Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: KiwiZac on November 02, 2015, 05:38:50 AM

Title: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 02, 2015, 05:38:50 AM
Hi team,
As some of you may be aware, Fujimi recently reissued its 1/72 Phantom FG.1 kit - the one with a set of vinyl tyres and two canopies - and I snapped one up from HLJ for cheaper than an old one on eBay. It's a very pretty kit, although (unless you PSR/replace the slotted stabilators and the pair of catapult hooks on the belly) you can only do an F-4K/FG.1 OOB. For some reason I prefer the F-4M/FGR.2, so here we go:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/C6CB54B2-3B5E-4300-AEE3-D1E611F2CFEE_zpsdloe1mtz.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/C6CB54B2-3B5E-4300-AEE3-D1E611F2CFEE_zpsdloe1mtz.jpg.html)
Three rounds of PSR later and I now have unslotted tailplanes! I had been planning on building the real-world (and today preserved at IWM Duxford) FGR.2 XV474 as she appeared at Finningley in 1977, but then I thought I could do that with a 1/48 kit instead and go all-out on it. I now have a big Hasegawa one and am accumulating bits to go with/in/under it.

So what to do with the Fujimi kit? What to do, what to do... (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1192.msg1589;topicseen#msg1589) Greg "GTX_Admin" and Richard "gekko_1" collaborated on a series of Kiwi Phantom profiles and backstory some time ago, which I have expanded on and will present in due course, and this was an obvious choice for my first ever 1/72 Phantom model. This kit will be the 1971 aircraft in the SEA scheme, although I've based my version on the RNZAF Skyhawk camouflage scheme and it will have a black radome like the RN/RAF Phantoms of the time. I'm still not certain what the loadout will be although wing tanks and the gunpod are a given.

(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/B3992EAF-E2A6-48DE-B35A-FF270AB5F468_zpsn3igv8eg.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/B3992EAF-E2A6-48DE-B35A-FF270AB5F468_zpsn3igv8eg.jpg.html)
In the meantime, the model has progressed beyond what is seen above - coat one of the topside camo is complete and most of the underside (except for the area around the catapult hooks) has a rough coat of light grey. I'm hopeful that by this time next week it will be complete and I already have most of the decals sorted.

I started this one a month or two ago so I'm pleased to finally be showing it off. Enjoy!
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: FAAMAN on November 02, 2015, 12:08:39 PM
Very interesting :)
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: Volkodav on November 02, 2015, 10:20:22 PM
Looking forward to this, did the RNZAF get their Starlifters in this whiffverse too?
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 04, 2015, 10:40:40 AM
Good question, especially considering how I've always liked the C-141...

This timeline will be a pretty straightforward swap of the F-4K into the real-world A-4K story, down to the same numbers of frames and losses etc.
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 09, 2015, 03:59:08 AM
I only had Sunday at the bench this weekend but it was productive.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/7E8BBC77-A1E7-46BA-82C3-200A203E4E49_zpsugxgs3ax.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/7E8BBC77-A1E7-46BA-82C3-200A203E4E49_zpsugxgs3ax.jpg.html)
I managed to complete painting, add the exhausts and tail, and am partway through the stores. I was going to go for a strike loadout with some Sidewinders for self-defence, but I don't have any A2G weapons for a Phantom (and I can do that later on anyway) so it'll get the Winders and Sparrows. Those go on this coming weekend, followed by undercarriage, then decals.

Hopefully this time next week I'll have a completed kit to show off.
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 15, 2015, 01:46:26 PM
Finished!

(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/653F1B30-3179-431A-A76F-B651C262EC70_zpss22om5cw.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/653F1B30-3179-431A-A76F-B651C262EC70_zpss22om5cw.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/17BD5AFC-A10A-4F1C-82B1-D6E70A2285AC_zpsl6f4vu1j.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/17BD5AFC-A10A-4F1C-82B1-D6E70A2285AC_zpsl6f4vu1j.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/2CB27D5C-2183-47EA-A39E-934A1B293A15_zpsszknfbj8.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/2CB27D5C-2183-47EA-A39E-934A1B293A15_zpsszknfbj8.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/1E15B0D7-1892-426A-9823-0F5AA57912B3_zpszhu3w84h.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/just%20models/1E15B0D7-1892-426A-9823-0F5AA57912B3_zpszhu3w84h.jpg.html)
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: Volkodav on November 15, 2015, 05:29:45 PM
 :)
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: upnorth on November 15, 2015, 05:56:37 PM
I do like that!

Nice choice on the Spey engine as well.
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: The Big Gimper on November 15, 2015, 07:09:16 PM
She's a beaut Zac. How did you paint it?
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 15, 2015, 09:34:28 PM
Wow you really hit it out of the park here, Zac!

The world-famous RNZAF kiwi has never been better represented!

Well done, Old Bean, well done!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: GTX_Admin on November 16, 2015, 02:38:57 AM
Nice work
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 16, 2015, 04:13:16 AM
She's a beaut Zac. How did you paint it?
Tamiya acrylics by brush, straight from the bottle  :) I used the RNZAF A-4 painting guide for the pattern and rough Tamiya equivalents for the SEA camo colours - XF-61 for the Dark Green, a 2:1 mix of XF-61 and XF-65 for the Light green, XF-52 for the Tan and plain ol' XF-19 for the Light Grey belly.

upnorth - I can't explain it, until I found out about Brit Spey Phantoms I never cared much for the type. But somehow the Spey just looks "right" to me. Fortunately just as I started getting serious about building one, Fujimi rereleased this little gem.

Thanks for the kind words folks! It was a very smooth build - I keep reading about fit issues but this is the most recent reissue and I don't think I used any filler apart from de-slotting the tail and deleting the catapult hooks on the belly.

Now I just need to buy at least two more...
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: FAAMAN on November 16, 2015, 12:51:09 PM
Very nicely done!!  :) :) Didn't realise you used a 'slow' Phantom, great work!!  :)
Title: Re: RNZAF F-4K in 1/72
Post by: KiwiZac on November 18, 2015, 06:00:07 AM
Slow, but somehow cooler to me. Maybe it's the bigger inlets, and the nose... :-* :-*

I may be able to get two more sooner than I expected, as I'm selling my Transformers collection and demand is high! Keep your eyes peeled, folks.