F-4E Kurnass - Yom Kippur Sledgehammer!

[Alan P]

Morning all,

 

This is another fugitive from the recent Phantom STGB, to go with the parade of Phantoms we've had this month! As everybody knows, you can't have too many Phantoms 😉

This is the (in)famous Tamiya 1/32 kit from 2001(?) It's okay but nowhere near modern day Tamiya in terms of fit or accuracy. Its weaknesses are well known and documented but I haven't corrected anything, so weird patches, wrong dihedral, misshapen rear fuselage and grossly undersized nozzles are all there.

I used Eduard interior set to improve the cockpit, seats and canopies, which would be otherwise completely devoid of detail.

The surface details are good, and the smaller components fit beautifully. Pretty much everything else needed filler and the top wing joint with the fuselage is actually held together with masking tape, as there's literally no contact with the fuselage 🤔

Now the good bits... paint used was MRP Israeli FS colours and boy, are those good paints! Used AK Gauzy Intermediate as a gloss coat and Xtracrylix Flat to finish.

Decals were a mix of Warbird stencils and Sky's Decal for the insignia and squadron markings/serial numbers. They all behaved beautifully despite numbering into the hundreds.

The aircraft represented is Kurnass 116 of Squadron 201 'The One'. It is based on a documented mission flown on 12 October 1973 to strike Damascus Airport, codenamed RAM. The four-ship strike package (Panther flight) all carried mixed bombloads: three with five Mk117s and three Mk83s, and one with 5xMk117s and three CBU-54 cluster munitions.

The resin bombs came from Videoaviation in Italy and they are very highly recommended! The aircraft also carries two Deker (AIM-9D Sidewinder) and two Lavid (AIM-7E Sparrow). 116 confirmed one MiG-21 kill with a Lavid during this mission after Panther flight was bounced by two flights of four MiG-21s egressing the target area.

Overall this was not the easy build I was expecting. 2001 Tamiya (the original mould was mid-90s) is not 2021 Tamiya! I really pity anyone who paid the eye-watering £125 RRP for this kit as it's barely better than the Revell kit which retailed at about £45. But you pays your money, etc! It still builds up into this huge and impressive result.

As you can see from the bits in the background, this is a very big model!

Anyway... It's finished! If you like Phantoms, go and give the STGB some love, I don't think I've seen such a high standard in a group build, which is amazing considering it's time-limited.

 

This build thread is here, in case you're interested in the triumphs and failings of both kit and modeller!

Cheers

 

Alan 👍

[Latinbear]

That is really very nice indeed. Also like the history surrounding the build too. I agree entirely about never having too many Phantoms!

[Alan P]

Just now, Latinbear said:

That is really very nice indeed. Also like the history surrounding the build too. I agree entirely about never having too many Phantoms!

Thanks very much! I find the research for a build as satisfying as the modelling side of it. It's nice to find a story you can fit the model into. 

 

Thanks again 👍

[kiseca]

That is a fantastic result and I expect you're really happy it's all finished now!

[Alan P]

47 minutes ago, kiseca said:

That is a fantastic result and I expect you're really happy it's all finished now!

Thank you, and yes, glad it got finished but looking forward to building another one from the brand new Academy (Revell) release.

[Tengu Warrior]

That's a very neat build, would love to have the same jewel on my display case !

[SAT69]

That's really impressive work! I admire those who have the patience to apply all of those seeming hundreds of stencils.

[Vultures1]

That's an excellent result Alan, especially with all the problems you experienced in the build.

 

The finish is superb and I enjoyed the historic details behind the mixed weapon load (also great, especially the variation in finish on the bombs) - well done!

[Duncan B]

As you say you can't have enough Phantoms and despite the less than glowing report you give the kit you have done a brilliant job on it.

 

Duncan B

[81-er]

And I thought your Hellcat was good! Another stunning model Alan

 

James

[Rod bettencourt]

That's a beauty Alan! Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Rod

[Remus389]

Outstanding Phantom! 😎

[exdraken]

wow! and in 1/32! that one is big!

 

very clean for a war bird, but heavily loaded! interesting load out by the way! The Phantom (was is Kurnass already back then?) definitely was a bombtruck!

[Sky Keg]

Very nice Alan.  This Phantom flexes it`s muscles just fine.  Congratulations on fighting through the problems and producing a masterpiece. 

 

Mike

[Ilan]

Great work!

[Serkan Sen]

9 hours ago, Alan P said:

I really pity anyone who paid the eye-watering £125 RRP for this kit as it's barely better than the Revell kit which retailed at about £45.

This Phantom looks really awesome Alan. Congratulations, well done!...

Regarding to Revell Phantom, two years ago I had bought around 15 samples each for 19.90€ which was cheaper than any 1:72 scale Phantoms. I  kept two of them for me and sold the rest and financed most of my hobby expenses from that profit 🤑

Serkan

 

 

[BrunoD]

It's just awesome

[Alan P]

Everyone, too many to thank! Been locked up in a ray-shielded box at work all day, very cheered to come out and find these replies 😊😁👍

2 hours ago, exdraken said:

was it Kurnass already back then?

It was always Kurnass in IAF service from the beginning 👍

1 hour ago, Serkan Sen said:

Regarding to Revell Phantom, two years ago I had bought around 15 samples each for 19.90€...I sold the rest and financed most of my hobby expenses from that profit 🤑

Does ' Serkan' mean 'lucky' in your language? Because it bloody should 😂😂😂 AND you got your Revell SR-71 already!

 

EDIT: I take it all back 🥴 just saw your post on Rumourmonger 😢😢😢

[Serkan Sen]

1 hour ago, Alan P said:

Does ' Serkan' mean 'lucky' in your language? Because it bloody should 😂😂😂 AND you got your Revell SR-71 already!

No Alan, but my family name Sen (Şen indeed) means "Happy". And I haven't received my Blackbird yet. Maybe I started to celebrate too early. Apparently you haven't seen my last post yet:

 

 

[Alan P]

8 minutes ago, Serkan Sen said:

 Apparently you haven't seen my last post yet:

 

 

Yes I did! I was editing my post while you were writing yours I think 😢

[binbrook87]

Absolutely phabulous! Stunning work. 👍

[exdraken]

48 minutes ago, Alan P said:

It was always Kurnass in IAF service from the beginning 👍

Thanks! I think Shahaks were called  Mirages for a long time...  just after the French objections of the war it was tried to have proprietary  patriotic, hebrew names for everything.. might be wrong though 

[Alan P]

15 minutes ago, exdraken said:

Thanks! I think Shahaks were called  Mirages for a long time...  just after the French objections of the war it was tried to have proprietary  patriotic, hebrew names for everything.. might be wrong though 

I'm not sure, I just found out researching this build they also have Hebrew names for all the missiles as well 😲

[RMCS]

Stunning work 

[corsaircorp]

Great Phantom Alan !!

Whatever, I just see a good and superbly painted Kurnass !!

Now I dread to show my Phantom....

Congratulations !!

Sincerely.

CC