Mig Killer - F-4D

[jimdsmodels]

I wanted to catch you up on my current build and jump right into the forum instead of waiting until my next project starts.

Everyone has a holy grail build..whether it's a kit (in production, long out, or non-existent), a subject, or whatever. Well mine is a particular airframe.



My father met Steve Ritchie through his job when I was a youngin'. I had the chance to meet him long before I knew anything about Phantoms, Vietnam, or much anything else. My dad built his ride when I was young and it was the one model that fascinated me most. My love from the Phantom grew from that, and as I got older I read about Ritchie, and OY 463 (the most prolific airframe of the war). I've always wanted to build this airplane. About 10 years ago I scored a long out of print Microscale sheet with these markings. Thankfully I know they are still viable because I used some from the sheet on a Revell F-4 a couple years ago.

I've waited for two reasons. I didn't want to build it with the Hasegawa F-4D and I've been waiting for my skills to get to where I wanted them. I think that day is here, so I'll be building this airplane with the following shopping list:

Academy F-4C
Aires Cockpit Set
Eduard Brassin Exhaust
Eduard Big Sin Brassin F-4 Weapons Set
Eduard Fabric Belts
Eduard Brassin Wheel Set
Eduard Mask Set
DEF Models FOD Covers and RBF Flags
Steel Beach Slime Lights







So this one has been a bit frustrating.

I had to do some serious cutting into the kit fuselage to get the Aires set to fit.

Before:


After


Then you have to hack up the kit cockpit tub to get the top of the nose gear well.

Before:


After:


Then you thin that down to paper thin...as well as the bottom of the resin tub. Test fitting tells you it will BARELY fit.

Then you paint and weather the resin tub and glue it in...and the fuselage doesn't come remotely close to closing.

At this point you have no option but to throw the kit away...unless you have another, or buy another. So I had to cannibalize the B kit I have for the fuselage and kit supplied cockpit tub. The kit cockpit just pales in comparison, but it will have to do.





Aires seats with Eduard PE bits and Eduard fabric belts. Fabric belts in 1/48? Beautiful, but an enormous PITA




At least the resin burners are drop it.



Actually got primer on this sucker yesterday. Cleaned up some spots now I have to re-hit those and its off to paint I guess... yay

[jimdsmodels]

Mr. Color



Wanted to share a pic of the things that go boom. I planned to mask and spray the fuses of the bombs but found them needing more OD, so that will be tomorrow. I'll then shoot them with gloss for some decal work. The Brassin stuff is really nice. The Sidewinders are dainty, so use care with them. Fortunately, mine weren't blister packed, so no warping.

[jimdsmodels]

Some simple masking and off the the earth tone. Sprayed opaque base and then post-shaded with lighter and darker colors and finally blended it back in with the base color.

[jimdsmodels]

Did have a bit of an issue with Alclad. The Steel which was layered over the Aluminum pulled with the Tamiya tape. (I know it looks above as if it was masked with blue tape...that was over the Tamiya for overspray purposes. I'll have to fix this clearly.



Next I need to handle the nose and some green ID band bits on the canopy and tail. Then I have to figure out how I'm going to handle the heat shielding. I don't like the streaking with Alclad thing...so I'm not sure how I'll address that....I'm open to ideas.

[jimdsmodels]

So I worked on getting the green bands on and some other detail painting. The bands are bordered by white. I figured it'd be easier to lay the green down and then mask for the white.

I'm still on the fence as to whether I think the green is too bright. It's dang close to the Collings Foundation Phantom, but you know what they say about restorations. The Collings Phantom also doesn't have the full canopy frames painted...which can clearly be seen on the real OY463 period photos. I think maybe the high gloss finish of the enamel paint is making it worse, so when I get it toned down if it's too bright I'll use some filter magic to tone it down.

Did the red areas along the flaps with some Vallejo red and a brush.





Got the nose dolled up



Tanks and pylons were done with the body, but I got some gloss on those so here they are.

[jimdsmodels]

I started with the "463" specific decals from the Microscale sheet. It was very bittersweet. I've had this decal sheet AT LEAST 15 years waiting for this project. It's possible it's been longer. I was pleasantly surprised by their quality too...given the age. They were a little fragile, but they went on nicely and started to mostly settle into things on their own. You can see a little Solvaset pooled up at the bottom of the O. They took one application and were painted on smooth.





I let those dry real good before handling it anymore and then moved to the stencils. I'm guessing there's going to be close to 500 on here. The stencil sheet is numbered 1 to 262. Most decals are at least doubles with some being multiple. It's going to be slow going because it's tedious and really wears my eyes out. This is about as much as I could get in the first go. Decal sheet shows just how much is left.



Forgive the cell phone...my eyes were on fire so I didn't bother with the camera.

[Paul]

Great work so far, what are you using for a photo booth and what lighting?

[jimdsmodels]

Paul, thanks. I do portrait photography, so the background is Savage Seamless backdrop paper. I just cut bits off my roll when needed. Not something you really want to invest in strictly for model photography, but this is it.



I use two Yongnuo speed-lights that I just fire at the ceiling to light the room. Exposure for ambient light is completely underexposed, so it's all flash.

[Paul]

Ok thanks

[ccc1970]

Fantastic paint work!! gotta love Mr Color.. I use Mr Hobby acrylic whenever possible as i think its the only acrylic paint that comes close to Mr Color laquers.. I have a really nice extractor but still when i spray laquers the smell lingers and the wife is not happy so i have tried to steer away from laquers as much as possible....

Anyway loving the build! Nothing looks better than an F-4

[jimdsmodels]

Thanks!

I need to get an extractor. I just open a widow and have a fan blowing out of it. Lol. I do use a respirator. Usually with lacquers when the spraying is done and the overspray has been flushed out the smell stops...at least to my senses. I also use Model Master enamels and they do linger a little longer...but it never escapes my room thankfully. The Auqueous line disappeared in the US several years ago...it's not easy to find domestically. I think it has something to do with labeling...but it sucks because I really liked their acrylics and would probably use them instead.

[Nige201980]

Beautiful work mate.

[rwsmith14]

Fantastic !!

[Danta2er]

Everything look off-the-hook!

[jimdsmodels]

Thanks everyone. Still slogging through stencils on this one.

[Joemodelling14]

Wow, I'm building the sundowners version of this for the in the navy sig, and what a great kit it is.

But I must say what a great job you've made of it, we'll done

[Spook]

Fantastic build.the f4 has to be the ultimate aircraft for me.

[angPanday]

wish i could do the same..... superb works.

also have on stash the Academy F-4C Vietnam War for my next build.

[Jscale32]

Fantastic pre-shading and paint work.