F/4EJ Kai Phantom II 1/72 "302 SQ 40th Anniversary"

[kprice52001]

I found this yesterday and thought I would pick it up for this build mainly because it was something different. It said its a limited edition but I don't know how many they rand I'll have to do some research. Sorry that I don't have the sprue pics in plastic, I though that I took some pics of the kit as I was opening it last night but it turns out that I didn't have a memory card in the camera. I took some more pis this morning. All I got done last night was was I put the cockpit together and then I glued the two fuse halfs together and put some filler in the seam line. I hopw that you will accept this build.

The Decal sheet in this kit is massive and will be more work that I would have liked. The panel lines are faint but it is a 1:72 scale model and they are close to scale. Ill have to be careful sanding because I am horrible at rescribing panel lines. I couldn't find too much as far as detail up kits. But I don't really know where to look. I just went to Eduard to see what they had and there wasn't too much so I'm just going to do this kit OOB. Also, I don't think I'm going to weather this kit too much I want it to look like its a hanger baby because it was. I'm going to put a two part clear coat on here and buff the paint until I can see my smile. Should be a fun build. I hope you guys enjoy it.

[Twokidsnosleep]

This will be very cool
Yes, those decals look challenging

There are a couple older PE 's from Eduard on eBay for the 1/72 scale and I found some resin stuff as well. It all seemed a bit pricey to me, so mine are oob with some home made mods. The cockpit PE I got with a Hasegawa kit is too nice to use on that one so I am saving it for the Black Bunny build I will do later.

Good luck with your build

[Lysus]

Oh nice! Almost snagged this one myself, as you say it's different.

[kprice52001]

Found this 3D virtual tour of an f4 cockpit and thought it would be useful here as a reference.

http://www.nmusafvirtualtour.com/media/ ... ckpit.html

[GuyMac]

This rhino has a nice paint scheme. Want to see how it turns out

[kprice52001]

I don't know if I ever want to do a 1:72 scale aircraft again!!!! This thing is more mud than plastic LOL. What a nightmare, not a single clean fit. I had to punch all the rivets back in by hand and did my best to scribe the panel lines back in. As you can see, they are no longer scale but I'm hopping that the two coats of primer, three coats of black paint, and two or three coats of lacquer fill them in a bit.

I was able to get her primed. I am going to let it cure until at leas tomorrow night and then see if I can't polish the primer using a sanding stick in order to prep for the gloss black paint job. I want a deep mirror gloss black finish. Talk about reaching for the sky. It will be my first attempt. Wish me luck!

Cheers!

[kprice52001]

Its sad day for my F4U. Today it met its death, It is now in a bunch 7 or 8 pieces in the bottom of my trash can. I'm sorry to say that this build is one we will not get to see come to a finish. TAPS is being played softly as I post this......

[Twokidsnosleep]

OOoooooo
Full engine flare out with no restart??
Did everyone eject safely
Another lost Rhino

[Lysus]

OOoooooo
Full engine flare out with no restart??
Did everyone eject safely
Another lost Rhino

We all know who is to blame:

[Twokidsnosleep]

Alas it sounds like this F4 fell victim to the Dreaded Putty Pig

[kprice52001]

With current Department of Defense policies and fast acting re-utilization standards I was able to re-outfit the F4 and although she may never fly again, She will continue to serve...

SIG F4, complete! LOL

[kprice52001]

Here are the last Pictures I have of this build before it met its demise. I laid three coats of Tamiys X1 Black on it thinned with Mr Hobby Self Leveling Lacquer. The first coat was a 50/50 mix and then the second coat was 25/75 paint to thinner and the final was 10/90 paint to thinner. You can see that the paint looks great but that there was some orange peel and a lot of dust in it. I used my extractor to try to help pull out some of the dust but the MR. Hobby extractor that I have is not the best on the market by any means, Defiantly Hobby Grade but at Pro pricing. I don't recommend it to any one in the market. After this I started to try to buff the paint out using a Proxxon tool and a three part buffer for acrylics but I didn't wait long enough for the paint to dry and it turned into a mess of melted paint and goo, that's about when the right engine had an AB blowout which caused an overpowering amount of yaw sending the F4 into an uncontrolled flat spin. Poor Goose he never had a chance. The US navy said that he broke his neck on the canopy upon ejection and was dead before he hit the water but that he was not at fault.



I am going to head out to the hobby Shop this weekend. If I can find another one Ill restart the project. Although I think Ill look for a 1/48 scale this time. Have no fear I have not given up on this SIG. I will accomplish my mission!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Good on you for a sense of humour and imagination, loving the Goose analogy
Things will work out for you