Major Walt Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 That's what makes a modeler. Part artist and part engineer. I've had my share of those issues as well. Seeing your amazing work makes me eager to get back in the saddle again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Sacred grass muncher! You really have your work cut out for you (no pun intended) :P Gonna follow with great great great interest! Cheers and good luck :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jgrease Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Wow! I can't wait to see more of this - enjoy! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 A little progress to update you on with the big Phantom... I've continued to work on getting the nose section correct in profile, and I think I'm just about there: S1030127 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Apologies once again for the vile colour she's in - Halfords' filler-primer is certainly not the most pleasing on the eye... I have now removed the forward undercarriage bay ready for the bay itself to be built and detailed: S1030131 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And have also started work on the upper part of the cockpit structure. It's important to get this area done first, as I needed to work out the position of the canopy etc., as well as where the cockpit tub below needs to be positioned when it comes to making that: S1030132 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr With a test-fit of the canopy it's starting to actually resemble a Phantom! S1030134 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The nose shape is certainly getting there now, but I still need to do some fettling with the extreme nose, but that'll be done in due course: S1030137 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Onwards and upwards, as the old saying goes... Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Awesome peogress! You're really getting it there shapewise! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chek Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) A little progress to update you on with the big Phantom... I've continued to work on getting the nose section correct in profile, and I think I'm just about there: Tom Tom, there's something not quite right about the pinched-in nose at its max just under the forward edge of the windscreen. The forward fuselage should be a constant section with the underside flaring out to match the radome diameter. At present it has a tornado-type aspect, which actual Phantoms don't have. Here's a photo (it's an F-4J but the nose is identical to a Spey Phantom). You should be able to flip the image horizontally in MS Paint or your favourite graphic program to orient it as per your photos above and see what I mean. Edited October 17, 2015 by chek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) Tommy, You're certainly making outstanding progress. Excellent start to both the cockpit and front wheel well framing. At 1st I didn't understand, nor see what Chek was pointing out. But after really looking at those pictures, you can see where your nose section tapers in towards the new grafted on nose, while the display Phantom is level and smooth right to the tip of the nose cone. Is that something that you can address? Joel Edited October 18, 2015 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 18, 2015 Author Share Posted October 18, 2015 Check and Joel, It's certainly something I'll look at; there are lots of bulkheads etc to be made and installed which will influence the shape, as currently it's just a hollow shell. I'm on on holiday for a week from tomorrow so will return with fresh eyes and all that... Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aurora Mark Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Absolutely brilliant work! Watching this one very closely as all your work. If I can't build mine, I can certainly build vicariously through your build thread! Cheers from actually not too far away from you. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Absolutely brilliant work! Watching this one very closely as all your work. If I can't build mine, I can certainly build vicariously through your build thread! Cheers from actually not too far away from you. Mark Cheers, Mark - and where are you? After spending a week away from the bench in beautiful North Norfolk I've returned with fresh eyes and am raring to continue with the Phantom. It also helped seeing one in the flesh (or at least the nose of one) at the fantastic museum at Horsham St. Faith (a former RAF and USAAF base, but now Norwich Airport) and taking a few reference shots. It also helped to solve the nose shape issue that had been bothering me - in the picture below you can see that the grafting of the new nose solved the issue with the radome droop, but it left it looking a little 'pinched' and it was certainly something that had been bugging me and it didn't quite look 'right': S1030137 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr These reference shots show that there is definitely a change in the contour of the nose, and there is also a slight pinch where the intake duct sits, but on my effort it was too pronounced: IMG_3724 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr IMG_3727 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr IMG_3717 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr IMG_3729 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr So, it was once again out with the car body filler to build up the indentation. I've also opted to slice off the radome for the time being as I feel this still needs some tweaking and re-shaping: S1030147 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr I added some plastic card to the side of the fuselage with was placed at the correct position and depth, and then simply sanded the filler until the plastic card inserts showed through - this told me I was at the correct depth and profile. It now, at least to me eye, looks a lot better: S1030149 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr S1030138 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr S1030145 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr It's still not perfect, but a lot better than it was. I'll no doubt do a little more in due course, but I'll work on and reattach the nose cone first, as well as add the intakes on either side which will give it more of the 'Phantom look'... Until next time, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Tommy, Your body work is truly outstanding. Just out of curiosity, is at a private cockpit collection? Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Tommy, Your body work is truly outstanding. Just out of curiosity, is at a private cockpit collection? Joel Joel, The cockpits are part of the museum's collection. They've a few there and it was great to see them up so close. I took a lot of pictures of the F-4 cockpit for references, as well as the intake area etc for when the time comes. We have a few Spey versions preserved over here thankfully, so visiting the real thing won't be too problematic for taking measurements etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Was the base RAF Sculthorpe perhaps? That's the base I was born on :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Was the base RAF Sculthorpe perhaps? That's the base I was born on :)/> No, Horsham St Faith. Scunthorpe isn't far away though, and although closed it's complete and still used occasionally for military exercises etc. They say you can't travel for more than 5 miles in Norfolk and Suffolk without coming across an airfield. For an aviation enthusiast it's heaven! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Gorgeous body work! I'm staying glued to this channel :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TommyP Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Afternoon all, With the shape of the nose coming on nicely, I thought it was time to have a think about the interior. The kit supplies a basic cockpit floor and side consoles, but I had a quick look at the parts and thought it would be far better to build my own. The kit part did provide a useful template for making the basic floor the correct shape however, but that's about it. With the floor cut out of think plastic card, I then used my trusty profile gauge to make the rear bulkheads, side consoles and the basic shape for the instrument panels. S1030167 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The cockpit floor also forms the roof of the nose landing gear bay, so whilst I was at it I boxed that in, too. S1030162 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr It now sits nice and snugly in the nose section: S1030164 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr As you can see this is just the basic outline of the cockpit structure, but you've got to start somewhere... S1030160 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr S1030158 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr S1030155 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr There are some unsightly gaps where the kit follows the contours of the splitter-plate mouldings, but these will be addressed with some cockpit sidewalls in due course: S1030152 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr So now the real fun will start - fitting it out with a mass of internal detail... Until next time, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Looking good, dude ! I wish Combat Models would do an F-111 'Vark platform. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Great work Tom!!! Keep it up!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Tommy, The start to the cockpit looks great. I'm already envisioning a super detailed cockpit. In 1/24 scale, that should be something else. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K5054NZ Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Awesome start to the interior, Tom! That's already a major improvement on the supplied part. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 This guys good !!! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Oooooooh, joy! Now the fun really begins:D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dragan_mig31 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Great work so far.Can`t wait to see you scratching the interior details. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chek Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) The nose is looking much better with the pinch built up now Tom. One other Phantom Phoible to watch out for is that the nose section at the radome is not circular, but is flattened off forward of the windscreen/windshield as an aid for the pilot's visibility. The illustration below is, again, not a Spey Toom, but all short noses are the same; Edited November 7, 2015 by chek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jester292 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Wow, this is amazing craftsmanship. You're a very talented modeler. I'll be following! I'm already learning a lot about scratch building. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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