Academy's F-4C Phantom.

Derek Jordan
You going to come over to reddit and build it with us? The groupbuild just started and goes through April 1st.

Kerry COX
Mr Jordan, I just might do that. 🙂 Thanks for the invite. 👍

Derek Jordan
I've got that kit, in the Eduard boxing, that I'm building.

Kerry COX
It looks to be an interesting build, and I am thinking of some etched bits for the cockpit area.

Kerry COX
OK, I have just ordered the decal set for the Australian version, F-4E(the kit has two nose cone types)plus, the Eduard external detail set that also includes all the cockpit interior set. Vah Vah vah VOOM !!!! 🙂 👍

Bart Goesaert
as I read in we're in for a treat in a while...

Urban Gardini
This will be nice to follow. What is it more than the right nose cone you need to use for an Australian E? I've got Eduards C boxing and have had toughts about selling this one, but if I get to know what parts to use instead in order to make an Australian, Iranian, Israeli E or an German F I'm gonna keep it. I believe that all neccesary parts is in the box other than instructions for an E/F. That's much better than just selling it.

Kerry COX
The gun pod under the nose is a little further back towards the front wheel well on the "E" model, and it also has thinner wings due to the use of narrower tyres, eliminating the distinct 'bulge' on the upper wing surface, and the Academy kit has these parts for the different marks, i.e. the "C" and "E".

Urban Gardini
As I don't know that much I guess that the best option for me is to follow your build as a guide.

Przemek Przybulewski
Sign me in. I will gladly follow.

Kerry COX
I will post a link on all the various Phantom types.
google.com.au/url?sa..m=bv.110151844,d.dGY
This will give you some great images of the different types and the changes over the years, depending on who was armed with them.

Urban Gardini
That's good round up. Thanks mate!

Kerry COX
All I have done so far is just take images of what's in the kit and order the extra bits, and once my commissioned work is dealt with, I will be attacking the "Spook" as soon as I can. 🙂 👍

Maciej Bellos
I'll be having a peek at your work Kerry. Though I suppose you could wait a few months until the E version is released. I am expecting a nice "Rhino".

Kerry COX
Maciej, It will be a couple of weeks before I really want to start on my build, and I know there is the "J" coming out, but this release of the "E" you talk about, please tell me more mate. 🙂

Urban Gardini
There's been rumours that Academy will give us all versions as they give us so many parts on the sprues that isn't for use for the kit.

Kerry COX
Ah ha !! That would be a great idea, and maybe some etched metal bits too, as the price is pretty high, @ $80.00 for mine. !!!

Urban Gardini
It's more value for the money to get Eduard's reboxing than the Academy kit here in Sweden.

Kerry COX
Vegard Pedersen has said the same thing, and it is worth the trip to Eduard as well. !! 👍

Derek Jordan
Kerry, I got the Eduard boxing, and spent about as much on Brassin weapons, extra resin bits (auxiliary air intakes, wheel wells), and more PE (Eduard's PE 'expansion' set). This will be the most ambitious project I have ever tackled. I'm glad the groupbuild goes through April 1, and I'm glad you are joining us (right?). 🙂

Kerry COX
I will be there Derek, Have no fear mate. 🙂 👍

Maciej Bellos
Kerry, the J is already out and it's a Jolly Rogers bird. Here in Greece we are pretty much very anxious for the E and the RF versions since we have a couple of beauties to build. My two month release is the cumulative wish of all the Greek modelers and it might not be fulfiled for a year or so. We sure hope it will be soon.

For example this one with the Aegean Ghost scheme taken from our Vipers:

[img1]

Or an RF-4E in a celebrational scheme:

[img1]

We have quite a lot of choices and one Phantom is simply not enough! 🙂

Kerry COX
I saw the "JollyRogers"release and I hope the list gets bigger. 🙂

Kerry COX
I have looked around for some well detailed figures that are not positioned in the cockpit and I have found some @ BNA in Melbourne, (web.ipmsusa3.org/) plus I will be getting the Verlinden ejection seats (verlindenonline.com/) and today I received the Eduard PE for the exterior and cockpit interior, and also some intake covers. 🙂 Happy days. 👍

Kerry COX
forum.largescaleplanes.com/ for some amazing Phantom reference images.

Clifford Keesler
Hope you enjoy it Kerry, I know it will be a stunner. I joined the group build. I started the Acadmey "B" model today.

Kerry COX
Ah ha, the "Spooks" club. hehehe.
The above link will give you some great material Clifford.

Bryce Nicely
Sweet, another groupbuilder on here!

Kerry COX
Life is good hey. 🙂 🙂 👍

Kerry COX
James, I am waiting for the Aussie decals to arrive from www.modelkitsonline.com.au any day now, and for $16.00, it's good value.

Cortex
Very cool review, I'd recommend this link to anybody planning for buying this kit : )
Appreciate your efforts *salute*

Kerry COX
I am scratching the gun system to bring it up to the "C" Mike, using the old Hasegawa F-4C I had butchered some time ago.

Kerry COX
As well as the slats on the wings, and maybe a few rivets too :-/

Kerry COX
As it just so happens, I was looking through my stash and I had completely forgotten I had the Hasegawa 1/48 F-4E 30th anniversary edition, and so, as the Academy kit is not that well endowed for doing all the alterations I wanted to do, I will build the Hasegawa kit instead.

Soeren R.
Count me in!😉

Thomas Mayer
Nice feet on picture #1... But keep your eyes on the blade in the round handle! 😉

Kerry COX
For the Aussie F-4, The short muzzle is the one I will need, as you pointed out Mike, and the kit also has the one piece canopy too if needed, so it looks like I will have a stress free build. 🙂

Kerry COX
James, I will be still building the "C" model mate, and, as I have finished my commissions, I have always wanted to have two spooks looking back at me from my display case, so it will be a case of two at the one time for me to relax with.🙂

Kerry COX
Col Olds will be the centre of attention for the "C" James, and I have all the research on his bird, scuff marks and all, so it will be looking a little 'battle hardened" mate.
I just hope I can get the curled ends on his moustache right LOL !! 👍 🙂

Maciej Bellos
Col Olds, niiiiiice! I'll be watching!

Clifford Keesler
Hey Kerry, I have had problems with my main gear on the "B" the plans have you install the door linkage on the struts in step 2 and then add the struts to the main wheel wells. I have broken the linkage and struts off mine 2 times already. So I will try and find a way to install them during final assembly. I just don't see how you can put them in, in step 2 and build the rest of the bloody thing and not break the gear off. I also added the nose fwd bottom piece to the bottom wing first and added some reinforcing strips to strengthen the joint.

Kerry COX
Guido, As it happens with all those who push their views, they are cut off at the knees, and Col Olds got a bad deal when he went back to America, pushing a desk around. !!!

Maciej Bellos
Kerry I would to hear more of what Olds did when he got back.

Kerry COX
Maciej, This link will take you to the history of Colonel Olds. google.com.au/url?sa..9xwy2mpPQSdHIpFwyCTQ

Kerry COX
The etched metal is just what this kit needs.

Holger Kranich
Very cool! I´ll take a seat!

Bart Goesaert
nice work so far Kerry... don't you have any problems gluing the PE without sanding it with a glassfibre-pen? I'd once got this tip from someone that this provides a more solid connection and that primer also adheres better...

Bart Goesaert
You can also click on the three points on top of eachother, then you load the complete album, and all you need to do is scroll and scroll... that's why I like more then one album attached to a project

Kerry COX
Bart, I use Tamiya super glue, as it wont cloud up and its got perfect pepet tip for depositing the right amount of adhesive, and yes, I do break the surface of what I am gluing for the glue to have something more to attach it's self too. 🙂

Kerry COX
Guido, When it comes to "Navigating" my or any one elses images in their albums, you do this.

Open the album, then hit "Previous" in the bottom right corner, and that will give you the very last image added to the album, instead of 'clicking' all through the images.

Kerry COX
As for it being a long album, I always like to post all my work so that the steps I take and the images of the build usually are self explanatory. 👍

Clifford Keesler
Looking good there Kerry.

Kerry COX
Thank you Clifford, It is different, and the assembly structure is a little unusual, but I do like the PE bits I have used. And I have picked up some useful tip from the other builds that are currently happening here. Especially Derek's Spook.🙂 👍

Clifford Keesler
My "Spook" is going kind of slow. I did get the F-4J finished today, I will put pictures up tomorrow. I think it turned out very nice. Especially for a Monogram kit. I put a lot of work into it.

Kerry COX
I was looking at Dereks post and he was saying something about the 'seams' in the intake tubes. ??
Did you have any issues with yours.? Because I have had nothing but smooth surfaces all through my intake tubes. !!

Clifford Keesler
Yes I had the same problem as Derek. A rather prounced seam line where you join the intake tube halves. I even sanded mine lightly and dry fit them and they looked good to me until I joined them.

Kerry COX
Mine were perfect with no work needed, and I will post some images of mine for you.

Jose Miguel Rodriguez
Another work to follow!!!!!!!!!!

Kerry COX
I am moving at a snail pace Jose, so walk slowly otherwise you will stand on me LOL 🙂 👍

Urban Gardini
Don't worry Kerry. Building at a glacier pace is the true way to go...

Kerry COX
It sure is, as I see others are running into some issues, I am yet to see what they are.

Urban Gardini
True that! But it's when the glacier is starting to honk and want to overpass you that you should start to worry...

Kerry COX
I will have my window open so I can hear you honk. 🙂 👍

Roland
I cant wait to see your SEA Phantoms.

Urban Gardini
😄

Clifford Keesler
I was able to overcome my problems Kerry, fuselage is closed up. Pictures will be up soon.

Kerry COX
Great to know Cliff, and I read on Dereks post that you had overcome the problem. 🙂 👍

Clifford Keesler
Pictures of mine are up.

Martien Lourens
This is .... art. Great cockpit, Kerry

Kerry COX
Oh, Martien, I am still painting the pit with details on switches and such and these are the next pics posted. Thank you for your compliment. . 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Looking good mate. The pictures of mine you requested are up on my album (WIP)

Martien Lourens
With a little bit color it is looking better. 🙂And those chairs. Very nicely detailed

sim-outhouse.com/soh..099&d=1399798982

This Phantom is a very special one. This F4F of the German airforce has visiting the Netherlands. There four it became Dutch markings. This is the only Dutch Phantom ever fly.

Kerry COX
Yes, a bit of make up always makes a lady look half decent. LOL 🙂
Do you have any other images of this Dutch F-4 you sent me. ?
I am now on an F-4 kick, and with the availability of so many marks around, I will be in the groove so to speak, and now I have a great display case from Ikea, I need something to fill it with, and I have always wanted heaps of Spooks around. hehehehe 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Do you know of ant RAF spooks? I know Revell used to make one but it is OOP. The 3 most aircraft I have kits of , both built and unbuilt, F-4, F-14, and F-18. LOL.

Kerry COX
The only RAF F-4 I can think of was the "Spey", with huge engines and exhausts, but I will google it and post you the results. 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Yea I knew they had the Spey turbofans.

Urban Gardini
You could use an J for RAF as well if you want to make a late RAF spook. They had J's in the 80's.

Kerry COX
I noticed Eduard has the "Bi-centenial" series that is the Spey powered unit, or at least the cans are the big ones.

Bart Goesaert
Pit looks nice. BTW happy Aussie day 😉

Kerry COX
Thanks Bart, we always have a great time on Australia day, celebrating the fact we are one of the most diverse places to live, as we are just so tolerant of others, well, so far. hehehehe. 🙂

Urban Gardini
Yeah mate but sadly there's quite a lot bogans that crawls up from under their rocks on Aussie day...

Kerry COX
That's true, and thank God there was no repeat of the Cronulla incident (polite).
The west Sydney crowd, (mid east) are becoming a worry. :-/

Kerry COX
I am not as talented as my mentors, Christian Meyerhoff, Christian Bruer, or Bernhard Schrock, but, I'm inspired by their work, and I did the best I could with what tools I have. :-/
The bangers were worth the money paid. 🙂 👍

Clifford Keesler
Those guys are just master craftsman, I drool over their work.

Kerry COX
That is the screen printing by Eduard, as you have with the 'grid' on your instrument panel 🙂.
I wish I was that good with a two hair brush. LOL 👍

Kerry COX
Thank you James, and coming from you, well that is one feather in my cap I am proud to wear mate. 🙂

The seats have taken SO long to build, but every second was a fun experience. 🙂 👍

Kerry COX
Hehehehe, ! You know, self assessments are not always a good thing mate, and your armour builds are something special.
I have always been impressed and inspired by your work mate, and that's why my feather feels good. hehehehe. 👍
Cheers. 🙂

Derek Jordan
Kerry, are your seats glued in to the cockpit tub? I think you'll find your life will be much easier if you don't glue them in until the very end.

Clifford Keesler
I finally got my seatbelts today, they come with the seat cushions, the pull rings for the ejection handles and even remove before flight tags to hang on the seat. I will add the tubes and wires, lie yours out of copper wire and the wire they use in flower arrangements. You can buy it in various sizes, and I use it for wiring, hyd lines etc.

Kerry COX
James, In actual fact, I have worked out it would be not the wisest thing, as I am also thinking of having them mounted on their maintenance frames beside the aircraft, as I am looking at what sort of a diorama could be made, using ground support equipment, ground crew, and some ordinance. and a ton of 'remove before flight" tags 🙂
I have the two F-4 flight crew in resin coming soon, and I have just bought a swag of resin bombs, snake eye's included. 👍

Clifford Keesler
Awesome looking seat,and pit mate.

Kerry COX
Thanks again Cliff, This is a slow build, but then again, why rush.? hehehe

Clifford Keesler
I started my seats this afternoon. My build has been going slow, but I have had paint issues. It has been so cold here that the paint doesn't want to dry. I have to paint in the basement, as that is where my paint booth is. If I try to sneak and paint(spray) in my work room wifey gets upset.

Kerry COX
Do you have an extraction system at all. ?

Do you have after market seats. ?

Fumes are no good for anyone, and especially the heavy enamels .

There was a guy here some time back who did some spray painting in his garage and, as it happens, forgot to turn off the pilot light on his gas hot water system. Needless to say, he no longer has a garage, facial hair, or the love of his wife. 🙁

Take care mate. 🙂 👍

Kerry COX
I just got my 1/48 resin flight crew and one looks like Colonel Olds. !!

Kerry COX
Both figures have been cleaned of flash and rubbish, and the Colonel's moustache has now got his characteristic curve to the ends of his Mo.

Matthias Weiss
Excellent build, Kerry! Thx. for sharing.

Kerry COX
Thank you so much Matthias, It has been a long winded one, but with so many other mates building the Phantom here, and all by the same maker (Academy) we have all been bouncing hints and help around like a tennis ball, but it's all been great. 🙂

soheil moghisi
Really nice.

Kerry COX
soheil, I thank you sir, and I was looking through you albums, and I see your no stranger to the phantom either, 🙂
There is one image of you standing in front of a display F-4, and I am sure it is the "E" model, as there is a small air scoop on the nose, just a little forward of the wind shield, and would you believe, it has never shown up on any of the F-4's I have built over the years.
\BTW, you collection is a really nice trip to take, thank you. 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Mine is about to become a guided missel, right into the damn wall!

Kerry COX
James, I am hopeless as well, but I thought I should give it a go. 🙂

Kerry COX
Clifford. !!!! WTF.????

Clifford Keesler
Just paint issues. Nothing that can't be overcome. It just irritates me.

Kerry COX
Clifford. Water, ? or what.?

Clifford Keesler
Tape residue, that I thought I had gotten removed, only to find out it wasn't so will require a re-paint of the wings.

Clifford Keesler
I like the crew figures.

Kerry COX
Yes Cliff, the second I saw them when I Googled images of air crew in 1/48, and it took a bit of effort to source where I could buy them. 🙂

Have you seen my DETTOL suggestion yet. ?

Julian Herrero aka Yuri
Nice feet
:-DDDDDDDDD

Kerry COX
I keep telling them to stop crowding my images, but you know what feet are like.
they just walk in when they like. 🙂 hahahahaha 🙂 👍

Clifford Keesler
Looking good mate.

Gareth Windsor
Seat look amazing Kerry. I may have to spring for a Big Ed set for my F-4.

Kerry COX
Gareth, the Brassin seats really are a spectacular item, and the end result is really worth the dosh, and a LOT of fun to assemble too. 🙂 👍
The Verlinden are a good item too, as long as you have a really fine tipped brush. 🙂