Falconxlvi Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 21 hours ago, RichB63 said: Intakes look great Steve! Thanks Rich! 17 hours ago, Piker38 said: Can those splitter plates be slotted into position after the rest of the intake is mounted on the fuselage ? Yes, they sure can be. The fit is very, very positive, so it shouldn’t be a problem to align them properly 👍🏻 13 hours ago, Janissary said: I'm watching this with great interest. It looks awesome so far and I can't wait to see more. I will be waiting for the slatted E, but this sure is a great reference thread about what to expect. I am curious about this as well. Looks like it could be, just like Hasegawa's. It is a great kit- I haven’t built a new “new” tool kit in quite awhile and it’s refreshing to have the part just fit. That being said, it’s not Tamiya-like and the plastic is a bit pebbly and soft, but it’s pretty well engineered! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 getting ready to pop the money for two kits, and your build makes it a must have. Have two F4c's, and really want to see ZM go thru the entire family before I croak. After the two F4e's, I'll probably pick up an F4j as I have decals for one that flew out of Chu Lai. gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 6, 2020 Author Share Posted November 6, 2020 23 hours ago, ChesshireCat said: getting ready to pop the money for two kits, and your build makes it a must have. Have two F4c's, and really want to see ZM go thru the entire family before I croak. After the two F4e's, I'll probably pick up an F4j as I have decals for one that flew out of Chu Lai. gary Thanks for the compliment. I am really looking forward to their late “E” and the “F”. It’s definitely a kit worth the price. Very well detailed, excellent fit and instructions, and very comprehensive decals! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 4 hours ago, Falconxlvi said: Thanks for the compliment. I am really looking forward to their late “E” and the “F”. It’s definitely a kit worth the price. Very well detailed, excellent fit and instructions, and very comprehensive decals! I consider ZM the Cadillac of model kits gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Piker38 Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 On 11/5/2020 at 3:03 AM, Falconxlvi said: Yes, they sure can be. The fit is very, very positive, so it shouldn’t be a problem to align them properly 👍🏻 Steve Excellent news. Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 (edited) You ever feel stuck in a build? That’s me right now with this Phantom. I have scribed and sanded and rescribed and sanded and rescribed the nose to fuselage join and associated radome swivel panel more times than I care to admit the past week. Scribing curved surfaces is not a strong point for me- let alone an ovalish type panel that connects the radome. I have come to a point where I am moving on. The panel is not the correct shape, not scribed particularly well, etc. Hopefully the black radome hides my mess a bit. Ugh. rant over 😂 Steve Edited November 13, 2020 by Falconxlvi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 Update 11/12 Work continues with the intakes. The backsides of the splitter plates were sanded smooth after filling the gaps from the assembly process with CA glue and putty. Very little except the top and bottom will be seen, so I concentrated my efforts there. A quick before and after below. The forward intake piece slides right into place and clicks on the big connector pin that mounts into the recessed circle on the back of the splitter plate. The fit of the piece is good, but it isn’t Tamiya or Eduard like. A slightly larger than desired gap falls along a panel line. I may try some 0.1mm styrene strip here to help out the gap. There will be some filler/styrene strip required along the bottom. Also, the top and bottom of the intakes have a weird mold line that needs to be addressed (I haven’t sanded it yet out in these pics). They are circled in red in the pic below. There are several of these on various parts and they are subtle at first glance. It’s one of the few complaints I have about this kit - these mold lines are on both sides of the forward fuselage, top and bottom of the forward intakes, both sides of the vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizers (which the instructions point out and have you remove). They remind me of the infamous mold lines on the bottom of the 1/48 Tamiya F-14A intake tunnels. Be warned! Looking down the intake, the assembly looks nice. Due to the fit between the front intake and main intake trunk, there is noticeable gap, just like you see on the outside (see the second pic above). It’s worse on the top than the bottom for some reason, but trying to make it 100% seamless would require a level of effort I am unwilling to expend at this point. Hopefully I’ve shown what can be done short of a full resin intake. So, I will report back once the external seams have been dealt with. Then, it’s on to the outer wing panels. Thanks for looking! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Falconxlvi said: Update 11/12 So, I will report back once the external seams have been dealt with. Then, it’s on to the outer wing panels. Thanks for looking! Steve Nice work Steve. Thank you for the analysis and corrective measures. I'm sure I'll be using your work as a guide for my kit build in the future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 ...coming along nicely. Are you planning on using the kit provided markings for 67-0308? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted November 13, 2020 Author Share Posted November 13, 2020 53 minutes ago, RichB63 said: ...coming along nicely. Are you planning on using the kit provided markings for 67-0308? Thank you! I am indeed. The decals look gorgeous and who can pass up a shark mouth? 😊 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skystreak80 Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 Really great work so far i have just started mine Cheers Lee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruiz Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Those are some nasty seams; personally, I'm not too fond of when they are in the same place that panel lines, even more, where there are rivet details. Anyway, you are doing a great job and surely will know how to deal with them. I will be looking forward to more progress in this build. Thanks for sharing Carlos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted December 11, 2020 Author Share Posted December 11, 2020 (edited) On 11/13/2020 at 10:34 AM, skystreak80 said: Really great work so far i have just started mine Cheers Lee Thanks Lee! Be sure to post some build pictures here (please 😊) On 11/13/2020 at 6:13 PM, cruiz said: Those are some nasty seams; personally, I'm not too fond of when they are in the same place that panel lines, even more, where there are rivet details. Anyway, you are doing a great job and surely will know how to deal with them. I will be looking forward to more progress in this build. Thanks for sharing Carlos I hear you Carlos- it definitely wasn’t fun trying to restore all the details. In the end, this is what it looks like. At least there isn’t a canyon like junction at the intake join anymore. Thanks for your encouraging words, as always 😊👍🏻 Update 12/11 The F-4E soldiers on...and it needs to! I have a bazillion WWII projects underway or upcoming. Ok, not a bazillion, but about 11. 🤪 The stabs were cleaned up with the stiffener plate guides removed (for the late Es I think 🤔). ZM plastic is super soft and easy to sand. A few passes with 600k paper and some 1k/1.5k pads did the trick. The stiffener lines go through the panel lines and those were scribed as well. Before: After: And with that, I ran out of parts that aren’t landing gear, pylons, or weapons...guess I better paint it 😂 Also, I had a bit of a sink mark on the tail that needed to be fixed 🤷♂️ Thanks for stopping by! Steve Edited December 11, 2020 by Falconxlvi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Hi Steve . Watching your progress on the Phantom . How would you rate it compared to the old Hasegawa E model. ( I have one yet to be built ) Regards, Christian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 23 hours ago, Chris L said: Hi Steve . Watching your progress on the Phantom . How would you rate it compared to the old Hasegawa E model. ( I have one yet to be built ) Regards, Christian I have never built the Hasegawa E model but I have it in the stash. Comparing details - the ZM kit is superior! I really can’t comment on the fit 🤷♂️ Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Hi Steve . Watching your progress on the Phantom . How would you rate it compared to the old Hasegawa E model. ( I have one yet to be built ) Regards, Christian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Hi Steve . Thanks for your answer . I'm curious if you mean the interior , exterior or just all around ? I was really afraid afraid that you would say that and now I will have to covet another phantom . Regards, Christian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share Posted December 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Chris L said: Hi Steve . Thanks for your answer . I'm curious if you mean the interior , exterior or just all around ? I was really afraid afraid that you would say that and now I will have to covet another phantom . Regards, Christian Well, I would say everything! Sorry 😆 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Well , that actually makes it easier to move on . Might as well start with something good. Thank Steve . Admittedly , the Hasegawa kit has been around for a long time . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stalal Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 On 10/14/2020 at 11:49 PM, Falconxlvi said: You won’t regret it Carlos- this kit makes modeling fun! It’s been a long time since I’ve built a new tool kit and the way this just effortlessly goes together makes me motivated to get to the bench each day. I really think Zoukei Mura knocked it out of the park- this is light years ahead of the old Hasegawa kit! Steve The bold part is what I wanted to hear before even thinking of buying this kit. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Looking great. I bought the ZM early F-4E based on your build and started the ZM F-4J. The Phantom is a cool looking plane. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MA Cooke Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Looking great so far. I'm eagerly awaiting my ZM F-4E, and am pondering buying either a C or J model. I have Hasegawa C/D and J in my stash, but after reading reviews, I may just let them collect dust and build these newer kits. (On the same note, I'm looking forward to building the Tamiya F-14D.....the Hasegawa kits are a lot of drudgery.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 On 12/14/2020 at 7:46 PM, Rodney said: Looking great. I bought the ZM early F-4E based on your build and started the ZM F-4J. The Phantom is a cool looking plane. Rodney Hi Rodney, sorry I missed your comment earlier. How is your J coming along? It’s a great kit isn’t it? I hope to get back to the Phantom in April 😊 4 hours ago, MA Cooke said: Looking great so far. I'm eagerly awaiting my ZM F-4E, and am pondering buying either a C or J model. I have Hasegawa C/D and J in my stash, but after reading reviews, I may just let them collect dust and build these newer kits. (On the same note, I'm looking forward to building the Tamiya F-14D.....the Hasegawa kits are a lot of drudgery.) Yeah, the ZM kits are superior for sure! And you won’t be disappointed in the Tamiya F-14 either- I built the A and it went together like a dream! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MA Cooke Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 On 3/10/2021 at 11:23 PM, Falconxlvi said: Yeah, the ZM kits are superior for sure! And you won’t be disappointed in the Tamiya F-14 either- I built the A and it went together like a dream! Steve The factory shrink-wrap had only made it to the recycling bag, and would you look at that - a ZM F-4J shows up at my door! I have three Phantoms I want to build - C, J, and E models. all Hasegawa. May be ordering a C model, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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