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Modern (1975-today)
Discuss the modern aircraft age from 1975 thru today.
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Italeri 1/48 F-4J Phantom
jugjunkie
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South Africa
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Posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 - 08:50 PM UTC
Dug this out that I had started 8 years back.



The cockpit looked super [auto-censored] so I ripped everything out and squeezed in an Eduard colour set - but it was for the Hasegawa kit so couldn't use it all and it took some work to get it in. Also stuck in a pair of those ubber gorgeous Quickboost bangers.







....and stitched up....



Joel_W
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Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 07:43 PM UTC
Geoff,
Very nice re-start to the old Italeri J. I'll be following along closely as I have the Academy F-4J on my to be built shelf right after the F-4C.

Joel
litespeed
Staff MemberNews Reporter
AEROSCALE
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Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 01:49 AM UTC
Superb looking pit Geoff, I will be watching closely also.
tim
chris1
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Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 01:50 AM UTC
Hi Geoff,
To paraphrase Mal,You can never have enough Phantoms,
following with interest.

Chris
Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 05:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Geoff,
To paraphrase Mal,You can never have enough Phantoms,
following with interest.

Chris


Chris,
Well said. I've already got Every 1/48 scale Academy F4. I'm hoping that they dig a little deeper into their R&D budgets and do a proper G. And this is coming from a Grumman guy.
Joel
jugjunkie
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South Africa
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Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 11:03 AM UTC
Thanks all for kind comments, been busy on her over the last few weeks. I have to say, having built one of these kits previously and I thought it was just me, but the canopy fit on this kit is appalling! It took me two days and about 13 hours of work to get some sort of decent result. Note to self - never again!

So far so good.....





Ooops first problem....




Houston...we have a problem....



....and after huge amounts of work, this is about as good as it gets.....





....and all masked up....





.....and primed....





Light Gull Grey with some slight colour variation.

Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
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Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 09:58 PM UTC
Geoff,
Now that's great progress. The canopies look a million times better, so I'd say it's time well spent.

Can I ask what you used for masking? Is it some type of black tape?

1st color coat looks smooth and consistent. At this point it sure looks like you've tamed the beast.

Joel
goodn8
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Berlin, Germany
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Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 10:53 PM UTC
Geoff, well done so far!
I love Phantoms and about time-eating work on Italeri-kits I can tell you stories... Exactly know what you've fixed and yet achieved. Cockpit is superb done!

Anyway, move on!
Thomas
jugjunkie
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South Africa
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Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2015 - 05:10 PM UTC
Thanks for comments Gents, Joel I used the Montex masks but I won't be using them again, these were for this specific kit and they fit like crap. Decals started....

Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2015 - 06:39 PM UTC
Geoff,
Thanks for the information. I've found out the hard way that more then half of the canopy masks I've used don't fit, and require a ton of additional work. Whenever possible I've gone back to the old Tamiya Tape strips and fill in method with great success. Takes a lot longer, but worth it in the end.

So far your decaling looks tremendous. I built the Academy 1/48 scale F-4B, and there was a whole page of just stencils. Took nearly two weeks.

Joel
jugjunkie
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Posted: Monday, June 22, 2015 - 02:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Geoff,
Thanks for the information. I've found out the hard way that more then half of the canopy masks I've used don't fit, and require a ton of additional work. Whenever possible I've gone back to the old Tamiya Tape strips and fill in method with great success. Takes a lot longer, but worth it in the end.

So far your decaling looks tremendous. I built the Academy 1/48 scale F-4B, and there was a whole page of just stencils. Took nearly two weeks.

Yeah I was looking at that stencil sheet in my Academy F-4C kit. There are no stencils with the Eagle Strike set for this so I have had to order the Icarus set with Grey walkways which I hope arrive soon.

Joel
jugjunkie
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South Africa
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Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 02:03 PM UTC
After some decal disaster I Got another set of decals from a good lad on another site so we proceed. In the mean time I also got in the awesome Phantom stencil set from Kitworld, I think I'll be decalling for awhile with over 150 stencils!



jugjunkie
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South Africa
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Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 02:11 PM UTC
45 minutes to do this - one side only, this is going to be tedious!

Joel_W
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Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 07:22 PM UTC
Geoff,
The stenciling and small decals look great. Don't be concerned how long it takes, as it's the final results that count.

I spent a few weeks decaling the Academy 1/48 scale F4-B, and I usually work about 16+ hrs per week on my current build, so it takes a good long time.
Joel
Jessie_C
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British Columbia, Canada
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Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 08:38 PM UTC
The best technique for doing all those tedious little stencils is to break your model into sections. Do one part at a time and then set it aside to dry before you go completely cross-eyed.

I see you discovered the reason I did this one with the lids up
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