I decided it was time to get back to building Ejection Seats, it’s been two years since my last one. This is a Mk. H-7 USN/USMC F-4 Phantom II Martin-Baker seat. It’s made from Evergreen Plastic and will use wire, solder and modeling clay to finish it out. I’m building this one from the F-4 that was flown by Lt. Cunningham and Lt. Driscoll, both became the first Aces of the Vietnam war. Just after scoring their fifth kill they were shot down by a SAM missile. Though the aircraft was destroyed , both pilots survived.

Here is one of the site I'm using for reference... Seat







She still in it’s early stage of life, the parts are not glue in yet. The only part I dread are all the rivets. Once she’s done, it’ll stand around 7 inches tall.

Two years ago I started a F-22 Ejection seat for a member here, it’s about half finished. But over time I lost contact with the member and it was never finished. If the member happens to read this PM me and we can talk about getting it finished.

Joe

Very, very cool. Wow, great job. Looking forward to seeing this done. Hope you're going to post a lot of progress photos. Looks very neat and clean, outstanding work.

Looks great keep the pictures coming.

Looking great. Do you have drawings you are working off of also, or strictly using photos?

Well I was able to get some work done on this project this weekend. Comments and questions welcomed.

Joe









More to follow.

Nice.
NOW WHERE THE HELL IS MY B-1A EJECTION CAPSULE!!!???!!!


Just kiddin' Joe. Good to see you again. I'm back from the edge(but not that far back) & I thought I'd say hi. Looks amazing, as usual. Gotta see how this one turns out.
Thanks for your support, Bro. Means Much.

Rob

Hi Joe

Fantastic work!

I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses... and maybe there's the basis of a Feature here - a scaled-down version to encourage us to improve on kit-supplied seats by scratchbuilding rather than rely on resin aftermarket sets?

All the best

Rowan

Thanks Rob and Rowan
Rowan, sounds like a plan. I start taking notes tonight and keep it up-dated.

Joe

Looks great Joe.
The way you have taken the pics as a build progress makes it look so easy to do. Get some evergreen plastic sheets, cut to size, hey presto one ejection seat. Wish it was that easy .
Andy

That is truly amazing Joe. You mention it being the first in a couple of years; do you have pictures of previously finished ones?

Allen

Thanks Guys .

All right, here's where I'm at now. Saturday I spent 9 hours glueing on 0.50mm rivets...that's right 9 hours I saw them in my sleep that night. There are close to 1200 between the two. It was done by super glueing them in place, I worked in section, then using a sanding stick I sanded them down and even...pretty simple.







Here the seat were painted in Model Masters Aircraft Interior Black, it has a faded look with a touch of gray.







I'm looking to get back at next weekend as I'm getting a bit burnt out with it. Comments and questions welcomed.

Allen yes I do have photos of three other seats, I'll get them up and posted soon.

Happy Modeling,
Joe

Hi Joe!

Fantastic work! I'm speechless!

Do you wear glasses? You must have good eyes to do this...

Jean-Luc

Small progress after a week off. I was able to make the Survival Seat Kit and Seat pad, Face Curtain Grab Handles and a few other small things. First pic shows some of the parts.













I still have many linkages, knobs, harness and oxygen tank behind seat. A dry brush and dull coat to top off. Any question and comments are welcomed.

Joe

Did some more over the wekend, the main chute pack was a pain to do. I was able to make it from Poly-clay, I started it using tin foil and wraping the clay around it and finished it with sanding. I have like two more hours left to finish it out...













Comments/Questions welcomed.

Joe

HELLO JOE I HAVE JUST SEEN YOUR SCRATCHBUILT MK.7 AND IT REALLY DOES LOOK GREAT. I ACTUALLY WORK FOR MARTIN BAKER AND HAVE MADE VARIOUS PARTS FOR MOST OF OUR SEATS NEW & OLD (MOSTLY JSF & EUROFIGHTER) I AM SURE THAT JOHN & JIM MARTIN WOULD ENJOY SEEING SOME OF YOUR PICTURES OF THE SEAT. YOU COULD SEND THEM TO THE FACTORY THROUGH THE COMPANY WEBSITE. ALL THE BEST NEIL.
www.MARTIN-BAKER.COM

Joe, THis is really amazing work. Can you take a picture of it next to a ruler so we can get an idea of the scale.

Not much I can really say.

Phenomenal work! Inspiring. Can't wait to see more of your work.

wow
cant wait to see them finished, gorgeous work.