****END: GB-65 1/144 3 Phantoms - No Propellers

[PlasticHero]

Now that OTP is done, I can dive into research and colors for Phantoms. Now a deep dive into the plastic. I will attempt to keep all these different parts organized and will refer them as A B and C. At least the plastic is slightly different colors.

The red is all the cockpit details, in this case, 2 seats.

Here we have 2 pilots, seats instrument panels, rear panels, and a tub! The drop tanks are a one piece casting and there are no dimples that used to plague thick plastic bits back in the day. They are perfectly round and even on the sprue, there are almost no seams. This is by far the best choice.

This one is slightly better in surface detail then Academy. I don't like the rounded tail and rudder though so I would rate this one as last. Pictures of the cockpit show various shades of gray but covered with black panels and instruments that make the overall color very dark when considering such a small area under thick canopy.

 

[A4K]

Good stuff Alan, love the kit comparisons.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice Alan and 3 of them. I'd be muddled before I start.

 

[PlasticHero]

Here are the cockpits just before I closed them up. I am very impressed with the F-Toys/Platz kit as far as detail goes.

The downside of building three different kits is it's three times as complicated. They go together in different ways and I made a mistake with the F-toys kit that I can't fix. I found a replacement that offers two models for only a few dollars more. It's on its way so the progress here is stalled. I also will have to halt progress here for a few weeks because I'm just back from some eye surgery. Very routine and will not impede me from being here on the forum.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Shame about the mistake, must have been bad for you to order a replacement. Hope the eye surgery works out for you, assuming it is more than just a cataract lens replacement. You take care Alan.

 

[SaparotRob]

I hope things will be looking better.

 

[Airframes]

I saw what you did there .......

 

[Gnomey]

Nicely done so far!

 

[A4K]

Hope the eyes are alright now , or soon will be, Alan.

 

[PlasticHero]

Thanks for the well wishes. The bad eye was a little sore but is much better now. Part of recovery is a small bubble of a very dense florocarbon gas is injected into the eye and for it to work, the bubble has to rise to the back of the eye. This means 2 weeks of staring at my navel, I feel so zen right now.
I was able to get an hour in over the last two days and since I had a test kit, I wanted to try folding the wings. I cut the bit at the extension and cut a very thin strip of .04 plastic sheet into tiny rectangles about 1 by 2 mm. I made sure to have the top edge at the front and back extend above the wing in the middle when gluing. Once everything was dry, I put some tape on the wing and filed the top to be straight and level, while the bottom was sanded to conform with the wing shape. I sanded the outside edge at a 45 angle and glued the outer part in place. I made sure not to put any of this where the flaps or leading edge would move.

It feels sturdy and does what I want. It doesn't look much like the actual mechanism but oh well. That gaping void where the engine exhaust goes is the part that I missed installing. You can't really see it because of the blurring but it does have a rather in scale landing hook molded on one fuselage half that I glued in place so it wouldn't get snagged.

There are two sets of elevators, an incredible option on this size kit. We are looking at the top of the right elevator. The differences are the leading edge slats and the diamond shaped stiffening plate on the left which is the one called out for the "Last Phantom" markings. The Japanese F-4s were built in Japan by Mitsubishi. The other elevator is for pre-1966 Navy.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

For a man currently in your position I think you are doing well to even consider modelling. For what it is worth I have had a similar condition waiting for the eye to fill with natural fluid and just sat and read with one eye for two weeks. From what I remember, strenuous (even walking) activity was a no - no.

 

[A4K]

Hope you both get better soon!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Mine was some three years back Evan, but thanks anyway.

 

[A4K]

Glad it's good Vic!

 

[rochie]

Good stuff

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[PlasticHero]

Have you ever had a GB that just goes completely off the rails? Well, that's where I am. The Last Phantom kit is somewhat special because I bought it in Japan two years ago and really want to build it. After I messed up the construction, I ordered a replacement. It arrived but it is not the same sprues and isn't very good. Scalemates is misleading and is not clear that it is different. So I'll punt and just finish the second best kit. I painted the engine area with enamel silver and learned that acrylic DOES NOT stick to the overspray areas at all. I feel guilty that I added a No Props to my sig because I was sure this build would get done. So I'm now going to try to get a build in starting today with a kit from the stash. I'll put together a new thread after dinner. cya soooon

 

[A4K]

That's a bugger Alan, but you can always try to finish them later. What's the new build subject?

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Luckily never had that problem and it sure sucks. Look forward to the new thread.