F-4EJ Phantom JASDF To F-4EJ Kai Conversion
Without aftermarket parts

Hayden Scott-Williams
My initial intention with this kit was to simply build it completely OOB with no extra detailing and no modifications. The idea was that this would be my re-introduction to the hobby after a lay off of almost 10 years. I would use it to re-learn all those dormant techniques and also to familiarize myself with the kit. Once that was done, I would move on to the F-4E kit, which is essentially the same kit, and unleash my creative juices (having spares from this kit to play with)

YEAH RIGHT!! I got as far as the cockpit when a couple of things happened.

Firstly, I took one look at the bare seats and thought "Those will just not do!" On the last kit I built (Revell 1:32 F-4F), almost 10 years ago, I used the 'foil' from cigarette packs to fashion a set of straps for the seats and I figured I could do the same here. So, off I went to research the seats and straps for an F-4.

This lead me to the second curve in the road - Flory Models web site and forums. After looking at what the guys there were producing, I couldn't bring myself to sticking to a simple OOB build (and TBH, I was getting a little bored with it) so I started doing a little more research on the JASDF Phantoms.

This introduced me to the Kai variant and, after checking up on the changes between the straight EJ and the Kai, I figured that I could build the kit as a Kai without having to buy any aftermarket conversion parts.

And thus, the project was born

Holger Kranich
Sounds as ya got the first stage of AMS back!😢

Holger Kranich
Head on!

Hayden Scott-Williams
BWAHAHAHA Yeah, certainly sounds like it Holger. So on we go 😄

Hayden Scott-Williams
Right, so I've uploaded a couple of shots of the detailing work done to date. What we have so far is:
- OOB Cockpit with the added straps that started it all. Other than those nothing extra has been added (YET 🙂 )
- OOB intakes (DAMN, they're bad) with a little work done on the front of the engine. This included;
- Correcting the fins coming off the bullet at the front (gearbox cover?)
- Removing the molded first stage turbine blades and replacing them with strips of thick foil. This is a project in itself and hopefully I'll remember to photograph it when I do the E next.
- OOB Afterburner cans shaded with green to simulate the corrosion seen on a number of reference photos
- Painted and semi-weathered lower rear fuselage section prior to fitting
- Added styrene strips to the radome for the strengthening strips seen on the Kai
- Added shaped sprue parts to the fin tip as RWR fairings
- Hacked off the top part of the front instrument panel and replaced it with a new shape for the changes to the Kai
- Added two new scopes made from styrene strips and a scratch built front for the new HUD

Next up is the actual HUD and modification to the combing

Bill Gilman
Here is my conversion of an F-4F to an F-4EJ Kai in 1:72:

britmodeller.com/for..pic/77880-f-4ej-kai/

Hayden Scott-Williams
Awesome work Bill. I came across that thread while doing my research and I must say I'm very impressed at what you managed to fit in at that scale

Bill Gilman
Thanks - it's all the same stuff, just smaller. It helps if you have tiny fingers (which I don't)! 🙂

Hayden Scott-Williams
Right, so it's been a while, thanks to work interfering with life. Managed to get the combing done. In the end, it was a lot easier than I anticipated it would be. I've uploaded some pics of the process for your pleasure and mirth.

Hayden Scott-Williams
Finally got around to the part of the conversion that scared me the most. Most of the things I've done so far are 'reversible' but the changes to the wingtips required cutting away part of the tip and then re-attaching it. In the end, it all worked out fairly well and I'm quite pleased with the results.

Then it was time to assemble the major sub-assemblies. All of these are now glued in so it's almost time for primer and paint 🙂

Hayden Scott-Williams
A little work got done this week. The RWR fairings on the tail were replaced. The new antenna was added to the spine and the canopy was temporarily fitted to mask the cockpit. Then it was on to masking the canopy and the metal sections on the rear. After that, the interior black was sprayed onto the clears. Next up, primer

Hayden Scott-Williams
So, the first coat of primer is on. GAWD this stuff is unforgiving. All those little clean up spots where I thought "That's good enough" sow up. So a little more time needed on cleanup

Hayden Scott-Williams
A large step tonight. Pre-shading and base coats applied. Had a little issue with the correct color for the upper surfaces though. My reference calls for FS36320 as being the closest match. My color chart converts that to XF-22 (RLM Grey) but somehow that just looked way too green. In the end I decided on XF-54 (Dark Sea Grey) as being closest to the color in my reference shots 🙂

Now it's on to post shading which is going to be a LOT of fun, based on my reference photos 🙂

Hayden Scott-Williams
Have had to take a time-out on this one. While fiddling with some post-shading, I managed to pour a colour cup of well thinned paint over one of those wings. So it was time to strip again (the whole thing has been stripped and repainted twice so far). then, while stripping, i managed to break off the outer wing panel. At that point I decided to take a break before something else went wrong and the whole thing ended up in a crumpled heap at the base of a wall 🙂

ahmad hekmati
Very good works........