Tamiya 1/48 F-4B Phanton II
My first completed build for 2024 (OK, I started late 2023 :D). I had such a great time building this kit. The Tamiya engineering is spot on, and I didn't have to work on gaps or seam lines. The only complaint I have is with the decals. They were thick, and getting settled onto the model was complicated. While working on the tail, I destroyed the tail decal. I had to strip the tail down to the plastic and start again. DN Models has masks for the significant markings, but I only needed the tail masks. I had some "hold your breath" masking and painting the tail at the grand reveal, and I was delighted. I could have used the rest of the masks, but I wasn't starting over.
The exhaust area drove me crazy. I tried the YouTube University route and couldn't get it to come out how it looked in the videos. I finally defaulted to the Bob Ross "It's your little tree, so be happy."
I usually have open cockpits, but the RIO's canopy was cracked, so it is a closed canopy. 🙁
There are three other schemes you paint, but I always liked the Sundowner's markings. You don't have to place hundreds of aircraft stencils with the Sundowners version, which is a bonus!
Love this! Great work
Thanks David! Thanks for the friend add!
That's a fine-looking Phantom you put together there David (@dvmozley) and well done in overcoming the tail complication. Engine exhausts look great too. A very nice result 😀
Thanks Scott! I'm glad I was able to work out the tail issue because I wouldn't have known what to do at that point.
Looks great! Even the happy little exhausts. 🙂
Thanks Andrew! I struggled for a bit in that area but finally just let go and let things just come together. I think they are happy 🙂
Nice work. That Tamiya kit is very "modeler friendly."
I highly highly recommend the Bullseye F-4B decals (available exclusively at Sprue Brothers). My friend Scott Brown does super research - he and I joked about the fact all the Phantoms on the sheet are mentioned in "Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club," ditto the new F-4J sheet that'll be available next week. Cartograf decals, none of the "Tamiya problems."
Thanks Tom! I'll definitely look at the Bullseye decals. I've heard great things about Cartograf decals as well. That's an interesting observation about the sheet markings. I learned something new! 🙂
Excellent result, the kit may be “modeller friendly” but it still takes skill to get it looking this good.
Thanks George! I'm still learning but it was really fun bringing this build together. 🙂
Excellent Phantom. You’re weathering pattern is very realistic.
Thanks John! This was the first time I worked with oils for weathering. I liked the end result but I left a mess too. 😀 I didn't want to go too heavy on the weathering as I've seen on other builds. I think sometimes less is actually more.
Excellent job and super result, David!
Well done!
Thanks Spiros! I really appreciate it!
An extremely nice-looking F-4 Phantom. @dvmozley
Thanks John! I really appreciate it!
Superb result on this Phantom, David @dvmozley
A pity about the canopy, but even in closed position the result is great.
Thanks John! I usually use the closed canopies when I'm painting to close off the cockpit. Thankfully I took care and didn't just toss it aside. Do you happen to know how to work out seam lines in canopies?
Super job.
Thanks Richard! I really appreciate it!
Love the Phantom! This looks great David (@dvmozley).
Thanks Carl, I really appreciate it!
Excellent work sir
Thanks Mark I really appreciate it!
That's some mighty nice scale modeling, David @dvmozley! 👍 And, a great Phantom is the result! 🤩
Thanks Gary, I really appreciate it! I'm still learning but I'm having fun!
A real beauty, and I think that's my favorite USN scheme on the Rhino. The metal work on the tail section is the thing that always keeps me from just jumping right into another Phantom project, but I've realized that there are some VAST differences in how they look and weather in the real world, so I've gotten into the habit of using a different process just about every time, just to experiment and see what happens! LOVE your Bob Ross comment! That's exactly how I think we should feel about every modeling project...
Thanks Greg! You are right; I even got overwhelmed by so many vast differences in that section. I have an Academy F4 in my stash, and I'm the same way. I'll build it eventually and see if I can find more techniques to accomplish the look. Bob Ross has great wisdom! 🙂
Your F-4 is outstanding, David. Getting a realistic burnt metal/ high heat area is always tricky. I think you did a beautiful job on it, and you can never go wrong using the Bob Ross method! Nicely done, top notch!
Thanks Clint! You can tell I loved watching Bob Ross but theres wisdom in the way he looked that his paintings :D. I'm still learning to do high heat and exhaust areas as I'm discovering there's not a set way of doing it. They are happy exhausts indeed!