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Hiko Kaihatsu Jikken-dan RF-4EJ


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I started this one in the Test Bird Group Build, but was not able to finish it time.

Since the Group Build has been moved to the archive, it makes sense to post the final part of the build over here!

I've never tried the technique of doing black base on which the camo is been sprayed. I always used to do pre- and post shading (often I did too much..).

So why not give this a try!?

_Y8A9425.jpg

_Y8A9428.jpg

I still have decals for an all over Black German F-4F, seeing this result makes me wanna build that one next ;)

More to follow this evening!

Thanks for watching!

Daniƫl

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It will be interesting to see how the black undercoat works out. Never tried it myself.

I took a look at the start of the build, and I really like the detail parts that you added. In 1/72nd scale that is awesome. If I might offer a suggestion, stay away from the green putty. It stinks and it shrinks. I've had great success with the Bondo spot and glaze putty. It smells, but not as bad as the green stuff, plus I have found the shrinkage to be negligible.

Good work so far!

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Thanks for your comments!!

If I might offer a suggestion, stay away from the green putty. It stinks and it shrinks. I've had great success with the Bondo spot and glaze putty. It smells, but not as bad as the green stuff, plus I have found the shrinkage to be negligible.

Thanks a lot, since I've already used it a lot on this, I'll finish what I've got left and make sure to stay away from it for the builds to come!

Is the l'Arsenal ASTAC pod the same as the one used by the Japanese Air Force?

I am not sure who build the Japanese pods, but looking at pics I cannot see any differences between the French pod and the Japanese (nor the one the Greeks use on their RF-4E's). What is different though is the pylon used. It's not the one that's used on the SLAR pod.

For that reason I'm trying to modify the pylon using some F-5 leftovers. Looks a bit iffy on the pic, but got good hopes It'll turn into something realistic..

_Y8A9429.jpg

_Y8A9431.jpg

I still might build the SLAR pod as well, thinking about adding the protective cover plate in the front.

I find it easier to paint the aft section first and mask it up once done. This way i can handle the kit without making fingerprints on it.

_Y8A9434.jpg

The burnt metal area's have been painted with Humbrol 27003 Metal Cote and still have to be polished.

The rest is done with Alclad White Aluminium, Dark Aluminium and Duraluminium. On top of that I sprayed bits of Pale Burnt Metal. Once the rest of the a/c has been painted I'll add some weathering and dirt hoping it'll make stuff a bit more alive.

_Y8A9435.jpg

That's it for now..

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I am not sure who build the Japanese pods, but looking at pics I cannot see any differences between the French pod and the Japanese (nor the one the Greeks use on their RF-4E's). What is different though is the pylon used. It's not the one that's used on the SLAR pod.

Hmmm, you're right. Until you mentioned it, I never noticed it.

The French Pylons:

http://cmano-db.com/images/DB3000/weapon_1031.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/images/mirage-f1-capt-1.jpg

Greek + Japanese pylons:

https://ptisidiastima.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/rf1.jpg

http://www.hottail.nl/SGV/Japan/RF4EJ-476335-a061.jpg

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/reports/2009/hyakuri/images/2.jpg

Thanks for pointing it out :thumbsup:/>

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Well, I've started painting the F-4, and as said, this way of painting is new to me.

It was quit time consuming getting the belly done!

This is how I started off;

_Y8A9595.jpg

And after a bit;

_Y8A9603.jpg

I had to play quit a bit with thinning the paint and the pressure I used on the compressor. Too, I figured I have got to get a better feel and sense of handeling the paintbrush.

Anyways, for my level of modeling I'm quit happy with the result so far;

_Y8A9605.jpg

_Y8A9608.jpg

What I am not so happy with is the paints I've got for the camouflage;

_Y8A9610.jpg

Maybe a bit confusing, but I thought to avoid any issues, I'd go with what Hasegawa has in mind. So, i ordered Mr.Color paints online. I'd never used these before and figured (using ARC) that they need special care for thinning. So I ordered Mr.Color thinner too!

Well, spraying this paint is quit easy and it dries pretty fast!!

But I must have been quit naive thrusting Hasegawa having the colors right :(/>

The 3 paints in the middle is what Hasegawa suggests, but as one can see, they are far away from the blueish tint I need and are to close to one another! A paint chart I found online gives me FS numbers, but since this thing was painted in Japan, it is unlikely the used paints will ever match the FS standard.

The chart I found online also has 2 colors backwards compared to the Hase paint instructions <_</>

For comparison, the top color is Xtra Color paint with should match to the paint below. The Xtra Color on the bottom should match the one above. As you can see, they are far from matching and thus I seem to be stuck for the moment :explode:/>

Maybe scaling down the Xtra Color paints with some white might do the trick, but I've got my doubts...

I'm open for any suggestions!!

Daniel

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I might be able to help with the exact colours. From the Model Art book on JASDF Phantoms:

RF-4EJ%20Colours_zps5pjodota.jpg

(Note from above & below images that this scheme appears to been tried out on both a regular RF-4EJ as well as a RF-4EJ Kai judging by the drawing with the tail+wingtip antennas (RF-4EJ Kai). Maybe it was the same airframe ( before & after upgrading to Kai) because they have the same serial number.

RF-4EJ_zpswgtofhsx.jpg

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Thanks for the effort Jack!

That's exactly the reference chart I'm referring to (no idea where I got it from)! The blue's they printed come closer to the real thing than the FS numbers they are referring to :(

The book 'Defenders of Nippon' gives the same FS numbers.

If I translate the Mr.Color (as per Hasegawa's instructions) I come to this;

Model Art book Hasegawa/Mr.Color

FS35190 308 (90%) + 323 (10%)

FS35193 308 (80%) + 314 (20%)

FS35189 308

FS36375 (belly) 315

Mr.Color 308 is FS36375, Mr.Color 315 is FS16440 :doh:

I'll be doing some more test sprays before making a decision on what to use (and possibly how to mix it)..

I did not find any pics of this jet in this scheme being upgraded to the Kai standard!! I thought that the maker of the Model Art drawing was assuming :o

Interesting pic you posted here!!

Thanks again!

If anyone has painted this scheme before, I'd love to know your findings!!

Daniel

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Been doing a bit of research since I love JASDF planes :D

I think for the belly colour ( FS36375), just go with Mr Aqueous Color H308

31573347.fojn6xunof.jpg?1

or Lifecolor UA026:

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/bmz_cache/a/a4ff7ac69d7cc7c0ceecfccbebf07598.image.821x950.jpg

For FS35189, I've come across 2 colors

1) Italeri FLAT NON SPECULAR BLUE GREY 20ml - F.S.35189

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=IT%204766AP

and LifeColor Non Specular Bluegrey (22ml) FS 35189:

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=LC-UA038

Of the above 2, Lifecolor's FS35189 seems closer to the Model Art chart.

Can't help you with the other 2 colors but for FS35190 I would suggest adding a little grey to Lifecolor's Air Superiority Blue

http://www.bnamodelworld.com/bmz_cache/0/02f523efa20bf32142b65783cd670328.image.821x950.jpg

:cheers:

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Many many thanks for the research Jackman!!!!

Currently I'm painting a plastic plate black and will do some test shots later on! I might have to order some new paints, which will delay this project even more, but that doesn't really matter ;)

I'm just happy I got some more colors to play with now, so thanks again!!

Yes, I'll have to work the surfaces some more. Normally I do not work with primers and get surprised by the mistakes I made afterwards. The black did not help much either, so now once putting the camera on it I realize the kit does not look as nice as I thought it was...

Thanks!

Daniel

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, I've been experimenting mixing paints and it's a long and frustrating process...

Too, using this site has become a pitb with all the warnings...

But, this is what I have been able to come up with so far, halve of the sample has been oversprayed with a flat base;

sample1.jpg

sample2.jpg

On the screen the colors might seem to be far off.. What I did was using a pic of the original which seemed to have a OK white balance. Some pictures I have of this jet look overall blue, but so does everything else in the picture, so telling me the jet was actually not that blue..

Even the test sample looks different on the screen than in real life, so for comparison the printed picture..

Let me know what you guys think, am I coming close?

Daniel

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