Auger Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Well I finally started this build. Found (in my desk) an old resin cockpit from KMC, but it is basically a copy of the Hasegawa 'pit, so it's still an OOB build. The KMC resin I'll utilise on an old AMT kit! The ac will either be Shadow Demon or Baby either of which supposedly go on #63-7442? Not sure on that yet. Did a google/yahoo search, but only game up with Garfield #63-7583 in a clear photo on http://www.5053phantoms.com/photos/index.php , which has a search function utilising serial #'s. None of the other ser.#'s provided, illustrate (in photos) the port side or artwork! :wacko: More progress reports to follow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Ground off & sanded down the Naval wheel 'bumps' on the top of the wings. Moving on to the RHAW (F-4D) removal & cockpit assembly next. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Moore Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Sweet, another Michigan jet! I'll be watching your progress for sure. Cheers, Alby Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 I've managed to find a photo of Baby on 63-7442 from William Tell '84. So I guess I'll go with a brunette draped over a Sparrow! lol. http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/Images/twtd03/f4c37442.jpg The plane is a clean configuration in the photo, however I'm going to utilise the wing tanks & may even use a SUU 23A gun pod from Has. Weapons Set C on the centreline (rather then the drop tank), along with Sparrows/Sidewinders. Give it the fully armed treatment! A member of local club, told me about a Mich. Phantom photo with multiple gunpods installed, but I haven't found one (yet!) during web search. Anyway here are some shots of the RHAW removal, utilising a TriTool saw I purchased many years ago in local club group purchase, from Hobbylink Japan. It's the 1st time I've had a chance to use it, but was easier to use then your typical razor saw. More 'flex' availible. Also provided a comparison of old resin KMC 'pit alongside the Has. 'pit. Quite similar, with improvements in the MB seats & fuselage sidewalls standing out the most. Hence my decision to utilise the KMC on an old AMT kit (decal 'pit) & go OOB with this build. Will try my hand at 'tape' harnesses similar to what Cristiane did in his RF-4C build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 that looks real good - the Michigan jets are among my favorite in the ADC scheme. I had seen that pic of one loaded with a bunch of gun pods in a book or magazine...will see if I can locate it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan_Lotton Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 (edited) Ken- It's in Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. Page 107 and 116 Shows it carrying 5 Gunpods in one pic, and 6 in another. Correction, only 5, a shadow makes it look like 6, which isnt possible. Edited January 9, 2007 by ViperTomcat85 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share Posted January 8, 2007 Haven't had time to continue search for the "gunfighter" photo, but how did they manage 6 pods? I could see 1 pod per station, for a total of 5. But I'm no expert! Well I've started to primer the 'pit, and while it cures, I cleaned up some parts. Turns out the Set C doesn't include a pylon for the gunpod. Neither does A or B! :) So I obtained one from the Hasegawa RAF Phantom FGR. MK.2 (Kit P16). Used kit part#C.23 which is the pylon for the gunpod in that kit. BTW, the gunpod in the RAF kit, appears to be 'stubby' version, which according to D&S I have on the F-4C, is to clear the gear doors when used underwing. Here is comparison, dark grey being from Set C. The holes for fuel tank were filled on bottom & 'location pegs' removed on pylon. The fuselage bottom had an outline molded on (forward slightly of fueltank holes), that matched the pylon so pylon was cemented into the outline. Comparison was made with RAF fuselage bottom & the position matches it's location, so went with it! Down to basic parts cleanup & will post photo of painted cockpit later in the week hopefully. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Haven't had time to continue search for the "gunfighter" photo, but how did they manage 6 pods?I could see 1 pod per station, for a total of 5. It was only 5, as there are only 5 weapons stations on an F-4, excluding the missile stations. The gunpod load was ONLY for an airshow, PURELY for show, and the jet never flew with that load operationally. Sure looks cool, though. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) Just a quick update: The main components assembled and starting to cut Tamiya masking tape into harness straps. Kit also transferred from kitchen table to crowded hobby desk! (no matter how many times I clear it, I end up with a tiny work space! lol ) Re: the gun pods. I saw the photo in another thread here on the board. I also recall some very old film footage from the Vietnam era, which was of a gunpod in use (on centreline), and it didn't appear too stable. The gunfighter does look cool though! Edited January 28, 2007 by Auger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Looking pretty good. What scale is it as I'm not familiar with this kit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted January 29, 2007 Author Share Posted January 29, 2007 Looking pretty good. What scale is it as I'm not familiar with this kit? Thanks It is the Hasagawa 1/48 F-4C/D Phantom II "Egypt 1" kit #PT11(3200) which has a one piece canopy included. The F-4D version I hope to build next in this GB, is the same kit. Although it is kit #P6(2200) which does not have the single piece canopy. Otherwise both kits are identical (raised lines) and originate back in 1988 according to the 'printing' info on the instruction sheets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Thanks John. Looking foward to any updates. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nightrain Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 looks good Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Small update. Tamiya tape was too "low tack" (kept falling off) & appeared too thin to me, as well. So I tried 3m painters tape, for seat harnesses. Applied tape using photo in D&S as a reference and the resin seat (in photo) destined for a different Phantom kit. Primered one seat, as I'm not too sure on the taping result yet. Will have to paint up the seats to decide if I like the "tape harnesses". Basically down to sanding & prepping for primer now, on the rest of the kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cristiane Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Look soo good. :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Great progress on the Phantom. I love the yellow and blacks markings of the 171st. Darwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share Posted March 8, 2007 Hmmm... Been a few weeks since last update! The ejection seats are are base coated and just require drybrushing/wash. Main aircraft still requires fine sanding. Hope to finish that & spray primer by the end of the coming weekend! :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted March 28, 2007 Author Share Posted March 28, 2007 Well I'm definitely falling behind schedule! Here is a shot of OOB Cockpit. The seats are just placed in for now, to check clearance of the 1 piece canopy. Sanding of aircaft has taken longer, due to my decision to remove most of the raised panel lines. I decided to do that, after studying photos of the Michigan birds online & in D&S. The Michigan F-4's were kept very clean & the raised lines, even though they were fine, did not portray a clean aircraft IMO. Some lines near control surfaces, gear doors were kept. I may try a few subtle panel tones, but overall the ADC Grey is smooth/monotone in most photos. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Lookin good John! I need to get my hands on a couple Hasegawa C Phantoms. Either that or one of the Monogram late 80s boxings with NYANG markings! Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Lookin good John! I need to get my hands on a couple Hasegawa C Phantoms. Either that or one of the Monogram late 80s boxings with NYANG markings! Jon Or you can convert a Hasegawa F-4J(the releases with engraved panels),steal an IR fairing from an AMT kit(or get the AirDoc conversion),use the KMC/True Details F-4C cockpit,and find some short J-79 exhausts. The J kit is easier to find than the C and I like the engraved panel lines myself,never did see a bunch of butted panel lines or raised panel lines when I worked on the 1:1 scale F-4's IIRC,somebody is releasing a NY ANG sheet later this year,not sure if itwas for the F-4C or D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Good to see an update. That cockpit is looking good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted April 27, 2007 Author Share Posted April 27, 2007 Well it's primered & painting should commence this weekend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Auger Posted August 19, 2007 Author Share Posted August 19, 2007 OK This GB is obviously long finished, but not my F-4C! Shortly after the April post above, I sprayed the nose in Tamiya semi-gloss black, which went nice & smooth. Along with Testors Metalizer tones on tail. Then those areas were masked off, along with the gear wells. The ADC Grey was then applied, using Aeromaster ADC Grey. After the Grey dried, I proceeded to remove the low tack masking tape & discovered that some of the adhesive stayed on the nose: Thus requiring a new round of sanding & re-application of the black. Removing the gear well masking proved to be a daunting task. I had used a combination of liquid mask & low tack masking tape, which became a brittle acrylic mess, once coated with the ADC paint colour. Tried to 'soften' the mask with alcohol, but it in turn seeped under the paint on the wing (leaving a brownish stain on the wing) & did not really soften the masking too much. :D I resorted to utilising a chisel to removing the masking from the gear wells: This resulted in loss of detail in the wells, but so be it. It was also dropped while cleaning up the nose, from a height of 12" above table top, landing 'somewhat flat' but still snapped a weapons pylon in half. The phantom has since been repaired & sanded once again and then resprayed with ADC Grey/Black/Metalizers. A clearcoat has been sprayed & decalling will soon commence. (The liquid mask has been tossed & the low-tack tape replaced with a new roll-both items most probably very 'old', as I couldn't recall when I purchased them last.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 (edited) I love the yellow and blacks markings of the 171st. One of my favorites is the ADC Gray Michigan jet that suffered a mishap and was fitted with a huge chunk of wing section from a wraparound SEA scheme jet, even flying in those hybrid colors. Cutting Edge has, presumably now long OOP, sheets with these very markings in 1/72nd and 1/48th. Cheers, Andre Edited August 21, 2007 by Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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