Phantom Phreak MD F4E Phantom II Thunderbird

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 6:54 pm

Been sanding and sanding and sanding and re-filling and sanding then checking smoothness with primer then re-filling and sanding.....
Got so bored I decided to make a new front suspension strut as the kit one is missing a front wheel attatchment.
Took two hours to research photos and find the telescoping diameters that would look correct, got the wheel mount soldered to the rod ( three tries) and the wheels test fit on nicely then drilled a sheath and a retaining ring so it was looking promising.

Saw the front wheels are actually shifted distally off the center line, so I thought I would just tweak the brass rod with a bend and move those wheels backwards...sheared off the entire lower wheel assembly and ruined the whole thing.

Post by **Lysus** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 7:16 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Saw the front wheels are actually shifted distally off the center line, so I thought I would just tweak the brass rod with a bend and move those wheels backwards...sheared off the entire lower wheel assembly and ruined the whole thing.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 10:10 pm

Exactly.
And my motivation to fix it is sub zero.
Surprisingly little swearing for wasting two precious hours of my time

Post by **Lysus** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:48 pm

Cap 'n coke still nearby?

Otherwise those are the moments I (un) wisely open a different kit...

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 1:59 am

Working or her, uhhh, behind bits....

So I have made a pleated brass insert and a larger brass tube for the fit to the fuselage

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:20 am

Did some more soldering, will see how it looks vs kit wheel assembly

Exhaust is coming along

Post by **ladip63** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 4:25 pm

NIIIICE!!!

If I did engine PE on my 1/72 I would have cried. I'm having a fit with the ejection seats PE. ITTY-BITTY!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:00 pm

ladip63 wrote:NIIIICE!!! If I did engine PE on my 1/72 I would have cried. I'm having a fit with the ejection seats PE. ITTY-BITTY!!

I guess that is self made PE...it is just thin brass shim stock scratched with the backside of a blade to make it pleated and then the two end pleats solderered together so that it fits into the kit exhausts. Then I just cut the pleats in the plastic and folded everything over. I should have heat treated the brass and left it all burnt up an tarnished inside to mimic the real thing

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 6:40 am

More brass detail work to avoid sanding
I made a brass pitot tube as the kit one had broken its tip off while still mounted to the sprue
This Phantom version has the pitot mounted to the nose

New air intake thingy on vertical stabilizer... or as I like to call it "the damn pokey thing that I keep trying to embed into my skin"

I must have dropped the plane at some point as the very top of the rear stabilizer had chipped off...hence the 3M Bondo to repair it

Post by **GuyMac** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 6:56 am

Scott , this one really looks nice mate

Just one question.

What diameter is the brass pitot tube (front and back) ? I tend to break that thing all the time and I got me some aluminium rodds/tubes. I could use them on 1/48 or 1/72 scale future projects.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 1:06 pm

GuyMac wrote:Scott , this one really looks nice mate
Just one question.

What diameter is the brass pitot tube (front and back) ? I tend to break that thing all the time and I got me some aluminium rodds/tubes. I could use them on 1/48 or 1/72 scale future projects.

Oh geeze, I am not sure what size

I got a bag of brass and aluminum off cuts from the hobby shop that is a miss-mash of different tubes, so just used what looks about right.
The box of many tubes:

Post by **GuyMac** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:07 pm

OK that's good to know. I'll have some suitable for the job in that case

Thanks mate

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 9:03 am

Been plugging away at seams and such moving towards having to paint.
Looking at the decals and paint options in the instructions and noticed there was a scheme for a Phantom Thunderbird

The accessory decals are there but I would have to paint the main design...hey why not
Thunderbird it is for this one

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 5:41 pm

Engine internals

Post by **Lysus** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 5:46 pm

Awesome! Brave choice going after a white shell...I'm sure you'll make it gleam.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 6:31 pm

Lysus wrote:Awesome! Brave choice going after a white shell...I'm sure you'll make it gleam.

Ya, I noticed the white primer really shows the crappy job I did trying to seal up all the seams
Back to putty pig, sanding and painting

Post by **Spook** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:50 pm

Some fantastic work Scott. Scratch building 1:72 wheel struts

revenge of the the putty pig

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 11:21 pm

Spook wrote:Some fantastic work Scott. Scratch building 1:72 wheel struts
revenge of the the putty pig

Thanks Simon
We shall see if they look too out of place to use or not
Yes, trying white putty now so as to get better coverage with the paint

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 3:25 am

So we are switching gears to a Thunderbird paint scheme

Some war supplies for painting from the LHS...how the heck is this almost $100...oh I got a book on airliner models too

She is white primed ....first with Tamiya ultra fine white, then wet sanded and used Mr Base 1000 filler stuff with the airbrush to fill the gaps and cover any grey of filler or show through.

the base of the Tamiya Phantom and the tanks as well. Large central tank got an airbrush of X-3 Royal Blue
Do you like my spray booth??? All fumes are directly vented into the atmosphere and my lungs. Rattle cans I do in the garage.

Post by **Lysus** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 6:58 am

Nice. Lungs are nature's filtration system, yeah?

Really need to get back to work on mine, these are looking slick, man. What's 800 lbs at 1:72 anyway?

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Nov 27, 2016 7:11 am

Lysus wrote:Nice. Lungs are nature's filtration system, yeah?

Really need to get back to work on mine, these are looking slick, man. What's 800 lbs at 1:72 anyway?

The scale weight is 11lbs, but with all the putty and filler and primer we gotta be close to over scale weight by th time it is done

Some guy put it in my head that white was gonna be challenging, so I had to up my game with this job

Thanks for that warning

Post by **ladip63** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:35 pm

Looking great Scott. Love the added tidbits about the Phantom. I think I need to spend all day Sunday to see how far I can get. I feel like I'm behind thanks to losing my mojo, but I have gotten it back.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:06 pm

ladip63 wrote:Looking great Scott. Love the added tidbits about the Phantom. I think I need to spend all day Sunday to see how far I can get. I feel like I'm behind thanks to losing my mojo, but I have gotten it back.

Thanks Lynn
I switch back and forth between my two Phantoms and that seems to keep me going
I am chicken to start the Thunderbird detail painting at the moment, but inspiration to do that will hit me soon.

Post by **Lysus** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:11 pm

Surprised you have time at all what with the house and all

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 6:20 pm

Lysus wrote:Surprised you have time at all what with the house and all

Ya it has been tough lately time wise
Move date is tentatively the 19 of December, so trying to get paint done
Having more fun with the airbrush, gonna try the HS I won last December

Post by **GuyMac** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:09 pm

No worries mate, deadline has been delayed to march 1st 2017, so don't rush

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:36 pm

GuyMac wrote:No worries mate, deadline has been delayed to march 1st 2017, so don't rush

Right
So I ordered some special diorama supplies to display the Thunderbird up properly and am focusing on the Tamiya Phantom to get used to the airbrushes

Post by **Spook** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:43 pm

Coming along nicely pal, feel the pain with the landing gear, I've been the same with my resin wells.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:04 pm

She is going back into the box for a while as I move house
Thank goodness for deadline extensions

Post by **ladip63** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:44 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote:
ladip63 wrote:NIIIICE!!! If I did engine PE on my 1/72 I would have cried. I'm having a fit with the ejection seats PE. ITTY-BITTY!!
I guess that is self made PE...it is just thin brass shim stock scratched with the backside of a blade to make it pleated and then the two end pleats solderered together so that it fits into the kit exhausts. Then I just cut the pleats in the plastic and folded everything over. I should have heat treated the brass and left it all burnt up an tarnished inside to mimic the real thing

Good idea Scott. I still would have cried at attempting that. My skill levels are up to par yet, bt will work on it. Nice job.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 5:50 pm

I have pulled her out of her tub and started again.
Had to make rear wheel covers out of styrene and filled in the forward ones..meh, they are ok, still some sanding and filler

A bit of Mr Surfacer 500 painted into the seams....getting there

Been toying with the idea of some lights out of her, ummm bum

So I have threaded a length of fiberoptic through the exhausts and left two long strands..those would be the leads for the incoming light. Then if I trim all the round fibers in their middle, I get two straight bundles that I can put the exhaust nozzles over to contain. Then maybe a clear cone to make it look light firey exhaust and voila, simple as pie

We shall see how this progresses

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:38 pm

Setting up to sand the panels flat.
Put Tamiya tape over the raised details so as to protect them from me and the skinny sticks

Will wait until tomorrow to let the Mr Surfacers set fully
Canucks game to go to tonight

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 1:36 am

Fiber optics were a dismal failure
I might have six or so strands, but only one per side gets light from the supply...duh

I should know better, they are best for pinpoint lighting

So back to drawing board and use of the Christmas LED's
have covered a LED in Tamiya tape with red marker to give it an orange/red glow. Not bad

Now to figure out the leads from the other side, maybe incorporated into the acrylic rod for the stand???

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:06 pm

Friday day off YAHOO!!!
Finished sanding and detailing last night for the wheel covers I made.
So sprayed Mr leveller 1000 today..of course two hunks of dust on one side

oh well, more sanding before final paint anyway

My puppy was incredibly helpful...I am sure you can hear the snoring. She blends with the floor boards pretty nicely though

Going to try to watch the live show today but not been able to get comments going on the I pad....says it can't get my account, try later

lousy computers. I am not so desperate as to go to work and watch

Post by **Lysus** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:08 pm

Je suis ton chien aujourd'hui.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:13 pm

Freaking spluttery airbrushing today...two hour stripdown and thourough flushings
Then I did the same for the airbrushes

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 2:10 am

Big hurdles to jump this weekend in painting this baby.
The white is a challenge, but the Thunderbird detail and colours are another level of complexity in masking.
Here is the belly taped up and freshly painted Tamiya X-3 Royal Blue

Red pinstriping to outline. Time to leave it alone and let it harden

for following along

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:00 am

looking good scott

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:01 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:13 pm Freaking spluttery airbrushing today...two hour stripdown and thourough flushings
Then I did the same for the airbrushes

I see I'm not the only one with lame dad jokes....

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 11, 2017 7:54 pm

Pin striping tests

Some idiot got a big thumb print on the new paint.....oh wait those are my prints, damn!!!

Post by **Lysus** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 8:25 am

D'oh!

Some fantastic pin striping there. I'm a fan of tossing decals in the bin whenever possible* so I'm super impressed.

*Possibly because I'm not the best at applying decals...

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 3:16 pm

I agree bud, decals can be the devil's work
For a first timer, the pinstriping is actually quite easy as it takes the compound curves like the new Tamiya tape
I should have done another blue spray for the bird the next day, but was too anxious to see how it was turning out
Live and learn

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:33 pm

More progress on her tummy

Post by **Fridgy** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:36 pm

Starting to look the business now scott

Post by **Lysus** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:39 pm

That's also some brilliant white.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:44 pm

She is coming along nicely.
The Mr Surfacer White stuff really does the trick for the smooth white...I got some white runs on the horizontal stabilizers when I didn't use the Mr S as the base layer

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:04 pm

I sat at the desk last night had a good hour I could have taped up and done some red stripes..man, I had no motivation
Fiddled around and touched up some blue with a brush and went to bed. I need to get those last few tummy bits painted so I can move onto top deck
The first of March looms large!!!

Post by **Lysus** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 10:24 pm

Way large...

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:25 am

Got off my butt and shot the whole rest white tonight before bedtime
She is tucked away in a cabinet so I don't touch it until tomorrow after work and the dust hopefully stays off
Had a bit of splotching again with the white Tamiya that didn't seem to occur with blue or red??

Waiting on the weekend to get here!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:54 am

Ok, I may not actually be crazy, well yes I AM crazy but other have had trouble with finicky white also
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techn ... 54962.aspx

I found it splotched when I stopped the paint/airflow....so I just kept going and stopped well away from the model
Had to blow out some splotches and will have to sand off some others....and some dust spots as I pulled it out and looked already