Popular Post general melchett Posted November 6, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted November 6, 2018 (edited) Hi everyone, hope you're all well and behaving yourselves! Thought I'd post for your perusal, my third new Airfix release this year in the form of the mighty Phantom FGR.2 which should be available any time soon. I finished this one a few months ago in time for the November issue of AMW. The test shot arrived without decals which left the field wide open so we opted for the rather natty 6 squadron scheme of an FGR.2 based at Coningsby 1974, with Xtradecals providing the goodies along with their dedicated stencil set, which proved exhausting! With the editor being an ex-Phantom man he decided he wanted to tool the old thing up with a slightly unusual war load consisting of three Lepas flares and a pair of BL-755 cluster munitions duly purloined from various kits in his possession. The kit comes with four AIM-9's, four AIM-7Es, centreline SUU-23A gun pod, four 1,000lb bombs, strike camera and the EMI recon pod for anyone wanting to go down that route. Reference photos were provided from the Key publishing archive so things were as near realistic as possible, (in conjunction with a written account for the magazine by ex-Phantom driver Chris Bolton). As for the kit, well, if you've built Airfix's previous FG1 then you know what to expect. The fit of some parts was so-so, particularly the wing/fuselage joint and some details either missing or vague. I believe the decal sheet now carries representations of the missing louvres/vent details. Luckily my old mucka Ali Mclean came to the rescue by kindly sending a few of his lovely new Aeroscale upgrade sets designed for the kit. These included replacement intakes featuring the missing upper and lower louvres, new inserts for the reheat cooling vents, replacement wing pylons for the lacklustre kit parts and new correctly shaped Spey cans. The latter wasn't used though as Aires kindly provided a set of their sublime resin Spey cans which included an amazing amount of detail given the scale. Eduard also kindly provided the comprehensive PE sets for the cockpit, undercarriage bays, speed brakes/auxiliary air doors and nose gear doors. The model was painted using MRPs pre-thinned acrylic lacquers and weathered using AMMO of MIGs pastels and Abteilung, AK oil washes and UMP clay washes. A nice quick, and more importantly, fun build. For anyone interested the model will be on the Airfix stand at Telford at the weekend along with a few others I've finished for them this year, please pop over for a chat... Interestingly there's been a fair bit of speculation over the shape and width of the RWR fairing atop the fin on this kit. I've been assured by the design team that the kit part is accurate, taken using LIDAR of XV474 at Duxford. I haven't checked it myself but that's the info I received. Hope you like it Cheers Melchie Edited November 12, 2018 by general melchett 106 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Just a quick fun build says the General. Its better than anything I will ever build... 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeSau75 Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Lovely Phantom - looks just right. Cheers, Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Axe Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Lovely Phantom really looks the biz! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfinished project Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Phantastic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Can't beat a Phantom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Lovely work General! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Phabulous, just phabulous! Looks very special, and I hope you don't mind me saying, much better here than in the magazine article where the paint colours didn't look quite right to my eye. Despite its detractors, I really like this kit and can't wait to get started on the FGR.2 - got a couple on order. Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 1 hour ago, TallBlondJohn said: Just a quick fun build says the General. Its better than anything I will ever build... Yup - I'm with you - its a choice between giving up or just trying harder. I pendulum between these extremes! Bl***y lovely Phantom. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Goodness me, what a lovely model, reminds you of what a warplane really should look like, Held off from the FG 1 version, I fear the Bank Card is in for a belting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 Thanks guys, as always very much appreciated. Quote Looks very special, and I hope you don't mind me saying, much better here than in the magazine article where the paint colours didn't look quite right to my eye. Thanks Rich, something to do with the printing or design process maybe, this is how it looks in reality. Quote Despite its detractors, I really like this kit and can't wait to get started on the FGR.2 - got a couple on order. Must agree, with a bit of work (and maybe some aftermarket) it builds up into a lovely model. I quite fancy getting another and going for an early 17 squadron bird... Horatio, my fellow Gruntfuttock, I've often 'pendulumed' between extremes, usually following a particularly vigorous session of whisky-fuelled Mahjong with the Memsahib where following her inevitable and overwhelming victory she often screams at me 'just try harder man, it's easier than you think'........I think! Quote Held off from the FG 1 version, I fear the Bank Card is in for a belting. Go on PLC, be reckless, give the card a damn good thrashing, you won't regret it... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Nice job, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Superb build and finish as usual Melchie! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) A Flying Can Openers Toom, what's not to like about that, especially when its so wonderfully well done & when I 've got a weak spot for 6 Sqn. Steve. Edited November 7, 2018 by stevehnz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Ahhhh bliss, a Phantom wearing RAF clothes. Nothing to add, my friend except, well up to your usual standard, oh yeah and love that load-out ! Ian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Excellent work sir 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Excellent job there General. Do you do you own photography 'cos they look smart? Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Cracking Phantom! Lovely colour scheme too. Hopefully they'll bring out a 1/48 one sometime! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 My favourite Phantom scheme. Ever since the old Airfix magazine cover shot featured one in a HAS in Germany around 1974. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Beautifully done. Carefully detailed - e.g. the red edges to the control surfaces. Love it. What happened to the top rear of the fin tip? Must have a look into how far the Dark Sea Grey goes into the intake on these early FGR2s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Great looking Phantom, looks perfect from here! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Fantastic and the photos are much better than in the magazine! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-S Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Fantastic Phantom. Best regards. Michael. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 That's a superb looking Phantom, Melchie. A beautiful paint finish and impressive load out. I have the Royal Navy incarnation in the stash and, not being an expert on the type, I was surprised to hear of the various errors/omissions in the kit (not that I would have noticed!), especially when one considers that Airfix are only producing kits of aircraft which they can either LIDAR or have access to official plans. Having said that your model just goes to show what a superb result can be achieved. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Best colour scheme for a Brit Phantom. Nicely done General! Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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