Bertie McBoatface Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Hello fellow modellers, (where have I heard that phrase before?) For this GB I'm going to build last year's Tamiya F-4B Phantom II as used by the United States Navy to make many a large hole in South East Asia back in the day. 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 I've just decanted almost a kilo of loveliness from that big Tamiya box. It's not the first time this has happened, oh no. I was going to build this one in the Phantom GB a few months ago but that was my first GB and this lot was a bit intimidating at the time so I packed it all away and built a couple of simpler kits instead. I debagged the sprues but that was all - every part is still attached to its sprue (or I've lost it!!). Here's the non-grey-plastic part of the build. There's some Brassin bomb carriers to make the point that the F, for Fighter, -4 Phantom also dropped a lot of bombs on Vietnam in the 1960s. There's a crew ladder which I might use, though it wasn't often employed on board the carriers. Also some resin seats which are rather beautifully cast and will save me the trouble of making harnesses. I have this reference book which is a beauty. And this history book to help me keep it all in context. I like to make my models unique in some way so it's unlikely that I'll be doing an OOB build, but right now I don't know what I'll be doing with it. Let's think about this. Ok, in order to use the ladders, it would be logical to have the aeroplane on dry land. That raises the possibility of a simple little diorama. We could park it in a revetment somewhere in South Vietnam. Reason for being on the beach? The first thing that comes to my mind is a little battle damage. It could be any number of things but a sticking arrestor hook isn't very visible and a diorama needs to tell the story visually. I know these are different marks of Phantom but you get the idea. Yes. I like this plan. It should keep me busy for a few months. 😃 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Fairly certain I've seen photos of Navy and Marine Phantoms deployed at shore bases in Vietnam so doubt anyone will argue with your plan Bertie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 36 minutes ago, Col. said: Fairly certain I've seen photos of Navy and Marine Phantoms deployed at shore bases in Vietnam so doubt anyone will argue with your plan Bertie The Marine squadrons were all shore based, I believe. I prefer the brighter USN paint schemes though. As you know, I’m not shy about making up an event if I can’t find a true story. 😁 I do like the ejected back seater. I think that tells a sad and ironic tale. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Now who doesn‘t like to follow a Phantom build 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 14 minutes ago, desert falcon said: Now who doesn‘t like to follow a Phantom build 👍 Please do, I welcome the company. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 I'll probably be starting this one a few days late. I have an entry in the Hornet GB to conclude before I can give my full attention to another project. It's here if you are interested: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: I'll probably be starting this one a few days late. I have an entry in the Hornet GB to conclude before I can give my full attention to another project. It's here if you are interested: We'll wait for you Bertie. In the meantime don't rush that Hornet as it deserves to be finished right Edited January 16, 2022 by Col. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Ooh, another very interesting Bertie build! Sounds like a good project mate, I shall follow with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 45 minutes ago, Col. said: don't rush that Hornet I won't. Now I've reached the interesting part, I'm taking my time and enjoying myself. 32 minutes ago, modelling minion said: another very interesting Bertie build! High praise indeed! If I can make my builds interesting for you as well as myself that's great. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 22 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: High praise indeed! If I can make my builds interesting for you as well as myself that's great. Now don't go putting me on a pedestal, I am only an average modeller at best, besides my balance has been utter pants since covid and I will probably fall off! 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 6 minutes ago, modelling minion said: Now don't go putting me on a pedestal, I am only an average modeller at best, besides my balance has been utter pants since covid and I will probably fall off! Touche. You know I don't like over-praising. (Though actually I was just thinking of you as one of my readers when I wrote that...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 The USAF Phantoms used to get terribly chipped by the SEA weather, flying fast through monsoons will do that to airframes. It didn't seem to affect the USN aircraft as badly though. Maybe the gloss paint was tougher? Or maybe I had no idea how bad the Navy's birds looked because they touched up the chipping with yellow primer, and resprayed the grey when they found the time. This is an effect which I will be incorporating. I can also leave the AAR probe out. We'll say the jet had to tank on the way south after being hit by whatever hit it, and once the probe was out, the pilot decided to leave it there in case it wouldn't work a second time if he needed more fuel. It all adds to the interest. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 That is one very worn looking Sundowners bird, would make for a great model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 7 minutes ago, modelling minion said: That is one very worn looking Sundowners bird, would make for a great model. 'S'only 'zact same one, innit? 201. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 I can't resist battering the radome a bit too. (See all that leading edge and boot traffic chipping too?) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 9 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: 'S'only 'zact same one, innit? 201. The Tamiya diagram says "don't use stencils for this marking option which shows the aircraft repainted at Miramar after deployment to Vietnam". The photo above must be the first part of the painting process, it is clearly at a Naval Air Base somewhere. So I'll just chip the paint in the usual way at the places indicated by the primer. Which will look a lot better. (I still won't be using all the stencils though - fiddly little things!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: don't use stencils Music to my ears!! Absolutely screams "build me, build me!". 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 9 minutes ago, modelling minion said: Music to my ears!! I'll tell you what's even better, my fictional scenario means no ordnance either. Its all either used or jettisoned, even the tanks! I love a clean jet. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 4 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: I love a clean jet. Though I might extend the RAT too??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 3 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: I can't resist battering the radome a bit too. (See all that leading edge and boot traffic chipping too?) Look how stripped the windscreen framing is. Thats been scoured so much it looks like bare metal ? 3 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: I'll tell you what's even better, my fictional scenario means no ordnance either. Its all either used or jettisoned, even the tanks! I love a clean jet. Make it more visually interesting if one bomb was hung up ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helios16v Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 27 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Look how stripped the windscreen framing is. Thats been scoured so much it looks like bare metal ? The white nose gear door (and undersides) hints that that bird is a C. The early Cs in Vietnam had the SEA Camo field applied over the ADC Grey. So that’s likely ADC Grey rather than bare metal. In regards to an earlier comment, the gloss paint used on the Navy/Marines birds was certainly more robust than the flat camouflage paints (and later USN TPS) in regards to wear & grime. Smoother surface, less places for dirt to stick. They were a lot easier to keep clean as well...hence why you seldom see heavily weathered and/or super grimy hi-vis USN aircraft. I’m sure there are always examples to the contrary though, so weather to your heart’s content. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 3 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Look how stripped the windscreen framing is. Thats been scoured so much it looks like bare metal ? Make it more visually interesting if one bomb was hung up ? I suppose it IS the bomber GB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 3 hours ago, helios16v said: In regards to an earlier comment, the gloss paint used on the Navy/Marines birds was certainly more robust than the flat camouflage paints (and later USN TPS) in regards to wear & grime. Smoother surface, less places for dirt to stick. They were a lot easier to keep clean as well...hence why you seldom see heavily weathered and/or super grimy hi-vis USN aircraft. I’m sure there are always examples to the contrary though, so weather to your heart’s content. I’ll bear it in mind. If I go too far with the weathering, no-one will notice the extra holes in the rear end! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 My entry on the Hornet GB has come to a sad end, though on schedule. I'm clearing for action here today. New blades in the scalpels etc... It's getting quite exciting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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