I have just about finished fixing the damage to my kit and seeing as there is not much to the cockpit I am modifying the cockpit from a Hasegawa kit to fit, should work well as the Esci cockpit has no detail and the floor is to high to use AM seats. I had to trim some of the cockpit away(it's behind a bulkhead so won't be seen) and I had to cut the top off the wheel well to lower it, I sanded down the wheel well then put the top back on.

Cheers Rob.

Thanks Neil
I've been in a real slump lately and lost my build mojo but I really wanted to finish this baby in time as its such a super kit and your comment "Gorgeous" has given me a kick up the arse and got my mojo back to carry on with other builds
my new camera is s t ,or is that I cant work it!,but the Phant does look better in the flesh!
Andy

There really is some great work appearing here!

Right, just a quick heads up everyone. Like the rest of you, I am working towards the end of month deadline, and I'm fairly confident that I will make it. However, real life has intruded, as it so often does. My paternal Grandfather passed away last Saturday morning. I would say that he, more than anyone else, is responsible for my lifelong love of aircraft and model making. He was in the RAF, serving as a mid upper turret gunner on Lancasters at the very end of the war. After the war, he stayed on, and became involved in the development of British atomic bombs, in Singapore and Australia, during the 1950's. Lately, he contracted a rare form of Prostate Cancer, which is known only to affect people who worked with atomic weapons, yet our government, and the MOD refuse to recognise the link between atomic weapons and this form of cancer. There is a legal campaign to get this recognised, but it would seem that the government will drag its heels just long enough for all the men and women of that generation to die, and it would appear to be working.

Apologies for ranting and rambling. I dedicate my work on this campaign to the memory of a great man, Richard Alfred Charters, may he rest in peace. I will be away Tuesday to Thursday of next week for the funeral. Hopefully I should have my pics up by then, but if not I would like to request a couple of extra days to complete.

Good luck everyone!

@ Lee: My condolatory to your grandpa! As everybody who serves in a war and suffers on a desease related to his Job he has my full respect!

To all in this campaign: Good and fast work everybody, very nice outcome on your kits - well, as I can see there are still some kits on the workbench. So is mine and it seems that I cannot finish my task in time. In the name of everybody, who is still masking, sanding, painting, marking etc. - what about an extension on this campaign...?

Tom

Sorry if this has already been bought up, but the RAAF never operated the RF-4E, only the F-4E.

On another note, which is the best 1/72 F-4E kit?

Although I do have Tamiya's 1/32 F-4E in the stash...

Rob - I'm impressed by the effort you're putting into this.

Andy - I've seen your work before, so I know what you're capable of. Glad I helped get you over the hump (we all go there occasionally)

Lee - sorry about your Grandad. Modelling is just a hobby we fit in around real life.

Warren - yes my RF-4E typo has already been pointed out

The best 1/72 F-4E is Hasegawa, but it is very fiddly and over-engineered. Fujimi F-4E is simpler but not as detailed. I don't think you'll get time to do a 1/32 Phantom....


Speaking of time.... YES THERE WILL BE AN EXTENSION!!

There are enough posters (me included!) who are rushing to meet the deadline to warrant it IMO. 2 Weeks sound enough for everyone?

I see what you mean Neil!

I doubt I would get a 1/72 one done as I would have to order one or obtain one from the LHS, then get the decals from Hawkeye decals.. With just 5 days to go I will have to wait for Phabulous Phantoms II I think..

Cheers anyway
Warren

am going to be pushing this to the last second had to strip off decals and replace a drop tank that didn't want to stay in its place trying to get touch up painting finished ugh.


Sascha(Ironowl)

Don't worry about me, I'm stalled at just about the cockpit stage. If I didn't have anything else to do for the next 2 weeks I doubt I could make it...

Should have new decals on sometime tonight and will be finished . this will be the first Plane kit that I have finished in a long long while. had some minor warping of the tail section and a few gaps to fill but other than that she was a nice kit to Build. was going for the Navy Phantom but I Messed up some of the decals so I am using the Marine Corps set that also came with the kit. again yall have really got some nice Builds finished and in the works.

Sascha (Ironowl)

shes done whew

Sascha (Ironowl)

Heres a second shot of her overall happy with my build I learned a few things about brush painting and fitting with this build. I had fun and enjoyed it building my own and watching everyone else build theres.

Sascha(Ironowl)

Very nice Sascha, I love the USN Phantoms with the white radome.

And I see you've added your pics to the gallery, good man!

My Phantom is awaiting primer, unfortunately its dark when I go to work, and its dark when I get home!

You could always move here over your winter Neil..

I've got the base coat on the cockpit, hope to get a lot done on Thurs, Friday my days off.

Cheers Rob.

Greetings Phantom Phans! I have to say, I am very grateful for the two weeks extension, it really has relieved the pressure, and means I can take time over the finishing touches. Right now , I am working on the canopies, masking inside and out, and adding the last few bits of Aires photo etch. After that, I'll be giving the beast a coat of future, and then it'll be time for a marathon decalling session.




Good luck everyone!

Still working on the cockpit and the intakes

My eyes are not cooperating but I'm getting there I hope if I push this I can finish by Friday night.

I am using the splitter plates from a Hasegawa kit and found that the Esci plastic is quite brittle. It's a bit of work but should look good when finished.

Cheers Rob.

All righty then, I'm calling this one done! The stencilling was a ballache, but it's all on in the right place. I had the usual last minute SNAFU when I unmasked the windshield, and it came off. Then I glued it back on, and it fogged (cue one highly impressive and descriptive bout of model makers tourettes! ).

Anyhow, it's done, it was mostly fun, and it's the biggest plane on my shelf:



Best of luck everyone!

A few drops of Future/Kleer can help to reduce most of that fogging.

Well done Lee
Super Phantom

Nothing to add! Just brilliant, Lee

Cheers chaps!

Ok,

I am not going to finish.

Cheers Rob.

Lee very nice! And good to see you've uploaded your pics to the gallery.

Rob - how close are you to finishing?

Me, I was stuck for the best part of 2 weeks as I was unable to get outside in daylight + clear weather to spray a coat of primer. Finally got it done on Tuesday and been cooking with gas ever since, despite airbrush playing up.



I'm going to give this till the weekend to see if any more stragglers finish, then hand out everyones ribbons.

I don't think I can finish, something has come up that is taking away my modelling time. I did manage to find a throttle in my F-22 kit and made a mold to cast some copies for my F-4's.

Cheers Rob.