Ghostbase Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 Have today completed three McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantoms in 1/48th scale, I didn't set out to do this originally but it just happened that way. The first is a 1/48th scale Hasegawa kit P17, the Royal Air Force Phantom FG.1 which I discovered contained the extendable nose gear of the original Fleet Air Arm F-4K so I obtained a copy of the ancient Almark Decals sheet A48-1 'McDonnell-Douglas F-4K/RAF Phantom FG.1' and decided to construct VT867 as VL152 operated by FAA 767 Sqn. I love the yellow 'Iron Budgie' on the tail fin and might even have seen one of these in the air at the 1970 Yeovilton Air Day when I was just 12 years old. It turned out like this: The end result does not look too bad however I have had this on the 'shelf of shame' for several years. I admit I am not the most detail conscious of modellers and I managed to put the forward undercarriage bay in the wrong way round. This pushed the entire cockpit module upwards which meant that the seats would not fit and the canopies would not close. I gave up and moved on to other things which was a shame as the air brushing went very well and I was also pleased with the standard of the jet exhausts. The Almark decals were another challenge, I don't know how old they are but compared to photos of the aircraft in service they seem to be very 'heavy' and I gave up when I found I had added an ejection seat triangle to the side of the jet air intake! However, I was still interested in her and I would take her of that shelf, I wanted to get her finished! The breakthrough came when I was working on an old ESCI F-4J, I decided to swap the ejection seats. The Hasegawa seats add much needed presence to the otherwise bare ESCI cockpit while I could cut the ESCI seats down to fit the restricted space in the faulty F-4K. It worked well as seen here: This build also represented another first for me, the addition of an Eduard detail set, FE262 for an FGR Mk.2. I was sort of ok with it until I discovered that some of it didn't fit because of the mistake with the front wheel well (never mind her not being an FGR Mk.2!!) so I gave up on that as well. In fact, at the end, it was worth a try: In the end I forced the issue of the front wheel well by cementing the gear to the front of the well, it isn't accurate but it does still give that unique impression of the Fleet Air Arm Phantom raised up to take off from the Eagle or the Ark Royal. Even after the setbacks I wanted this Phantom to carry a full load of armament. The kit did not include any missiles so I added some AIM-7E Sparrows and AIM-9J Sidewinders from a Hasegawa weapons set, I have no idea how I ended up with AIM-9J Sidewinders on this FAA Phantom, I think they should have been an earlier mark but, hey, they look good! So, mistake after mistake, if you know anything about FAA Phantoms you will probably point and laugh. However, the funny thing is, I am really pleased with the end result and she looks good and she has a guaranteed place in the display cabinet. And one day I am going to make another F-4K Two more Phantoms to come... Michael 11
Selwyn Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 Have today completed three McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantoms in 1/48th scale, I didn't set out to do this originally but it just happened that way. The first is a 1/48th scale Hasegawa kit P17, the Royal Air Force Phantom FG.1 which I discovered contained the extendable nose gear of the original Fleet Air Arm F-4K so I obtained a copy of the ancient Almark Decals sheet A48-1 'McDonnell-Douglas F-4K/RAF Phantom FG.1' and decided to construct VT867 as VL152 operated by FAA 767 Sqn. I love the yellow 'Iron Budgie' on the tail fin and might even have seen one of these in the air at the 1970 Yeovilton Air Day when I was just 12 years old. It turned out like this: The end result does not look too bad however I have had this on the 'shelf of shame' for several years. I admit I am not the most detail conscious of modellers and I managed to put the forward undercarriage bay in the wrong way round. This pushed the entire cockpit module upwards which meant that the seats would not fit and the canopies would not close. I gave up and moved on to other things which was a shame as the air brushing went very well and I was also pleased with the standard of the jet exhausts. The Almark decals were another challenge, I don't know how old they are but compared to photos of the aircraft in service they seem to be very 'heavy' and I gave up when I found I had added an ejection seat triangle to the side of the jet air intake! However, I was still interested in her and I would take her of that shelf, I wanted to get her finished! The breakthrough came when I was working on an old ESCI F-4J, I decided to swap the ejection seats. The Hasegawa seats add much needed presence to the otherwise bare ESCI cockpit while I could cut the ESCI seats down to fit the restricted space in the faulty F-4K. It worked well as seen here: This build also represented another first for me, the addition of an Eduard detail set, FE262 for an FGR Mk.2. I was sort of ok with it until I discovered that some of it didn't fit because of the mistake with the front wheel well (never mind her not being an FGR Mk.2!!) so I gave up on that as well. In fact, at the end, it was worth a try: In the end I forced the issue of the front wheel well by cementing the gear to the front of the well, it isn't accurate but it does still give that unique impression of the Fleet Air Arm Phantom raised up to take off from the Eagle or the Ark Royal. Even after the setbacks I wanted this Phantom to carry a full load of armament. The kit did not include any missiles so I added some AIM-7E Sparrows and AIM-9J Sidewinders from a Hasegawa weapons set, I have no idea how I ended up with AIM-9J Sidewinders on this FAA Phantom, I think they should have been an earlier mark but, hey, they look good! So, mistake after mistake, if you know anything about FAA Phantoms you will probably point and laugh. However, the funny thing is, I am really pleased with the end result and she looks good and she has a guaranteed place in the display cabinet. And one day I am going to make another F-4K Two more Phantoms to come... Michael Nice FG1! you seem to be confused.The F4K was the manufacturers model number designation for the FG1.The F4K designation was not used by the RN/RAF. All FG1had extended noselegs. Selwyn
jean Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 Gee, I never noticed the front undercarriage was so high!!! It gives the impression the plane is on stilts! Great model! JR
exdraken Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 nice build and great paint scheme! :) is it me or does it just look like in the photos, but the frame of the windscreen does not seem to be painted! easily correctable though! did Royal Navy Phantoms use this mark of Sidewinder?
jhutchi Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 Looks great. I have a RN Phantom that is built and painted that I can't find decals for. Any ideas please?
Ghostbase Posted May 31, 2015 Author Posted May 31, 2015 Nice FG1! you seem to be confused.The F4K was the manufacturers model number designation for the FG1.The F4K designation was not used by the RN/RAF. All FG1had extended noselegs. Selwyn I sometimes think 'confused' is my middle name! Took another look at the Almark instructions and VT867 is described as a Phantom FG.1 so happy to be corrected nice build and great paint scheme! :) is it me or does it just look like in the photos, but the frame of the windscreen does not seem to be painted! easily correctable though! did Royal Navy Phantoms use this mark of Sidewinder? You caught me out! My last two Phantom windscreens ended up a bodge so I took the easy way out! Regards the Sidewinders, I think these are the wrong type and I will probably take these off sometime in the future. Very few of the references that I have go into any detail at all about the Sidewinders carried by the Fleet Air Arm Phantoms and I would appreciate a definitive answer if anyone knows. This paint scheme is the period 1969-71, which of the AIM-9 family would be appropriate? Michael
HOUSTON Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 GORGEOUS , PHABULOUSLY PHANTASTIC Phantoms. .. KUDOS :worthy:
Ace From Outer Space Posted May 31, 2015 Posted May 31, 2015 I love FAA Phantoms and this, even with the mistakes looks really good! Nice work matey!
David H Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 (edited) My, that kit brings back memories. I really enjoyed building it, back in.... 1989? Iron Budgie?.... Awesome. david Edited June 1, 2015 by David H
Sebastien Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 This paint scheme is the period 1969-71, which of the AIM-9 family would be appropriate? Michael Hi Michael, Use AIM-9Gs. Nice Phantom. I'll do one like that, but with the crew aboard. Cheers, S.
Cookenbacher Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Beautiful Phantom, and great idea saving it by switching seats with your ESCI build.
ivan-o Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 If that was on the shelf of shame you should be ashamed indeed Top job!!!
dadgaddad Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Mistakes? I'm too busy looking at how cool they are to notice any mistakes. How can you not love an FAA Phantom?
Janremco Posted June 1, 2015 Posted June 1, 2015 Nice Phantom, a nice suprise to see a UK one between all those USAF/USN ones lately.
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