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`what If` Phantom


tc2324

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Getting the kit below ready for kick off and this one will have a distinctly Soviet feel to it...;) (Well, my B-52 gotta have an escort...;) )

Now, do I do a `G` or an `E` version...????

If it is to be an escort or the B-52 then it must be the E unless the G carries something special in the way of weapons.

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If it is to be an escort or the B-52 then it must be the E unless the G carries something special in the way of weapons.

Thats a fair point Jabba, but I`m basing my build on the real life rumour that the Soviets did actually rebuild and fly at least two F-4`s, so technicaly it could be any version right up till 1989.

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Thats a fair point Jabba, but I`m basing my build on the real life rumour that the Soviets did actually rebuild and fly at least two F-4`s, so technicaly it could be any version right up till 1989.

It's true, I saw them in the film 'Ice Station Zebra'!

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Not sure about F-4's but I can do you an F-5..................

http://www.randalf.cz/sw/ru/tiger.php

Not sure how 'legit' many of the pics are, but still intersting WHIF's if nothing else. I used Babelfish to translate into pidgin English.

Soviet Vampire anyone?

MH

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And so it begins...:lol: Cut and trimed a few things and put some Soviet air to air missiles together. Placed the two main sections together and found out they have a slight bow outwards. That will be fun later and require a few elastic bands.:rolleyes: As you may already gather, I`m not a big fan of cockpit detail, so put that together but left the seats seperate. I`m going to have a crack at painting them and the ejection handles.:unsure:

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Edited by tc2324
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Not much done tonight. Primed the cockpit and seats and then sprayed on their base colour. Wait to dry and add a bit of detail tomorrow.

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Primed the missiles and this happened.....

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Any one know why..??

Finished by glueing the main section together and then buffing it off. The kits not a perfect fit and I have a feeling that filler will be my friend....

006-22.jpg

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Finished by glueing the main section together and then buffing it off. The kits not a perfect fit and I have a feeling that filler will be my friend....

006-22.jpg

"eehhhh gad Brain...raised panel lines...oh no Pinky,run for your liffffffeeee!!!"

I'm a convert for the illicit trade in sunken panel lines.Starting to become curious in scribing tools now but the schematic plans strewn across my hobby desk whilst I figure out how to fix wrongly scribbed lines,is not what I'm looking for right now ;)

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Cool, a Russian Phantom. Hey, they copied plenty of things over the years, so why not?

Im looking forward to this...

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Trying out a new way of filling that seems so obvious when you think about it. Use masking tape so that you don`t cover the entire model in filler, which is what I tend to do.....

Before....

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After....

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Willpost the results later tonight to see if it worked.

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I hope I don't sound like a plonker, but I thought masking when filling was pretty standard stuff.

Ive done it for, well... a long time.

I'm glad you got a new trick, one that is, as you show, pretty darned good.

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I hope I don't sound like a plonker, but I thought masking when filling was pretty standard stuff.

Ive done it for, well... a long time.

I'm glad you got a new trick, one that is, as you show, pretty darned good.

I thought it might be an old trick. Saw this suggested on another forum and had a `Doh!` moment.

This Phantom in only my 5th build so you will have to forgive my lateness to the party. :D

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Yes I know, another update...., :rolleyes: I promise to finish this one up asap...:D

Anyway, completed my scheme today, a mixture of polished and un-polished aluminum to represent the various aircraft parts patched together. Also added a bit of weathering to add to the `weary` look.

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Going to complete the u/c, canopy and Soviet AF missiles during the week.:)

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Time to put this puppy to bed, so backstory and pics as follows.....

BREAKING SKY NEWS

De-classified files and photographs released from the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation have now come to light of a number of secret trails conducted with captured or rebuilt Western aircraft types. Although a number of a western aircraft had been known to exist within the Russians inventory, the most surprising shock of these revelations was the use of a number of McDonald Douglas F-4 Phantoms, a type that was never considered to have been test flown by Soviet pilots.

According to the files at least four F-4 Phantoms were flown and test evaluated from 1969 through to 1986. They consisted of two C`s, one D and E version of the type. The only pictures released so far are low grade black and white and seem to show the E version on the ramp at an undisclosed airbase `in Siberia`.

According to the documents, this particular aircraft was rebuilt using various parts from crashed examples obtained from countries with `strong` diplomatic links to the old communist regime. It is believed that parts came from Vietnam , Syria and Egypt where numerous Phantom aircraft had seen combat over the years. All examples were flown in a bare metal finish and had a `patchy` appearance due the various companies charged with rebuilding or reconditioning the parts needed or obtained.

An interesting section of the Phantom file is the assessment given by the Soviet pilots that flew them. While most commented that the aircraft was a delight to fly and very forgiving with its flight characteristics, the views changed when it came to `dog fighting` and using the aircraft in an operational capacity. While the F-4 was considered a good `stand off` platform, during eight out of ten 1v1 `within visual range` engagements with Mig-21`s, the Mig-21 always managed to out turn the F-4 and gain a better advantage. It is now understood by analysts that the high amount of Mig casualties during the Vietnam conflict was due to pilot error and inexperience within the North Vietnamese air force. Also noted was that due to the size of Soviet Air to Air Missiles of the day only the short range versions could be stored on the inner pylons as the medium and long ranges missiles would disrupt the undercarriage from extending or retracting and these were placed on the outer pylons during live fire exercises. This was also noted to have an adverse effect on the in flight handling of the Phantom during hard G manoeuvres.

Overall, the achievement made by the old Soviet guard to recreate and reverse engineer these Phantoms should be considered with high regard, but ultimately the next generation of fighters were getting airborne which would make the Phantom obsolete, and the only task left for these F-4 recreations was to supply the Soviet Air Force pilots with realistic opponents for ACM duties.

The low quality pictures released with the files show the E version and a Mig-21, circa 1985.

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Excellent! Have you told Tom Clancy that you have his next story?

I was surprised to learn that the Russians didn't generally leave their aircraft in NMF. They painted them in aluminum lacquer to protect them. 'Came as a surprise to me.

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  • 4 weeks later...

That looks great! The NMF really suits the long-nose Phantom

I was surprised to learn that the Russians didn't generally leave their aircraft in NMF. They painted them in aluminum lacquer to protect them. 'Came as a surprise to me.

Maybe just the one coat in 20 years by the looks of some of 'em!

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  • 5 months later...

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