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Hasegawa 1/72 F-4J Phantom II


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Some raw material and a source of inspiration:

P1080996.jpg

After finishing the book I wanted to do a Vietnam war warrior but at the moment I don't have markings for one so my build will most probably carry markings of a VF-11 "Red Rippers" CAG bird from the mid '70s.

Another sheet I have includes these markings (seen below). I haven't found any photos of a Ghostrider bird with such tail markings. The rudder stripes are not yellow as usually but shades of blue/green and black. Also, I really don't know where to put the extra pair of flashes. On the instructions they just hang in the air below the plane... :D I know, Microscale sheets were not known for very comprehensive decaling instructions and here's another example of it. Could the flashes possibly be for the fuel tanks..?

P1080999.jpg

And here's what I've achieved today. The Eduard PE set includes airbrakes and their respective wells so one has to cut two openings for them. Easily done. The other set includes PE burner cans, meant for USAF "E" but they suit the Navy "J" as well. As seen on the first photo, also the mid/rear fuselage sections were glued together.

P1080998.jpg

Edited by janman
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Hi Janman,

fantastic project,fantastic kit,fantastic decal choice and wonderful book!

I've the same doubt about the VF-142's jet.The Sundowner's B model is a Nam bird,right?I vote for the phabulouse sharkmouth (or the Freelancers's one).

Good work,Gianni,

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I've the same doubt about the VF-142's jet.The Sundowner's B model is a Nam bird,right?I vote for the phabulouse sharkmouth (or the Freelancers's one).

Yeah, the Sundowner on the sheet apparently was a 'Nam bird. I too like the markings, but since they are for "B" model and mine's a "J", I'll have to return to this subject later.

Oh, you started voting! Didn't ask for it! :D All in all I have, I dunno, 6-7 Microscale options for a J model. And another two from Eagle Strike (including a very colourful VF-142 CAG) so this ain't easy for me!

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I understand mate.A sometimes have too much choice is almost worse than having none :D .

However I think that any choice will do the result will be excellent, in fact, the Phantom is fantastic with any U.S. Navy's markings...

I love this plane!!!!!!!! :wub:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Getting the cockpit together.

This is the first time I'm using Eduard's pre-painted PE. I dunno, somehow I prefer the non-painted sets since this just doesn't feel "real" modeling. Very nicely executed stuff though. The PE set includes a lot of details for the canopy sills and the black box in the RIO's station is also from the set. The rib detail on the pilot's side wall is scratch-built.

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The seats are in progress too. I'll be using the fairly nice kit seats with some Eduard add ons. Here they have been painted with basic colours before any further

detailing.

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I also painted the white areas on the wings and the stabilators, as well as all the parts related to landing gears and their respective hatches.

P1090047.jpg

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Since nobody has answered the question about the multi-colored stripes on the rudder of the VF-142 F-4. Yes, those stripes are correct, since that was the CAG bird it carried the colors of the different squadrons assigned to that CAW. You'll probably have noticed the the same thing with the VF-111 machine, the sunray that passes through the 'NL' designator is multi-colored.

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Nice progress, Jan .... the pit is looking quite nice ...

Also, to add to Silverkite's answer, the extra flashes for the VF-142 bird would most likely be for the sides of the drop tank ...

Gregg

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Since nobody has answered the question about the multi-colored stripes on the rudder of the VF-142 F-4. Yes, those stripes are correct, since that was the CAG bird it carried the colors of the different squadrons assigned to that CAW. You'll probably have noticed the the same thing with the VF-111 machine, the sunray that passes through the 'NL' designator is multi-colored.

Okay, so it was a CAG bird. I'm aware that the multi-colored stripes are a feature of CAG birds, but since they usually have more colour in them, I wasn't so sure. Also, I haven't been able to find any photos of this particular plane anywhere.

Thanks anyway!

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Looks good so far, but you do realize that the triangular plates on the stabs should be sanded off for a Navy bird, right? Those were reinforcements that the Air Force added and weren't fitted to Navy jets.

No wonder I couldn't find them in any of the photos! Thank you, I really wasn't aware of that.

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Okay, so it was a CAG bird. I'm aware that the multi-colored stripes are a feature of CAG birds, but since they usually have more colour in them, I wasn't so sure. Also, I haven't been able to find any photos of this particular plane anywhere.

Thanks anyway!

Try this one:

http://i2iprod.net/aircraft/fred%27s/f-4b-vf-142.jpg

There's also one on page 79 of the Gray Ghosts book you have :D, but as NK/204 with the standard yellow/white rudder.

Note that Microscale strike again with their instructions, not only do they give you the usual vague layout - the real aircraft is a F-4B!

The flashes may be on the outside of the wing tanks or the centreline, I can't remember having seen them on either. If I find a photo I'll let you know.

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The flashes may be on the outside of the wing tanks or the centreline, I can't remember having seen them on either. If I find a photo I'll let you know.

I would put them on the centreline tank - this was almost by default fitted to USN Phantoms during the Vietnam War, while it was exceedingly rare to see the wing tanks on the boat.

HTH,

Andre

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Try this one:

http://i2iprod.net/aircraft/fred%27s/f-4b-vf-142.jpg

There's also one on page 79 of the Gray Ghosts book you have :thumbsup:, but as NK/204 with the standard yellow/white rudder.

Note that Microscale strike again with their instructions, not only do they give you the usual vague layout - the real aircraft is a F-4B!

The flashes may be on the outside of the wing tanks or the centreline, I can't remember having seen them on either. If I find a photo I'll let you know.

Thank you very much for the photo!

I noticed that the sheet includes stencils for this bird where it clearly reads "F-4B" - and still the instructions say it's a"J". I really can't figure out why the instructions on Microscale decals are always so patheticly poor. Great, colourful markings which always work like a charm but you just can not apply them on your model without extensive research.

I'm still disappointed with my own research work because I didn't notice those reinforcement plates on the horizontal stabs...

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With how many variations of the Phantom that was produced and modified through it's long history, some stuff can get by rather easily, Jan ...

Gregg

Well that's been taken care now! :(

Once again my old Swiss army knife saves the situation. My favourite tool for removing raised details from tricky places. The bare metal area was riveted and rescribed although it shows quite poorly here.

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Huh! Too close! The carper monster is a horrendous creature but this one ain't much better. The natural metal plates behind the exhausts are ready for base silver (from Tamiya rattle can).

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Edited by janman
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