SPA Modeler

Pretty good,, hit the brakes for a while, had a parent with health issues,, trying to settle back now that there is a "lull" in that battle, I've been mia from pretty much everything. Camera bay in mine is getting color (black) this weekend. I will be interested how you do your pit as the C and RF-4C are close to the same save the back seater's panels/controls.

Nice!
It was about time for another member of the Phantom phamily.

As to the IFR probe covers, you're right. These were entirely deleted on USAF C and D models, featuring a flush, integral outer skin.

Keep it up!

Thanks for the confirmation Airfixer

Moving phorward. Detailing the Aires pit with Vallejo paints:





I started fitting the Eduard cans and scribing the proper natural metal panel line for the D, and filling in the old panel on the J fuselage:





The Eduard cans fit perfectly.

Since the bird I'm modeling doesn't have the IR sensor under the nose, I used the J radome cause its much easier to cut off the small antenna, and I'll save the D nose for another build:



Moving on to the seats and ip, I painted the acetate white and primed up the seats after adding the pe belts:









On any Phantom build using resin seats, make sure they sit at the proper hight in the cockpit. These look good:



Also, check the height of the ip and the fit of the windscreen:



Fitted the intakes. Make sure to fill the back of them with some plastic card:



The kit ones fit with minimal cleanup if you're careful:





More work on the seats and the ordinance coming right up!

So, you were saying that you painted the acetate white, do you mean that you just coated the back side of it white so that it shows the detail better? I've got the Aries detail kit for my Wild Weasel, I really like the looks of the detail in the cockpit. I've never used AM details before, or PE for that fact. I have to admit I was a little scared of it at first, I've just found that I have to use patience. I'll get my WIP thread started soon. I did start putting parts on the cockpit tub, that's as far as I've got on it, trying to finish the 109G-6 first. Then I can go gangbusters on the F-4.

You got it Jet. The Hasegawa Phantom pit isn't that bad out of box. My last one only had resin seats. The kit ip can look nice with just some careful painting and drybrushing. Its the part between the pilot and WSO that needs some scratch building of wires and pipes, especially on the Weasel.

<yoda>The Force is strong with this builder...</yoda>

JimD wrote: [...]
Frankly, I think all the baloney about Aires stuff not fitting is overblown. Every set I've used thus far worked great...though they do require a good bit of thinning of sidewalls etc...I think the people that complain are just lazy.

You pretty much nailed it. Some folks are expecting too much or they're simply swamped by some extra work.
For others it's another step in evolving their skills and they're gladly willing to sail some unchartered waters.

JimD wrote:
Frankly, I think all the baloney about Aires stuff not fitting is overblown. Every set I've used thus far worked great...though they do require a good bit of thinning of sidewalls etc...I think the people that complain are just lazy.

Or they are newbies and know nothing of resin. This cockpit fit pretty well, just the usual thinning like you mentioned. However, Aires does piss me off quite a bit with various sets, and its not the fit, its the complete lack of any positive locating mechanisms or decent instructions. For example, once the cockpit is thinned enough to fit inside the fuselage, you still need to decide how far forward or aft, and how far up or down to mount it. Pretty obvious with the phantom, but on my last build, the F-100C, it was a nightmare. The kit cockpit parts had small tabs to locate the pit relative to the intake trunk, and the wheel well top. Why couldn't Aires do the same?? I know they have kits in their possession to study before making their molds, but you wouldn't think it!!?? There is also parts they leave out; for example with the F-100 Aires gives you a rear cockpit decking(supposedly a correct replacement for the Trumpy part), but didn't give you the lower canopy decking to go with it? That part I had to scratch.