1:32 Tamiya Australian F4E Phantom II

[Fridgy]

So I had started this build before joining ISM, but have been watching the Phantom group build with great interest.

I am, being Australian, am building the Australian F4E that we had as a lease program before the F-111's got delivered.
The phantom is one of my favourite planes, something about the way she looks.......

Anyway... On to the model...

Phantom_displayed_as_69_7208.sized.jpg

20161208_175956 cropped.jpg

20161208_180003 cropped.jpg

[Fridgy]

20161208_175942 cropped.jpg

20161130_175652 cropped.jpg

so that is all the pics i currently have, my phone photos are too big to upload, so i have to keep cropping them down

all feed back is welcome as I'm still trying to get all the techniques to a semi decent level

cheers

[Fridgy]

Some history on the phantom on display here in melbourne

The Phantom at Point Cook painted as 69-7208 is really ex-USAF 67-0237,
(Previously incorrectly reported as 67-0327)
67-0237 served with the 3rd TFW and 21 CW with the USAF.
After some high level negotiations around 1989-1990 the USAF donated former USAF F-4E-34-MC 67-0237 (c/n 2912) to the RAAF.
In 03/89, 67-0237 was flown to Oakland, California for shipment to Australia aboard HMAS Tobruk.
When the donated F-4E arrived at Brisbane, Qld docks she was transported by road to RAAF Amberley where staff of No.3 Aircraft Depot painted her to represent 69-7208 "8". This was the aircraft that flew the last RAAF Phantom mission.
On completion of the repaint she was again loaded aboard HMAS Tobruk for transport to Geelong, Vic. docks.
On 05/11/89 the final part of the journey was made by road to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.
The most obvious external difference from this block 34 airframe and the RAAF's original aircraft are the slated wing and tail leading edges unlike the RAAF's unslated block 43 aircraft.
On permanent loan to and on display in the Strike Hangar at RAAF Museum, Point Cook.

[Fridgy]

And found the history of the real 69-7208

First Flight 14/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 06/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Participant in Richmond Airshow 1973.
Flew the last Phantom mission in the RAAF, Sqn Ldr David Rogers flew the sortie with FLTLT Lester Cavanagh on 20/06/73.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73
Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 3rd TFW, 124th FG with USAF.
Crashed, 01/03/95 after Engine bleed air failure which produced smoke in cockpit and the crew ejected.

[Fridgy]

And here are some more photos I found online of this beautiful machine

69_7208_24thMarch_1991.jpg

Phantom_aboard_HMAS_Tobruk.sized.jpg

Point_Cook_28th_February_2010_048.sized.jpg

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool photos, thanks for sharing
She looks funny flopped on the deck of a ship..a suntanning Rhino

[Fridgy]

Cool photos, thanks for sharing
She looks funny flopped on the deck of a ship..a suntanning Rhino

Would make for an interesting diorama if you could get everything in the same scale.....

[Fridgy]

Got some more work done recently

Finally got my decals delivered after being on back order



Got the seats painted... tried to dry brush some silver to make the details pop... but I think I need to loose more paint from the brush first....







Also got the racks, missiles and fuel tanks painted and decalled just need to seal and weather them.

[Fridgy]

Painted sealed and tried my hand at a pin was for the ECM pod....
Never tried a pin wash before. Any advice or recommendations?



Till next time, thanks for looking

[chief5437]

Looking good so far buddy. Pin wash looks good from here!

[Fridgy]

Hi guys,
Finally managed to get a clear coat down on this girl.

Spent today sitting in the air con getting the decals done. I would say I'm 95% done with the decals









Just need to put the Aussie roundels on the side of the fuselage, the red line, and finish the underside off

[63bp]

Looks great Fridgy, only starting off in the hobby myself but hope to be able to achieve results like this one day. I know I sound like a broken record but to a novice you blokes are inspirational.
Thanks for the look...

[Fridgy]

Looks great Fridgy, only starting off in the hobby myself but hope to be able to achieve results like this one day. I know I sound like a broken record but to a novice you blokes are inspirational.
Thanks for the look...

Thanks mate
I'm only starting back out as well. This build has been going since August last year, the kit was a birthday present from my wonderful partner. So she has taken some time to get her to where she is today.

I'm still learning all the techniques that some guys make look easy (pin washes and panel lining for example)

I have found being close to the actual plane I'm modelling to be a but of a double edged sword, no matter how much work I put in to her she just doesn't look like the real thing, and I wish the real plane wasn't placed behind a sheet of perspex, what I wouldn't give to get up close to her for a detailed look.

Ok so I may be rambling on a bit here, but hey...

A: it's my thread and I will ramble if I want to

B: it's the last day of my annual leave and I may have had a few to many Jack Daniels and cokes

[Fridgy]

Got home before the better half was back from picking up the step daughter today.
Managed to get the red line and the last of the Aussie roundels on.
I am loving these decals, super thin but go down beautifully. Will get some photos once they have finished the "I'm all wrinkly cause I've been in the water too long" look they get from micro sol
Speak of the red line... do any of you ex air force types know what it is for??
I have noticed some planes have it and some don't

[Fridgy]

Here we go...
The have sunk quite well into the panel lines

[Twokidsnosleep]

Jeeze that looks nice
The surface details blow me away

[Fridgy]

Jeeze that looks nice
The surface details blow me away

Thanks scott

[chief5437]

looks great, love the paint scheme. youre doing some great work here buddy, looking forward to seeing her done.

[Fridgy]

Got the wingtip formation lights painted up.
Just have to finish a few decals on the underside, then it's time for another gloss coat and a panel wash...
I have to admit the panel wash scares me, I've heard some horror stories and I've put a lot of hours into this girl and don't want to ruin her right at the end.

Anyone got some tips and tricks to share??




Cheers

Mick

[Fridgy]

looks great, love the paint scheme. youre doing some great work here buddy, looking forward to seeing her done.

Thanks chief, she is on the home straight now. Hopefully by next weekend she will be done and dusted, work permitting

[Fridgy]

Have done some more work over the past few days. Got all the decals sealed and have started panel lining her. Am using the tamiya panel liner, seems to be working quite well. No photos from the past couple of sessions. Will get some up once I get the panel lines finished

[Bissyboat]

Looks very smart.

[Fridgy]

So dicky wrist is not stopping me doing some easy stuff
Managed to sit down and get all the panel lines finished on the bottom this afternoon







Plan on keeping her reasonably clean as she is a museum display

Cheers

Mick

[Fridgy]

Kept pottering away after dinner
Got the topside completed as well.
Maybe my weekend goal will get finished?










Geez I'm almost done with this big Bird!

[Bissyboat]

Beautiful and clean panel lines.

[Fridgy]

Beautiful and clean panel lines.

Thanks bissyboat.
I have only just started using the tamiya panel accent colour.
It's a messy clean up but great results

[Fridgy]

Got the missiles and drop tanks finished and on this morning
Just need a dull cote and to fix the canopies on and she is done

[Bissyboat]

That´s one beautiful undercarriage. Looking super!

[IanG]

Absolutley stunning build.

[Fridgy]

Ok so I actually got off my lazy but and spent 10mins dusting this big girl down and hey I actually got a matt coat down on her topside tonight

Was a testers dull coat straight from a spray can, smells horrible, ive been using acrylics too much

Will give it a good 48 hrs to harden and the I will hit the under side and she will be complete.... this is of course providing I don't get distracted by the F-18 I'm also working on

[Fridgy]

Hmm so having some issues with the testors dull cote from the rattle can....

Have used tamiya's panel liner and let that set for almost a full month. Dull coated the topside last night and checking her this afternoon I saw this....



The panel lines seem to have run... almost like they were decals.... the seem misfired since the top coat was applied.... anyone else had this happen to them??

Makes me very hesitant to dull coat the underside now

[Fridgy]

Finally dull coated the underside this afternoon

Just need to let that dry... installed the canopies and she is finally finished!

I have to go house hunting tomorrow, but I'm hopeful that I can spare 30mins at some point to get the canopies on and get some decent photos

[Fridgy]

SHE IS FINALLY FINISHED!!!!!!

Here are the final pics of her

[Twokidsnosleep]

That's a great big Iron Roo that is!!!
She is a big girl and looks great out in the sunshine

[Fridgy]

That's a great big Iron Roo that is!!!
She is a big girl and looks great out in the sunshine

Thanks buddy

I'm glad I finally got her finished off, she now has pride of place on the shelf in the modelling room

[Bissyboat]

Looks absolutely Ace!

[Spook]

Wow awesome build pal

[Bissyboat]

Wonderful finish. Even better than the real article.