giemme Posted September 29 Posted September 29 3 minutes ago, Giorgio N said: What I have to be careful of is not to get a third kit... the same dealer will be at another show not far from here next weekend.. must resist and not buy another F-4N! That's good to know, 'cause I'll be there (I'm assuming it's the Picchiatelli Trophy you're talking about) - better bring some pocket money with me... Ciao
Giorgio N Posted September 29 Author Posted September 29 2 hours ago, giemme said: That's good to know, 'cause I'll be there (I'm assuming it's the Picchiatelli Trophy you're talking about) - better bring some pocket money with me... Ciao That's the one! The guy told me he'd be there, hope they don't change their mind. I'm thinking of visiting on the Sunday, unless it leashes rain like last week. I wouldn't mind a J since I just bought some nice decals for this variant from DMX but having 2 Hasegawa and an Academy in the stash I should probably save some money. I'd have bought the recent slatted E if they had this but they had none yet in Milan. 1
giemme Posted September 29 Posted September 29 1 hour ago, Giorgio N said: I'm thinking of visiting on the Sunday I'll be showing two of my models there, and I'll be there on Sunday afternoon. Hope we can catch up! Ciao
Giorgio N Posted October 2 Author Posted October 2 On 9/29/2025 at 9:28 PM, giemme said: I'll be showing two of my models there, and I'll be there on Sunday afternoon. Hope we can catch up! Ciao Good to know ! I'll see if I can visit Sunday in the afternoon then 1
Giorgio N Posted October 2 Author Posted October 2 On 9/25/2025 at 3:07 PM, Gene K said: As an aside, do you think the front of the shoulder mounted ECM protrudes out a little too much (bulbous)? Sorry, forgot to answer to this... Yes, I agree, they are a bit too large and bulbous. On my next build I'll try to reduce their size or see if I can replace them with parts from the hasegawa kit, of which I have one in the stash. The hasegawa B/N will donate its wings to an RF-4E to build and RF-4B, so the ECM fairings will not be needed, The RF-4E wings will then be joined to the B/N fuselage to build a J. IIRC the Academy J also includes the longer ECM fairing for the N, may be another alternative 4
Giorgio N Posted October 7 Author Posted October 7 Update after the weekend: unfortunately I couldn't make it to the model show so I missed the chance to meet Giemme. Hope there will be other occasions! My wallet of course is happier this way as I know it would have returned much emptier had I managed to visit... At least I managed to spend some time at the bench and not only I've primed the model, I've also sorted a few spots here and there... and there were a few too many that I had not noticed during the assembly. So much that I'm now not as happy as I was before. I should make clear that the various issues are all my fault, I could have sorted the fit better during assembly. A bad spot was the joint of the upper front fuselage part that showed a step where it met the lower sides. This also affected the fit of the radome, all things I had not noticed earlier. On my next FM Phantom I'll make sure to open the top of the lower assembly a bit to fit well with the upper part. The rear fuselage upper part also wasn't as nicely blended as I thought and the same happened for the part between the engines. Again all things that I could have sorted during the assembly. As a result I'm now not really sure if I want to finish the model in the markings from the box. Since this is a subject I really like, I may decide to build it from the kit I bought last week, completing this in different markings. Which markings ? I have a few options.... one is of course the other markings set from the box, featuring an aircraft from VMFA-323 https://www.airhistory.net/photo/462273/150480 Nice but nothing that really makes my heart beat that fast. A bit more colourful is the option in a DXM sheet, a VF-161 aircraft in bicentennial markings https://dxmdecals.com/shopping/ols/products/172-usnusmc-f-4bjn-phantom-collection-3 That's pretty nice! However I'm tempted to go in a different direction, a VF-302 aircraft like this one: https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151475__VF-302___ELP__Nov_79___1.jpg Now these are markings that I really like and have always liked! The way the black antiglare panel wraps the cockpit also means that the offending area would be kind of hidden by being on the edge between black and grey. There's only a small problem with these markings: I don't have any decals for a VF-302 Phantom. However it's a scheme that is relatively simple to paint using masks, the NAVY titles can come from a number of other kits and decals in the stash while the DN air group markings can be easily printed on clear decal sheet together with the serial number. 4
Giorgio N Posted October 7 Author Posted October 7 Forgot to mention... after having primed the model and sorted as best as I could the areas showing bad fit, I started painting the Light Gull Grey finish, colour that on the original subject was applied to the whole airframe but at the moment only covers the top on my model. I only need to spray a bit more paint on a couple of areagrey over whites and then I'll have to decide on the final scheme. If I go for VF-302 I then have a choice of overall LGG or grey over white. In both cases I'll have to spray the tail in yellow 12
Max Headroom Posted October 7 Posted October 7 Ooh! Sorry for missing this thread up to now but that is bellissimo (sorry but I had to!) I’m not a Phantom phreak so can’t offer anything is the way of knowledge, but those ECM do look proud. I remember the Esci kit being called up for the same thing. As it’s my first post for the thread I’ll wade in on the importance thing. Yes I agree! But if I was to make a case for ubiquity, then I advocate the F-5 and MiG21. Designed as cheap aircraft with a decent capability and available to customers who would otherwise not be able to afford such a force multiplier. Don’t forget they were licence built too and helped build up indigenous manufacturing capability. And now back to your scheduled programme….. Trevor 1
iainpeden Posted October 7 Posted October 7 @Giorgio N Really like this thread, but a question for you. I have made four Fine Molds F-4s already and have now got number 5 on the bench. The other four have all had the sprues washed in soapy water, rinsed and dried before starting, then the models have had another wash before painting. No problems This one had exactly the same treatment and the paint (Xtracolour enamel) (well stirred and brushed) just would not go on smoothly or stick well. Eventually a bath in liquid floor cleaner and paint strip has got me to the point of redoing the painting. Just wonder if you have had a similar issue; maybe Fine Molds have used a different release agent. 1
Giorgio N Posted October 7 Author Posted October 7 1 hour ago, iainpeden said: @Giorgio N Really like this thread, but a question for you. I have made four Fine Molds F-4s already and have now got number 5 on the bench. The other four have all had the sprues washed in soapy water, rinsed and dried before starting, then the models have had another wash before painting. No problems This one had exactly the same treatment and the paint (Xtracolour enamel) (well stirred and brushed) just would not go on smoothly or stick well. Eventually a bath in liquid floor cleaner and paint strip has got me to the point of redoing the painting. Just wonder if you have had a similar issue; maybe Fine Molds have used a different release agent. Sounds like an annoying experience! I've had no problem of this kind here, I haven't washed any part and the paint went on perfectly. I used Mr. surfacer 1500 as primer, followed by Vallejos for the cockpit and Gunze Acqueous for the main scheme, 1
modelling minion Posted October 7 Posted October 7 Excellent progress Giorgio and a very nice looking coat of paint. Whichever scheme you decide to go with will look good as they are all good ones. 1
Parabat Posted October 7 Posted October 7 The Marine jet looks really good, as does the VF-302 jet. 1
giemme Posted October 7 Posted October 7 She looks very smooth in primer! I did look for you on Sunday and I thought I missed you because of the crowd! Well, next time. I did come home from the show with a lighter wallet, but it was just a 3D printed resin Medieval warrior in 1/35, so not really a blood bath... Ciao 1
81-er Posted October 8 Posted October 8 I don't think you can go wrong with any of those possible schemes, Giorgio James 1
Giorgio N Posted October 8 Author Posted October 8 21 hours ago, giemme said: She looks very smooth in primer! I did look for you on Sunday and I thought I missed you because of the crowd! Well, next time. I did come home from the show with a lighter wallet, but it was just a 3D printed resin Medieval warrior in 1/35, so not really a blood bath... Ciao I was very sorry not be able to visit the show, would have been great to meet you! Hope there will be other occasions! The model is indeed very smooth but it's not in primer, it's the Gunze Lighe Gull Grey, thinned with its own thinner. I applied a few thin coats and the result is very nice. These paints are also semigloss by nature so it looks even smoother. I think that I could maybe even apply the decals directly, but I don't want to risk any problem so I'll spray a good clear gloss coat as usual. In the meantime I've decided to go for a VF-302 aircraft. I have to choose the timeframe carefully as there were differences in markings: the unit served with F-4Ns for a few years, starting in the grey over white scheme. In 1979/80 they moved to the overall grey scheme, This would be the same I was applying however when in this scheme they had the individual number and unit titles bordered in yellow. While in the earlier scheme these were just in black, so simpler to make with my laser printer. However in this scheme the walways were in black while on the later scheme at some point they started to appear in grey, as represented by the FM decals. So one scheme is easier in certain aspects and one easier in others. I also have to choose an aircraft with the antenna on top of the fin as I've already glued this part onto the model. The kit includes both fin with and without the antenna so I could replace it if I really have to but I'd rather keep the original to avoid any damage to the finish on the fuselage. This is fortunately not a big problem as there are plenty of pictures showing both styles of fin cap. 3
Navy Bird Posted October 8 Posted October 8 VF-302 is a great choice. I used that scheme on my Crusader and it's very striking. I've always like the colourful USN schemes with yellow and black. Cheers, Bill 2
RidgeRunner Posted October 15 Posted October 15 On 10/7/2025 at 1:17 PM, Max Headroom said: But if I was to make a case for ubiquity, then I advocate the F-5 and MiG21. Designed as cheap aircraft with a decent capability and available to customers who would otherwise not be able to afford such a force multiplier. Don’t forget they were licence built too and helped build up indigenous manufacturing capability. Agreed
Giorgio N Posted October 17 Author Posted October 17 Well, my new plan should be pretty clear now... Yellow tail means VF-302! I've yet to decide the timeframe, in the meantime I'm spraying some Gunze yellow on the tail. I feel I need another light coat, will spray it later today 12
modelling minion Posted October 17 Posted October 17 Good call with VF-302 and a good start on the yellow tail, its one of those colours that always needs more coats than you think to get a decent shade, as i'm finding out on a Hurricane I'm building. 1
Antoine Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Good work so far, Giorgio. About the markings, why don't you keep your original choice, and just add the stripes from operation Eagle Claw? IIRC, also, Phantom squadrons from this air group at the time, were using together AIM-9H and AIM-9L 2
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