Artful69 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Ok … so Now I have my 1/32 scale F-4E and EJ phantoms (a BIG thank you for anyone offering their assistance in that department btw). During my mission, the ZM kits kept popping up in my Google searches and as I began to admire the style of F-4 more and more … I thought - why not, eh??? I have a love for ZM kits in general and I have collected all of their 1/32 scale items, even though some of them are for subjects I would not normally purchase. Now, Ive never built anything in dwarf scale before and so I’ve never looked at feedback regarding ZM’s 1/48 scale gear … in particular their Phantoms … so … Can anyone here advise me as to any glaringly obvious issues with their F-4 series?? I’ve already ordered them all and I’m awaiting their arrival … I might also hunt down 48 scale issues 1 - 3 afterward … but I just need to know if there are any AM corrections required … Rog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I've been contemplating this very thing. Switching out my Tamiya 1/32 kits for the ZM 1/48 ones so welcome to the club. I haven't got any of the short nosed jets (C,D,J) but there's supposed to be a contour issue with the rear fuselage around the burner cans. Hypersonic Models makes a correction set for this which involves cutting out the relevant section and replacing it with resin parts. To ZM's credit, they fixed this on the long nosed kits (E, EJ, G). Other than that, I haven't heard of any other issues. With the G coming out next, ZM has to tool up slatted wings so I imagine a late model E will follow that release. If you can't wait, Hypersonic Models makes a conversion kit with the slatted outer wings, flap actuators for the inner wings and other bits. BNA Models carry Hypersonic. Carl 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Almost forgot, there are no seat belts in any of the kits. So you have to find some AM ones. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 hour ago, BlrwestSiR said: Almost forgot, there are no seat belts in any of the kits. So you have to find some AM ones. Wow!!! None at all??? … that’s a weird one - most kits have a seat part with moulded on ones and give you a seat option - with or without!! …. Also the correction part … I’ll look that up … So thanks for the heads up on both! If they are anything like the 1/32 scale stuff, they should be heaps of fun to build. Rog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 2 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said: I haven't got any of the short nosed jets (C,D,J) but there's supposed to be a contour issue with the rear fuselage around the burner cans. Hypersonic Models makes a correction set for this which involves cutting out the relevant section and replacing it with resin parts. To ZM's credit, they fixed this on the long nosed kits (E, EJ, G). Other than that, I haven't heard of any other issues. With the G coming out next, ZM has to tool up slatted wings so I imagine a late model E will follow that release. If you can't wait, Hypersonic Models makes a conversion kit with the slatted outer wings, flap actuators for the inner wings and other bits. BNA Models carry Hypersonic. Carl Ok … Copy that on the correction … I’ve found it on BNAs webstore and it’s only $24 so I’ll just order how many I need … Question: Is the F-4S one of the kits needing a correction?? Rog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I built their Kai Phantom recently and there were no issues with the build. As Carl mentioned there are no seat belts supplied in fact no PE at all. I bought the belts from Kits-World, but I didn't like them too much. They seem a bit oversized and the protruding parts like levers and pull rings bend easily. The good on these parts, they are printed on both sides. Canopy masks, were purchased from New Ware, which have sets, to allow the painting of the canopy seals and as an add on I bought some Res-kit burner cans. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the kit, but ZM has pointed out the multiple changes they made for the EJ- compared to the E-version. The kit went together very well, fit and engineering were great and the Cartograph decals worked exceptional. The detailing of the cockpit with decals over raised detail was sufficient to me at this scale. Cheers Rob 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Rog Nice decision for jumping on 48th scale for jets, as I've also done the same. I've been collecting ZM's F4's, built the incredible Tamiya F4B and my stash is continuously growing in that grouping. Looking forward to following your upcoming ZM F4 build, hopefully not too far down the road. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Well recommend ZM F4, this was first foray into jets and loved building it….. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 7 hours ago, Artful69 said: Question: Is the F-4S one of the kits needing a correction?? Rog Yes, it needs the correction set as well. For belts, Eduard, HGW and Quinta do sets too. The Quinta ones are part of their cockpit sets. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 Ok … so just to confirm, according to this list … I will need six corrections sets… I went looking for seatbelts and the Quinta stuff last night … ugh!! … I struggle enough with 32 scale - plus I don’t think I’m that pedantic really … I’ll see when the kits start arriving, but I’m thinking that the scale might be too small for that stuff. I’m pretty much a bang for buck guy and external shape issues are probably going to be more noticeable! Does anyone have a link to a discussion somewhere where the fuse issue is discussed in detail with photos etc??? Rog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 21 hours ago, Artful69 said: Wow!!! None at all??? … that’s a weird one - most kits have a seat part with moulded on ones and give you a seat option - with or without!! …. Also the correction part … I’ll look that up … So thanks for the heads up on both! If they are anything like the 1/32 scale stuff, they should be heaps of fun to build. Rog I think kit makers are finally figuring out that us AMS infected folks install HGW…. So why waste the time on belts. ICM figured that out years ago… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Artful69 said: Ok … so just to confirm, according to this list … I will need six corrections sets… I went looking for seatbelts and the Quinta stuff last night … ugh!! … I struggle enough with 32 scale - plus I don’t think I’m that pedantic really … I’ll see when the kits start arriving, but I’m thinking that the scale might be too small for that stuff. I’m pretty much a bang for buck guy and external shape issues are probably going to be more noticeable! Does anyone have a link to a discussion somewhere where the fuse issue is discussed in detail with photos etc??? Rog You got AMS BAD, Rog! 🤣 Welcome to the Club! 😎😀😬😂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 I built the Academy F-4B as an F-4N, and am piddling away with the Tamiya F-4B, right now. Like many here, I’ve turned to 1/48 for modern jets, simply due to space requirements. They’re big enough to give you all the detail, but take the same footprint as a 1/32 WW2 fighter.. I want to try a ZM Phantom, and it’ll most likely be that superb JASDF edition! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 I can't recall where the article is where they first noticed the shape issue. You could try comparing the short nose fuselage to the long nose ones when they arrive? Supposedly it's quite apparent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 The last 1/48 Phantom I built was the Hasegawa F-4E with the 30 Years of Phabulous Phantoms on the side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 I had the Hasegawa Japanese Phantom and in a moment of weakness, sold it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 9 hours ago, Clunkmeister said: I had the Hasegawa Japanese Phantom and in a moment of weakness, sold it. I had the Tamiya 1/48 F-4EJ from the early '80s. Then I opened the box and found a Revell kit that they had re-boxed.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Clunkmeister Posted September 13, 2022 Administrators Share Posted September 13, 2022 10 minutes ago, BlrwestSiR said: I had the Tamiya 1/48 F-4EJ from the early '80s. Then I opened the box and found a Revell kit that they had re-boxed.... Well we finally got an actual F-4EJ and I’m incredibly stoked over that. Thrilled actually. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 19 minutes ago, Clunkmeister said: Well we finally got an actual F-4EJ and I’m incredibly stoked over that. Thrilled actually. Same here. Not to mention a Kai OOB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share Posted September 14, 2022 On 9/13/2022 at 9:49 AM, Clunkmeister said: I think kit makers are finally figuring out that us AMS infected folks install HGW…. So why waste the time on belts. ICM figured that out years ago… On 9/13/2022 at 9:52 AM, Clunkmeister said: You got AMS BAD, Rog! 🤣 Welcome to the Club! 😎😀😬😂 I’m happy to report I’m disease free … I was forced to take the magical unicorn vax here so I could keep my job and a roof over my head here in West Aus. I don’t know what that AMS thing you have is, but I hope you can’t transfer it over the net otherwise your device should be masked up!!! I probably won’t even bother with belts … the scale seems just too small … I’m even considering avoiding the fuse fix … I can see a vague difference between the kit and the correction parts - but really not all that much … so the question is … is it $25 worth??? (AUD) … I’ll leave that order till I see the kit I think! Rog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 No belts, no go Rog just my . They are clearly visible, even with the canopy closed. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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