Project Recce-Phantom

[Daryl J.]

1/48 RF-4 variant.



It's difficult to see in this photo, but the blue ink line on the nose is where a 1/48 F-14 nose will graft right on.  This kit had been picked up for a song from some internet purveyor and had been slated for conversion to a Phantom bearing Phoenixes as I had a spare, slightly mis-moulded resin F-14 nose that fits on.    But I changed my mind.        No more Phoenixes for this particular model.    They are going somewhere else.

The plan at this stage is to do a near-OOB build for a Nearly Is what if build.      The only hint at this time is that it involves some left over decals from a different 1/48 kit as well as a backstory integrated into President Eisenhower's secret ''37 annex'' act of 1960.    But this will be circa 1975-95.   

Additional parts under consideration:   Eduard nozzels.   But they cost at least twice what I paid for the kit.      And I plan to cover the intakes as I want the color contrast so I may simply button up the tail pipes. 

[Brian da Basher]

I have a suggestion that might be handy, Dr Daryl, the famous Kelly Johnson acronym KISS.

Good luck and I look forward to your updates!

Brian da Basher

[Daryl J.]

Thanks!   


It will be, simply put, the most difficult paint scheme I've ever done.   And with luck, it will turn out fine.  Key word:  Luck.   And it abandons the KISS method thoroughly.     That would also be a hint.   

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Add to that M2C1 (measure twice, cut once) :)

[Daryl J.]

The rough outline:

US owned.
German based RF-4E.
Pre-F-4X engine test bed....but the engines were developed by Swedish engineers.    For those disfamiliar with the workings of the Swedish engineering mind, have a look at what Volvo did to the Boeing 737-100 series engines.  Give them a J-79 too!   
However, in order to be better tested the machines involved had to spend certain time in Sweden.
And the Swedes would get assistance with engine technology in exchange for their gathering of information on the Soviets via this ''37 annex'' (real world btw) signed into action by President Eisenhower in 1960.    And, being in Sweden, the Phantom naturally would be dressed in splinter green and wear Swedish roundels left over from the Draken kit. 

Why not? 

 :)

[elmayerle]

Considering that Volvo's afterburning Avons showed better performance than RR's equivalents, I'd love to see what they could do with the J79, though I suspect GE was better at afterburner design than RR.

BTW, I'm told that the RM8's afterburner owes something to P&W's J58 work (heard this years ago while employed there, don't know how true it is).

[Daryl J.]

It would not surprise.   Even as a kid the first time I saw a photo of the Viggen the tailpipe looked to my eyes to be very similar to the SR-71.   

Edit:  Gee thanks mods...a slow building tease???   

Now to slowly transpose this onto the Phantom planform:

[KiwiZac]

I like where this is going! I always preferred the Phantom in SEA-style schemes and Swedish splinter should look even better!

[Daryl J.]

Thanks.   There is no rush to complete this kit but I must confess I'm just itching to lay down the paint. 

[taiidantomcat]

Thanks.   There is no rush to complete this kit but I must confess I'm just itching to lay down the paint.

We are itching to see too   :)

[deathjester]

Thanks.   There is no rush to complete this kit but I must confess I'm just itching to lay down the paint.

We are itching to see too   :)

There's a cream you can get for that...

[ChrisF]

Splinter camo !! GO FOR IT LAD !!