It’s BLUE!, oh no it’s BLUE

[speedy]

Hi folks, I finished this yesterday having started it just after Telford last year. I wanted to build a model of the F-4J that the RAF got back in the 80’s as it’s a conversation subject all day long. I’ve done more research than is probably healthy and picked up a kit at last years show knowing full well what it was going to be. I managed to bag a set of decals from the States and at last years Salisbury show I picked up the F-4J(UK) Aeroguide book, which for an old publication has been invaluable. Anyway the kit has had much written about it, so I won’t duplicate what’s known but it’s a first for me ;the Tamiya kit that is. Prior to building whilst researching I knew I wanted the centre line tank with a ballast sparrow and aquisition round. I wanted to be different from the other blue builds so I found a 3D parachute on the internet, so ordered one. Again research showed that the crew could and some did put the pins in the seats on the taxi back to the line. So I wanted to depict a cab taxiing back with everything cleaned up and the rear crewman putting his pins in. Refuelling probe extended for checks after shut down. It ties in quite nicely that I found back in the day that 74 Sqn did indeed mount a challenge to fly 74 sorties in one day, trying to out do 56 Sqns efforts some time earlier. They did succeed. So this is my take on a cab going back to the line for a quick turn around to be available to go again. Reading Tug Wilson’s book they did the same at Akrotiri with parachute still attached for the same reason. 
 

Any comments or if you see I’ve blatantly missed something speak up.

Thanks for looking.

 

Steve.

Edited February 21, 2023 by speedy

[Hook]

Phantastic build!, the chute is a lovely touch. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[oortiz10]

Very sharp! Great build, paint, weathering and (especially) pose!

 

-O

[Tiger331]

Great great portrayal of the F-4J(UK). The blue tinge on the fuselage looks just right although, to my eye, its a bit more pronounced on the wing and does not look quite right for some reason. Notwithstanding, a superb take on the subject and like others, I really admire the brake chute.

 

Well Done, Sir !

[Sky Keg]

The deployed braking chute looks great and adds an extra level of realism to the subject.  Very nice all around. 

 

Mike

[keith in the uk]

That s it , i give up , Nothing short of brilliant ,  wonderful job . 👍

[Way Out]

Your Phantom is brilliant, you must put this on display somewhere, please do not put it in a box in the loft/garage etc.

[Farmerboy]

Brilliant build Speedy, she is an absolute beauty, good job!

[Pete in Lincs]

Very smart indeed. Nice subtle weathering, especially on the chute. I can't remember the last time I saw Aircrew posed like that*, so well done there too.

 

*If ever!

[Pantherhawk27263]

I love the Phantom, it's my favorite plane and yours is extremely well done. I love the extra touches you added, making it truly unique. Great job all the way 'round!

[binbrook87]

That's fantastic! You've captured the blue hue on the flint grey superbly....just like the real thing when they were first delivered. I remember it well....very exciting....the return of The Tigers! 🐯 👍👍

[AlxBNE]

Very nice build very nicely presented.

I love the unusual presentation backed up with a realistic scenario in which it might have been seen.

11 out of 10.

[Autle]

Cracking Phantom, colours look spot on to my eyes. I especially like the crew putting the pins in the seats which they certainly did on the taxi. 

[Alan P]

Whooo, that's VERY nice! Parachute is a great touch and very well done. Also the colours look spot on. Well researched and great execution. Crew figures actually look alive as well, which is a fresh idea 😂

[Mark V]

Awesome!  Everything about it looks great.  I never saw a live phantom in these colors, but it looks like the photos that I have seen.  I imagine that it's a difficult color to replicate.  There was a short discussion about the 3D printed drag chute on Hyperscale recently.  That particular manufacturer did not include the chute packing bag or the smaller drogue chute (white on yours).  Thank you for posting the photos and showing how well the drag chute can look on a finished kit.

[Orion]

Hello Speedy,

Super diorama in every way, including the photography. This is exactly what it is all about. It starts with a detailed study of the subject on hand. Make's it much more interesting. Besides that, it enables you to answer,  questions when you are participating in modeling events. During the construction, you know exactly what is passing through your hands. Or details that are missing on the airframe, can be corrected.  All in all, your project is something to be very proud of.

Regards, Orion.

[Fred piket]

That's it: I declare myself officially an amateur.. what a great build! Even while zooming in on the pictures it looks realistic.  Next problem is: I really want a drag Shute now. 

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fred piket
Misspelling

[Lord Riot]

Outstanding build and detail! Reminds of standing at the fence at Wattisham all those years ago.

 

And Tug Wilson’s Phantom book is a great read isn’t it, highly recommended.

[speedy]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. There is actually not much out there about the Brit Js’. I purchased a couple of magazines for the snippets referenced and even one of my RAF years books had a piece but nothing meaty. Website and the usual search engine and zooming in, which I suspect we all do. Even my wife has asked "why is it blue" and then when I found a website including 50 shades of blue, there was a raised eyebrow!.

 

The parachute comes with the bag and an option to purchase the lines which are carbon rods. I had problems gluing the rods to the parachute as there was not enough contact patch, so i sanded back the ends of the lines flush to the parachute. They then glued and stayed connected. The parachute is quite soft and will flex in handling. My main problem was gluing the carbon lines to the main rod. I kept ending up with a Hay bales that looked like they'd been tied by hand. So the second attempt was wire locking. I used very thin gauge locking wire that we used to use on fire extinguishers on aircraft and that brought everything together and superglued. The small parachute is paper mache moulded over the end of a rounded pen. At low speeds this deflates to a hanging pose.

 

Anyway I used these sites

https://www.airfighters.com/photo/135568/M/UK-Air-Force/McDonnell-Douglas-F-4J-UK-Phantom-II/ZE352/

 

https://bpag.co.uk/gallery

 

https://3d-chute-expert.myshopify.com/

 

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by speedy

[Keeff]

Absolutely brilliant! The paint job is fantastic and really like the pilots pose ... and with the chute, a realistic looking finish.  👌 

 

Keith 😁 

 

[Winded Penguin]

Outstanding in all respects 👍

[Spitfire madman]

Absolutely fantastic build there mate I take my hat off to you. The weathering looks spot on and certainly the chute adds to the realism a job well done 👍 👏 

[Zephyr]

Outstanding, I like the heat effect on the tail!

My uncle was on Phantoms in the RAAF so I've sent him a link to this thread.

Don't know if he'll be able to open it, he's 82, it but I bet he'd be impressed!

[Warwolf]

Love that! Great build

 

[georgeusa]

Phantastic Phantom you have built and finished in a very unique livery.  I have never seen a display with a drag chute deployed.  It seems so appropriate now that I have seen it done.  With the crew figures and the drag chute displayed it makes for a very outstanding diorama that tells a story in a dramatic fashion.  Thanks for sharing.