Hasegawa 1/48 F-4C - Shelf of Doom Resurrection

[oortiz10]

Hello fellow plastic mashers,

I’m back with another project. Yes, my HB A-6E is still in the works. Right now, it’s in the fiddly-bits phase, so I decided to get on with another project to keep the fun rolling.

While searching through my computer’s external drive, looking for some unrelated photos, I ran across some pictures of an old project that had been relegated to the Shelf of Doom. When I say old, I mean it. This is a project that has been for 15 years. Yes, you read that right. 15 years.

I like building subjects with unique camo, markings, or loadouts. I ran across this particular photo…

…and knew I had to build it. Realizing that I don’t have a Phantom on my shelf, I decided I’d dig the kit out of the stash and get back on it.

The reason it was boxed and forgotten was because the kit became a slog. I decided (foolishly, in hindsight) that I wanted to rescribe AND rivet the airframe. So, after starting the process, the project quickly lost its fun-factor. But, it’s a new day, and I’ve resolved to finish it. So, while the little things on my A-6 dry, I’ll be gluing myself to the Phantom.

Looking back at things, I noticed that the lines and rivet patterns aren’t 100% accurate. As I move forward, I’ll be working toward representation, not replication.

Anyway, I’m on Spring Break this week, so I hope to make some progress on both my A-6 and this F-4. As usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. I’ll be sure to post progress when there’s progress to post.

Wish me luck!
-O

[keavdog]

All right O! Love a good phantom build - I’ll be following along.

[mrb865]

Best of luck! I do love the Phantom!

[oortiz10]

Hey there plastic mashers, I’m back with an update on my Phantom. So, I’ve been working on this one alongside my A-6 and WIF F-16, and since my last update, I’ve been able to reach a milestone with the F-4.

One of things I was able to do was represent the red light on the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. I carved out the kit’s plastic and inserted a piece of clear sprue. After some shaping, I was happy with the result.

It’s since been painted clear red and masked.

I was also able to get the major assemblies mated.

I had a chance to prime and start the painting process, too.

I sprayed AK’s Real Colors, freehand, through my Sotar with a .2 needle. I’ll need to do some touch-ups, but I’m happy with where things stand. Next will be the underside color.

And that is where my Phantom stands. I’ll be moving between this one, the A-6, and a SoD T-6 that’s been languising for 9 years. Comments, questions, and criticisms are always welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. Stay tuned for more!

Cheers,
-O

[USAF_462_2W1]

Glad you resurrected her, she’s taking shape and looking good.
Steve

[OldRetiredEngineer]

Really nice work freehanding the camouflage with your airbrush. Looks like you were successful tidying up the obnoxious Haswgawa seams.

I have three Hasegawa Phantoms on my bottom shelf where I put my “least likely to ever be built” models.

[PhantomFixer]

I was a flight line mechanic on F4-D & F4-E Phantoms, in the Air Force, in '71 & '72. I always love to see models of Phantoms being built. Keep up the good work, I’m looking forward to seeing it completed. Keep on modelling!

[oortiz10]

Hey gang, I have a little more painting progress to show. I was able to get the bare metal hot areas done. I haven’t done this sort of painting much, especially on Phantoms, so I’d love some feedback. This is all done with various shades of Alclad, some markers, and a silver colored pencil.

This pretty much finishes up the principal painting. Now I’ll move onto the ordnance and other dangly bits. Please, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. I’d really like to know your thoughts on my effort.

Thanks for lookin’!
-O

[USAF_462_2W1]

The metal work looks really good to me as does the rest of the jet.
Steve

[S.Hollowell]

The bare metal looks really good O! Nice work.

[PhantomFixer]

Very nice metal work. F-4s were called “old smokey” for a very good reason. They left a faint, but noticeable trail of smoke. The center picture’s, area closest to the nozzles, looks like what I remember the nozzles and that area looked like, maybe just a little lighter, dull and smokey. The under sides of the elevators were dull. I have never been able to get it right. I’m going try to explain it a little better. The metal was dull and flat looking, almost a light grey color, but still looked like metal. Maybe like a dull car muffler color. Over this was the smokey black from the exhaust. The soot was kind of medium, not too light, but not too heavy. Good luck.

[GAF]

Maybe something like this? Though this is a museum bird.

Gary

[PhantomFixer]

That is pretty close to what I remember. Here are three pictures that I found, that are the closest to what I remember (from 50 plus years ago). The first picture might be a model. The second is a real Navy Phantom. The last picture is from the 2026 Calendar of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. As you can see, there is some variation. I personally like the last one. Good luck and please share what you come up with. Happy Modelling!!!