Darren Roberts Posted July 3, 2009 Author Share Posted July 3, 2009 Will these be available to us poor buggers down under? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will be available through Spruebrothers.com. Gordon is kind enough to sell the Steel Beach line. I'll post when they are ready for sale. It should be around the end of July. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 bravo Darren! The new stuff looks great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 I've posted new pictures. I've changed up the slats so that there is a half-round piece that gets attached to the underside of the in-board leading edge slat. I've also added the wingtip change, recontoured the wing plate, and reshaped the outboard leading edge slat from the pictures I was sent. I've also included pictures of what it looks like on the ESCI kit. A couple of you asked, so I thought I'd see how it fit. Thanks for all the input. Another question: Should I include the intake plugs or let people get them on their own? It would raise the price by about $3. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Impatient Pete Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Dig it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 Looks to be a pair of great sets and the prices look very reasonable too ... Nice work Darren ! Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PDIXON316 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I'm in for a couple sets for sure!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 I've posted new pictures. I've changed up the slats so that there is a half-round piece that gets attached to the underside of the in-board leading edge slat. I've also added the wingtip change, recontoured the wing plate, and reshaped the outboard leading edge slat from the pictures I was sent. I've also included pictures of what it looks like on the ESCI kit. A couple of you asked, so I thought I'd see how it fit. Thanks for all the input. Another question: Should I include the intake plugs or let people get them on their own? It would raise the price by about $3. You just sold me! got a couple old ESCI kits that could definitely use a little upgrade! Trouble with doing plugs is the fit. Would you do do two sets...one for ESCI and one for Monogram? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Do you have a better shot of those intake covers??? Both on and off the model. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 You've outdone yourself Darren! I'd be up for ESCI mods as well (or these if they fit ESCI) considering I tend to prefer the ESCI kit to Monogram's. The cockpit walls aren't that big a draw for me, given BB and TD cockpit sets will fit into the ESCI kit reasonably well, but the exterior bits are a big necessity. As for something in the future, how about maybe putting together a set of stuff that can be used to turn a Monogram or ESCI kit into a B or N? Most of what is here can be used, so that would leave the IR seeker bulge (for Monogram's J as the C/D and Esci kits have it), the B wheels and the ECM bulges on the intakes for the N which are a little different shape, and maybe unslotted Navy style stabs. Don't worry about the thin wing as back filling and sanding the wing down can be done somewhat well enough by somebody who has a reasonable amount of kit modification experience. But having all the lumps and bumps for a B or N might be nice. Granted a thin wing plug might be nice to have, but I think it would be a bit too tricky to engineer at the fine tolerances needed for a project like this and it would probably have to be done two ways for the Monogram and Esci kits. Of course, I am sure somebody will probably chime in saying wait for Eduard's Phantom, but that has been vaporware for a few years and is likely to remain so for a few more. Besides, resin bits can be used for sacrifice to the model gods to hopefully give us a B/N! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Folks - as a general rule, when a post has a bunch of pictures in it, there is NO need to "quote" the entire message (including the pics). All that does is waste bandwidth and make the page slower to load. If you want to quote, remove the image links from the quote before you hit "Add Reply".Tks! J Thank you, I was just thinking the very same thing. :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Actually, in this case it was a good thing, as he changed the first set of photo's. I always feel some one is hiding something. But I am a proponent of not quoting photo threads just to say, "Nice Model". Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Actually, in this case it was a good thing, as he changed the first set of photo's. I always feel some one is hiding something.But I am a proponent of not quoting photo threads just to say, "Nice Model". Curt Just to make sure you know why I did it, I had recontoured and added some things and just edited my post so as not to add to the bandwidth consumption. I promise I wasn't trying to hide anything. I've made some more changes, and will probably change the pictures again to reflect those changes. My other thought was that someone wouldn't have to scroll all the way to the end of the post to see the new pictures. Here's a shot of the FOD plugs in action. If you need a closer shot, just let me know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Good to see that you added replacement wingtips. It may seem a minor thing, but I know there are some out there who, while they'd be capable of adding a part onto a model, wouldn't be as much up to the task of scratchbuilding something. Do you think that it would be easier, from a molding and modeling standpoint, to make the part so that it replaces the entire wingtip, instead of just the RHAW antennas? Just wondering out loud. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's actually really easy. You simply cut out a notch and the piece glues right in. I've tweaked the masters for the slats yet again, and this time I think I've finally captured the look of the Navy-style slat. I'll be pouring molds tonight, so the first test casts will be in the next day or two. I'll post pictures of what the new slats look like. The J updates for both the Monogram and Hasegawa (this will be the later in life antennas and the trunnion plates) will be ready in the next couple of weeks. The S updates for the Monogram and Hasegawa will be delayed just a tad so I can get enough slats cast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Oh, I know it's easy, I recently backdated a Monogram F-4J to an F-4B, and installed resin intakes that weren't originally designed for the Monogram kit, so adding the RHAW antennas that you'll be including in the conversion would be like falling off a log, as I say, I was just wondering out loud. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Hey, for all you Hasegawa F-4S owners, I was surfing the web when I came across a site that was selling Paragon corrected F-4S slats. They had them in all three major scales. I never knew Paragon had them. They look fantastic in the picture. Mine will be simplified, so if you're an AMSer, you might want to try and get ahold of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PlasticWeapons Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Hey, for all you Hasegawa F-4S owners, I was surfing the web when I came across a site that was selling Paragon corrected F-4S slats. They had them in all three major scales. I never knew Paragon had them. They look fantastic in the picture. Mine will be simplified, so if you're an AMSer, you might want to try and get ahold of them. Don't let it stop you...sorry I did know about the Paragon set some time back but it is for the Hasegawa kit so um, I kept quiet... Besides, I have a couple of Monogram Phantoms that will need some upgrades. Just because Black Box has an A-6 cockpit and rumors of a set from Aires is supposed to come out, is it stopping me? Nah. I wish I had a lot more free time to get stuff out faster but I'll be taking my time and doing my set right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Don't let it stop you...sorry I did know about the Paragon set some time back but it is for the Hasegawa kit so um, I kept quiet... Besides, I have a couple of Monogram Phantoms that will need some upgrades. Just because Black Box has an A-6 cockpit and rumors of a set from Aires is supposed to come out, is it stopping me? Nah. I wish I had a lot more free time to get stuff out faster but I'll be taking my time and doing my set right. I'll definitely continue with the upgrade for the Monogram kit. I'm sure some people will actually use it to upgrade their Hasegawa J kits as well. Speaking of which, hopefully there will be an announcement on this thread from another resin maker that we all know and love here on ARC very soon. I won't steal his thunder, but all you Phantom Phans will be happy. Check back and see! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
1/48 scale pilot Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 These are looking really nice Darren! I have 2 monogram j's and a hasegawa s that could all use a bit of love. I'll be in for at least enough to take care of those. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rickmb Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I'll definitely continue with the upgrade for the Monogram kit. I'm sure some people will actually use it to upgrade their Hasegawa J kits as well. Speaking of which, hopefully there will be an announcement on this thread from another resin maker that we all know and love here on ARC very soon. I won't steal his thunder, but all you Phantom Phans will be happy. Check back and see! Something to note is that the Paragon slats are deployed. Phantoms park with everything up. I can tell you from personal experience that working under one with everything down can be painful! To my eye they still don't quite capture that blunt leading edge of the real thing. Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsmith Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Speaking of which, hopefully there will be an announcement on this thread from another resin maker that we all know and love here on ARC very soon. I won't steal his thunder, but all you Phantom Phans will be happy. Check back and see! Thanks Darren I cleared this with Darren before I opened my big mouth, but I noticed that several people have been asking about a conversion for an F-4B/N. I am working on one right now for the Hasegawa J kit, and it will be product R050 in my line. If there is enough interest, I will make one for the Monogram kit too, minus the wing. Right now I am working on the scratch built gear doors, but I will start a new thread with some pictures once I make some more progress. Now back to your regularly scheduled programing Cheers, -Doug Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Something to note is that the Paragon slats are deployed. Phantoms park with everything up. I can tell you from personal experience that working under one with everything down can be painful!To my eye they still don't quite capture that blunt leading edge of the real thing. Rick I've revised my master a third time but haven't posted pictures yet. I think I've almost got it. I'll post in the next day or two to see what you all think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 10, 2009 Author Share Posted July 10, 2009 I've updated the pictures to reflect the latest revisions. I think I've got the slats pretty close. Now to start making a couple more molds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-ONE27 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 I'm definately on board for an F-4S update....finally I can see VMFA-321 as a moment of clarity...jus need some decals in 48. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 By the way, those trunnion plates on the wings look much better now, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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