RF-4C Phantom II - NE ANG 155th TRW

1
November 27, 2021
Photo of the subject aircraft
2
January 15, 2022
This kit looks excellent, with finely molded recessed panel lines and lots of crisp detail. The cockpit is molded very nicely. Instrument panels are smooth, but the Esci decals look phenomenal. I think this one will look great out of box with no aftermarket parts or scratch building.
3
January 17, 2022
The cockpit has smooth panels but the Esci decals look excellent. The Martin Baker Mk.7 seats look usable, but will need some work since I want this one to be open cockpit.
4
January 17, 2022
Ejection pin holes were "fun" to remove!
5
January 17, 2022
Found some True Details photoetch parts to detail the ejection seats.
6
January 17, 2022
The inside cockpit walls needed help. The air intake shape was recessed, so I filled the part that will be visible with green putty. I added some True Details radio face photoetch parts so it isn't bare... but admittedly not true to life. I'm not going to drive myself crazy on a 1/72 cockpit!
7
February 1, 2022
This cockpit has flat panels but the Esci decals are really nice. I swapped the seats with the ones from my Fujimi kit because they are shaped better, and this will be an open canopy build. I used True Details photoetch and masking tape belts to improve the seats.
8
February 5, 2022
Installed a camera window and masked it with kapton tape (a yellow transparent tape typically used for electronics insulation).
9
February 5, 2022
Installed the wheel bay/cockpit piece. I learned to mask windows before assembly the hard way! Sometimes when you burnish that masking tape down, the clear glue gives way and your tiny window pops inside your model! Even if you can retrieve it, it's virtually impossible to reinstall.
10
February 5, 2022
Main assembly complete! I'm a little concerned with the seam, but should be workable. Seeing the form of the F-4 is making me happy, great memories of this jet!
11
February 6, 2022
Polished the canopy pieces and dipped them in Future floor wax.
12
February 8, 2022
Installed the clear parts in the nose section. Filled deep ejector pin marks in the gear doors. Need to wait overnight to mask and sand these parts.
13
February 22, 2022
Masked the interior of the intakes and then assembled. References say the camouflage color extends 32" into the intake.
14
September 18, 2022
On looking at this canopy under magnification, I realized only the Esci kit of the three Phantoms I am building had engraved canopy sills.
15
October 8, 2022
I don't always prime my models since I normally use enamels or lacquers that bite into the plastic. But since this kit was molded in a very dark green, I hit it with a coat of Mr. Surfaces 1000 if only to make pre-shading easier. It did reveal I have some seam work to do on the nose section and drop tanks.
16
October 17, 2022
Preshading done.
17
October 23, 2022
Sprayed on the first color of the wraparound SEA camo used on this aircraft.

Comments

26 27 November 2021, 17:06

Sergej I
Watchin! 👍
I did a Fujimi Rockriver Phantom eons ago... can't seem to find them anywhere anymore these days...

29 November 2021, 06:28

Maciej Bellos
Those ESCI Phantoms were really nice.

15 January 2022, 21:30

Dean Harpster
Thanks to everyone watching my progress! I'm very impressed by the skill of people on this site. I would not be offended by criticism, so suggestions for improvement is welcome and appreciated!

18 January 2022, 00:09

Sergej I
Great start into the three Phantoms, Dean! 👍

18 January 2022, 07:28

David H
Count me in, can't ever have too many spooks.. looking like a good start there

18 January 2022, 07:46

Thomas Kolb
Nice project, taking a seat here if I may.

1 February 2022, 06:59

Ekki
And if I may, I will take the next one alongside.

2 February 2022, 21:20

Dean Harpster
I've got too many projects going at the same time, so putting this one on the shelf until I can finish a couple others. I'm going to focus on my F-4G for the group build first.

10 July 2022, 23:02

Dean Harpster
Now that I've cleared my "shelf of doom" projects, time to finish my Phantoms for the group build! I'm happy to be back at this, the F-4 is certainly one of my favorite aircraft.

8 October 2022, 18:22

Villiers de Vos
Nice progress.

23 October 2022, 08:12

Album info

The Nebraska ANG flew the RF-4C from 1971-1993. It went through four different paint schemes, but the one I recall most clearly was the iconic wrap-around Southeast Asia (SEA) camouflage pattern used from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. I clearly remember looking up at the camouflage-painted underside of a RF-4C roaring directly over me at what could not have been more than 100 feet above ground, a memory that lasts to this day. I can even recall the smell of the black jet exhaust rolling off the ground! This awe-inspiring event made the F-4 my favorite aircraft. Capable of Mach 2+ speed, the RF-4C was known for creating "speed is life" sonic booms throughout the area. I was actually disappointed when supersonic flights were discontinued in the early 1980s, due to ranchers in my area complaining of cattle stampedes, broken windows and cracked plaster walls.

RF-4C Phantom II (Nebraska ANG)

17 images

1:72

On hold

1:72 Modern American Ejection seat Details (True Details 25012)

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-22-MC Phantom II

US Air Force (1947-now)
173 TRS, 155 TRG, Nebraska ANG 64-1050
July 1982 - Lincoln AP, NE
FS34102 FS34079 FS30219

Group Build

F-4 Phantom II Group build 2022

1. January until 31. December 2022

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