Nosejob for Revell's 1/32 F-4F Phantom II (Image heavy)

[HansReggelsen]

I recently bought this kit, and became aware that there is a concensus, that something is wrong with the nose. I went on the net and made some research. It seems the nose is too skinny and tapers too much to the front.

There seems to be some options: Buy a resin replacement nose or make one yourself. As the resin replacement nose seem to be unavailable at the moment, I decided to try to make my own - I mean, how hard can it be?

Once back on the net I found some pictures of the correct nose, put the image in 'Windows Paint' and resized it to the same diameter as Revell's nose and printed this. Cut the print out, glued it to some thin plasticcard, cut a 'X' in the Revell nose, and ended up with this:

Using some 'Green Stuff' I filled out the blanks to get this:

Which finished looked like this: (awfull, isn't it?)

Using my trusty old motortool I sanded it back until the white pasticcard came through again - like this:

After some more sanding and polishing I sprayed it with grey paint and this is what I got:

I then sanded it back looking for imperfections which I duly filled with putty:

And now it's finished-ish. I still need to sand back the paint to get a smooth finish (here you should play 'Smooth Operator' by Sade! )

And here it is:

I don't know why this last picture is rotated, all the rest worked fine - but then again it may be a good thing, as we humans are not supposed to be perfect as not to upset the modelling gods!

Hope my small venture into the world of correcting noses have been of some help (Glanzing through the gossipmagazines I'd say there are some Hollywood plasticsurgeons who could learn a thing or two about nosejobs! )

Cheers

Hans J

Edited July 3, 2015 by HansReggelsen

[f4h1phantom]

Great work Hans!

Would like to see it attached to the airframe to fully appreciate the make over.

Best regards,

Jorge.

[Jens]

Interesting approach. I look forward t seeing it attached to the Revell fuselage.

I believe there is something wrong with the cockpit-intake area too. I know for sure the fin tip needs modification to look correct.

Jens

[Alan P]

I just did something similar to my F-4F. But yours is more engineered and looks a lot better!

Check out the F-4 Group build currently in progress. You'll find a happy home there

Edited July 3, 2015 by Brokenedge

[HansReggelsen]

Hi Jens!

As you know, I'm not an F-4 expert, but even I could see, that there was something wrong with the nose,

I'm by no means stating that this is 100% correct, but I think it looks better.

As for the other modifications you mention I'll have a look at these, when I get there - it's just too hot for modelling today!

But as you and Jorge asked for, I've taped the modified nose to fuselage:

And a sideview:

Remember it is not glued on - I can see there is some fairing in to do, but it's ok for me!

Cheers

Hans J

Edited July 3, 2015 by HansReggelsen

[Darth Vader]

Hard to tell , but anything is better than the kits skinny effort.

Get it right, make copies and sell them.The f4 s been re~released

at a very cheap price so the demand is there

[Jens]

Doesn't the Tamiya F-4E come with a spare nose in transparent plastic?

Jens

[HansReggelsen]

Hmmm...I don't have the kit at hand anymore, but according to this:

http://www.model-making.eu/products/McDonnell-Douglas-F-4E-Phantom-II-Early-Production.html

..it would seem that there is only one nosesection in the Tamiya kit - the transparent one.

Cheers

Hans J