SkyPainter303's Monogram F-4 Phantom II

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:42 pm

Modern kits are expensive. For this reason, when I join this group I'll probably choose a vintage Monogram or Revell kit. This will also take me back to my early days of modelling building those old, Monogram, white box kits.

Post by **arilo76** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:08 pm

Wow you really going old school here

Post by **GuyMac** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 9:44 pm

As long as you enjoy it... that's the important "rule" in this SIG

Even older vintage kits can build up very nicely. Watching the box, it brings up memories here too

Post by **Lysus** » Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:15 pm

Nice to see the box look like the day it rolled out of the Monogram factory

I swear I think I had this kit in my hands at some point when I was trying to pick my first kit. Should be fun to watch!

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:09 am

I hate that this kit is molded in olive drab. I should order some gray Stynylrez primer.

Post by **Spook** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:10 am

Nothing wrong with old school,enjoy

Post by **Lysus** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:19 am

SkyPainter303 wrote:I hate that this kit is molded in olive drab. I should order some gray Stynylrez primer.

You won't be sorry if you do.

Post by **Vleugelmoer** » Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:38 am

Dang that's what I call going old school in STILE. Now a day some people would try to keelhaul ya or throw you in the insane asylum for building it. However I'm of the kits are made to be built persuasion so

your go at this vintage kit. I think old Shep is silently proud as well god rest his sole.

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 3:36 am

There's no turning back now because I've opened the box. As much as I've got a collector's tendencies to hold on to things, I don't believe 70s model kits will gain appreciable value in my lifetime. So this is a builder.

Below is my very first attempt on a kit preview video. I don't understand why Adobe Premiere reduced my video from 720 to 480 pixels, but here it is anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz12wU_ ... e=youtu.be

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 4:38 am

Good review video.
Can't wait to see how she goes together

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sat Oct 08, 2016 6:47 am

I found this awesome resin cockpit for Monogram kits, but it is for the J model. Would this be completely out of place in a D model?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181118007662

Post by **Vleugelmoer** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:27 am

As the J version was an update to the D version I'm inclined to say go for it.

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 12:30 am

Vleugelmoer wrote:As the J version was an update to the D version I'm inclined to say go for it.

I've decided against since the aftermarket cockpit costs twice as much as kit itself.

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 12:43 am

Here I go, getting started on this build.

phantom-6 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-7 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-8 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-4 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-5 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-1 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-2 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-3 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 1:28 am

I primed the cockpit pieces with black Stynylrez.

phantom-10 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-9 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **Lysus** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 4:53 pm

Excellent!

Sometimes I think I should grab one of these old kits to do as a second, serious build in part because they're cheaper but mainly thanks to WIPs like yours and Brett's. Old can still be fun.

Post by **GuyMac** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:41 pm

Great video Michael.
I loved the -now old- monogram F-4's. Will take a lot of effort but sure a lot of fun building this baby

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 2:12 am

I started to lay down some color in the cockpit. I sprayed the tub and other pieces with Model Master Acryl Dark Gull Gray. I then started with the black side panels and instruments.

phantom-11 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-12 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Some PE pieces would be awesome, but there are none produced exclusively for this kit.

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 3:24 am

I finished painting the cockpit with Model Master acrylics. The highlights on the side panels were done with a white, charcoal pencil.

phantom-13 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

In preparation for an enamel wash, I sprayed two coats of Liquitex Professional Gloss Varnish.

phantom-14 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **ElCapitan** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 9:02 am

Great work so far, that cockpit looks amazing!

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:26 pm

The cockpit was finished off with a Testors Createfx enamel stain and a Liquitex matte coat. Getting this cockpit into the fuselage is proving to be a royal PITA.

phantom-15 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-16 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **Lysus** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:27 pm

I hope it goes in, that's a great job.

Post by **GarethCrossland** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:59 pm

Looking good!

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Tue Oct 18, 2016 4:47 am

I got the cockpit installed. The instructions are a bit vague on the attachment points. The rear canopy will likely need some fiddling to make it fit.

phantom-18 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

The fuselage had a long seam that needed to be worked over. I used some needle files I bought at Harbor Freight Tools for $2.99 USD and some sanding sticks. I'll probably have more sanding to do after the primer is sprayed. This obliterated the raised detail.

phantom-19 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-20 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I read from another Revellogram Phantom builder to not glue the bottom fuselage join. If you do, you'll wind up with a gap at the wing joins. I can see how that is possible because the fuselage needs to be squeezed together if you were to fit it tightly.

phantom-17 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **arilo76** » Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:54 am

cool progress and really impressive detail on the cockpit well done

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:27 am

I've glued the upper and lower wing pieces together. They went together OK except for a minor misalignment at the forward wing root. There is also a gap on the bottom, left wing tip.

phantom-21 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-22 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-23 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Tonight I glued the wings to the fuselage. Fit is pretty good. There is a minor gap at the wing join on the right side. All in all I am impressed with this 37 year old kit. Detail is respectable despite the fact that most of it is raised rather than recessed.

phantom-24 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:39 pm

Today I have a short video update.

[youtube]Bmczx_3Snjk[/youtube]

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Oct 23, 2016 2:27 am

At the bench with college football on watchESPN online.

phantom-26 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

The rear stabilizers are on, but I don't like how Monogram designed the attachment points.

phantom-25 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Pardon my messy filling.

phantom-27 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Some more filling. This time with Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer G.

phantom-28 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-29 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I primed the interior parts of the intake with gray Stynylrez. In order to get it thru my cheap, siphon airbrush, I had to thin it. I used what I had on hand which was Testors Universal Acrylic thinner. That seems to work just fine.

There are part numbers molded directly on these parts as well as ejector pin marks. I chose not to remove them because they won't be visible unless you really get your nose in those air intakes.

phantom-30 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 9:25 pm

I've got a small update today, before I head off to work.

I attached the sensor hump under the nose that houses the D model's RHAW antenna and the lower scoops for the air conditioning system. The sensor housing fit is quite bad and the gaps on the scoops was ginormous. I am sculpting these pieces with thinned, Tamiya Putty Basic.

phantom-31 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I also sprayed the interior of the air intakes with Model Master Acryl Flat White.

phantom-32 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:47 am

I got the intakes installed. Fit was not great and they required a good amount of filler. This and the sanding ruined the raised detail.

phantom-33 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I also installed the landing gear and flaps. I figure since the gear and wells are both white, I'd prime and paint them together.

phantom-34 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 2:59 am

A little more progress between my two jobs and home stuff.

I masked the canopy.

phantom-35 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I used Simply Tacky and Tamiya tape to mask the cockpit. I plugged the intakes witih foam.

phantom-36 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Because I broke off the kit's molded on pitot tubes, I ordered a set from Master Model. In my next update, I'll show them installed.

phantom-38 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-37 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 2:20 am

I got the pitot tubes installed and the aircraft primed in gray Stynylrez. The primer has shown a couple of imperfections that I should fix. I was having a difficult time spraying tonight. I kept getting spurts of water out of the airbrush. I think my compressor is getting too hot making more condensation than my filter/dryer can handle.

phantom-39 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-40 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-41 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **GuyMac** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 8:23 pm

Nice work so far. Very nice

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 9:51 pm

I got the shading done. It is a bit ham-fisted, but it'll be mostly covered up anyway.

I bought a desiccant filter for my compressor, but there is so much water coming out of the compressor itself, the filter is almost used up already. The water trap has its fair share too.

phantom-42 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 1:27 am

I started painting the camouflage this evening. I sprayed the underside with Model Master Camouflage Gray Acrylic FS36622. I won't be able to do the upper surfaces until my Furball decals arrive in the mail.

phantom-43 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **Spook** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 10:24 pm

She's looking good

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 1:01 am

I finally got some time off from my night job, so I have starting putting down some color.

First off I masked off the camouflage gray. I also installed a new shop light with some florescent 6500K daylight bulbs. The camo gray still doesn't look quite right. It has a blue cast to it, mostly caused by the bulbs. I used some worms made with Simply Tacky (bought at Hobby Lobby) to demarcate the colors while giving a slightly soft edge. Then I was ready to spray some Model Master Dark Tan Acrylic FS30219. I am quite pleased with the MM paint. Used with Testors Univeral Acrylic Thinner, it sprays very nicely with good adhesion. There are many, many colors readily available at my LHS.

phantom-44 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-45 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 4:54 am

I decided to do a little more work on my Phantom tonight. I masked up the dark green to tan camo lines using tacky and Tamiya tape. I hope the tan paint stays put.

phantom-46 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-48 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-47 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 12:17 am

Tonight, I sprayed the Dark Green FS34079. I am generally pleased with the way the paint job is turning out. I'll have a few touch-ups to do once I get the third color down.

phantom-49 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-50 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 2:52 am

It wasn't a great night at the bench. I masked off for the medium green color.

phantom-51 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I found out that pre-shading a tri-color camouflage takes skill; skill I haven't mastered. I sprayed the medium green at full intensity because the areas of dark green underneath with overpowering. As I peeled away the mask, I saw that the green tones are very close to each other. I figured I'll just do some freehand respray of the dark green with some added black to add some contrast.

Also, as I removed the tacky mask, one of the rear horizontal stabilizers broke off and one of the intakes came loose. Now I have some repairs to make before I continue with the painting. This kinda bums me out making me want to pick up another project. I still have my big rig to finish.

phantom-52 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-53 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-54 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **GuyMac** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 7:09 pm

Looking great Michael

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 4:01 am

I reattached the horizontal stabilzer and mended the intake join. I am pleased with the result.

I was unhappy with the Model Master Dark Green next to the MM Medium Green, so I mixed and sprayed my own. It really isn't all that accurate, but I think the added contrast makes for a more attractive camouflage. Rather than "re-worm" more Tacky mask, I free handed the repaint. I think it came out OK considering my cheap, import airbrush and modest airbrush skills. Because I laid so much paint down, the pre-shading is all gone. I must now rely and some post-shading, washes, and weathering to produce a realistic aircraft.

phantom-55 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 6:05 am

Yep, you made a good decision to increase the camo contrast. Looks fantastic now

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:36 pm

That stabilizer broke off again.

Post by **Spook** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:51 pm

Looking good,the contrast in the colours spot on

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:35 am

The build goes on a little bit at a time. I re-glued that stabilizer that keeps falling off. It is on there for good now because I used some quick setting epoxy.

Time for detail painting. Firstly I masked off the radome and the metallic parts on the tail.

phantom-57 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-56 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I then sprayed on some Model Master Acrylic Gloss Black. I am not very experienced the MM Metalizers so this will be a learning experience. Luckily, since the rear metallic panels are subject to a lot of wear, they don't need to be perfectly smooth or very shiny. The underling matte paint prevents a perfectly smooth finish. I did not sand these areas smooth after the camo paint.

phantom-59 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-60 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:02 am

That freakin' stabilizer fell off again! This time I'm gonna use a micro drill bit and insert a copper wire strand as reinforcement.

phantom-61 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I painted the center part of the stabilizer with Model Master Steel Metalizer Non-buffing, and the other part Aluminum Non-buffing. The colors are identical.

phantom-62 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I painted the exhaust shields with Model Master Metalizer Titanium Buffing.

phantom-63 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-64 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

At least the radome came out nice.

phantom-65 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 3:17 am

OK darn it! I took a .6 mm micro carbide drill bit in my pin vise and drilled a hole in the edge of the stabilizer. I superglued a wire in the hole, drilled a matching hole in the Phantom then superglued them together. This should surely hold.

phantom-66 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-67 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Finally on to another part of the Phantom, I masked the gear bays in preparation for flat white paint.

phantom-68 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

Post by **SkyPainter303** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:47 am

This afternoon I finished installation of the landing gear doors and speed brakes. Because I painted these separately, the camouflage gray came out looking more factory clean. I'll need to do some touch ups and blending.

phantom-69 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-70 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-71 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-72 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

phantom-73 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr

I also primed the exhaust cans in black Stynylrez.

phantom-74 by Michael Keogh, on Flickr