Finally; a new 1/72 Phantom

[hemspilot]

Still have one or two of those stashed inside one of my 25 Phantoms.

[Craig Baldwin]

First sprues of the "coming soon" B/N release.

 

 

[JNordgren42]

2 hours ago, Craig Baldwin said:

First sprues of the "coming soon" B/N release.

 

Those are looking great! I've got a B on preorder and I'm most likely going to do it ready for a cat shot, and it looks like getting the control surfaces in the proper positions shouldn't be too much of a chore.

[GeneK]

Belly shot of F-4B

 

 

Appears FM may have fixed the shape of the wing tank forward section -- time to break out some overlays. 

 

Gene K

[Tailspin Turtle]

11 hours ago, GeneK said:

Belly shot of F-4B

 

 

Appears FM may have fixed the shape of the wing tank forward section -- time to break out some overlays. 

 

Gene K

https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/06/things-under-wings-f4h-f-4-phantom.html#comment-form

[GeneK]

Thanks, Tommy. I've been repeatedly visiting your outstanding site for decades! A treasure, for sure.

 

I have accurate tank drawings, and overlaid the above belly shot on them. However, the lens distortion and position of the camera didn't result in anything conclusive. I'll just wait until I have kits in hand to look for any changes. In that regard, when the FineMolds Phantoms first came out, I sent them my comments and drawings, but they didn't respond.

 

My fix is a 3D printed front section. 

 

 

Gene K

[GeneK]

F-4N Belly Shot. Added antenna housings. 

 

 

From FineMolds on X.

 

Gene K

 

[Memphis]

I don't sure, but the connection of engines with the fuselage looks a little strange.

 

[Quixote74]

12 hours ago, Memphis said:

I don't sure, but the connection of engines with the fuselage looks a little strange.

 

I'm assuming you're referring to the 'collar' portion forward of the nozzle 'petals'?  AFAIK this shouldn't be different on the B/N from what was previously available for the C-model kits.  It does look like that particular test build has the nozzles a little too far out of the fuselage, but this should be an adjustable fit if it matches the way these actually operate - @tailspin turtle's blog documents this well: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/12/j79-exhaust-nozzles.html?m=1

[Memphis]

17 hours ago, Quixote74 said:

I'm assuming you're referring to the 'collar' portion forward of the nozzle 'petals'?  AFAIK this shouldn't be different on the B/N from what was previously available for the C-model kits.  It does look like that particular test build has the nozzles a little too far out of the fuselage, but this should be an adjustable fit if it matches the way these actually operate - @tailspin turtle's blog documents this well: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/12/j79-exhaust-nozzles.html?m=1

Thank you for link.
Maybe you are right. The collar on the version B/N, C, D and RF (from B and C) can move along the axis. On the versions E, J (and reconnaissance vercions from them) it is absent. I do not know all the details, but its length, which we can see, depends on the narrowing of the nozzles. 

[hemspilot]

On 11/22/2024 at 8:01 AM, Memphis said:

I don't sure, but the connection of engines with the fuselage looks a little strange.

 

"I don't sure"? It seems fine to me.

[BWDenver]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:16 PM, ya-gabor said:

 

It is an October release

 

Best regards

Gabor

Ahh, finally I can do an RF-4C

[GeneK]

COMING SOON!!!!

 

F-4B shipping from FineMolds to stores on 7 March:

 

1/72 U.S. Navy F-4B "Jolly Rogers"

 

F-4N shipping on 10 March:

 

1/72 U.S. Marine Corps F-4N "Grey Ghost"

 

Generally takes 3 days before available in stores in Japan ... like Hobby Search, Hobby Link Japan, and Plaza Japan.  

 

Gene K

[JNordgren42]

1 hour ago, GeneK said:

COMING SOON!!!!

 

F-4B shipping from FineMolds to stores on 7 March:

 

1/72 U.S. Navy F-4B "Jolly Rogers"

 

F-4N shipping on 10 March:

 

1/72 U.S. Marine Corps F-4N "Grey Ghost"

 

Generally takes 3 days before available in stores in Japan ... like Hobby Search, Hobby Link Japan, and Plaza Japan.  

 

Gene K

I can't wait to get my F-4B! I also noticed that FM has pics of a finished model up on the product page now. It looks gorgeous!

[BWDenver]

Here's a shot from the deck of the Midway when it visited Puson in 1978.  It looks like the F-4N on the left might have a kill marking.

[Craig Baldwin]

FineMolds president and a project manager discuss the latest releases. Auto translate feature works well.

 

 

And this at the end......

 

 

Edited February 28, 2025 by Craig Baldwin

[GeneK]

6 hours ago, Craig Baldwin said:

And this at the end......

 

Nice " discussion starter" and "though provoking post" 

 

Gene K

 

[Craig Baldwin]

41 minutes ago, GeneK said:

 

Nice " discussion starter" and "though provoking post" 

 

Unfortunately, 72nd scale subjects take a backseat to everything else here on ARC. I will always keep room for a few more FineMolds kits.

[GeneK]

On 2/28/2025 at 7:46 AM, Craig Baldwin said:

FineMolds president and a project manager discuss the latest releases. Auto translate feature works well.

Here's the follow on video explaining the f-4 evolution chart above. No hint given as to what's coming next in the FM Phantom collection. 

 

US Military F-4 Fighter Plane Evolution by Model [Fine Molds' Random Talk] 

 

Gene K

[JNordgren42]

Now that the F-4Bs will be shipping any day now, does anyone have a good suggestion for Vietnam era pilot figures? I want to do mine in a cat shot diorama so I'll definitely need a pilot and RIO in there. Reedoak has a 1969 to late 70's era pilot and RIO, and I was extremely happy with the late 70's pilot and RIO I got from him for my F-14A. The description says that the figures are modeled with SV-2B survival vests introduced in 1969, but I don't know how different that is from the previous vests, or if it's even really noticeable at that scale.

Edited March 7, 2025 by JNordgren42

[BWDenver]

19 hours ago, JNordgren42 said:

 The description says that the figures are modeled with SV-2B survival vests introduced in 1969, but I don't know how different that is from the previous vests, or if it's even really noticeable at that scale.

If you do one from Mid 68 on you will need the Mk.H7 seat, but that's just a starting date.  The seat upgrade likely took a while and was performed when the birds went in for maintenance.  Before mid 68 you will need the Mk.H5A seat.  The upgrade Mod was issued April 1968.

Edited March 8, 2025 by BWDenver

[BWDenver]

20 hours ago, JNordgren42 said:

 The description says that the figures are modeled with SV-2B survival vests introduced in 1969, but I don't know how different that is from the previous vests, or if it's even really noticeable at that scale.

Sorry dupe post

Edited March 8, 2025 by BWDenver

[JNordgren42]

Good news, HLJ has the F-4B's and are fulfilling orders. Bad news (for me anyway), the card I used for my pre-order was lost and I had to replace it, so the payment failed. For some reason HLJ insta-suspended my account before I even had a chance to do anything about it. Email is off to customer service and hopefully they can sort it quickly.

Edited March 10, 2025 by JNordgren42

[GeneK]

2 hours ago, JNordgren42 said:

 For some reason HLJ insta-suspended my account before I even had a chance to do anything about it. Email is off to customer service and hopefully they can sort it quickly.

 

Good luck. HLJ ALWAYS under-orders FineMold Phantoms. 

 

They are likely too busy with Anime, Robots, and "cute" wide eyed, scantily clad schoolgirl figures. 

 

Hobby Search is more dependable.

 

Gene K

[JNordgren42]

12 minutes ago, GeneK said:

 

Good luck. HLJ ALWAYS under-orders FineMold Phantoms. 

 

They are likely too busy with Anime, Robots, and "cute" wide eyed, scantily clad schoolgirl figures. 

 

Hobby Search is more dependable.

 

Gene K

 

Thanks! Plaza Japan has them in stock and for $5 less than HLJ, and cheaper shipping too. So I just went ahead and ordered it from them. 🙂