I got started on this kit last week. Tamiya really makes it easy to build and to WANT to build! Progress will likely be slow but I will eventually get there!
Painted the cockpit pieces. I am using Mission Models Paint.
Assembly was quick and painless. Tamiya black and grey panel liner provide details.
After seeing this clode-up I noticed my decal was not quite aligned, LOL!
Pretty nice !!!
Looks sharp. I don’t have a short nose phantom in the stash [*-)].
Maybe I’ll ask for this for Christmas - Only hear great things about the kit.
Thanks guys!
Priming parts for the next steps.
Just got this kit too! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out! Thanks for sharing the journey.
Got some more work done. Tamiya really has done a great job with figuring out how things should go together to eliminate as much sanding and filling as possible.
The Tamiya kit is on my shelf, waiting for me to finish my current model. Note that the color instructions may not be accurate. Tamiya lists the overall colors as “light gull grey for the upper surfaces and white for the lower surface”. Light gull grey is accurate (FS 36440) , but instead of “white” the lower surfaces and upper surfaces of movable control surfaces should be"Insignia White" (FS 17875), a shade of off white. Mission Models Paint has Insignia White MMP-104. There’s a significant difference between white and Insignia White. I believe Tamiys’s painting references in the instructions are all “pure” white.
Yeah, I noticed that as well. Luckily I already have the Insignia White on hand. I also had to make sure I had the correct Light Gull Grey since Mission Models has 2 different versions. Turns out I already have both versions, LOL!
Weird that Tamiya doesn’t list their own Insignia White, AS-20 in the instructions.
Lookin good, chops! Got the Tamiya F-4B in my stash too…gonna start prep work on it as soon as my F/A-16B project is done. Hopefully the Quinta Studio cockpit stuff for the F-4B will be out soon.
Thanks for posting this because I had no idea that I actually needed insignia white. I’d already lucked out by finding that I had a full bottle of model master gull grey but have now found I also have the correct white. Thanks again.
Your Phamtom is looking really sharp. Thanks for posting.
A little bit of progress. Put the wings and vertical stab on. Put some paint on the seats and other bits.
Nice! How are you liking it so far? I have one too and imagine it’s better than a shake-and-bake!
It is a very nice kit. They have done a lot to ensure minimal filling and sanding during assembly. I am looking forward to finishing her up and finally starting on my F-14A that I have been afraid of opening, LOL!
Arms are built and the seats are also done. There’s a lot of small parts to paint and build coming up. I’m hoping to get everything painted and ready before painting the aircraft.
Took some time off from the bench but came back yesterday! It’s getting real close to where I can paint the jet. 
I’ve made a lot of progress lately!
I just love this build!
[:D][Y]
Thanks! It has definitely been fun. I am finally getting my mo-jo back and I cant wait to start my F-14 once this one is done. I also ordered an F-16. I am hoping to find some decals that represent my local Air Force base, SHAW in Sumter, SC. I grew up watching F-16s and A-10s fly over my house. We lived near the practice bombing range and we could hear the “BRRRRT” all the time.
Looking very nice.
I was at Shaw for a year and a half back when it was RF4-C’s. Think ancient history, mid '70’s.