How bout a what if production version of the canard equipped , fly by wire , slatted, F-4, which started out as a RF-4C, it also was the test bed for the cannon armed F-4E. Great photos!

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Thanks Ferry @therefueler! Robert @roofrat, I don't know - just something about those canards that throws me off! It kinda detracts from the "Rhino" reputation. But I also have a hard time with the Ferris schemes, so maybe it's just me...!

I've been working away on my Turk - it's based on the old Italeri F-4 E/G kit, as it contains the slatted wings and slotted stabilizers needed. It's a pretty simple kit - so simple that there's not much in the cockpit. I added some details to the seats with styrene and wire, added some 3D detail to the back seaters IP, and extended the back seaters side panels forward and extended the IP console down. I had to cut the back seat IP decal into six pieces to place it on the panel, and found a bunch of stuff in my spares box for the side consoles, as there's nothing in the Italeri kit. Added some instruments wiring to the back of the back seat IP, and didn't do anything to the front IP as it'll get buried. Added some spares box pilots (had to perform major surgery to their legs to get them into the seats - and even then they didn't fit great!). Final touch was some PE ejection pulls (which by the way, I noticed that when folded, they don't seem to close down as well as I thought they did! Any tips? Not sure I could super glue them closed without gluing them to something!)

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

What a marvelous build journal.

I don't think I would worry too much about the ejector pulls. They look really good as is. Once he canopy is added, this will be even harder to see. Just my 2 cents worth...

As far as air brushing goes, I think you will do good with this too. The trick to air brushing is thinning the paint down enough. After a while you will get an eye for doing this. It seems that it will look too thin, but it sprays the best this way. I usually spray my paints at a 50 / 50 mix of thinner to paint. Air pressure is another biggie. Not too much, and not too little. 15 to 30 PSI works the best for me. It also matters if you are painting a large area or something small like Luftwaffe mottling.

If you have any old models to use as something to practice on first, that will help too.

I have no doubts that you will pick up on it quickly... and you will start using the air brush more and more.

The office looks fantastic, as does the crew. I'll be looking forward to seeing your next installment.

Looking good ,Greg. I'm working in my head as to how to finish the two F-4's in my stash, I have a B that I think I want to do in very early markings, I have Monogram J that I'm thinking of converting to an USAF C or D.

@ij001 Ah Ian - a man after my own heart (seeing all those Phantoms prominently displayed in your stash)! Jump in with whatever feels good to you! I'm doing just about one of everything, so call it a buffet!

Well TBH I could comfortably build all of them and not get bored. I'm missing only a couple of RoG 'F' kits to do a late 'E' and a standard Luftwaffe version.

I've only got the one 'B' so I'll do that first...

Ian.

@roofrat Ah - knew I remembered seeing them recently! Thanks again for that - I already put a couple of those pilots into the Turk!