Yes you may and welcome aboard GMorrison! [snWcm]
Ken
Hi Everyone,
I didn’t get a whole lot done tonight, but at least I did get to visit the workbench.
One of the aftermarket add-ons I purchased for my Phantom F-4E was the Eduard Brassin Exhaust kit. And along with the exhaust they added as a bonus the tail hook and mechanical up latch shown here:
As you can see, much better detail than what is offered by the Hasegawa kit. Anyway, this of course necessitates cutting off the old tail hook which is what I did, shown here:
Tomorrow I will tackle the mechanical up latch which is going to be a little more complicated with that curved surface. I will need to cut a hole (hopefully square!) where it is supposed to mount.
Ken
Sorry for the confusion Ken:
I was a bit quick on the draw there.
It was Actually Revell’s mistake, they used the same B-52 sprues for a number of kits, and the Buff I bought was originally their B model, upgraded with the bomb set and pylons to D:
I.E. These Revell kits on Ebay are all the same sprue set, except for the starboard wings on the X-15 kit:
This one is my kit:
No suffix tag, because they knew they were cheating a bit, but the base BUFF is the B model for all of them as far as I know,
and they didn’t put much effort into distinctive detailing other than adding the bombs etc.
I’ll go for the D model, I think that is the one on the box cover, but I welcome
corrections here from the BUFF Vets, I’m a student, not an expert, of BUFFs.
Ken,
Thanks, it is going to be fun![:D]
Dom
No problem Dom! Like I was saying to Jim, most modelers still consider the Monogram/Revell B-52 kit the best 1/72 scale B-52 around. Even with it’s raised panel lines.
Yes, I totally agree with you, it is going to be a blast! [:D]
Ken
Cool looking replacement hook, Ken! With all your after market additions and your detailing skills, this is going to be a museum-quality build! [Y] [Y]
Russ
My apologies, folks. I’ve been unable to find a reference to an F-105 with a 555 tail number anywhere, let alone at Takhli AB. Maybe I’m thinking about the F-4G from Udorn that could have come through as a transientt aircraft, or maybe I’m just dreaming. Anyway, sorry if I misled anyone.
Russ
Yo SOMM,
I just MIGHT have a pic or two that could help with your build. These are low res images for posting here, but I’ve got the multi-meg versions if you think you might want to review. Hopefully these will assist with your current work:
Me a geek? No. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Thank you Russ! As much plastic that I am cutting off of this kit, there won’t be very much left that you can call “Hasegawa”! [:D]
Ken
No problem Russ. After you said this, I had to look it up because I knew there was something about “Triple Nickel”.
It was the 555th Fighter Squadron and they were called the “Triple Nickel”. In February 1966, they flew the F-4C Phantom II out of Udorn Royal Thai Air Base. In June 1966 they moved to Ubon KTAB and joined the 8th TFW “Wolfpack”.
During their assignment at Ubon KTAB from 1966 to 1973, the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron earned three Presidential Unit Citations, five Air Force Outstanding Unit awards with combat “V” device, the Republic of Vietnam gallantry cross with palm, and the 1973 Hughes achievement award! You can read more here:
http://www.aviano.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4353
Anyway, we both were thinking that there was something significant to the “Triple Nickel”. I am glad that I looked it up.
Ken
Wow, thank you Marty! Those are some great shots! Perfect in fact. Look at that shine on the tail hook! You can see the reflection of the trees and driveway in it! Someone really cleaned that bird up!
Ken
Yeah she’s looking real good. Great story there too. I think I’m gonna build this exact bird one day.
Stumbled into this last month while on a business trip to Bowling Green KY. It is a little outdoor air park that honors Kentucky aviation. 3 aircraft now, with spots for 3 more. This F-4D, an F-9F in Blue Angels delivery, and T-33 with SAC markings.
What do you think about the Hase F-4? My search shows they have an E, but I’m not enough of a Phantom guy to know what would need to be backdated. Does the E have the thick wing?
I’m hoping the Academy new tool gets released in a C or D. Or is the B close enough?
Very cool Marty! Now I am by no means the expert but I will pass on what knowledge a real expert did pass on to me before he was laid to rest. His name was Berny, he was an avid modeler and he was in the USAF for 26 years spending a great deal of that time working on the F-4 Phantom.
I actually asked him that question once and his reply was, if you want to truly build an F-4D Phantom, you will want to get the 1/32 scale Tamiya F-4C/D kit. In fact, here is a link to the discussion I had with Berny:
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/133928.aspx
Ken
Hi Everyone,
Once again I was only able to spend little time at the workbench this evening. I got a good start on the hole for the mechanical up latch. Here is how it looks so far:
Obviously I will need to take it slow on removing the plastic. It is much easier removing it than it is replacing it! [:)]
Ken
Looking good.
Thanks for the link to Berny’s clarification. He certainly knew his stuff.
Ken,
My thanks to you too for that link. I’ve filed it away for the day when I haul out my F4. Good luck on fitting that latch assembly.
Russ
Hi, All,
I’ve decided to detail the interior of my C-130E including the cockpit. I went ahead and ordered a C-130 interior detail set and a Talon conversion set from David J. Parkins in the UK. It happens the conversion set has the correct nose for the early Talon so I won’t have to modify the one on the model. Looking now for a cockpit detailing set.
Cheers,
Russ
That is awesome Russ! That will be a switch for you, instead of scratch building!
Ken
Yes, he was a great combination of knowing all about the F-4 and knowing about modeling it. In fact, the F-4 I am doing right now is of the last one he was a crew chief on. In a group build he told a story about it where it was a hanger queen because it was always breaking down. The last 3 digits in the serial number was “260”. So he nicknamed it “Too Sick Oh”. He even painted it on the inside of the front wheel bay door!
Then his squadron was shipped over to Vietnam. He said he winced when he saw his plane land for the first time there. But it surprised everyone and turned out to be one of the best performing aircraft in the squadron! It was even credited with two MiG kills!
Ken
Hi Everyone,
I finished cutting the hole for the mechanical up latch. Here is how it turned out:
Next I will paint the mechanical up latch to prepare epoxying it in place.
Ken
Thanks Ken. It will be a change indeed. However, I suspect there will still be plenty to scratch build [:D].
Russ