Enzo's Phantom Phrenzy Part 1 - FG.1

[Enzo the Magnificent]

My first build for this GB will be an FG.1 of 43 Sqn, in the early RAF markings of green/grey camouflage and high visibility roundels.  I will be using this Fujimi kit.

 

  

 

However, there is a minor problem.  The Fujimi kits have been steadily upgraded throughout their lives.  All of the moulds now have the fin top RWR fairing, which is not appropriate for my build.  I will therefore be taking the fuselage halves from my second build in this GB, which is an earlier Fujimi boxing with the original fin.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Welcome to the build Enzo.

[dad's lad]

Please excuse my ignorance, whilst I understand the RWR difference, are there other significant differences in the actual plastic of both kits (FG.1 v FGR.2) that necessitate the fuselage swap?

 

Regards, Clive.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

3 hours ago, dad's lad said:

Please excuse my ignorance, whilst I understand the RWR difference, are there other significant differences in the actual plastic of both kits (FG.1 v FGR.2) that necessitate the fuselage swap?

 

 

There are no other significant differences.  The FG.1 and FGR.2 had difference tailplanes (slotted and unslotted respectively).  The tailplanes are moulded on each fuselage sprue but the ones that you don't need are blanked off in the relevant boxing.  The other fuselage difference is the catapult hooks on the FG.1 and blanking plates on the FGR.2.  These are both supplied as minor parts.

 

 

[dad's lad]

Brilliant thank you, I'll know what to look out for when I eventually get around to building my own Fujimi F-4's.

Clive

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Let's look at the parts.

 

There is a Britmodeller review of the Fujimi Phantom kits.  The photos are better than mine, so I have blatently stolen them.     But I will show my own photos for comparison. 

 

The fuselage sprues.

 

 

 

 

Also bear in mind that the Fujimi moulds have been changed to take into account the fin top RWR antenna.  The kits no longer provide an option for the original fin tip.   My chosen subject is an early FG.1 without the RWR antenna so I will be using the fuselage halves from my FGR.2 build.  Confused?  You will be!       

 

 

This is the undercarriage sprue for the FG.1 kit.  The FGR.2 kit has a different nose gear leg with only one scissor link.   Oddly, I ended up with the FG.1 sprue in the FGR.2 box, but it is easy to modify the nose gear leg.

 

 

Yes, you do actually get two canopy sprues in the kit, which is nice.   It means that you can use one to modify the Academy kit to have open canopies.

 

 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

As you can see, I have swapped the fuselage parts from the other kit.

 

 

 

 

The instrument panels and consoles have some very nice raised details.  There are also decals provided.   I removed the details on the side consoles and applied the decals.  I really didn't fancy removing details from the panels so I simply drybrushed them.   Oddly, there are decals provided for the consoles in the rear cockpit which are not needed as there is structure there instead.  

 

 

Went a bit overboard with the ballast, as usual.   

 

 

Experience with these kits has shown the necessity of this next step.  The fuselage sides bow in slightly.  When you fit the fuselage to the wing there is quite a gap, which is easy to fill.  However, that is not the issue.  The issue is the fit of the intakes to the fuselage.  Allow the fuselage parts to lie where they fit and there will be a massive step when the intakes are fitted.  Therefore, I put in a rod of sprue which forces the fuselage sides out, drastically reducing the need for filler. 

 

Note, this photo is actually from my FGR.2 build.

 

 

Intakes ready to be fitted. 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Ready for main assembly.

 

[Jabba]

That has gone together quite quickly and yes that is a serious amount of ballast.

[Retired Bob]

With all the lead ballast in your aircraft builds and added lead 'heft' in your tank builds.  I hope you have some strong display shelves. 

If a strong gravitational pull develops in the East of England....we know who caused it.  Just sayin. 

[alt-92]

1 hour ago, Retired Bob said:

If a strong gravitational pull develops in the East of England....we know who caused it.  Just sayin. 

You didn't feel the jitter last night when the Earth's rotation slowed down 0.00002 seconds?

[Retired Bob]

2 minutes ago, alt-92 said:

You didn't feel the jitter last night when the Earth's rotation slowed down 0.00002 seconds?

I just thought that was something that I had eaten.  

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Main assembly completed.  I quickly masked off the cockpit and primed it with my usual technique of a coat of clear lacquer from a rattle can followed by grey plastic primer, also from a rattle can.  I then spent some time sanding the joints again.  The windscreen and canopy bridge were the fitted and masked.  I have to finish masking the cockpits again. After another quick coat of grey plastic primer it will be ready for the paint shop.

 

[heloman1]

Onwards and upwards...

 

Colin FLY NAVY

[Enzo the Magnificent]

I then sprayed it with Vallejo Model Air 71.049 Sea Grey.  The disruptive patterm was masked with my usual technique of Blutak worms and masking tape squares, sealed with Copydex.

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

The disruptive pattern was sprayed with  Lifecolor UA-001, now renumbered to UA-560.  The undersurfaces are sprayed Xtracylix XA1015 and the NMF areas with various aluminium shades from rattle cans.

 

 

Decals applied.  These are spare from an Airfix kit that I built a couple of years ago.

 

 

Life's too short for all the stencils!    

[John_W]

Stunning.

43 Sqn and their checkerboard markings are the enduring memory of my childhood, roaring over the school playground at Leuchars.

[Jabba]

Looking good with the decals on. Come on you know that you want to join all the rest of us in the mad stencil applying.