McDonnell Douglas (Mitsubishi)
F-4EJ Phantom II
[ page 4 ]


Tamiya F-4EJ model kit in 1/32 scale   
JASDF Japan
Modelling report

..continued from page 3 now with... 
   

I picked the kit scheme of the JASDF no.305 squadron plane at Hyakuri Air Base. 

OK, decalling started on this huge model. Tamiya provides loads of decals and smaller stencils for this plane.
Although the decals are a bit thick, they respond after some time to decalling softening fluid of DACO. This was needed in some areas.
..
I always use the following sequence when decalling:

1. start a one side at work from there (so upper, lower etc)
2. cut out each decal or a couple of them, but no more than 5 at a time
3. put them in water; for the Tamiya decals soaking them takes quite some time so you will need to keep them in the water
4. pull out when there are (almost) loose

5. have on a piece of plastic bag some Johnson Future/Pledge available set there with a brush. Keep that surface wet.
6. with tweezers take a decals, pull "through the wetted Future so the decal's rear side is wetted with Future
NOTE: when the decal is to complex or big, you can not pull it off its paper backing with a tweezer. In that case wet the model spot/surface with Future prior to applying the decal, sliding it off its backing paper above the appropriate model spot.

7. position decal on the model
8. move exactly in correct position
9. dep dry with a old piece of a T-shirt
10. let dry, done!

All decals were set to this model, it took 3 evenings and afternoons of time.


You see all stencilling here, but note that some will be oversprayed later on using the sanme surface colour. This will blend in many decals into the model.

stencils... stencils....
.
grey panel will receive some grey weathering later on.
.
red roundels required some DACO softening fluid to get a perfect fit

the Samurai figure on the splitter plate

note the red line at the rear, this was cut in 4 pieces to get it straight

the lower surfaces 

Decalling was ready now, which took quite some time but is very rewarding.
The various completed parts like undercarriages, flaps, antenna's and so on were now added.


Some piping will be added also in the gun bay area


 


the pylon can be seen as well here, with Eduard details from etched metal added

The undercarriage installed, with some weathering still to be done.

.

The kit has the option to show the radar, although the cone needs some work and the radar cries for more details.
This radar was detailed now, with wire and sprue. The kit radar disk was replaced with thin mesh, cut in size, and bended in a curved shape.
.


The various details were painted, the result is seen here.

The seats, obtained from True Details were detailed and the straps, harnasses painted green, dark grey and detail black with silver drybrushing. Seat buckles were added from metal (Reheat). The ejection activation chord on top were replaced made from yellow wire, with black stripes added with a black marker. 

The cockpit now needed the final completion. Inside the cockpit various details were added like:

  • the canopy raising swithesfrom the kit
  • various lines 
  • instruments inside the canopy and windscreen. 
  • new mirrors
  • actuators from the kit and some wiring


The various instruments are also seen inside the windscreen upper edge; these were made from sprue and wire. 

The Eduard set has for the rear canopy mirrors inside the canopy, but for the F-4EJ these are fixed in the windscreen between the 2 cockpits. The rear mirrors were obtained from the spares box and these are blinking metal. These were installed in stead.

The red frames on the transparant canopies were added with a red permanent marker on the edges of the glass parts. 

Around the airframe, various smaller probes were added from metal as indicated in the Eduard set instructions.


The radar cone was set open and was installed with metal pins and were for strength.


The hinged door at the canon bay was also installed, note the opened up grills. The radarcone set open. 

.
The parapack door was set open, with Eduard details added. From a red/white plastic bag a section was cut as inserted as parachute....
 
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Created this page Saturday 
March 13, 2010