A build to close the year out - please help me decide!

[Litvyak]

So I hope yous don't mind, I'd like to ask for your help!

I've kinda lost my steam on my in-progress builds but I want to build something during my break from work - I'm off until the 3rd, and apart from the 24th, 25th  and 28th (well and possibly new year's!) I have no commitments and so lots of time... and so I'm thinking a fun, easy Phantom build is the perfect way to wind the year out!

Trouble is I can't decide what to build! I've got a dozen Phantom kits in the stash and decal options enough to last me probably 30 builds... I have, though, succeeded in making a short list of six options. Yes, they are all RW schemes... but I've got a whiffy F-4 build planned for kicking 2014 off!

So if you feel like it please take a moment to help me decide! Whichever option gets the most votes, I'll build.

Thanks! :)

[FAAMAN]

Love to see an F-4D in Euro1, loaded with cluster bombs and lots of attitude (and weathering)

I'm off 'till 20Jan, and boy do I have some things to do!!!!

[Cliffy B]

I'd love to see the USAF Phantom at Keflavik but you HAVE to paint it in an Arctic camo scheme!  The Euro I scheme like FAAMAN suggested would be my second choice.  Maybe depict it during a Cold War turned hot world with plenty of weathering and some battle damage (both repaired and not).

[GTX_Admin]

Need I say more??

[ChernayaAkula]

Can't go wrong with Euro 1! 
And since that (sorta) rhymes, it's the correct answer. Obviously. 

[Litvyak]

Yeah Greg that is definitely an attractive scheme... if, or better put whenever (now or later) I get to doing an F-4E(AUP) I'm going to do the first one, with the "Princess of Andravida" lettering.

But look at this...



But seriously I have /so/ many options it was hard to narrow it down to just this six! Like the USAFRES Flipper scheme, all the other Luftwaffe experimental schemes, all-over orange QF-4B...

[Silver Fox]

Just to be difficult... an F4D in Texas ANG colours :)

[upnorth]

I'm putting in a vote for Norm 83.

It was close between that in the Euro 1, but I like the Luftwaffe wraparound just that tiny bit better.

[Litvyak]

If the voting ends with like 3 votes for each possibility I'm going to telemagically set all of you on fire!!!

[GTX_Admin]

If the voting ends with like 3 votes for each possibility I'm going to telemagically set all of you on fire!!!

Oh, the temptation to "fiddle" with the votes...

[Brian da Basher]

I was stunned there wasn't a VVS option.

Brian da Basher

[GTX_Admin]

[FAAMAN]

Now that's different and very cool GTX!!!

[elmayerle]

I like the looks of that "Cloudy sky" scheme, it looks to take the scheme on the #2 YF-16 a whole lot further.  It never happened in RL, but there was a Revell kit of the F-15A in a similar scheme.

[GTX_Admin]

Now that's different and very cool GTX!!!

Don't blame me…blame Richard (I only provided the story)

[Litvyak]

I like the looks of that "Cloudy sky" scheme, it looks to take the scheme on the #2 YF-16 a whole lot further.  It never happened in RL, but there was a Revell kit of the F-15A in a similar scheme.

I like it a lot, too! I have the AirDocs book covering experimental schemes applied to Luftwaffe Phantoms - eventually I'd like to build one of each scheme. According to the text, this scheme was applied in 1976 and was based on the one used by the USAF on the F-16. It also says that it briefly had a false canopy on the bottom, but I'll dispense with that, as the drawings (nor photos) don't show it, and because it'll be easier to go without. The one inaccuracy I'll have to live with on my model, though, is that the original had numbers not outlined in white, but I have no such numbers amongst my decal stash.

If this scheme ends up winning - as it looks now like it will - I'll use the RoG F-4F kit, with iron crosses and numbers from an AirDocs sheet, and the AirDocs Norm 72 stencil decals (the book text says it wore full Norm 72 stencilling).

[elmayerle]

If memory serves me correctly, The 1/72 F-15A in that scheme was Revell's second boxing of the prototype, with the production-stylwe clipped wingtips but with the small airbrake of the prototype.

[Litvyak]

Well, the voting is done, and the Luftwaffe F-4F in the experimental cloudy sky scheme is the winner.

I got started on the cockpit last night.

Now here's hoping I have enough of the two paints I need for the camo, so as not to have to go out for an extra trip!

[FAAMAN]

I look forward to seeing the 4F

[Litvyak]

So the build is progressing... but with only two days left, there's an issue: masking for this cloudy sky paint scheme will take too long and I won't finish before the year's out. However, I think I *can* finish if I switch to another of the experimental schemes, one that's easy to mask because it's all very angular:



Would you guys mind if I switched to that, or should I stick to the cloudy sky and not finish it by 0:00 on the 1st?

[finsrin]

This is no help.  But whatever you build gotta say - that is one sweet photograph  :)

[kitnut617]

stick with your original plan but take your time, the only one dictating when it has to be finished is yourself ---- right!  Give yourself an extention ---   

[GTX_Admin]

stick with your original plan but take your time, the only one dictating when it has to be finished is yourself ---- right!  Give yourself an extention ---   

Exactly!

[Litvyak]

Thanks, guys! :)

I've been working on the masking now.

I will though eventually build the one in the second pic, too! :)

[ysi_maniac]

Do you love F-4 Phantom?
... let me gess ...

Everything with thst name wil deserve  mi vote
and what about MERDC or Lozege?