Andreas
What kind of mistake?

Patrick Hagelstein
I think what Vasileios means is that the banded heat coloration typically just behind the exhausts in the riveted area, is produced as a ribbed surface. ie there are depressions to mark the different colors, whereas in real life those panels are flush and only have banded colors instead of the banded ribs like Meng molded.

Patrick Hagelstein
Also, ZM has belly straps whereas Meng doesn't. This is not wrong persé, but has to be checked against the tailnumber as newer airframes were skinned with thicker aluminum, which negated the need for the extra belly strap. As I want to build a German F-4F (from the upcoming F-4E) I need the slatted wing, but not the belly straps. I'll just see how bad the ribbing is in real life and either fill the area with a putty or graft a different tail section on. As all new kits are perfect replicas that would work, right? 😉

Andreas
Thank you mate!

Andreas
I also wanna built the german F-4F. Then what is the best base for it?

Patrick Hagelstein
Well, I was hoping for it to be the new Meng F-4E, but than that ribbed surface surfaced (pun intended). I still believe the overall airframe details and panel lines and above all movable wing surfaces on that Meng kit surpass the ZM offering, but I might have to graft a better (Tamiya) empennage in.

Vasileios Toufexis
Yes Patrick that im saying the heating panels....

tyu
Just received my MENG F-4G, awesome kit from the initial observations. That ribbed exhaust everyone is talking about is VERY restrained and easily removed with some minor sanding if you don't want it. Those online pics show a distorted truth. Really helps tremendously with replicating the banded heat staining in that area . Sand it off and mask it if you don't like it. Only dislike I can see they did not include the belly strap that every F-4G had. I got a spare one from a Hasegawa kit and it seems to fit well. And for the F-4F guys: the best base kit would still be the Hasegawa F-4F since the F-4F had the non-slatted stabiliser (unlike the F-4E/G). Unless you can get a non-slatted stab or modify the kit part the Hasegawa kit is the only game in town ATM. And the ZM kit reportedly has several errors: wrong nose shape, too thick vertical stabiliser, wrong canopy profile, extended slats that were 99% of the time closed to name a few. Not to mention more expensive than the MENG kit. Glad I bought the MENG kit, can't wait to get it started.

Patrick Hagelstein
Thanks for that in depth response tyu! Luckily, I have a set of non-slatted stabs from a Hasegawa kit ready. The bird I want to portray has everything dangling loose (The WTD 61 farewell in orange with black checkers as it was presented to the air show public) so those extended slats would fit right in. I know my Meng kit is in the mail, so I can't wait for it to arrive.

Nikos T
If I may ask you knowledgable gents, which kit in 1/48 would the best candidate to build a HAF F-4 AUP in your opinion ? I thought the ZM kit or the Hasegawa but the Meng now is out...

Patrick Hagelstein
youtube.com/@DoogsModels
Matt McDougal does an in depth review of the two F-4Gs, but I guess these findings will apply to F-4E/Fs as well.