RKic Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) I started working on this neat little kit over the weekend. It is a direct copy of the excellent 1/48 kit, and thus features tons of beautiful details. I started with the cockpit, which is probably the best 1/72 pit I've ever seen. You may notice that the seat bottoms are part of the tub. I have yet to add the backs. The cockpit was added to the fuselage and the two halves were closed. There was a good deal of sanding along the midline (but not much putty was needed). One common complaint against raised panel lines is that they're difficult to reconstruct. Not so. Just run a knife blade across the line. This causes a ridge of plastic to rise on either side of the cut. Coat the ridges with cement to fuse them and voilĂ ! Instant panel line. Here is an example. There was a big chunk of the tail missing from my kit. I replaced it with the tail tip from a Hasegawa kit. Not a perfect match, so a goodly amount of Mr. White Putty went on. The dreaded intakes are next. Edited October 14, 2015 by RKic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phasephantomphixer Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Nice to see such attention to the old girl. Another way to reset those raised lines after the cut is to just rub the line back and forth. Another thing I want to try on a raised line kit (as long as the detail is accurate) is to micromesh over the line so it comes through the paint, as long as the plastic is a good color. Been wanting to do this with the 1/48 Monogram A-10. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 If you decide to add a crew, make sure that they sit right. I built the C/D-version of Monograms F-4 and had to "raise" the pilots. http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=268844&st=0 Before: After: HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 If only Monogram had rescribed this kit... Looks pretty nice, good save on that fin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 Thanks guys. HAJO, maybe it was just a very short guy flying? :) Thadeus, the raised lines actually look more like the lapped panels on a real phantom, than recessed panels. I grew up with raised panel lines though. So to each his own. :) Phasephantomphixer, I tried what you're suggesting. I primed the model with a tough autobody black enamel and then painted with acrylics. The micromeshing cleaned the panel lines, but also removed some paint elsewhere, and made the model look a little dirty. I guess it works if that is the effect you're after, but I prefer a clean look. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Nice work! I had that kit, one of the best 1/72 Phantoms out there. Isn't that the kit that gives you the correct NAVY version rear cockpit with the blanked off right side where the refueling probe is? The only problem I remember having was the burner cans. Looking good.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 yes, this has the inserts for the rear cockpit, I just didn't get a photo of the pit after I installes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 The intake fit wasn't great, but also not as terrible as I've been made to think. Some filling requires on the starboard. But almost none at port These will look just fine after a little sanding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spectre711 Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) These kits are great if you don't get a warped one. I have two lined up once the Skyraiders are done. Edited October 18, 2015 by Spectre711 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 Yeah, I love these kits. Here she is almost ready for primer. Just need to mask up the front half of the canopy and fashion some sort of HUD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RKic Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 I'm so pissed! I was getting ready to paint the bare metal parts of the kit when I realized I'm missing one of the horizontal stabilizers. Where the heck am I going to get a replacement for a kit thats been OOP for 30 years?!? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Would 1/72 Hasegawa F-4J stabs work? Got some in the "boneyard"---John Edited October 25, 2015 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spectre711 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Post something in the Spare Box area. I was looking for the lower fuselage/wing section for the Phantom build and got one there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Looking good Ralph! Found a solution for the missing stab yet? And which markings will it get? One small thing, those antenna thingies on the intakes were a post war addition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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