F-4 WIP

[jamesmk7]

Having recently stumbled on to this website through YouTube videos and having enjoyed Paul's reviews and builds and Lee's reviews, comments and enjoyment of what we call the Brewski, I decided these chaps are crazy and being a modeler for 58 yrs and a retired painter of Civilian and Military Aircraft, boats, semi's (Lorries to you chaps) and auto and being quite crazy because of paint fumes myself, I joined. I posted on ISM's facebook page a couple of comment and photos of a WIP I am working on, unfortunately burnout has set in for the moment, luckily the Model club I belong to is doing a WWII group build, so I have a chance for a diversion. Anyway, Paul ask me to post my WIP on here, so hopefully you can enjoy and see how this kit goes together. It will let me show you a couple of my techniques.

WIP, REVELL 1/32 F-4E (latest molding)
As I blabbered on before, I have been a mechanic, a painter and finally a Paint Supervisor on the USAF & Egyptian F-4E's, that were modded and repaired at Hill AFB Utah. I have the scars and memories to prove it and am quite in love with this aircraft, in all it's forms and countries of operation. My most favorite version, next to the Israeli's, is the Orange and White Test birds that Hill, Edwards and Eglin flew. At Hill we called them Area Support Birds, they would fly the test mission for new hardware and avionics changes that Hill came up with. Although we had all the Air Force versions in White and Orange, the "E" was my favorite. To look in the rear views and see it's coming would give me goosebumps. While I was a painter on the old F-4's and while working on the Orange and White F-4's Hill acquired the F-16 Vipers (at Hill, we don't call them Falcons). Of course Hill had to have a White and Orange Version for Area Support and that job fell to me and my partner in crime. I came up with the design and got permission (oh ya, I had to meet the F-16 Engineering Review board) to do the Orange and White Viper I also got permission to do a cool Military style logo that I had designed for the tail of the F-16. Upon It's completion the guys at Area Support said "Well, what about the F-4's?" The rest is history. For you enjoyment, here's is my paint job on the New F-16A at Hill.

hill16.jpg

Okay, enough preface, here's is what I hope this will turn out to be, I have my original drawings for the HAFB for the tail and will be cutting them out by hand or by using my Ecraft cutter. Sorry for the grainy photo.

f-4e 304.jpg

Here's how she sits now. Behind the museum at Hill AFB, awaiting refurbishment (I hope).

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Brings a tear to my eyes. The battle damage troops used it for training, should be shot!

I know, "when is he going to get going?" Now!

I have built the old Revell 32nd scale F-4E many times and as a lot of you guys know what a bear, overall shape and outline not bad, detail non existent!
In this build I have included my comments In my Photos so I don't get confused.
The next 5 photos shows me doing my usual test fitting to make sure I don't get any big surprises later on.









I usually always start with the cockpit and this bad boy is no different.
I sanded all the detail that Revell had molded in and started scratch building. first phase is to draw out using CorelDraw the instruments and gauges and print them out in color. Also I draw up the basic layout along with a finished look. I also cut out the gauge bezels and instrument faces.



After they are all cut out they are painted the standard flat black. The instrument panels are cockpit gray FS 36231.



This shot shows the cockpit beginning to come together.



This shot shows the cockpit almost completed.



Next up, the canopy sills were too narrow, so added some beef to them.



I could not find the canopy sill rain diverters in PE anymore, so I made my own from thin sheet palstic. (Evergreen)



This shot shows the front and back completed and sprayed floquil flat black. I think they captured the look I wanted.



Next I found the scratched the inside of the canopy sills and added the lock actuators. Also I found that the interior was missing a small piece where the splitter vane area poked through. I added the fuse panel to the aft cockpit right side.



This photo show my adding the interior stringers and the insulation blankets. The insulation blankets are made from thin hobby aluminum sheets with the diamond pattern embossed into them. I also started painting the side walls, again with FS 36231 cockpit gray.



This photo shows the interior with it's first coat of cockpit gray. I also added some blank boxes.



Test fit.



Alright, let's start on the seats.



Here they are test fitted into the cockpit tub.



Here's another shot showing the red safety lanyards.



Let's move on the wings, as I wanted to drop the flight controls.Now I know that "normally the flaps (inboard flight control) stays up and locked, but during paint we had the circuit breakers pulled so we could manually move them to paint the red behind and sometimes during rigging or operations they would be part way down.



I rounded the inside edges of the wing trailing edge so the ailerons and flaps would fit tight.



Also rounded the forward edges of the flight controls.



Next up the forward flashing tail light. The kit supplied a clear on but I like my old toothbrushes.



Here it is sanded and polished.



Since I cut the flaps and ailerons I decided to cut the rudder.



Next I moved back to the wings.








I grab some old engine from the original Revell F-4E.









Next I moved the leading edges of the wings. A little filling and scribing will be needed.





Additional beefing up needed.



Missile fin bays needed a little help.





I moved next to the forward fuselage section.



A little problem during glue up.



Wiped out the gun cooling vents.



Mating the forward fuselage with the main fuselage section.





I read somewhere that the radome had a problem and not wanting to buy a resin replacement.



Getting a little burned out at this point and not wanting to try this on freshly painted aircraft, I decided to do the intake covers.



















I next moved to the canopies.







Next a little work on the canopy actuators, I'm going to them up.



A little work on the forward and aft canopies.











Moved to the aux tanks.



Test spray the canopies and forward windscreen.



Alright, it's now when the mojo faded, and I put the monster aside while I rest up on a club group build. Please stay tuned, I will be back, same Phantom channel, same Phantom time!

[jamesmk7]

WIP, 1/32 REVELL F-4E part 2

I figured this out and everything has been added to the original post. Please check it out. Thanks.

[Paul]

James just post your rpgoress on the original post of yours mate.

Ill merge them together for you

[jamesmk7]

Thanks Paul, appreciate the help! I've got a photobucket account and think I may have this, ha ha ha ha.

[TheWeasel]

Simply amazing work there!

Lots of inspiration for my spooks

[Nev]

Holy molly not many I would call masterful but this qualifies!! It is a freaking awesome build your skills are off the charts mate

[Spook]

awesome build James.love the use of the toothbrush.

[Nige201980]

Brilliant simply brilliant

[Tacoman2000]

James, where do you live? From? I live about an hour south of Hill AFB. I have seen that F-4. Love the progress so far. I have a couple F-4's that are in my stash. Looking forward to more updates.

[jamesmk7]

Thanks Tacoman2000, I live in Clinton about 6 miles from the base, I've been here in the land of Zion since 1966. I was in the USAF for 4 yrs, then out at Hill for 38 yrs as Civil Service and then a Private Contractor.

[Tacoman2000]

Thanks Tacoman2000, I live in Clinton about 6 miles from the base, I've been here in the land of Zion since 1966. I was in the USAF for 4 yrs, then out at Hill for 38 yrs as Civil Service and then a Private Contractor.

Glad to know I am not the only one on the forum that lives in the Promised Land. lol
Keep up the good work, and I will post pics and updates when I finally start my F-4's.

[jamesmk7]

Thanks, and I'll keep an eye on yours.

[Avgas]

Crikey that really is work on another level. I can only hope to be half that good, no make that a quarter. I'm impressed with the rain diverters on the sills. I really like the paint job on the F16 as well!

I did four years on the British F4, the cockpits were a lot mankier (filthy) than yours, also I remember the rain diverters didn't divert much rain either, you still finished up with an arm full of water if you opened the lid after it had been raining!

Superb work James .

[HistoryRider]

Holy Cow! Amazing detailed work! Fantastic job!

[Twokidsnosleep]

WOW

[AgentG]

Beautiful work!

I'm just south of you folks in Henderson, NV.

G

[Alkosh]

I wish I could get a resin copy of your cockpit for my F-4G. It's outstanding!

[jamesmk7]

Crikey that really is work on another level. I can only hope to be half that good, no make that a quarter. I'm impressed with the rain diverters on the sills. I really like the paint job on the F16 as well!

I did four years on the British F4, the cockpits were a lot mankier (filthy) than yours, also I remember the rain diverters didn't divert much rain either, you still finished up with an arm full of water if you opened the lid after it had been raining!

Superb work James .

Thanks Avgas, I did the F-16, later named "Little Precious", not my idea, in 32nd scale many years ago but it didn't suffer the divorce moves well, here's the only things left. I will do her again, when I get time.



Also, if I remember right (30+ yrs ago), the rain diverters were half the story, the other half were the canopy seals located on the bottom of the canopies and inflated by BLC air, they would deflate quickly upon engine shutdown. We got a lot of water inside during washed and corrosion treatments until we started taping the seams and finally found a circular foam materiel used in car door jams and hoods during painting to keep out the overspray.

[martin57]

Excelent work well done to you

[AndreFerro]

just..... WOW !!!

Very nice scratch work, Man !!