'm sorry, this is the correct link ... you will find photos of F4 VF31 and more ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/127045504@N03/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 Thanks Silvano, now it works! Outstanding model, by the way. If mine comes out half as good as yours, I'd be more than happy. Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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