F-4B VF-84 Jolly Rogers

[john53]

This is my relaxing nostalgia build, or so I thought. I am using the old

1965 Revell F-4B kit in 1/72 scale. I am going to fix a few flaws but don't

want to go overboard. I was going to put a cockpit in but not much can be seen

so I decided to paint it up, put the figures in then take some copper wire and

make face curtain pulls for the ejection seat tops. I want to put a decent weapons

load on which isn't in this old kit, so I will purchase a weapons set. I also need

dig up a center line tank, dual sidewinder launchers with MERs underneath. I cut

the wing tanks off their pylons and have used the empty pylons on the outermost

wing station. I also angled the burner cans down about 10 degrees, Revell had them

straight out following the fuselages center line. The only weapons usable are the

Sparrows of which I will use 2 in the rear wells only. Here's where I am at.---John

Edited September 10, 2015 by john53

[john53]

A couple of more pictures.---John

[john53]

I have the white painted on the undersides, stabs, tail. I wanted to paint the

white with the center line tank on but haven't located one yet. Gull gray will

be next.---John

[Major Walt]

Brings back memories! Looking good! I'm a big fan of the F-4

[mikkod]

Yes. This is great model. Really enjoyed to building it. Cant wait to see it finished.

[john53]

Just took masks off. The gull gray top and white bottom are done. I need to

do some touch up then paint burner cans and metallic area under the tail then

the nose. Still searching for center line drop tank and inner pylons to add

stores to.---John

[plasticWerks_JL]

Really clean-looking, john. How's the fit on this?

[john53]

The fit isn't too bad. The intakes had gaps, the burner cans were on center line and

should have been tilted down 15 or 20 degrees or so so I shimmed them. There is not

much else to "fit". All Revell gives you is 2 wing gas bags and 4 Sparrows. I am currently

on the hunt for inner pylons and a center line drop tank.---John

[plasticWerks_JL]

Looks like a nice kit for it's age, can't wait to see more

I'll be sure to check in again to see how the build progresses!

Edited September 20, 2015 by plasticWerks_JL

[kurnass77]

Ehi Jhon,great model!

If you still need them,I've a centerline tank and a pair of Navy style inner pylons for you.Unlucky,I've only one of the Winder rails.

But in these early years of service,seldome the Navy armed the inner pylons of the CAP' Phantoms with a pair of Aim-9B ( if you need them I can send you a couple og Hasegawa's)and an Aim-7D/E.I programmed this load out for my future VF-21 jet.

Let me know if interested.

Gianni

[john53]

Thanks Gianni! I have the nose painted semi-gloss black and started painting the

metalic area around the tail.---John

[kurnass77]

Clean paint mate!

I sent you a PM,check your message box.

Gianni

[john53]

Thanks Gianni, message sent. I painted the nose with Tamiya semi gloss

and it was spotty looking, some areas flat looking some glossy so I gave

it a coat with my "witches brew". It's 1/2 water and 1/2 Pledge, AKA Future.

It now is all one tone, glossy but not super glossy, the water cuts the

glossiness down a bit. I am using Hasegawa center line tank and wing pylons

so I used the dimensions from my J kit to locate the hole layout in the

Revell model.The two kits are close but the Revell looks a bit off according

to Haseawas dimensions, maybe a bit short as compared to Hasegawa. It is

moving along, slow but steady.---John

[kurnass77]

Ehi John great job.

Tommorrow morning I'll send you the package:a centerline tank ( Fujimi if I remember correctly),two inner pylons,the Winder rails,two Aim-9B from hasegawa and a Sparrow with all the guidance/control fins to be loaded on the inner pylon.

Two things:first,I think the Sparrow is an Aim.7M so you probably need to slightly convert in order to obtain an -7D/E;second remember to cut the pylon adapter for external stores,as if my mind is still working,tha Aim-7 was carried directely to the pylons.

Gianni.

[john53]

Thanks. I have the metalic area under the tail done, burner cans and tailhook done.

The nose looks good now all one hue.---John

[john53]

I painted the gear doors the other day. I am guessing I have to paint the edges of

the doors red. I ask because I ran across a picture of an early war Vietnam F-4B

and it didn't look to have red edges, might have been the angle it was at. When did

the "red edge scourge" begin? Thanks---John

[john53]

The main gear and doors are on, the holes have been drilled for the center

line fuel tank and wing pylons. I painted the red edges of the doors with a

Sharpie fine marker. Nose landing gear are next. The wheels look a bit enemic,

I measured them at 8mm, my Hasegawa 1/72 F-4B wheels are 10mm. Who is right?---John

[john53]

I put some decals on while awaiting the final parts arrival. I have

a bit of a problem. The NAVY decal that came with Superscale decals

was way over sized. I checked my stripe location with actual photos

from VF-84 in 1964 and it is right where it is suppose to be. So I

"borrowed" a NAVY from my 1/72 Hasegawa F-4B/N and it fit PERFECT!

The problem is now the "USS Independence" decal won't fit the

Hasegawa NAVY, it is about 28 to 30mm long and the old NAVY, no

pun intended, was 38mm long. Does anyone have a USS Independence

decal at about 28-30mm long? Thanks---John

Edited October 5, 2015 by john53

[godfrey1775]

Hi John - I'd be very happy to custom print you the decal for USS Independence and send it to you. If interested, PM me.