JeffreyK Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 (edited) Guys, a few days ago I've released my latest product, a correction set for the Zoukei Mura Phantom kits. It rectifies the shape error in the aft fuselage parts, at the engine "shoulders". As you can see, this is not a "drop fit" set - cutting of the fuselage is required as well as some sanding and blending to integrate the replacement parts seamlessly. I do provide self adhesive guide strips though that will give you the precise cutting line, based on existing kit panel lines as well as thorough instructions. I think the Zoukei Mura Phantoms are great kits, probably the best available but the shape problem is there and I wanted to fix it. Whether you care about the shape error or not, whether you think it's worth correcting or not or whether you don't really care for ZM's Phantoms altogether is totally up to you. Decide with your wallet. 😎 The set installed, after blending and primer: Refined surface detail at the chaff/flare bucket door: Cheers, Jeffrey Edited September 23, 2018 by JeffreyK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Maybe Z-M will take the hint before they finish tooling their F-4E. That's the one I'm waiting for. If not, these look like they will do nicely. Nice set Jeffrey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JeffreyK Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 They said they re-measured and reworked the area for the long-nose Phantoms...Let's see. J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 i've ordered my correction set a few hours ago. thank you again Jeffrey for your great work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Wow Jeffrey, I heard about you working on this before but just wow. That's some small piece of artwork there to get that correct. Looks very nice indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 YAWN! Glt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ORANGF15Guy Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Just ordered a couple of the correction sets for the Z-M Phantoms. Looking forward to seeing them on my C model Rhino. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 "They said they re-measured and reworked the area for the long-nose Phantoms...Let's see." And if they do re-work it,,,,,,,,that means that even they have agreed that the shape is off. This is one of those things that will show up as extremely obvious to all online writers,,,,,once their F-4E comes out,,or once someone else releases a new tooling to compete for the sales dollars. (exact same thing happened to Academy when the Z-M kit came out, only then did people accept that there were problems with the Academy kit) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Jeffrey, I don't have the ZM kit, but that's some amazing work! Bravo! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 If it’s like like the rest of his stuff, the quality will be impeccable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Can't wait for his SR-71 kit. You know it is going to be excellent. Of course, I don't know where I would but such a monster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 I can see the difference in the carefully-composed photo above showing the original and corrected contours, but... it just doesn’t make me nuts like it clearly does others! It takes a lot of work for me to look past all of the great detail and see that subtle thing. I have a Z-M F-4D and F-4J in the works, and am getting nothing but enjoyment out of the process. I hope they don’t rework the contours for the F-4E, so I can watch the wailing here! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 1 hour ago, andrew.deboer said: I hope they don’t rework the contours for the F-4E, so I can watch the wailing here! My bank account agrees. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 1 hour ago, andrew.deboer said: I can see the difference in the carefully-composed photo above showing the original and corrected contours, but... it just doesn’t make me nuts like it clearly does others! It takes a lot of work for me to look past all of the great detail and see that subtle thing. I have a Z-M F-4D and F-4J in the works, and am getting nothing but enjoyment out of the process. I hope they don’t rework the contours for the F-4E, so I can watch the wailing here! I'm not interested in a C/D or J/S Phantom, but if I was, I'd definitely get the Z-M one(s), even with the rear fuselage problem. It isn't THAT big a deal, though now that Jeffrey's correction is out, I'd probably get it just cause. I will get the E when it comes out. Correction or no. Actually, I am hoping they will release and EJ Kai or have that as an option in the E kit. Again, I would probably add the correction, just so I could say to myself it is accurate, or not, if I think it too much work. One thing I won't do is deny that there is an issue, but they are d%#m fine kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk174 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Jeffery that is sure some beautiful work. I think the rear shot is the most dramatic to show the difference. At the moment I do not have the ZM kit as I have stacks of various other manufacturers and adding to the pile now seems redundant even though the ZM kit has been said to be the best. No matter it is great that you have done this and I am sure the modelling world is very thankful for that. I also see that your site is back up now so I think it is time to pick up some of your sets that I have been putting off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 What bothers me is that after the fix is in, the rivit counters will hunt up something else. In other words a catch twenty two situation. The parts look very nice, and are some of the best I've seen for the Phantom Glt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Beautiful work Jeffery! The picture from the rear captures the difference quite nicely. I'm not a big Phantom nut, so it doesn't bother me all that much. Heck, I still like the Monogram kit! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 13 minutes ago, Darren Roberts said: Heck, I still like the Monogram kit! Face it Darren, you're an incurable Monogramphile. 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) But, Gary,,,,,,isn't that the hobby? Get the cockpit right, get the airframe right, buy or create the best exhausts that we can. Then add details to the landing gear, get the best pylons, tanks and weapons that we can find. Then apply the best aftermarket decals that we can get for the scheme that we want. The alternative is 457 builds of the exact same markings that come in the box for any given model,,,,,,with no mods that stand out from each other's builds, all with OOB weapons and tanks. I really "don't get" updating the cockpit and exhaust and landing gear,,,,,but, not fixing (or even admitting) any shape errors in the model kit that we start with in our builds. The Z-M Phantom is such a good kit of an F-4, but, add that one little fix, and it could be called the best possible model when it is finished. Edited September 24, 2018 by Rex Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Looks great, Jeffrey! Any word on when we can expect a canopy set, like the ones you make for the Hasegawa and Academy kits? I think that's probably the one remaining unaddressed issue with the kit. Cheers! Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Mstor said: Face it Darren, you're an incurable Monogramphile. 😉 Guilty as charged! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 3 hours ago, Rex said: But, Gary,,,,,,isn't that the hobby? Get the cockpit right, get the airframe right, buy or create the best exhausts that we can. Then add details to the landing gear, get the best pylons, tanks and weapons that we can find. Then apply the best aftermarket decals that we can get for the scheme that we want. The alternative is 457 builds of the exact same markings that come in the box for any given model,,,,,,with no mods that stand out from each other's builds, all with OOB weapons and tanks. I really "don't get" updating the cockpit and exhaust and landing gear,,,,,but, not fixing (or even admitting) any shape errors in the model kit that we start with in our builds. The Z-M Phantom is such a good kit of an F-4, but, add that one little fix, and it could be called the best possible model when it is finished. Now right up front I liked the ZM kit right out of the box. The detail set will only make it better. I may buy four sets, as I'm going to get the D kit to go along with my two C kits. I would also like to do an E. Yet I find myself setting on several sets of Impact decals for Marine units. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JeffreyK Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 2 hours ago, Ben Brown said: Looks great, Jeffrey! Any word on when we can expect a canopy set, like the ones you make for the Hasegawa and Academy kits? I think that's probably the one remaining unaddressed issue with the kit. Cheers! Ben Cheers Ben, this is the next item on my list, after I have somehow won the battle to get the new Skywarrior and Canberra canopies ready and released (they're fighting back at the moment...), hopefully by the end of the year, maybe Telford. Initial investigations revealed that Zoukei Mura haven't made it easy to fit a canopy insert by moulding some kind of internal structure under the front canopy that's kind of half way between nothing and what should be there. It's impossible to make a resin piece that's thin enough to fit over this so unfortunately the modeller will have to sand this away. I'm considering to supply a masking strip that will protect the canopy while doing this.... J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B.Sin Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 On 9/23/2018 at 5:33 PM, Rex said: "They said they re-measured and reworked the area for the long-nose Phantoms...Let's see." And if they do re-work it,,,,,,,,that means that even they have agreed that the shape is off. This is one of those things that will show up as extremely obvious to all online writers,,,,,once their F-4E comes out,,or once someone else releases a new tooling to compete for the sales dollars. (exact same thing happened to Academy when the Z-M kit came out, only then did people accept that there were problems with the Academy kit) When is the E coming out? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JeffreyK Posted September 25, 2018 Author Share Posted September 25, 2018 (edited) 5 hours ago, B.Sin said: When is the E coming out? Some time next year I guess, there's no release date yet. The Ki-45 is next. The fuselage set is temporarily sold out, thank you very much for your orders!! I should have some more available by next weekend. Cheers, Jeffrey Edited September 25, 2018 by JeffreyK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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