ZM 1/48 F-4S Phantom, USS Midway

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Here is my next project, as many recent completions have been commission work for others, I decided to do one for myself. As a teen, I wanted nothing more than to fly F-4’s, but that never worked out, however I have still been a lifelong fan. 
 

I was always a fan of the last F-4S, but never knew there was a kit out there. Recently I came across the ZM phantoms, and when I found this one, I knew I wanted to do a cat launch, nose up, tail down. 
 

I have for my build

ZM-1/48 F-4S 

CAM Decals VF-161 (kit decals are close, but not what I wanted)

Aerobonus Pilot, RIO, and Seats

Skunkmodels Carrier Launch Kit.

 

 

 

[harv]

Looking forward to this!....harv

[k5ikl]

Here is my Hasegawa F-4S.  Watching to see how that kit builds up.

Cheers,
Jerry  

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I took a major step toward doing the ugly part, and did it early before it sucked away my enthusiasm. All the parts Are there such as extended strut, downward stabs, and flaps In launch configuration, which few kits have. I praise old man Zoukei-Mura for giving the option of putting the stabilators in launch mode, but then I curse him for not giving any cutting guides on the inside fuselage.
 

Today I ripped off the bandage and started carving away plastic, and then decided to apply a bandage, as I did make a nice little slice in my index finger. After about 4 hours of careful carving, sanding, filing, and fitting, I was ready to glue the pieces in. I took extra care because there was so much small irreplaceable detail, I figured it’s better to spend the time now and not sanding filler later. In the end, it came out OK, it could have been a little cleaner, but overall, It came out better than I thought, requiring very little filler. 

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7 hours ago, k5ikl said:

Here is my Hasegawa F-4S.  Watching to see how that kit builds up.

Cheers,
Jerry  

Good looking phantom! All the sources call for Light Gull Gray, but I was thinking maybe ghost gray is a better match to the photos. Since you completed one, what do you think?

[Bomber_County]

You’re a brave man, I looked at this mod on my ZM J but thought better of it. Just finishing up mine I’ll post in a couple of days........

[k5ikl]

17 hours ago, 1to1scale said:

Good looking phantom! All the sources call for Light Gull Gray, but I was thinking maybe ghost gray is a better match to the photos. Since you completed one, what do you think?

I tossed that about then decided to stay with the Gull Gray.  Like you I think the ghost gray looks closer to photos so on the next "S"
I do I will give ghost gray a try just to be different.  LOL

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6 hours ago, k5ikl said:

I tossed that about then decided to stay with the Gull Gray.  Like you I think the ghost gray looks closer to photos so on the next "S"
I do I will give ghost gray a try just to be different.  LOL

I did some spray out cards today and matched grays to the decals, I think the Lt Gull Gray looks too yellow and more like Older phantoms, I agree the S’s had a cooler tone to them. I tested the Ghost Gray colors and they didn’t match either. I found the MRP pre-1942 Gray to be a better match to the decals, which look like the pictures. I also found that the Medium Gunship Gray was the closest match to the anti-skid, anti-glare, and tail, so I am going to use both Instead of what instructions say.

MRP040 MRP/Mr Paint - Gunship Grey FS36118
MRP134 MRP/Mr Paint - WW2 Light Grey M-495

 

 

 

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Some of the pictures I was referencing, to me, something changed when they switched colors from hi-viz to lo-viz.