trickyrich Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 I had always wanted to build a bigger IDF F-4E Phantom ever since I built the old Airfix 1/72nd model oh sooooooo many years ago. I have the Hasegawa 1/48th IDF RF-4E in the stash and was planning to add their normal F-4E until Zoukei-Mura released their wonderful F-4E (have 4 in the stash), from then it was only a matter of time……. ……….around the same time I found photos of IDF Phantom with the huge AGM-142 “Popeye’s” fitted, now I just had to wait for ZM (or Tamiya, I wish) to release the “Slat Wing” Phantom. Then my prayers were answered, Hypersonic Models released the Slat Conversion kit for the ZM Phantom. So everything was a go. The build was pretty much straightforward, the 69 Sqn aircraft never had the Kurnass 2000 upgrade so were pretty much still as they arrived. The Hypersonic conversion kit was a treat to use, the ZM model has all the other right bits included to do a late model F-4E. The only custom work was to the inboard pylons, which on the real aircraft were lengthened to allow the fitment of the Popeye and IMI Delilah AGM’s and unique to the IDF Phantoms. This was just a chop and lengthen job, the only other mod was to make the extended pylon for the AIM-9D Sidewinder. Which was fitted to the Fwd. LH Sparrow bay, Aim-7’s were not carried by these particular aircraft. The decals were a mix-n-match of Isradecal and others I had, the stencils caused the most issues as they went form the huge number of factory ones in English to sparse ones in Hebrew on later aircraft. I went for something in-between, it may not be 100% correct, but looks the part. The results, she looks great and such a beast with those huge missiles! A really enjoyable build, I have a 2ndone already in the waiting line, a ZM F-4E with the Isracast RF-4E(S) conversion kit, this is the IDF Recon Phantom with the huge camera in the nose!! Thank you for looking, please enjoy, a link is provided to the build. Model: Zoukei-Mura 1/48th F-4E Early Version Scheme: IDF F-4E Kurnass Squadron 69 “The Hammers” Paint: AK Interactive Real Color (main), and Tamiya Acrylics, Model Master Metalizer Lacquer Extras: Aires - Late Series Exhaust Nozzle set Hypersonic – F-4E Late Slat Conversion Set Isradecal – Sqn 69 The Hammer decal set Reskit – AGM-142 “Popeye” WingMan – F-4E In-flight Refueling Probe 69 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Excellent work on the conversion, your final result looks great. I wasn’t aware of the Hypersonic slat kit, I’m going to have to check it out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loloskymaster Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 I love when the introduction is so detailled and goes with a so nice looking build ! Great Kurnass with these Popeyes😲 Lolo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 3, 2022 Author Share Posted April 3, 2022 3 hours ago, billn53 said: Excellent work on the conversion, your final result looks great. I wasn’t aware of the Hypersonic slat kit, I’m going to have to check it out. the quality of their casting is second to none, no soft nasty resin here, and the detail is so fine and matches the detail on the ZM kit perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Drop dead gorgeous! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Very nice!! Great loadout and looks like a dangerous and realistic package! I only wonder about D model Sidewinders I the late 1990s...really?? Was it smaller/ shorter etc?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Magnificent build, I'm deep in the Double Ugly Kurnass books at the moment and that's something I'd like to emulate Thank you for sharing some tips with us too! Arnaud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Oh very nice, good job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 3, 2022 Author Share Posted April 3, 2022 22 minutes ago, exdraken said: Very nice!! Great loadout and looks like a dangerous and realistic package! I only wonder about D model Sidewinders I the late 1990s...really?? Was it smaller/ shorter etc?? Yeah they kept the AIM-9D's till quite late, probably mid to late 90's they moved to the newer AIM-9L's. Most of the photos I have of Phantoms, if fitted with Sidewinders they are the D's, even the Kurnass 2000's. It was pretty much the same with the RF-4E's and RF-4E(S) are often photographed with a single AIM-9 fitted now on the RH Fwd Sparrow mount and an a AN-ALQ-101 fitted opposite, though I have found one photo of a Popeye bird is this config too, I suspect it was only for evaluation purposes as I have found no other photos of this config. 36 minutes ago, arnobiz said: Magnificent build, I'm deep in the Double Ugly Kurnass books at the moment and that's something I'd like to emulate Thank you for sharing some tips with us too! Arnaud I have the same books, they are a must for building an IDF Phantom, plus I have the IsraDecal book on the Hammers Squadron as well, which was a big help too. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antb Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 That's a beautiful build! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in a shed Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Fantastic result . The E version has to be my favourite and this is a belter of a model. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Brantley Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Beautiful model, beautiful work! That is a handsome, brutish beast of a plane! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlasticUtopia Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 The detail is so fine and precise 😱. Fabulous build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitewolf Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 (edited) Superb job! Did the F4Es ever use the Popeyes in anger? I had never heard of them until a B52G at Fairford during the first Gulf War was spotted carrying what were supposedly popeyes on its wing pylons.....which were in fact AGM-142s i believe....... Edited April 3, 2022 by Whitewolf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Excellent work! The build and finish on your Kurnass are first class and it looks great with those BFMs - well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Impressive build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Nice one Rich. Very, very nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveH Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Very nice, not seen that Sidewinder fit before... DaveH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted April 3, 2022 Share Posted April 3, 2022 Superb finish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 3, 2022 Author Share Posted April 3, 2022 4 hours ago, DaveH said: Very nice, not seen that Sidewinder fit before... DaveH thanks, the Sidewinder mount seems to be something unique to the IDF Phantoms, it gave them some sort of self defense weapon as by this stage they no longer used AIM-7 Sparrows on the Phantoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IvanP Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Stunning model! Congrats! Ivan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneheadff Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Phantastic Phantom Rich!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattH912 Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 Amazing build. Im looking to be doing a IAF F-4E early and was thinking of getting the IsraDecals decal set for the F-4E early ''Kurnass". Are you aware if the decals come with stencil data or not, if not where did you get the stencils in Hebrew as I cant find much information on the IsraDecal website. Regards 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triet Cam Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 Exceptional build!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maginot Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Nice one. Like that asymmetric load. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now