Robin Olds SCAT XXVII - Phantom F-4C

[al49]

Many thanks to all for the nice comments and special thanks to Terry and Sancer for their very valuable help.
Alberto

 

[al49]

Back on the RED LION, according to Peter E. Davies, the badge was typical of 497th TFS and was taken from a Bangkok brewery trademark.
Surfing the net, I found the beer and the mark, therefore I obtained two new items to add to my decal sheet. One represent the Shinga Lion in full details, in case a decal was used to adorn the bird, the other with just the outline, in case it was sprayed on using a mask (more likely, I think).

 

[al49]

Additionally, still according to that book, see pictures, a lion patch was also present on the right intake ramp, then the question, was that a third one or the left one was on the tail and the right one was on the ramp? I'm still very far from sticking decals, so I've time to find out. Alberto

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Just a guess, but very possibly on both sides.

 

[al49]

A few shot on some attempts to tone down the camou colors and to create some scratches. For the latter, I tried to get them first by covering involved areas with Gunze Mr. Metal Color 218 Aluminume, then painting the camou and, finally, scratching the surface with a wooden stick. Seems to be working. To easy my job are period pictures showing that that specific bird wasn't too much effected by scratches.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking good.

 

[SANCER]

Looking good, Alberto

 

[Airframes]

I agree with all - an impressive model in an impressive size, too.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[al49]

Hello, some updates on this project.
Painting almost done I considered to start adding some decals and I realised that those supplied with the kit are very limited, see first photo.
Even considering that most of the stencilling probably wasn't replicated over the SEA camouflage, the same cannot be said for the lower surfaces that remained in the original factory color, with all the relevant stencilling. So, after some research, I found and purchased sheet 32008 from Warbird Decals, see second photo.
Completely a different story: in front of me is a very challenging job, because on that sheet there are nearly 150 different stencils, many of them offered in two option: one for dark background and one for light.
Some pictures of the WIP will follow soon.
Alberto

 

[Airframes]

Going to be a long, slow job applying that lot, but worth it.
I did a similar job on a 1/48th scale RAF Phantom, on two models, one grey, the other in camouflage, and it took ages !
Well worth the effort for the final result though.

 

[al49]

Many thanks Terry for your comment.
In facts the subject of stencilling became a kind of obsession for me. I spent all afternoon trying to find out which stencils were applied on pylons. There is an Isra Decals sheet also including them, but isn't available any more and was expensive. Finally I found a picture of an Hawaii ANG Phantom where stencils can be seen almost clearly and used it to create my own decals (one line added to the already made sheet, not yet printed)

 

[Wurger]

 

[al49]

Hi everybody, my home made decals are done, so I started to deal with all those stencils. Here following some pictures. The "AF 37" is one of mine.

 

[fubar57]

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Alberto,

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!