Portman Productions Inc.

[Stuart]

Thanks for the thoughts Gents - food for thought

I do think it would be good for me to put a bit more effort in - maybe not planning to the n'th degree because that's not my style, but having a plan would be good, with maybe a clearer picture of the result I want to aim for. But I do think it's high-time I pushed my skills a bit.

As for kit choices I'm a bit torn Bruce. On one side I think it'd be a lot of fun to build a reasonably modern tooling large scale jet such as Tamiya's F-14 or ZM's F-4 (do they do a long nosed Vietnam era kits?) - I've never built anything like that and I think the painting would be a challenge with no airbrush - which is kind of the point as it's not impossible, just hard.

And then there's Revell's 1/32 F-4 that Stik build last year...

Or, do I keep it 1/72 and build me one of these



I really fancy building a cold war era RAF C-130 - with a decent stab at an interior.

Anyway, Thankfully I have a birthday coming up with about £100 budget for a present - so the scope is huge.

In the meantime, I do have a small collection of newish tooled 1/72 jets in my stash, and I pulled this one out last night just for a bit of practice.



It would have been nice to add a PE cockpit, but alas I can't find one as yet.

Regards

Stuart

[speedgraflex]

Duuuude

http://www.zoukeimura.co.jp/en/products ... 4_f4j.html

edit volks says this is sold out but check stock elsewhere...

Also inbox review of 4C

https://dnmodels.com/all/zoukei-mura-us ... sws-no-06/



Also 3 quid gets you the Lockheed seat you need at Hannants

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AIRE7136

and finally for this post maybe just go here for awhile and chill (I do)

https://chriswauchop.com

[Stikpusher]

That 1/32 F-4G of mine is not completed... stalled and sidelined...

[Stuart]

Shame - but considering the work you were having to put in understandable!

[Stuart]

Duuuude

http://www.zoukeimura.co.jp/en/products ... 4_f4j.html

edit volks says this is sold out but check stock elsewhere...

Also inbox review of 4C

https://dnmodels.com/all/zoukei-mura-us ... sws-no-06/



Also 3 quid gets you the Lockheed seat you need at Hannants

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AIRE7136

and finally for this post maybe just go here for awhile and chill (I do)

https://chriswauchop.com

Bruce you're obviously trying to kill me with those links That does indeed look like a nice kit, although I think I'd like to have a stab at the C or D, Phantoms in SEA camo just look so right.

I do kind of like the idea of taking a beautiful kit like that and tackling it with a paint brush I can think of a certain Facebook group that that would REALLY upset - I'm talking burned at the stake here. However I'm pretty certain I can make a go of that.

Thanks for the Hannants link - I'd already had a look at it, although it's for the wrong type of Starfighter. Actually I was hoping that Eduard or somebody had done a cockpit set - the kit sidewall and IP decals are ok, but...

That Chris bloke is good, very good indeed.

Cheers!

[Stikpusher]

That 1/32 F-4G of mine is not completed... stalled and sidelined...

Shame - but considering the work you were having to put in understandable!

It’ll be completed, just not sure how soon I’ll be getting back to it. Perhaps later this year...

[KSaarni]

I do kind of like the idea of taking a beautiful kit like that and tackling it with a paint brush

Yes you should Stuart!

With a budget of 100 £, you get some really really cool kits!

A ZM Phantom, if I would have a budget like that, I would not hesitate at all! I

Or the Tamiyas F-14, guess that fits in the budget as well!

Go For It !

- Kari

[speedgraflex]

This too - construction steps

https://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/part-1 ... phantom-ii

I clocked what you wrote about subject - I am certain all ZM kits are of the highest standards available. What I believe you will appreciate are the options you have to use ZM’s AM packages as well... although there is a wide range of AM available from others. But but but I think out of the box this will be just fine!

I would recommend brush painting interior and spray painting the exterior with can primers. This is my recommendation based on what I see the a/c colors are. Use primers - Tamiya or Mr Surfacer. Can primers are super thin. The black areas also could be primer. Gloss them up after.

Also check your replies to your advice thread. The fella who responded builds ZM kits and I believe he only brush paints... wjkn something something is his handle. You might wanna PM him. Actually you definitely wanna PM him.

[Stuart]

Still haven't ordered anything - yet. There's too much choice out there and too much procrastination by your's truly!

Anyway, whilst spending far to much time trying to decide what to buy and driving myself nuts, I have made a far bit of progress on the Matchbox F-4. The tail is taped on for effect, but it's starting to look like a Phantom now. It's actually a really nice kit this - the intakes fitted better than any other 1/72 jet I've built.



I'm working on the seams at present. I'm using Revell's basic putty to even out the halves (no gaps), and then it'll be onto plastic strip and Perfect Plastic Putty for the gaps and canopy.

Then onto paint

Not sure of the scheme yet? Grey or Green/Grey...?





I've also made a start on the F-104G, I'll post pictures when I've finished the seat.

Cheers!

[jkim]

Everyone approaches builds in a different way. But I think progression is good for everyone, at their own pace. I think you should go for it and try some new techniques and stuff... it's pretty fun.

I'm not sure I would steer you towards a Zoukei-Mura kit though. Unless that particular approach appeals to you. They have an inside-to-outside philosophy when it comes to the design/build of their kits that favors interior detail at the expense of outside fit (from my limited perspective of building one of their 1/48 scale kits). I prefer to build aircraft that are buttoned up... canopy shut... all hatches closed... so obviously the Z-M approach does not appeal to me. It was frustrating to have the gaps of the parts deteriorate as the construction progressed from the internals to the externals. Small errors during construction magnified as you worked outwards and that led to larger than acceptable gaps once I got to the major exterior panels.

I much prefer Hasegawa's approach of external fidelity at the expense of providing internal details which can't be seen (engine, radio compartments, etc). Tamiya is kinda in-between Z-M and Hasegawa so that would be my recommendation (i.e. 1/48 F-14). They usually provide a bit more interior detail (sometimes ALOT more) but have the engineering to ensure good fit throughout.