Kiwikitbasher Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I participated in an old kit group build with some of my mates, the idea being we should each build a kit that was released when we were kids - The older you were the older the kit should be. I selected about four from around 1967-69 and invited my mates to choose for me. They unanimously chose Monogram's 1/72 Boeing F4B-4 released in 1968 when I was 8 years old. My moulding was showing its age, with flash, slightly misaligned tooling, and warped interplane struts. However, the basic kit is quite nice, albeit lacking any cockpit detail. I fixed this problem using a resin cockpit set by Starfighter, which is ok for what is ultimately visible. I also used some quite good decals by the same company. I chose to refine several kit parts a such as bracing struts, windscreen and guns. I also opened up hand-holds in the wing tips, added a fuel filler neck and cap to the long-range tank, replaced the arrestor hook, and displaced the tail control surfaces. I originally planned to rig with invisible mending thread, but instead ended up using ceramic wire for the first time. This spring tensile product proved very easy to position using a blind hole at one end and an open one at the other. The hardest part was getting the length right using trial and error. The whole build is recorded here as I lacked the time to post as I went (plus Photo Bucket was playing up); it took about two weeks to finish. Sorry for the sickly green background, it's all I had to hand... More finished images under ready for inspection using this link: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235011592-boeing-f4b-4-monogram-172/ 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 That's turned out very well indeed! I have this same kit in the stash, and your build is soooo tempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron1971 Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 That's lovely! Very nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 6 hours ago, Jessica said: That's turned out very well indeed! I have this same kit in the stash, and your build is soooo tempting. Go on, you know you to build it! I'm now eyeing up my Matchbox P-12E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Hi, Mark Eye catching result from, by standards of today, mediocre materiel, congratulations! I am looking forward to see your P-12E built. I actually thought Monogram F4B-4 and Matchbox P-12E were basically the same kit with few bits added to suit each version. I also have the old Matchbox (I wonder which year that one first came out) and I have it slatted for Boeing Model 218 conversion. I would prefer to build her as a Robert Short's mount during his last fight with Japanese bombers over China, but marking references are a bit vague. Most of them claim X66W was still in factory finish, but while there is plenty of photos of that plane while still in USA, I am still searching for one picturing her while in China. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jure Miljevic said: Hi, Mark Eye catching result from, by standards of today, mediocre materiel, congratulations! I am looking forward to see your P-12E built. I actually thought Monogram F4B-4 and Matchbox P-12E were basically the same kit with few bits added to suit each version. I also have the old Matchbox (I wonder which year that one first came out) and I have it slatted for Boeing Model 218 conversion. I would prefer to build her as a Robert Short's mount during his last fight with Japanese bombers over China, but marking references are a bit vague. Most of them claim X66W was still in factory finish, but while there is plenty of photos of that plane while still in USA, I am still searching for one picturing her while in China. Cheers Jure Thanks Jure. The two kits are certainly unrelated and quite different in execution, besides the differences between the two versions. I'm pretty sure that the Matchbox kit dates from 1972. My P-12E will probably be my next project after I finish an A-Model Beriev Be-10 Mallow I started tonight. Edited November 6, 2016 by Kiwikitbasher Misspelled name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Thanks, Mark. Will check WIP for your P-12E built to pick up hints and information. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.SAUNDERS Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 hi all , I have searched 'n' searched and just cannot find a Cutaway Drawing of the Boeing P-12E/F4B-4 I too recently have commenced makin' this MONOGRAM Kit ........bin in my stash for (30) years !🕸️😒 and agree with all the Fixes..... the Starfighter F4B Brace Set are "silly " but now I have lots of Seatbelt Etch Material ! ....... anyway any leads on a Cutaway of this Aircraft would be appreciated. cheery "modellin " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 ☕🙂🐱🐱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 42 minutes ago, G.E.SAUNDERS said: hi all , I have searched 'n' searched and just cannot find a Cutaway Drawing of the Boeing P-12E/F4B-4 I too recently have commenced makin' this MONOGRAM Kit ........bin in my stash for (30) years !🕸️😒 and agree with all the Fixes..... the Starfighter F4B Brace Set are "silly " but now I have lots of Seatbelt Etch Material ! ....... anyway any leads on a Cutaway of this Aircraft would be appreciated. cheery "modellin " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 ☕🙂🐱🐱 Hi Geoff, Despite having databased tens of thousands of references the only cutaway I have is this one: I do have several images of aircraft with panels and skin removed, and some good cockpit shots. If you want to email me using mark_davies at orcon dot net dot nz I'll reply and send them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.SAUNDERS Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 hi Kiwikitbasher, thats just wot I wanted.....and it's in colour !` cheery "modellin' " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.SAUNDERS Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 hi Kiwikitbasher, wot was the Red Paint Colour you used ? I want to do the version with Felix the Cat runnin' with a lit bomb. I have also built the Matchbox P-12E .....its a great little Kit very easy to assemble .......... unlike the MB Hawker Fury......... those Struts, bugger! bugger ! ☹️ cheery "Fathers Day " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 🖥️ ☕😌🐱🐱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted September 2, 2018 Author Share Posted September 2, 2018 41 minutes ago, G.E.SAUNDERS said: hi Kiwikitbasher, wot was the Red Paint Colour you used ? I want to do the version with Felix the Cat runnin' with a lit bomb. I have also built the Matchbox P-12E .....its a great little Kit very easy to assemble .......... unlike the MB Hawker Fury......... those Struts, bugger! bugger ! ☹️ cheery "Fathers Day " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 🖥️ ☕😌🐱🐱 Hi Geoff, The red was a Mr Color lacquer from memory, but I don't recall the paint number, sorry. I still have the Matchbox P12 to do, good to know it's an easy build.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.SAUNDERS Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 hi Mark, I have a TAMIYA Laquer Red LP-7 ( a rooly great ready to spray Lacquer ) .....will do a comparsion check. btw : this Red is very,very close to London Transport Livery red... nutha Hobby. cheery "modellin' " mumbas ! Geoff F.T.G. 3156 🖥️☕☺️🛩️🐱🐱 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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