PaulR Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 (edited) Hallo All,I have been looking forward to this GB. I'm a bit of a fan of 80's ANG aircraft, and having had the Revell/Monogram F-4C (still apparently regarded as a 'Good Kit') and the Superscale decals for the Michigan ANG in the stash for a while, it seemed like the ideal opportunity! Obligatory box shots follows. I am also going to add Master brass pitots for the fin, and I am contemplating some aftermarket exhausts. I've also made a start on filling ejector pin marks, and getting assemblies such as cockpit and drop tanks together. Although the kit has raised lines, these are very well done - more rivet head detail than raised panel lines, and as such seems more realistic. Reviews amongst Phantom enthusiasts has this being better than the Hasegawa kit for overall accuracy; not sure how the new Academy kit measures up in this regard, but I do know that I need to build from the stash rather than adding to it! There is also something reassuringly old school about this kit; It has great detail in the cockpit and ejector seats, but not the thousands of parts that seem to be de rigeur for new kits. Anyway.... Edited August 29, 2015 by PaulR 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I did "Patience my bottom" with this decal sheet, any choice as which one you will be doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 I did "Patience my bottom" with this decal sheet, any choice as which one you will be doing? Currently leaning toward 'trust me' but could go toward 'Cyrano de Bergerac'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 First build for me after 25 years, in the Lakenheath colours (my home village)! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 The 171st FIS Michigan ANG Phantoms have to be one of the classic 80's Guard colour schemes, and the Revell/Monogram F-4C is the classic 1/48th scale Phantom kit; add to that a classic decal sheet from Superscale and you should have a winning combination. Good luck! Michael 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I did 'Don't Mess with the KId' quite a few years ago after seeing her as a Battle Damage repair airframe. It was a really enjoyable build I hope you have as much fun as I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 Great choice of kit and subject! Looking forward to seeing an old friend like this building up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimB Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 I did a MI ANG F-4C a few years ago, and was disappointed in the result as the yellow decals were slightly translucent and looked dull over the grey. If you are not planning to already, suggest that you may want to put a white basecoat or decal underneath. Regards Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 (edited) Time just seems to fly. Have been meaning to update this thread for at least a week, but damned work just gets in the way. Anyway, modelling doing its historic role of maintaining some semblance of escape! A few photos of progress; cockpit done, and fuselage joined up. Slightly dodgy fit of the canopy at the rear, so added a blob of milliput and pressed the canopy into it to form the grooves for the canopy hinges. I'll sand this smooth in due course. Major subassemblies done, i.e. tanks etc, and boring bits like undercarriage doors all done. Some reasonably aggressive sanding coming up, but all thoroughly enjoyable so far. Should have more this weekend, which can't come soon enough! Edited May 19, 2015 by PaulR 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Nice work. The inner faces of the gear doors and speed brakes look to have very nice detail on them. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostbase Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Slightly dodgy fit of the canopy at the rear, so added a blob of milliput and pressed the canopy into it to form the grooves for the canopy hinges. I'll sand this smooth in due course. That is probably the most frustrating problem with this Revell / Monogram F-4 kit, especially as everything else fits together well and very little filler is needed. I am going to follow your example and try this fix next time. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 Evening all, Have rather neglected this project, and need to get going! Here's a couple of shots of the airframe coming together; all the other bits are being primed ready for spraying! More to follow... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Have just realised the close date of this GB! Had better get motoring. All the fiddly bits - undercarriage doors etc all painted and ready for installation, but have been beem held up sorting out the intake joins; a problem with every phantom kit, or so it seems. Anyway, I have taken my normal pattern for painting all the fiddly bits - natural metal areas, radome etc - and masking them up prior to the final camouflage colour. This is where I am up to - intend to have the ADC grey on today. It's Xtracrylix, so should dry quickly and allow me to get onto decalling tonight. These birds were kept very clean, so little to do on the weathering front. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) Well, so much for that. Model all painted and glossed, but the decals have just disintegrated on me, and not just one but the whole lot. Am going to order the caracal sheet, but won'tbe done in time for the deadline. Will continue to post updates on this thread, as want to finish even if it doesn't go in the gallery. Cheers, Paul Edited July 25, 2015 by PaulR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Sorry to hear that, one of the most frustrating things to happen so late in a build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzy19 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 That's a shame Paul, it was looking good too. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I agree with the others. Such a shame. I'll look forward to future updates as you finish the build. I built quite a few of those Monogram quarter scale Phantoms in my "youth." They do build up into an impressive model. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Thought I'd post a few pics of where I am up to while I wait for replacement decals. The airframe is broadly finished; just have to detail painting on nose wheels, oleos and the like. By the by, the main retraction link on the nosegear seems to be too long, as it follows the undercarriage door retraction mechanism. I am positive I have the latter in the right place, so is the retraction link for the nose gear too long? Any guidance appreciated. I have also asked Mish to move this to WIP so I can carry on with updates there. Cheers for a top group build, just disappointed my model couldn't make it to the gallery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hi all, Quick update! Basic airframe all done and painted, and parts added, and glossed for decals... then I decided I just couldn't live with the joint line around the starboard intake. At certain angles, you could see a clear divot where I had sanded too far, so out with the milliput to see if I can't level it off! I have finally decided on Cyrano the Fearless as my choice of artwork - am going to give the decal a coat of future prior to use to stop it from disintegrating... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 (edited) Morning all. One of the great advantages of a career in education is the ability to indulge one's hobbies during the hols. . . anyway, progress on the phantom. Spent a very pleasant hour or so applying the stencilling and national markings. All beginning to come together. The Caracal decals behaved brilliantly; I am holding my breath for the nose art I am planning to rescue from the Experts Choice set that were so incredibly delicate! Will hopefully get the unit marks on tonight. I have to say I have really enjoyed this kit, despite it being superceded by newer kits; it captures the look of an F-4 very well indeed, and makes a nice break from my normal diet of RAF stuff. Am now motivated by a Euro 1 F-4D in rather cool AFRES marks that I have just espied from Speed Hunter Graphics (go to Reid Air Publications for more info - some great modern USAF subjects!) Have also seen some super Monogram F-106 models in Michigan marks - might have to make a visit to Ebay! Edited August 6, 2015 by PaulR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 That's looking great, well done for persevering - it's always worth it in the end! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 That has come along nicely after the problems that you have had. If you do want to do a Michigan F-106, Caracal also do a decal sheet for these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted August 29, 2015 Author Share Posted August 29, 2015 (edited) Well - finally finished! Added an AMCI Pod for colour, but here it is, my Michigan ANG F-4C at William Tell circa 1982! Thoroughly enjoyed this 'older' kit, and have since invested in an Academy F-4C so that I can do a Euro 1 AFRES F-4D! Quick pic here, but will post rest in RFI. Edited August 29, 2015 by PaulR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now