wardog

I can send you an email with instructions on how I did mine if u like.

Pat.....thanks for the positive comments. Also, I apologize for the delayed response to you and others but I hadn't checked the site recently. Thanks again.

Thank you as well Paddington.

Thanks GT

Hey Steve, Yeah that was a long time ago. I wondered what had happened to you as one minute you were around and the next minute you were gone. I do have to remind you of something in case you forgot. You gave me a spare canopy so I could finish the build as I ruined the original so technically something of yours is on that F-4....LOL As far as the A-6 goes, I'll be moving this weekend so hopefully I'll make more progress soon as I'm starting to get withdrawl symptoms from the break. There should be a model show in Pasadena soon so try and make it and maybe we'll throw back a couple brews w

Looking great, can't wait to see the finished model. Are those the kit exhaust tubes that you're using?

I actually think I remember you but of course I can't say for sure. Yeah Cy is pretty good, I've picked up a few tips from him but I'd say we both have our own unique styles. He is very consistent and always does really well at the Nats. He also has a few things down to a science including scribing which we all know is not easy. I do plan on taking my A-6 to the Nats and I actually thought some time ago that I would be finished to enter the 2011 competition. It then turned into the 2012 Nats and now It's looking more like 2014. Married life really sucks up most of your time and just trying t

Ah yes, Cy, my mentor. I've learned quite a bit from him as he is very skilled in this hobby. It's funny when you mention YEARS as it typically really does take me that long, what can I say, I build slow! Thanks for the compliments and as the big five-o really isn't that far away for me, I might be building 32nd scale as well, especially at the rate my eyesight has been degrading lately. Also, by the way you wrote your post I can't help but wonder if I know you or not? Thanks again

I completely agree with you. In this hobby, regardless of ARC, you're gonna find mainly two types of modelers. There are those who just want to build for the fun of it and could care less if a panel line is misplaced and those like myself and a bunch of others who expect a high level of accuracy, especially for the price they're asking for these kits these days. Unfortunately, I think the "Rivet Counters" make up the minority in this hobby and consequently, these kit manufacturers are really catering to the "other" group. We must remember (not that it should be an excuse) that producing thes

Looks like you got everything you need to make an outstanding model. Good luck.

Awesome work, and I have the utmost respect for modelers who work with that scale. It's no secret (at least in my opinion) that the smaller the scale, the harder it is to create a beautiful model. Great mix of old and new paint indicating the nature of the aircraft's mission.

I would agree with a little more weathering on the tires to make it match the rest......although there is eventually a time when tires on the real thing are new so technically you're good. If you like it that's all that matters. Beautiful build and one of the best and convincing NMF I've seen.

Hawg, extremely impressed with your results as well as the other builds included. What I especially like is the extreme departure from what we typically see in our forums and the skills required to pull off such unique weathering effects. Just when you're starting to think you're pretty good you see something like this that blows everything out of the water. GREAT JOB!

Looking good Steve, as usual. You are throwing me for a loop though, I figured by now you'd be on your 5th model. Keep up the great work. E

JesniF-16, you are too kind. I was quite happy with the results especially since it was my first model after a 15 year break. The watch screw idea came from a modeling article I had read back then about a guy using watch movement gears on the rotor head of his helicopter. When I tore into a movement I found an amazing amount of parts that could be used to detail aircraft, the screws were one of them. I also thought I had done a better job of filling in the slots on the screw heads but apparently not. Glad you liked it anyway.

I truly appreciate the attention to detail in your riveting. Having an aircraft structures background, I can see how you paid particular attention to rivet spacing, edge distance and having fasteners of adjacent panels line up with each other. This attention to detail is often what makes a model stand out above the rest. Great job

Thanks to all for the kind words. I do put a lot of time and effort into these kits to make them stand out a bit more and I'm glad you guys appreciate my effort. tc2324, thanks as well but as I've said before, these models look this way because it literally takes me years to finish a project and I'm sure we're all capable of doing similar work if you took as long as I do.

Thanks Larry. I know Mike very well and have had many beers with him during the big shows. I'd be happy to explain the method I used for the slotted stabilizers and will even include some pics but I don't think the "Display" forum is the proper place to do this in. I can send you a private message if you want or if you have any other suggestions feel free to let me know. My intent is not to be secretive about it, just not sure where to add the information. As far as you snapping pics is concerned, if you plan on attending any of the upcoming local model shows just let me know and I can drag i

Thanks guys, glad you all like it. It definitely challenged me, especially making and getting the inboard leading edge flaps to fit as well as handling the model with slats and flaps down and not breaking things off. Thanks again

I posted some pics of the F-4 in the display section. http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=258696&st=0&gopid=2453865entry2453865

Here are a few larger detail pics.

At the request of a few ARC members, here are some pics of a project I completed in 2003. It started life as a Hasegawa F-4J and was then converted to an F-4S with the aid of Paragons slat set and a few other aftermarket goodies as well as pieces from one of Hasegawas' Hi-Grade kits. I built this model after a 15 year hiatus and at the time I didn't know anything about the weathering techniques that are so common these days such as pre/post shading and salt weathering. That said, the paint job is pretty straight forward with a wash and pastels making up the bulk of the weathering effects so co