**** DONE: GB-44 1/72 F-4 USN - Military A/C of post-war time

[N4521U]

Thanks for lookin in.
I kept wondering what was going on with the rockets under the fuselage.
Took a while, but in the end I found the slots for the fins!!!!!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Good stuff Bill.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far Bill!

 

[N4521U]

Just waiting on a rattle can of Lt Gull Gray!

 

[fubar57]

Cool. Was there a difference with the wingtips between variants or was it the navy versions and the wing folding option?

 

[N4521U]

My Guess would be all had wing folding......

 

[N4521U]

So the underside is white, Tamiya rattle can!!!! Yes!
The topside is painted gull gray, Model Master, what sh!te it is. I'm learning to dislike it. It has to go on Thick and Wet. I'ts enamel, nice color and gloss, but so bloody thick. Takes forever to dry, it's been overnight now.

And then you have one of those WTF moments.
Reviewing the instructions, like a goodboy.
Where did These come from??? What???? I forgot the gear doors????? Nooooooooooo!
Who else does not follow the steps in the instructions??
Instructions? I don't need any Instructions!!!!!!!!! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
At least it's Tamiya and dries quick!

 

[Wurger]

Looking good and you are right. The MM enamels look very thick and heavy when applied even these from the standard bottles.

 

[N4521U]

Looking good and you are right. The MM enamels look very thick and heavy when applied even these from the standard bottles.

Good to know it's the bottles as well.......................!

 

[N4521U]

So I been flat out, like a lizard drinkin.
Painted all the gear doors and crap. well you know.
Noticed in a photo the antennae on the nose gear door had a rod, not a biggass bulky plate.
So I took care of that one too.

Also masking the 1/72nd!!!!!!!!!!!!!! canopy stuff at This scale.... ack.
We had a little workshop at an IPMS meeting about doing this....
it's a bit easier, or rather more accurate and easier.
1mm strips of tape, as in the photo. Windscreen at the top you see a dot, cut with a hole template.
Then the 1mm strips along all the edges.
Fill in the open spaces with liquid mask, or tape, and off you go.
I use a scalpel with a #15 blade, the rounded end one.
I press on the tape and rock it back and forth, backwards and forwards here in Oz.
This way I am less likely to slip and cut the glass!
Always a new sharp blade!!!!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far Bill!

 

[T Bolt]

Looks like some very tedious work there

 

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff Bill.

 

[fubar57]

Doing well Bill. My preferred method of masking as well though for them crazy Japanese multi-panel canopies I am starting to lean to pre-cut masks

 

[N4521U]

I'm on a strict budget for the time being.
So whatever I can do to Save $$$'s is an advantage.
So GB57 onwards may take a back seat as I have no kits for them,
so I may go back to my Davidson 5 builds on Start to Finish.
Along with Merlin's Magic has been languishing far too long.

 

[N4521U]

Who woulda guessed a Jet could be soooo much trouble!

 

[N4521U]

This is by far the worst build in over 9 years.
I've broken, lost, repositioned and resurfaced too many parts.
Lesson learned today..................
NEVER spray Tamiya rattle can paints over Model Master.....
Just like auto paint, lacquer over enamel does Not work,
unless you want an old piano krinkle finish!!!!
I had to use lacquor thinner to remove the lot where it's white on the control surfaces.........
Had to replace the strut for the front canopy, lost.
Have to replace the pitot tube, broken.
Have to touch up paint in front of wind screen, FUBAR
Have to fix crack along top of nose, another FU by me puting cockpit in.
I hope it ends there!
Judges, ignore this build!

 

[N4521U]

And dontcha hate it when you Lose a gear door and have to make a duplicate!!!!!!