1:72 FineMolds F-4EJ Kai Fighter (2020 Special Marking Blue)

[Navy Bird]

Hi mates,

 

FineMolds have produced an amazing line of new tool 1:72 Phantom kits, finally surpassing the venerable Hasegawa, Revell, and ESCI offerings. (I've never seen any of the new Academy kits so I can't pass judgement on those and Fujimi still rules for the Spey versions.) I knew I had to build one of the new FM offerings as soon as I read the first online review - I picked the "Special Marking Blue" kit of the Phantom Farewell scheme from JASDF 301 Squadron because it's, like, cool. Lured by the beautiful metallic blue markings, and the allure of the new FM kit, I encountered the decals from Hell.    

 

I'm not sure why the Japanese manufacturers often have such thick decals. I've read about all the tricks - use hot water and Japanese solvents like Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer which, I'm told, have been formulated specifically for these kind of decals. If this is true, I still struggled getting these to snuggle down as I'm used to with Cartograf, Xtradecal, Microscale and the other usual suspects. Perhaps it was because the metallic blue ink process required many layers (pure speculation), perhaps it was because there were hectares of stickers, perhaps it was because I'm an idiot. In any event, I persevered until I gave up. Gallons of every decal solvent known to man. (Except for Solvaset - last time I used that stuff it melted the styrene.) It is what it is. Under the lack of illumination at the far reaches of my display case, no one will ever know. Well, except for you blokes I guess.    

 

Here's my usual summary:

 

Project: McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II

Kit: FineMolds kit No. 72838
Scale: 1:72
Decals: From the kit, but I don't want to talk about it anymore.
Resin: Verlinden No. 439 Martin Baker Mk.7 ejection seats
Photoetch: A couple of bits from Eduard No. SS209
Paint: GSI Creos H307 FS36320, H308 FS36375, H2 Black, H12 Flat Black, H11 Flat White, H317 Dark Gull Gray, H90 Clear Red, H94 Clear Green, GX112 UV Cut Gloss; Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black; Alclad ALC101 Aluminum, ALC103 Dark Aluminum, ALC111 Magnesium; Floquil 110015 Flat Finish

 

Improvements/Corrections

 

Not much - just the resin ejection seats. I also had to mix some paint to match the metallic blue for the forward portion of the wing tanks. I used GSI Creos H88 Metallic Blue and H35 Cobalt Blue. It's close, but not perfect. Don't ask me the ratios.   

 

WIP can be found here. Now for some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In-process shot of stencil heaven:

 

 

You can never have too many stencils.

 

Cheers,

Bill

 

PS. Being a naughty boy, I didn't follow the instructions. But then who does? FineMolds have you painting and stickering the fuselage prior to adding the vertical fin. Say what?

[invidia]

Looks fantastic, I have one in the stash.

  Need to read your WIP to get tips.

[Red Dot]

You've made a very good job of that.  I bought one of these kits in standard markings to have a go with the grandchildren and found much the same issue with the decals. The fit of some of the parts was only average too. With patience, it was a good kit, but not as much as i hoped.

 

Andy

[Red Dot]

A hair dryer on slow speed to warm the decals, then add softener is a good way of getting thick decals to blend.

 

Andy

[Darwinism]

Terrific work Bill - what a fantastic result!

[John R]

Only one word for it - WOW!

[Mynimal]

Very good job. I want it. can you send it to me . 😍

[kapam]

Wow!

Outstanding!  A beautiful subject too!

Well done!

👏👏👏👏

[drake122]

The fact, that the writing on the fuselage doesn't say Phantom Phorever is a huge missed opportunity by whoever designed this celebratory scheme!

Great build.

[giemme]

On 21/09/2023 at 20:18, Navy Bird said:

FineMolds have you painting and stickering the fuselage prior to adding the vertical fin. Say what?

Exactly - no way!   

 

Top job on what I regard as a decals hell    Here you NBS standard (Navy Bird Smooth, for the uninitiated) is at full display!  

Ciao

[72modeler]

Bill, that's a beautiful Rhino! Outstanding paintwork and decaling! Glad to see you're still around! Hoping ypu and yours are OK! I am hoping to do an RF-4EJ in the beautiful sea blue camouflage one of these days! 

Mike

[Terry1954]

She looks suitably spectacular Bill. I've not built any Fine Molds F-4s yet, sounds like the kits are good but the decals ..... 🙄

.

 

What next I wonder, perhaps back to the Victor🤔

[Billy54]

Hello Bill, I really like this build, thank you for sharing.

[bianfuxia]

Great build! Japanese Phantoms are the best!

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

On 9/21/2023 at 1:18 PM, Navy Bird said:

You can never have too many stencils.

Sure you can if it’s a Japanese Phantom … all kidding aside it’s a very nice Phantom Bill. 

[Wings unlevel]

Wow! Superb.

[F-32]

Love it, very cool indeed

[Navy Bird]

On 21/09/2023 at 15:10, invidia said:

 Need to read your WIP to get tips.

 

Thanks - I hope the WIP is helpful. One tip would be to wait for an aftermarket decal manufacturer like DXM to release this scheme. That would be so much better than what FineMolds supplied.

 

On 21/09/2023 at 15:18, Red Dot said:

A hair dryer on slow speed to warm the decals, then add softener is a good way of getting thick decals to blend.

 

Thanks Andy. I will give that a try next time I have some thick decals like this. With my luck, I will pick up the heat gun instead of the hair dryer and end up with a glob of liquid decal film!   

 

On 22/09/2023 at 04:06, Mynimal said:

Very good job. I want it. can you send it to me . 😍

 

Thanks. I'm not sure it will fit into an envelope though...    

 

On 25/09/2023 at 01:29, drake122 said:

The fact, that the writing on the fuselage doesn't say Phantom Phorever is a huge missed opportunity by whoever designed this celebratory scheme!

 

You know, I had that same thought. It's OK, the scheme is way cool, although it still reminds me of a Pepsi can.   

 

On 25/09/2023 at 06:28, giemme said:

Top job on what I regard as a decals hell    Here you NBS standard (Navy Bird Smooth, for the uninitiated) is at full display!

 

Decal Hell for sure. But now I know better - experience is what allows us to recognise our mistakes when we make them again.    

 

On 25/09/2023 at 10:54, 72modeler said:

Glad to see you're still around! Hoping ypu and yours are OK! I am hoping to do an RF-4EJ in the beautiful sea blue camouflage one of these days!

 

Thanks Mike. I'm still hanging in there, doing whatever the Infectious Disease crew tell me to do. It will go away eventually (I hope!). Speaking of that sea blue camo, I just picked up the Mr. Color set of those colours. I don't know if they are 100% accurate, but they sure look nice in the bottle.

 

On 25/09/2023 at 11:05, Terry1954 said:

What next I wonder, perhaps back to the Victor🤔

 

Thanks Terry. What's next? I'll work on the Victor on and off, but the mojo isn't fully back yet. I think my next project will be a Mk.IVF Blenheim (with every bit of aftermarket my wallet could handle). 1:72 of course...    

 

On 25/09/2023 at 22:03, bianfuxia said:

Great build! Japanese Phantoms are the best!

 

That they are. Such beautiful and colourful schemes - what's not to like?

 

*****

 

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. I appreciate them.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[corsaircorp]

Splendid Bill !!

Another Phabulous Phantom for your collection !!

Congrats my friend !!

Have a fine beer on my behalf !!

Sincerely.

CC

[Screech]

Definitely pulled off another beautiful build!

 

Love the Phantom, love this particular paint scheme!  👍

[TheBaron]

Enviable precision of looks Bill. Congratulations on another state-of-the-art statement. 👏

[Cookenbacher]

Amazing scheme Bill, would never have guessed the transfers were such a problem, that's a beautiful Phantom.

[woody37]

Superb Bill, a little different than some of your other builds, but that same Navy Bird quality!

[Fritag]

Bill, you make me smile.

 

On 9/21/2023 at 7:18 PM, Navy Bird said:

It is what it is. Under the lack of illumination at the far reaches of my display case, no one will ever know

 

On 9/21/2023 at 7:18 PM, Navy Bird said:

It's close, but not perfect

 

I’ll just ignore the reticent caveats and marvel again at the seeming perfection of a Navy Bird finish.  

[Armorrich]

Very colorful version of a great aircraft....reminds me of a Pepsi add. Nice work!!!