Col Olds's F-4C Phantom

[smokeriderdon]

OK, so I am doing another Phantom. Almost as surprising as me doing an Eagle. LOL

So, I was asked to do one to use the landing gear and exhaust set by 3D Chute Expert out of Taiwan. My club Pres has a page that he highlights builds and products, and 3D is one of the companies he showcases. So he sent me this set. I am still plugging away on the B-58. But Like with the 105, I need something to do when that one frustrates me or paint/glue/putty has to set.


This is the Academy kit. I LOVELOVELOVE this kit. This is my 3rd one. The only drawback to the kit is the gear wells, but I think I have the best way to do them figured out now. Still the only part of the kit I detest. So, as I wait for the Eduard PE for the cockpit to get here, I moved right on to the landing gears. As I said, I was given this set to try out, and I will give my honest opinion. You all know I dont mince words. LOL That being said, these things are great! The detail is superb. They fit right into the wheel well with no hassles. I simply hit them with some gloss white, a dirt wash as this is going to be Col Olds's plane as it flew, not as the museum piece. Did a couple of the lines black and poof, thats it. No need to add any parts from the kit (aside from maybe landing lights) as they have every detail already on them. A total winner in my book.

And as to the subject matter. If you dont already know, Col Robin Olds (he eventually made Brigadier General) was one of the best pilots to grace the cockpit of an aircraft. Triple ace between WWII and Nam. Definitely should read up on him. There arent many, if any, left like him. If youre a Phantom phan and a USAF guy, this plane is a must do.




Quick note about this pic. I took this at the USAF museum in Dayton OH. Notice the paint on the nose. Looks like they didnt let the first coat cure long enough.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool

[Stokesy44]

Cracking subject. I've read about his tactics in Vietnam, amazing stuff.

Its easy to forget there was only 20 years between WW2 and Vietnam so guys flying Rolling Thunder in 65 could also have flown with the 8th or 15th over Germany and Italy.

And that's just the Air Force, there must have been senior guys in the Navy who saw combat across the same time.

Did you watch Masters of the Air? I thought it was brilliant but flawed. Still a great homage to the bravery of those young men though.

[digger303]

Love the little bits of history.....I can only absorb little bits at a time

[smokeriderdon]

Cracking subject. I've read about his tactics in Vietnam, amazing stuff.

Its easy to forget there was only 20 years between WW2 and Vietnam so guys flying Rolling Thunder in 65 could also have flown with the 8th or 15th over Germany and Italy.

And that's just the Air Force, there must have been senior guys in the Navy who saw combat across the same time.

Did you watch Masters of the Air? I thought it was brilliant but flawed. Still a great homage to the bravery of those young men though.

No, I have not watched that. Flawed how?

[smokeriderdon]

Love the little bits of history.....I can only absorb little bits at a time

Hey, work within your limitations. LOL

[smokeriderdon]

Landing gear installed and wings together. Intakes together and done with the latex paint method. Got the PE for the pit finally, so that has commenced as well.

[digger303]

Love the little bits of history.....I can only absorb little bits at a time

Hey, work within your limitations. LOL

[Stokesy44]

Cracking subject. I've read about his tactics in Vietnam, amazing stuff.

Its easy to forget there was only 20 years between WW2 and Vietnam so guys flying Rolling Thunder in 65 could also have flown with the 8th or 15th over Germany and Italy.

And that's just the Air Force, there must have been senior guys in the Navy who saw combat across the same time.

Did you watch Masters of the Air? I thought it was brilliant but flawed. Still a great homage to the bravery of those young men though.

No, I have not watched that. Flawed how?

They needed more episodes to tell the full history of the 8th from 43-45. Too much time spent on the early days with characters who were POWs by Autumn 1943 and not enough about how the 8th overcame their problems to become the force that destroyed the Luftwaffe. I'm not knocking it, what they put into the 9 episodes was great but it really needed another 2 or 3 to really tell the story.

[smokeriderdon]

Cracking subject. I've read about his tactics in Vietnam, amazing stuff.

Its easy to forget there was only 20 years between WW2 and Vietnam so guys flying Rolling Thunder in 65 could also have flown with the 8th or 15th over Germany and Italy.

And that's just the Air Force, there must have been senior guys in the Navy who saw combat across the same time.

Did you watch Masters of the Air? I thought it was brilliant but flawed. Still a great homage to the bravery of those young men though.

No, I have not watched that. Flawed how?

They needed more episodes to tell the full history of the 8th from 43-45. Too much time spent on the early days with characters who were POWs by Autumn 1943 and not enough about how the 8th overcame their problems to become the force that destroyed the Luftwaffe. I'm not knocking it, what they put into the 9 episodes was great but it really needed another 2 or 3 to really tell the story.

Gotcha. I am not overly familiar with that history, so anything will be informative for me. LOL


OK, PE installed for the pit. The lading gears came with wheels as well. And they are just as nice as the gears. Just gotta add a little dirt to em. And the seats from the kit. I could have sworn I had some resin seats in my parts box, but alas, no. I ordered the PE belts to dress up these. They are pretty good aside from no belts. I need to redo the oh Brad Pitt handles.

[digger303]

Really nice.

[Stokesy44]

Wow, that PE in the cockpit looks awesome!

[smokeriderdon]

Really nice.

Wow, that PE in the cockpit looks awesome!

thank you gentlemen.

Its looking like a Phantom now.

[smokeriderdon]

Got the tires on, front landing gear on. These things look fantastic in place. Again, cant recommend them enough. Ill be using his products more often I think.







I got one seat done with the PE belts. Man its tedious. Doing just this convinces me I will NEVER do a freaking ship. LOL

[digger303]

Got the tires on, front landing gear on. These things look fantastic in place. Again, cant recommend them enough. Ill be using his products more often I think.







I got one seat done with the PE belts. Man its tedious. Doing just this convinces me I will NEVER do a freaking ship. LOL

As much as I find my self looking at Japanese battleships and USA transport carriers I have to keep telling myself the same thing


Ps ...really nice belts the time was well spent.

[smokeriderdon]

OK, back to this one. Primed and silver sprayed a bit. You can see the blue spots. Thats masking fuid. Once I paint the camo over it, I will scrub the paint and get the chipping effect his plane has in the pic.

Thats the plan anyway. LOL

[digger303]

OK, back to this one. Primed and silver sprayed a bit. You can see the blue spots. Thats masking fuid. Once I paint the camo over it, I will scrub the paint and get the chipping effect his plane has in the pic.

Thats the plan anyway. LOL

It's a good plan. In the past I've done the same. I found if I flick it on and or use a piece of wire I can get smaller, sharper edged chips. If I just use a brush I get a lot of round scratches....maybe it's just me.
Look forward to the masking coming off.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Sweet, she is back online under construction

[aur0ra145]

Cool subject! I'm interested to see how the chipping comes out.

[smokeriderdon]

So I was away for 2 weeks dog sitting. I took my stuff with me, so got some work done on this. The progress pics are really irrelevant. This where she stands.

I over did the weathering. However, I have seen plenty of people get accolades and the model looked like a chess board with a metric shitake ton of dirt and junk dumped on it. At least to me. So Im gonna leave this as is.

[digger303]

To me it looks like a machine thats had a long life and the paints faded some on top and the under side needs more oil

[Stokesy44]

That tri-tone Nam camo looks superb

[Tomcat64]

Just caught up with this and can only echo what Digger & Stokesy already said - I think that distressed topside camo looks great

Also great to see aftermarket additions that actually fit the kit they're designed for and don't need bodging into place.

Cracking build

[smokeriderdon]

Thank you gents. Decals coming up in the next couple days I think.

[smokeriderdon]

Working on the decals. Not going to do much by way of stencils. But the couple I did do by the cockpit are driving me nuts. They arent silvered, but I cant dull them down. Grrrrrrrr.

[digger303]

Got some nice weathering.

[Kevthemodeller]

Top draw stuff going on here, the weathering is superb

[Twokidsnosleep]

Working on the decals. Not going to do much by way of stencils. But the couple I did do by the cockpit are driving me nuts. They arent silvered, but I cant dull them down. Grrrrrrrr.

That looks great from here
They were used and abused for sure and your weathering shows that

[smokeriderdon]

Thank you gents.

So, as discussed, no way am I doing all those stencils. I did the few for emergency egress and a couple warnings, and thats sufficient. I once spoke with an HH-43 pilot who told me half the birds he flew didnt even have the US Air Force on the tail. I am pretty sure the planes being pretty was the last thing on their minds during that war.

Anyway, this is her. Just have to do the little things like bay doors. Then the part I hate the most. Weapons. Blargh. So next trip to the bench will be that. Last update until I finish.

[Stokesy44]

That looks superb. Bravo mate

Its so evocative of the time - and I guess that's the aim. Awesome stuff.

[aur0ra145]

Looking good! The chipping looks great!