After completing Tamiya's
1/32 F-4C for ARC Phantom group build in 2005, I got modeling fever and
immediately started working on this F-4J. Construction started with sanding off
all "BDR patches" on the fuselage and riveting and rescribing new
panels. Somewhere in the middle of the process I lost interest and packed
everything back into the box. It wasn't until two years later that I went
back to this kit and started building like a possessed man. I quickly
painted the beautiful Black Box resin cockpit and seats, and the set fitted like
a glove, only minor adjustments and usual thinning of the kit's side walls were
needed. In meantime I obtained an Aires resin exhaust set and then newly released
Cutting Edge fully ducted seamless intakes. As everybody knows, intakes are
probably the biggest shortfall of this kit, so the CE intake set was a must
buy. I
tore into its package like a fat kid on a cake and after inspecting the
parts, my first disappointment came. No instructions whatsoever, I mean,
nobody is stupid, right, I know where the intakes go, and just by using my common sense I
knew where to make a cut, but still.... Also, intakes were missing a couple of
panels (raised panels on the original, kit's intakes). I pulled my scribing and
riveting tools out of the draw and in no time I had new panels scribed and
riveted. After painting and installing a very nice Aires exhausts, I carved up the
upper fuselage to accept Cutting Edge intakes. No problems so far, I aligned them
with the fuselage and moved on to assemble the bottom. There was a
problem, whatever I did, the front bottom section wouldn't close up, there was
about 1-1.5mm gap. It was obvious that the intakes were interfering,
so I asked
for help on the ARC Forums. A couple of forum members answered
promptly, and
advised that I should've put spacers where the intakes meet the fuselage, but I
wasn't too keen to rip everything apart, and the gap was filled with
Tamiya two-part epoxy putty, sanded the excess off, and scribed new panel lines,
and the build was a full steam ahead. A few weekends later, it was ready for
the paint shop, but that is where, for some unexplained reason I lost the interest
for this build for a second time, so I put the kit on a backburner, waiting
for another boost of inspiration.....
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images below to see larger images
In a meantime
I built a couple of other models, and a few months ago I decided to go back
to my big Phantom. The "beast" was primed and pre-shaded with MM
Gunship Grey, and the US Navy Gull Grey/White scheme followed.
First, I
painted the vertical stab with Tamiya XF-2 Flat White, then moved on to the
bottom surfaces which received a couple of coats of Tamiya AS-20
Insignia White from a spray can that was decanted in a jar, and shot
through my Iwata Eclipse airbrush. MM Flat Gull Gray was used to complete
the paint job, with anti glare panel painted in Tamiya NATO Black.
And last, but not least was bare metal tail section. It was primed with
MrSurfacer 1200, polished with Micromesh cloths of various grit levels
and sprayed with different shades of Alclad Lacquers and MM Metalizer
paints. I left the paint to cure for a week and followed up with four coats
of Future Floor Polish to prepare the model for decaling.
When I started work
on this model, my intentions were to build it as a "Showtime
100", triple MiG killing bird that was flown by "Duke" Cunningham
and RIO "Willie" Driscoll on 10 May 1972. I think everybody knows which
plane I am talking about, as it has been "modeled to death"...
But, during
the last stint on this project, just before painting, I remembered a beautiful
VMFA-212 Phantom built by "smithery" (his ARC forum name) for 2005
Phantom GB and that was it, I knew I wanted to do that particular plane.
So, I
sourced an awesome Fox One decal sheet from Squadron online store. Decals were
very thin and reacted very well to MicroSet/MicroSol treatment. Stencils were
next, all 200+ small warning decals on a sheet provided by CAM. I toughed it
out over a weekend and the model was ready for the final coat of Future.
Oil
wash of Raw Umber and Pines Grey mix was next followed by a flat clear
coat. The
finishing touches were done with pastel chalks and Tamiya "make up"
weathering set. Armament came from the kit, with the exception of the Rockeye
bombs which are made by CAM Resin. I bought a set of six resin Mk20s
and really struggled to get four usable examples out of them, as casting was less
than impressive. Sole AIM-7E Sparrow was decaled with Two Bobs missile markings
set. I forgot to mention that the model was post shaded with very thin
mix of black and brown paint and also with MM Flat Gull Grey which was
lightened with a few drops of white paint.
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images below to see larger images
VMFA-212 sailed
to Vietnam aboard the USS Oriskany in April 1965, becoming the first US
Marine jet equipped squadron to be deployed on an aircraft carrier in
combat. Flying F-8E Crusaders and operating from a Yankee Station, the Lancers
flew missions against targets in South and North Vietnam. In April of
1972, the squadron, now equipped with F-4J Phantom II, deployed to Vietnam theatre
again, to
Da Nang Air Base, in an effort to stop the North Vietnamese offensive towards
South Vietnam. WD14 was one of two VMFA-212 F-4Js lost during combat tour which
lasted through June. My model represents the plane flown on 12 May 1972 by Capt.
Benjamin Tebault and RIO 1Lt. Mike Konow. Two Mk82 bombs were inscribed
accordingly to mark the coincidence of Ho Chi Minh's birthday and Mother's
Day. The plane was lost on 4 June 1972 and Capt. Tebault and RIO 1Lt. Konow were
KIA.
Miroslav
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images below to see larger images
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