tomfomes Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Beautiful work Marcel! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Outstanding, Marcel! I'm so glad you decided to persevere and complete this Phantom. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) So, things really are very close to the finish line. :cheers:/>/> Marcel I'm really hoping it isn't too late for you to correct the main landing gear wheels. The inboard hubs were never painted as they could get red hot on landings especially if there was a problem with the drag chute, and the paint would've burned off. The outboard hubs were painted but often very dirty from accumulated dirt, brake dust and grease. Here are some photos I took over the years to illustrate this: Here's a couple of the outboard side: Edited November 10, 2014 by Scott R Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 As an additional detail modelers might be interested I thought I'd mention you really don't need to worry too much about adding tire tread to those kits whose wheels don't have much or any. We generally left tires on the jet until the tread was really worn. When the forecast was for less chance of rain we actually kept tires on the plane well after the tread was completely gone, changing them only after some cords started to show or the tire got a cut that was deep beyond specified limits. Here are two tires showing varying degrees of wear: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 For your added pleasure and inspiration, here's an official USAF photo I scanned off the cover of a Japanese magazine long ago that shows a pretty dirty airplane. Note that this was taken before the 1980s when smokeless engines were adopted, so you see the exhaust soot on the blast panels behind the nozzles and also some soot staining on the stabilators. I'd love to find a better rendition of this photo some day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
geedubelyer Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Beautiful finish Marcel. This is another work of art. Great job. Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 :worship: Marcel,,EXCEPTIONAL workmanship.. Looking EXQUISITE :wub: Scott Nice phbots form you too showing details. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kike Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Watching some pics of refueling phantoms I saw a couple with chipping marks where the probe went in, wouldn't Chico had the same marks? I like how you treated the ventral tank, looks better IMHO! regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) Big thx for all the support! Scott, thx for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I repainted the inside of the main wheels, that took all of 5 minutes using gunmetal, sort of dry-brushed on. The outside wheels remain quite white although I have tried to weather them a little. I did also add the scratching ahead of the refueling receptacle and corrected that embarrassing screw up on the gun door. The model is pretty much complete now, save for some very minor final additions. I finished the seats together with Navy versions for an upcoming J I will build (apologies for the poor photo quality): I took some better pics of the Navy seats. The NO STEP decals were custom printed, these markings seem to be very prevalent on the Navy seats. And here are the AF variants safely placed in Chico: On this pic, notice the scratches ahead of the refueling receptacle and the beacon antenna behind the rear cockpit: More pics coming very soon. :cheers:/> Marcel Edited November 20, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) Looking GREAT Marcel!! I love it- including the revised intake lips that are worn metal rather than left that way on purpose. Your seats are also killer and I love the ejection hoops, which are very hard to do cleanly. I do have a small suggestion, however, which is an easy fix or I'd shut up. That little circular clear navigation light behind the bigger circular antenna and cockpit has a subtle trim piece on the outside edge that should be painted. If you look carefully at it, it also has tiny rivet detail on it. If it's glued in already, make a small circular mask for the middle of it and paint it and the panel around it, which will shrink the light to about 50% of its current size. That panel looks pretty clean, so the paint revision should not look obvious. Just a suggestion. That light is left that way about 90% of the time, so you're not alone. Edited November 20, 2014 by chuck540z3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) Looking GREAT Marcel!! I love it- including the revised intake lips that are worn metal rather than left that way on purpose. Your seats are also killer and I love the ejection hoops, which are very hard to do cleanly. I do have a small suggestion, however, which is an easy fix or I'd shut up. That little circular clear navigation light behind the bigger circular antenna and cockpit has a subtle trim piece on the outside edge that should be painted. If you look carefully at it, it also has tiny rivet detail on it. If it's glued in already, make a small circular mask for the middle of it and paint it and the panel around it, which will shrink the light to about 50% of its current size. That panel looks pretty clean, so the paint revision should not look obvious. Just a suggestion. That light is left that way about 90% of the time, so you're not alone. Thx Chuck! Not sure I'll touch the navigation light, don't think I would ever have noticed that and I'm just kinda scared of screwing things up at this stage. That said, I have noticed a bloop now that the model is standing at near eye level in my display cabinet, which is that there is some green poking through on the leading edge of the port wing where it shouldn't be, not sure how I could have missed that before. So that will be fixed tomorrow. Here are some almost-complete pics in the mean time. Only thing I am still doing now is fixing that green leading edge thing. The little window in front of the arrestor hook dashpot charge gauge has since been added, together with some detail. I'll take many more pics after that final fix tomorrow. After that, I may have to break my commitment to doing the VMFA-212 F-4J, I feel I need a break from Phantoms. I will however complete the F-4J weapons, I have invested a bunch in those Zunis so keen to see how those work out. My next project will however be the big Trumpeter EA-18G, in VAQ-132 guise (the one with the brown camo tail): Pic Still waiting for the kit in the mail but am really excited about the project. :cheers:/>/> Marcel Edited November 21, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 :jaw-dropping: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kike Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Awesome build Marcel! Great motivation to get better watching your builds even tho you make it look easy! Looking forward to that next build!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) Thx Clif, thx Kike! This build is now done! I will be posting a large number of pics, apologize if this gets boring but after 1.5 years I feel I need to show off a little. First off, some overall pics: ... Edited November 23, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) Gunpod pics are next... Edited November 23, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) A salute to the SUU-23... Some close-up are next... Edited November 23, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 Well, that all, folks! Next up some heavy weapons work for the Marines F-4J, and then it's Growler time Thx for all the encouragement and tips on accuracy throughout this build, I truly appreciate it. Cheers, Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shan Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 WOW, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!! THATS ONE MEAN LOOKING BIRD. FANTASTIC MODELLING AND RESCUE. DO YOU HAVE A HEAD ON PICTURE? THAT'D BE COOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) Chico looks awesome Marcel. A lot of work, and a beautiful result. Great photography too! :thumbsup: Edited November 23, 2014 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 FANTASTIC! And to think you put this baby away with the risk it would never be finished. It just goes to show, the very best modeling is making saves and solving big problems. You did it Buddy and thanks for sharing all your progress. As expected, those guns are very, very special. Bravo! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Viper316 Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Marcel, That is hands down the best scale example of that aircraft I have seen. Thanks for sharing all of your work. Rod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkey Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 What a fantastic build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott R Wilson Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Really came out beautiful! Great job! Scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Great job, Marcel. I commend you for carrying on instead of reacting on impulse and tossing Chico into the trash can. Your perseverance has paid off in spades. Well done! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bravosierra001 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 That looks awesome!!! A true work of art that you should be very proud of!! Brandon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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