chuck540z3 Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 (edited) Well Boys, this is my last build post for at least a month. I am going on an extended vacation and won't get back to handling plastic and glue until the New Year, which will be the first anniversary of the commencement of this build. As mentioned earlier, I am enjoying all the details and treating each stage as a separate model in itself. I will still have internet access and I'll still be able to respond to questions, etc., but there will not be any new build pics. To hold you over until then, I dug up a few of my favorites as I completed key stages along the way. I hope you have enjoyed viewing them as much as I have posting them! Edited December 3, 2011 by chuck540z3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Sooooo, I tore the sucker out!....A view from the side after a light sanding with 2000 grit sandpaper. This is just about right for angle and scale.... You want that recess line at the rear of the vent to be shallow, unlike how I had it before, so that you can envision it popping down flush when the engines are started.... I like that gun gas purge door MUCH better. As long as you're fixing things, that panel line on the right side by the cockpits for the Navy air refuel probe cover doesn't exist on USAF machines. Here's a shot I took of the derelict F-4C that shows that area, as you can see it's just one solid piece of sheetmetal, no cutouts or panel lines: I still don't care for the access panels sticking out on the sides of the intakes, but if you prefer it... She's looking really sweet otherwise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 3, 2011 Author Share Posted December 3, 2011 I like that gun gas purge door MUCH better. As long as you're fixing things, that panel line on the right side by the cockpits for the Navy air refuel probe cover doesn't exist on USAF machines. Here's a shot I took of the derelict F-4C that shows that area, as you can see it's just one solid piece of sheetmetal, no cutouts or panel lines: I still don't care for the access panels sticking out on the sides of the intakes, but if you prefer it... She's looking really sweet otherwise. NOW you tell me! Haha, just kidding. Better to fix things now than regret doing them later. It's going to be tough getting into that area between the "Splitter" ( :P ) and the fuselage, but it can be done- so it will be. I agree about the raised access panels, but removing them does present a problem. As you may recall, the rear larger one was on the DMold intakes and the front smaller one wasn't there at all. Normally with plastic, like the other raised panels, it was no sweat to sand them down and then re-scribe new panels and rivets. On resin, though, the resin easily chips and new panel lines can look rough. My first attempt was crappy, hence the new vinyl ones, which I think look better than anything I can re-scribe into resin. It's a compromise that still bugs me though, so I may rip them off and try again- or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 NOW you tell me! Haha, just kidding. Better to fix things now than regret doing them later. It's going to be tough getting into that area between the "Splitter" ( :P ) and the fuselage, but it can be done- so it will be. I agree about the raised access panels, but removing them does present a problem. As you may recall, the rear larger one was on the DMold intakes and the front smaller one wasn't there at all. Normally with plastic, like the other raised panels, it was no sweat to sand them down and then re-scribe new panels and rivets. On resin, though, the resin easily chips and new panel lines can look rough. My first attempt was crappy, hence the new vinyl ones, which I think look better than anything I can re-scribe into resin. It's a compromise that still bugs me though, so I may rip them off and try again- or not. Wow, that is a dilemma. How about ripping off the scab panels and just draw the panel lines in? Might not even be noticeable that they aren't scribed, I'm hoping. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Have a great vacation, Chuck. We'll be waiting with bated breath for your next photo update in the New Year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gene K Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I am going on an extended vacation .... Merry Christmas, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your craftsmanship after the New Year. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netanel Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Chuck, superb job! Waiting for the next to come... I made a master of 1/32 pave-spike pod for IsraDecal and it will be available soon. Netanel Edited December 5, 2011 by Netanel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Chuck, superb job! Waiting for the next to come... I made a master of 1/32 pave-spike pod for IsraDecal and it will be available soon. Netanel Wow Netanel! That pod looks fantastic and is at least 10 times better than anything I could scratch build. Thanks for the heads-up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Wow Netanel! That pod looks fantastic and is at least 10 times better than anything I could scratch build. Thanks for the heads-up. I agree, it looks like you did an incredible job on the master, Natanel. I'll be buying one for sure! If ever you want to take a minute and describe the process you use for making such a work of art, I'd love to read it. Chuck, hope you have a great vacation and holiday, and I'll be looking forward to your return. I hope to have some progress on my F-4D to show you as well. Scott W. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Chuck, Enjoy your looong vacation... no doubt deserved after all that F-4 sweat ;) Cheers, Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Youngtiger1 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Chuck, looks awesome dude!! You're just knocking out one master build after another!! Scott, is there something wrong with your photobucket cause I'm not seeing your photos or is it just my computer? Anyway, keep up the good work guys. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zaxos345 Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 AWESOME JUST THAT, Chuck you are an artist!!! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 (edited) Scott, is there something wrong with your photobucket cause I'm not seeing your photos or is it just my computer? Anyway, keep up the good work guys. Mike Nothing wrong except too many people are looking at the too many photos I've posted and I went over Photobucket's bandwidth limit. They should be back up at the start of "my" next month, the which is the 19th (tomorrow as I write this). I posted a few photos without compressing the files, not knowing Photobucket has such a limit. I plan to spend some time getting rid of the larger files so this hopefully won't happen again. Scott W. Edited December 18, 2011 by Scott R Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yannis Thomas Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Great job, mate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 (edited) Thank you very much guys for the kind comments. I especially enjoy the feedback from a few Greek modelers, because for some reason, some of the very best models come from the great skills out of Greece. Is it the Mediterranean sunshine and Ouzo? I've been to Greece and I love it- especially the Greek islands. Financial crisis or not, your country is beautiful. Right now I'm trapped without access to plastic or glue and I really miss progressing with this F-4E build. Don't feel too sorry for me, however, since I'm looking at palm trees and white sand as I type. I must be a sick modeler like many of you for even thinking such a thing!- but I take comfort in the fact I'm not alone. A modeling break can be a very good thing, because I have a few new ideas to make this model even better than first planned, with time off to think about some of the future challenges. I promise you won't be disappointed and thanks for your continued interest. BTW, as many of you have no doubt noticed, the dates posted at the beginning of this build do not change unless there is actual new modeling, to save you from checking in with each new post if you don't want to. Chuck Edited December 19, 2011 by chuck540z3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brown Bear Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Chuck, Thanks to you I now own 2 Tamiya 1/32 F-4J's and can't wait to start on them. Your build has defnintely been inspiring to say the least. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zaxos345 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Chuck my friend, thanks for your kind words for us, by the way, where exactly are you ''trapped''? I can assemble a rescue team consisting of me, myself, and a friend of mine, me, asap to come in to save you, :lol: :lol: Have a nice vacation... John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 (edited) Chuck my friend, thanks for your kind words for us, by the way, where exactly are you ''trapped''? I can assemble a rescue team consisting of me, myself, and a friend of mine, me, asap to come in to save you, :lol: :lol: Have a nice vacation... John Thanks John. The answer is Maui, Hawaii. Enough said- although I'm not trying to brag. Well, maybe just a little...:lol: I have a little modeling history with Greece, ever since my friend Alex of Hellenic Modelers did this with his computer to my Lancaster build. I still can't believe it's not a pic of the real deal. Note the added pilot! Edited December 19, 2011 by chuck540z3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zaxos345 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) Great modelling Chuck , i know about your Lancaster build and i also know this crazy dude Alex!! All the best, John Edited December 20, 2011 by zaxos345 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brett M Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Enjoy the break in Maui! I've stayed in a house we rented in Kihei, one of the best trips I've ever had. Can't wait to see more of your progress, especially since you're at the paint stage. Brett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Well boys, I'm finally back and after a good day of modeling, I have a small update. Thanks to Scott I have discovered that the side panel where the F-4J refueling probe goes does not exist on the F-4E, soooooo.... ... and after some careful sanding in a difficult and tight location, all is better now. I should have done this earlier, so make sure you get rid of this panel before you get this far in the build. Another thing I should have done earlier is to modify the vent at the bottom rear of the vari-ramp. Tamiya supplies a 2 duct vent at the top which is fairly accurate (see above), but for the bottom duct they just left a big square hole. There should be roughly a 3 duct vent at the bottom, with the inner duct larger than the outer 2. These ducts are MUCH more complicated that just adding a few vent blades out of styrene, but it's better than nothing at all..... On my next F-4 I'll detail and thin this vent during assembly to make it more accurate. I doubt most people would notice anyway. One other error to the vent is the bottom panel line, which should angle towards the inner corner of the vent (red line below) instead of parallel to it.... I filled the old panel line with CA glue and re-scribed a better one on each side. Much better now.... While I fool around with pylons and ordnance, I thought it might be timely to start painting this monster so that I can let the enamel paint thoroughly dry between the application of each color. This is the ugly duckling stage of pre-shading and thin paint. I like to overdo the pre-shading a bit because I can always tone it down with more paint later. After pre-shading, I added the lighter Dark Tan (FS 30219) first without worrying too much about masking tape lines because the darker green camo colors will cover the demarcation line. This demarcation will be slightly fuzzy if I do it right to replicate the free-hand application of the camo color scheme.... The underside only has one shade of Camouflage Gray (FS 36622), so the painting of the bottom is done, other than pylons and ordnance I`ll add later. I think the pre-shading is just about perfect..... A close-up.... The front. Note the new vents and modified panel lines.... That`s it for now boys. Thanks for your continued interest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brewer Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Wow, finally some color on it! Looks great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 That`s it for now boys. Thanks for your continued interest. Looking GREAT! I want to modify my vari-ramps the way you did, looks much better. Chuck, the small blade antenna just behind the nose gear well is only on the F-4C and D after they deleted the lower TACAN antenna on the rear nose gear door. It doesn't belong on an F-4E at all. Glad you had a good holiday, welcome back! Scott W. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nimrod77 Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Lovely as always Chuck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Happy New Year, Chuck. I'll be watching your paint technique with interest, to see how the pre-shading looks under the various camo colours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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