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Finemolds and Hasegawa 1/72 F-4E Phantom II - the Long Nose saga - Completed!


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9 minutes ago, Nebbor said:

Correct, I found that info here too:

https://www.defenceturkey.com/en/content/f-rf-4e-phantom-ii-in-the-turkish-airforce-3914

 in the “Şimşek (Lightning)” Modernization Program" paragraph.

 

Thanks Nebbor! :thumbsup:

 

Ciao

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On 5/2/2021 at 5:06 PM, giemme said:

I will anyway do more test painting with both cut and cast parts to see where I can get, ... .

 

Boy, that was an epic post!!!! Thanks. :thumbsup:

 

I was surprised how well the FM castings came out. I may try that with "regular" RTV/resin mold/casting material.

 

Gene K

 

 

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3 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

Wow, one of my all time favourite aircraft, and TWO of them! Nice choices Giorgio. I've been wanting to see what the Finemolds F-4E is like. I have one of their 1/72 F-14's and it is superb. I was "encouraged" to buy it a while back when I was with @Cookenbacher, @Procopius, @Navy Bird and @CedB after a great day at the FAA museum! 🤪

 

And it was so nice of the owner to open up the model section of the shop just for us! If I recall, there was some work going on. Plus, there were Mr. Color paint sets hidden behind the counter - ones I was having a hard time getting over here. Great shop that was.    :)

 

Cheers,

Bill

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2 hours ago, giemme said:

Correct, I found that info here too:

https://www.defenceturkey.com/en/content/f-rf-4e-phantom-ii-in-the-turkish-airforce-3914

 in the “Şimşek (Lightning)” Modernization Program" paragraph.

 

Thanks Nebbor! :thumbsup:

 

Ciao

F-4E/TM serials:

66-0328, 66-0359, 67-0265, 67-0331, 67-0353, 67-0376, 67-0391, 67-0395,

67-0396, 67-0398, 68-0342, 68-0348, 68-0374, 68-0403, 68-0461, 68-0482

 

67-0331 and 68-0482 are listed as F-4E/TM but not having the Simsek upgrade according to the Scramble military database. All others are listed as Simsek upgraded.

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'morning everybody :) 

 

Just a quick update; I eventually received the other AM decals set, for the Hellenic Air Force Phantoms:

 

h_decals3

 

h_decals2

 

h_decals1

 

These are from Model Maker, as you can see. I'll be doing the airplane on the top, with Spook with lightnings on the fin. Luckily there's plenty pf pics on Internet of this specific airframe, at least of the exteriors. I'm going to search for detailed cockpit and IP pics, because these Phantoms were upgraded to the AUP version and they sport quite some differences in the office from the original version. 

There are many notable differences on the outside too, but I'll get to them later.

 

Ciao

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1 hour ago, giemme said:

 I'm going to search for detailed cockpit and IP pics, because these Phantoms were upgraded to the AUP version and they sport quite some differences in the office from the original version. 

There are many notable differences on the outside too, but I'll get to them later.

Here you go:

https://www.google.com/search?q=aup+cockpit&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi3tITThLLwAhW6iP0HHWZlDeIQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=aup+cockpit&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECAAQQzoCCAA6BggAEAgQHjoECAAQGFCp_URYn55FYMGiRWgAcAB4AIABPIgB9AOSAQIxMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=nkuSYLftNbqR9u8P5sq1kA4&bih=983&biw=958&rlz=1C1ASUM_enNL691NL691

Edited by Nebbor
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10 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Looks like an attractive scheme.

Most Greek aircraft I’ve seen have been pretty dirty, perhaps this one would have been kept clean because of the anniversary markings.

John

Definitely attractive! As for being clean... well, see for yourself, John

72f666ec686973046d0a5c0ffd56a438.jpg

 

10 hours ago, Nebbor said:
10 hours ago, Nebbor said:

And a build here on Britmodeller. In 1/48 but still usefull:

 

Thanks Nebbor! :thumbsup:

 

Ciao

 

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Looks great so far.:popcorn::clap2:

Two long nose F-4 in often overlooked and attracktive schemes.

I really need this Fine Molds F-4

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13 hours ago, Spookytooth said:

Looking OK from here Giorgio.

Plenty of decals to keep you bust once painted...

Indeed.... :(   :D  :D 

 

10 hours ago, BerndM said:

Looks great so far.:popcorn::clap2:

Two long nose F-4 in often overlooked and attracktive schemes.

I really need this Fine Molds F-4

Cheers Bernd, thank you :thumbsup:

 

Ciao

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On 25/04/2021 at 06:03, giemme said:

Hi everybody; many of you may know about the recent releases from FineMolds of various Phantom subjects. My dear friend @Gene K was so kind and donated me this:

 

 

fm1

 

This is going to be my first Long Nose Rhino; I thought (upon Gene's advice :winkgrin:) of throwing in also the  Finemolds armament set

fm2

 

and their pitot pipes brass set

fm3

 

However, it just so happens that a while ago @Gene K had already donated to me another Long Nose Phantom kit, this one

hase1

 

So I thought: why not a double build? Maybe trying to duplicate some of the features form the modern Finemolds kit and use them to improve the venerable Hasegawa kit? And maybe viceversa?

 

Back then, I also acquired a few AM sets to spice up the HASEGAWA kit:

hase2

 

Aires exhausts, Eduard PE set (full, not only the cockpit set) and Master Brass pitot pipes.

And obviously, Gene's seamless intakes

hase3

 

Right. Which subjects to represent, though? I don't really file like I want to build a Japanese aircraft, at the moment; and I don't particularly care for the schemes proposed in the Hasegawa boxing too. So I ordered a decals set for an Iranian AC and one for an Hellenic Air Force Phantom. They're on their way from Poland and should hopefully be here soon. 

Both airframe have slatted wings, so the HASEGAWA kit is just fine, while the Finemolds one represents a model of the "hard wing" type, so the first challenge will be to upgrade that, copying the Hasegawa parts or sourcing stuff from other kits (a Revell F-4F, for instance - currently waiting to know from a friend if he has one to spare).

 

This is going to be quite a long term project, also because I will put it on hold at a certain point, as soon as I receive my kits for the 453rd Museum build. It should hopefully be fun though.

 

As usual, any comments, pointers and advice welcome.

 

Ciao

  



Random question: Does the Finemoulds EJ kit give you a reference on seatbelt colour in the manual? I've just ordered the Zoukei-Mura F-4EJ Kai kit and it doesn't come with seatbelts. I'm looking to order an aftermarket set but can't find any reference pictures showing whether the JASDF Phantoms used the Air Force (green) or Navy (grey) seatbelts.

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15 minutes ago, Gidge said:



Random question: Does the Finemoulds EJ kit give you a reference on seatbelt colour in the manual? I've just ordered the Zoukei-Mura F-4EJ Kai kit and it doesn't come with seatbelts. I'm looking to order an aftermarket set but can't find any reference pictures showing whether the JASDF Phantoms used the Air Force (green) or Navy (grey) seatbelts.

Does this help, look green to my old Mk.I’s 👀
http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/waF4EJ.html

 

 

http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/images2/wa4ej-16.jpg

Edited by Corsairfoxfouruncle
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4 hours ago, Gidge said:



Random question: Does the Finemoulds EJ kit give you a reference on seatbelt colour in the manual? I've just ordered the Zoukei-Mura F-4EJ Kai kit and it doesn't come with seatbelts. I'm looking to order an aftermarket set but can't find any reference pictures showing whether the JASDF Phantoms used the Air Force (green) or Navy (grey) seatbelts.

No seat belts supplied with this kit either, Gidge, sorry - hence, no reference for the colour :shrug:

 

But from the pics Erwin @Corsairfoxfouruncle linked, they look green to me too.

 

Ciao

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2 hours ago, giemme said:

No seat belts supplied with this kit either, Gidge, sorry - hence, no reference for the colour :shrug:

 

But from the pics Erwin @Corsairfoxfouruncle linked, they look green to me too.

 

Ciao

Odd as they make good looking ones in 48 and 72 scale along with some other nice details. 

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/NC/NC10.html

 

Here's their rear view mirror and slime light package 

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/NC/NC15.html

 

Both are nice options to enhance the kit while keeping things looking OOB.

 

If you step up to 48 scale there are some pre painted fabric like ones which is why I'm trying to work out which ones to get. I also believe there's some photo etch optics out there

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On 07/05/2021 at 00:45, Gidge said:

Odd as they make good looking ones in 48 and 72 scale along with some other nice details. 

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/NC/NC10.html

 

Here's their rear view mirror and slime light package 

 

https://www.finemolds.co.jp/NC/NC15.html

 

Both are nice options to enhance the kit while keeping things looking OOB.

Thanks Gidge :thumbsup: Still pondering what to do about the details you mentioned...

 

On 07/05/2021 at 03:33, SallysDad said:

Great subject and information.

Thank SallysDad, and welcome on board :thumbsup:

 

Alright, here's WE progress report. Another small step down the splitter plates route, I did cut out four more with my Curio for future painting experiments - this time without casting copies, but straight onto the cut plastic

splitterplate15

 

This will have to wait, though. Moving on, I did a dry fit of both kit cockpits

cockpit1

 

Left is Finemolds, right Hasegawa, obvs

cockpit2

 

Once again, amazing level of detail on the FM parts. I do have the Eduard PE set to tart up the Hase cockpit though. The bulkheads on both kits are a bit bare (OK, on the Hase it's totally bare :) ), I'll have to add some cabling.


As for the IPs, FM also supplies a blank version, to be completed with decals

 

cockpit3

 

I'll have to do extensive modifications on both pilot and GIB IPs in order to reproduce an Hellenic AUP Phantom, but I will anyway start from the ones with raised gauges and instruments.

 

Ejection seats: I'm not crazy about any of them, but again, I have PE for the Hasegawa's

seats1

 

The FM seat (on the right) has the parachute cover moulded in, and that area looks generally more similar to the real thing; the back cushion misses the typical bottom right cutout, though. Back side

 

seats2

 

The HASE seat shows better details here, although quite pointlessly, as once in place...

seats3

 

... you're not gonna see anything of that. As I mentioned, the Eduard PE set provides details for the Hase seats, including seat belts; I'm considering gettin two sets of Quickboost resin seats, though, they look way better than any of the kit seats. Has anybody ever tried fitting them to the Hasegawa kit?

 

One thing I will do for sure is using the Finemolds blank GIB IP, because it's a much better base than Hasegawa's, even adding PE parts

cockpit4

 

and it has the big advantage of having all the instruments connection points on the back side, so it's gonna be a lot easier adding cabling

cockpit5

 

Since I wasn't in the mood of starting the IP detailing/modifications, I thought: let's hack some plastic! First off: all Phantoms have an inspection window, starboard side, showing the air pressure gauge. Hasegawa only represents a square panel

cockpit5

 

Finemolds did a much better job, but still no window, just plain plastic

pressure_gauge2

 

So I drilled and shaped those windows square (-ish...)

pressure_gauge3

 

pressure_gauge4

 

What i do here normally is to insert a square section of clear sprue, sand it flush and glue an appropriate gauge decal form the inside. I might be tempted doing some glazing, this time - we will see.

 

Another small improvement I did in the past on Hasegwa Phantoms is the AOA probe; this is what's moulded

aoa_probe1

 

Pretty chunky - and compare it to the Finemolds version

aoa_probe2

 

So I did cut it out and drilled a 0.7mm hole instead (sorry, forgot to take pics :shrug: ). I will scratch build a replacement form turned brass rod.

 

Yo may have noticed the hole I drilled in the flare dispenser, in one of the above pics; this is because that area needs to be filled in, since it was only used on the RF versions; the hole is to insert a suitable blob of blue tack from the back, to keep the closing panel properly aligned

 

flares_door1

 

flares_door2

 

Not yet glued here, and as you can see it will also need shimming to fill in the gap at the top (this is both sides, of course)

 

Now to the real plastic hacking: seamless intakes for the Hasegawa kit, @Gene K's way. First I marked the areas to be removed:

 

seamless_intakes1

 

seamless_intakes2

 

Then, using a Dremel chopping bit a some micro-files:

seamless_intakes3

 

seamless_intakes4

 

While I was in hacking/chopping mode, I decided to remove the tail hook, too (razor saw job, here):

hook1

 

The Eduard set provide side plates to spice up the hook, and anyway I wanted the hook out of the way for the assembly and painting of that area.

 

Next step for the seamless intakes was to airbrush Tamiya Flat White on these plates, representing the inner sides

seamless_intakes5

 

which were then glued to the outer intakes

seamless_intakes6

 

Stay tuned for the continuation of the seamless intakes mini-saga :) 

 

Meanwhile, all comments welcome

 

Ciao

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15 hours ago, giemme said:

Now to the real plastic hacking: seamless intakes for the Hasegawa kit, @Gene K's way. First I marked the areas to be removed:

 

Opps ... You didn't have to do all that chopping (although it's a lot of fun). All that's really required is this:

 

Intake1_799x636.jpg

 

That's shown in step 1 of 11 here  . That's for the Has 1/48 kit ... my 1/72 thread at ARC evidently got lost in the several web-host iterations that ARC has gone through, but same process applies. 

 

Gene K

Edited by Gene K
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