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  • 2 weeks later...

Here's the latest update on my QF4 build. I took a good luck at what still needs to be done and the time remaining and I doubt that I will make the deadline. While there are about 3 weeks left, I'll be gone for a few of them with work and vacation (IPMS Nats), so I will probably not rush this build.

Since my last post, I have shot a coat of the gray fuselage color and then masked and painted the international orange trim. It is not drying but I will need to do some paint touchups before I go much further. I had two somewhat minor problems crop up that require a small repaint. I had some orange creep in under my masking on the left side of the Phantom. You can see it in the last photo below. Not a major problem, but I will need to take the time to sand the overspray out and reshoot a little gray to blend things in. I also had painted the stabs in their orange color. But I was way too hasty! I shot the orange over Alclad which came out looking like a dark orange when compared to the orange trim on the fuselage. Drats! I wanted to save having to shoot another gray coat and it came up and bit me. I plan on shooting gray over the orange stabs a to lighten things up and then respray the orange. While I am shooting this orange coat, I'll also reshoot a few small areas on the main body trim that was not filly painted like the leading edge on one wing. So, it is two steps forward and one step backward!

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Have fun modeling!

Mike

:cheers:/>/>

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Thanks guys! :)/> I really appreciate the motivation! I did some light sanding on the orange overspray areas and it cleaned up reasonably well. A light overspray with gray should blend everything together now. Now it is just a series of masking and paint coats (with drying between applications) that stands between me and decaling. Still on my list to apply in some sort of order: another gray coat, another application of international orange, a different light shade of orange on the tail, black antiglare panel on the nose and the bare metal exhaust area. I can see daylight at the end of the tunnel!Have fun modeling!Mike :cheers:/>

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Guys! Here is the latest update on my drone saga. I got this sucker painted! Well, at least the major parts as I will need to do some detailing after I get past the decal stage. I finished painting the black antiglare panel and metal exhaust area. Also note in the photos that the top part of the tail is a different color orange (faded/discolored). On the real aircraft, it looks like they replaced this part from another more weathered & faded aircraft as the different fin cap is noticeable. Another small variation (it is not a masking mistake, although I have my share of those! :whistle:/> ) is the offset in black for the antiglare panel. On the real aircraft, it looks like the swopped out a different nose cone after it was painted at slightly different locations. I also corrected/repaired the various over sprayed areas seen in the previous photos. Now I just need to let this dry a bit and it is on to the decals!

Have fun modeling!

Mike

:cheers:/>/>

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Well, it looks like I fell short on this GB. It has been great following all of the outstanding builds in this GB. TI think this has been one of the most active builds that I have participated in. Thanks for the great inspiration, everyone! :salute:/>/>/>

Here's the sum of my progress as the clock ticks the minutes until the GB is closed. My Phantom now sports the markings and a lot of color. I ended today's session with getting the last of the decals on the model:

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After everything dries I need to clean up the decal solution stains, paint the different details on the aircraft, do some light weathering and then spray on a semi-gloss coat. Finally, all the bits and pieces get added like the ejection seat, canopies, gear doors and gear, etc. and I can call this done. I like the way it is looking so far so I don't plan on rushing it at this late stage.

I'll add some more posts on my progress in the next few weeks so I can close out my efforts.

Have fun modeling!

Mike

:cheers:/>/>/>

Edited by Mike J. Idacavage
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sad you didn't make it on time for the deadline... on the other hand, it seems that you'll end up with a beautiful model! (which is more important)

seeing you latest photos convince me i'll have to do a drone Phantom in my future! hope you'll show us your finished works when done!

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Wow Mike,

your drone come out very,very,very nice and ,as said mingwin,is better for you to take all the time you need to finish a great model that respect the GB deadline.

Keep this thread updated until the finish,I will follow to the end! :thumbsup:

Gianni

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Thanks guys! I really appreciate the support. I will definitely finish this drone and will post the completed photos along with any remaining in-progress shots in this thread. I wish I could have made the deadline but like mingwin and kurnass77 said, it is better that I take my time and not screw it up with the end in sight. I have now cleaned up the model from the decal solution stains and have started the detail painting. I did not realize how many little things still need to be done! My brush painting skills are not the best and it looks like I will need to touch up some of the gray and orange parts as I got a little sloppy when painting the edges of the lowered flaps red.

Have fun modeling!

Mike

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  • 2 months later...

Well, I managed to finally phinish this Phantom! Work got in the way along with some building problems with the Phantom, but I managed to wrap this project up this weekend. I wanted to close the loop on my build for this group, so here are the photos of the finished model. Thanks to all the participants who made this a really fun GB!

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Have fun modeling!

Mike

:cheers:/>/>

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Thanks guys! I am glad that you liked the Phantom. I wish that I was able to finish this by the end of the GB, but better late than never! I am also impressed that people still look at the retired GBs. You all are a great lesson in not giving up on a GB if one happens to miss the completion date.

The boarding ladder is an Airwaves photoetch Phantom ladder that I have had in my stash for quite a few years. I think they may still be available from Hannants. With the drone that I built having only one seat, I thought this was a good way to highlight that fact.

Have fun modeling

Mike

:cheers:/>

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