Revell 1/32 F-4G Review & Build- update 12/13 (pg.19)

[Stikpusher]

As I have said, I have been doing little bits of progress here and and there and taking photos along the way, but holding off on getting them on here until it was kinda worthwhile with something to see. With the completion of the cockpit tub parts in Step 1, step 2 is several other nose area parts. so far I painted, assembled and attached the nose wheel well. The roof of the well had three ejector pin marks on the outer face for some reason while the side walls had them on the back side... not the wisest engineering

so first it was a base coat of white, then a few metallics and black in there for detail work, a wash to make all the raised detail stand out, them some more colored pencil work for the color codings on the hydraulic lines (as busy as the parts look, the real place is way busier), and finally a clear coat to seal it all in.







Then I glued the sidewalls in place





and glued the well into the forward fuselage lower part





I also assembled the chin sensor fairing (after adding some lead shot for some extra up front weight- just in case)





Now my next week or so is full, so no more real progress for perhaps another 10 days or more...

[Thomas_M]

No problem to wait for your next installment, Carlos!
The detail in the front LG bay really pops out! At least there is something given. And honestly: how many people turn over a finished build to admire the wheel bays?

[Stikpusher]

Thomas, I was starting to obsess over the detail and colors in there until I thought about that point. I am not going to be displaying this build on a mirror base. So yes, for something that will be more seen now right here, than once completed, yes it is good enough.

One bit of humor on this stage of the project. I painted the white last Monday on a holiday, Labor Day. My intent was to do a flat white base, then a gloss white top coat with Tamiya acrylics prior to detail paint with enamels and the wash. Well I did the flat white base, but has ran out of gloss white. So I walked down to a nearby RC& Models hobby shop to grab a bottle because I know they carry it. It's only a mile each way. Silly me, the shop was closed for the holiday. At least I got the walking exercise. So I am still without gloss white. The next night my wife and I are planning in dinner at a place in the same center as the shop- so go early and drop by to pick it up then. But no, they are out of Tamiya white, gloss and flat. So I just did the wash and detail work over the flat base. Hence the heavier staining. Which I think works ok in there.

[Thomas_M]

Haha! At least you had a nice evening with SWMBO!

[Stikpusher]

Haha! At least you had a nice evening with SWMBO!

And still no gloss white...

[Thomas_M]

Could send you some over!

[Stikpusher]

Could send you some over!

Wiseguy...

I'll go pick up a bottle next week. I do have more options of shops that carry the stuff...

[Stikpusher]

Well, this is what happens when you're in a project that starts filling your mind, but you have more time to think than to act. I know I said I was not gonna do it, but I cant help myself. I am going to dress up this build just a tad to fill some voids I have a hard time overlooking... They will be notated separately from the kit steps. No aftermarket just improvisations.

[Thomas_M]

Why not? Yes, this is a OOB review build, but it also is a piece of art created by your hands. So, IMHO, the artist should be free to do what he cannot ignore.

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Thomas. It's in two main areas I will be making the mods. Neither are major. One is the cockpit, especially the sidewalls. They are empty and quite visible as kitted. I am going to do some simple add ons to generally represent (not exactly duplicate) some of the stuff there on the real aircraft. The other is some of the antennas. A key feature of the Wild Weasel is its' antenna receiver system that it uses to locate and destroy SAM site radars. At least 16 are missing in the nose area alone, and are easily replicated, so I will be adding those.

I have already started with those sidewall mods and should have some work to show in a few days...