ZM F-4E Early Phantom ll

[Littlemarten]

No chance. I did order some but they won't be here for a week and a half

Thanks for that info. I'm not fond of making my own.

 

[Littlemarten]

Most of the time I feel disappointed and bummed that my build didn't turn out as well as I hoped.

It's up to you, but the criteria I use is: Did I do a better job, or at least as good, as the previous build? If so, I'm happy. If it didn't turn out well, but I learned something, I'm at least not unhappy.

Most of the pleasure I get from scale modeling comes from the process. If the result is good, that's a bonus.

 

[Jantk14]

Thanks for that info. I'm not fond of making my own.

Me either. I have been mostly buying kits that come with them or kits that have easily available aftermarket masks.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Working on the infamous tail feathers of the F4. Started off with the All-Clad gloss black primer. Man, I love this stuff it really does spray good but cleaning it out of my airbrush sometimes can frustrate you. I clean my airbrush with lacquer thinner and all the other all clads it loves it. Cleans it right out. But that gloss black primer does not like playing fairly on the playground. And you got to let that gloss black dry at least a day or two. So I put down a coat of all clad Steel followed by different stuff like dark aluminum and pale burnt metal and jet engine smoke. Those engine nozzles are just on there half-assed.

 

[BarleyBop]

all clad Steel followed by different stuff like dark aluminum and pale burnt metal and jet engine smoke.

@Rockin' Rob — modeler, alchemist!

 

[Littlemarten]

But that gloss black primer does not like playing fairly on the playground.

What does Alclad recommend for cleaning it?

 

[VegasAWACER13]

That's looking good.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

That's looking good.

Thanks

 

[Rockin' Rob]

What does Alclad recommend for cleaning it?

Probably their proprietary. But it's a lacquer thinner so I clean it with lacquer thinner. Lacquer thinner does clean it but it's like a little tiny portion of whatever they put in the glossy black primer congeals. Not all of it. It doesn't turn into a Gloppy mess like Snot. But it's like a tiny portion of it turns into snot or something like that that kind of smears on The metal. Weird. And only the glossy black primer does it

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Gloss clear going down then decals and all those darn stencils

 

[Rockin' Rob]

I kind of stuck on the elevans and the tail hook. Just to see what it looks like. That isn't weathered yet that's all airbrush. Does it look okay?

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Man that looks fantastic. I just started masking that section of my F-4 build. It won't be looking as great as yours though!

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Man that looks fantastic. I just started masking that section of my F-4 build. It won't be looking as great as yours though!

Thank you. It's fun messing with these metallic paints. I was just thinking is that too much before I even start weathering it? Or too little? Because I'll probably add more smoke down the road

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Thank you. It's fun messing with these metallic paints. I was just thinking is that too much before I even start weathering it? Or too little? Because I'll probably add more smoke down the road

I think you've hit the sweet spot.

 

[GCB]

I kind of stuck on the elevans and the tail hook. Just to see what it looks like. That isn't weathered yet that's all airbrush. Does it look okay?

Great job! Did you use Xtreme Metal?

 

[Edbert]

And you got to let that gloss black dry at least a day or two

I was saying a few months ago that the Alclad gloss black primer can take weeks to fully harden. That was my experience having thinned it slightly using Alclad thinner.

A member of my local club said to try it without any thinner and it hardened in a day, I let it sit another day just to be sure. I'm not sure why I added thinner, guessing it is (was) just a habit. But I can say...DON'T.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Great job! Did you use Xtreme Metal?

Thanks, I used Allclad ll.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Obviously there is a love hate relationship with the F4. Aye yi yi Papi, 445 to go

 

[Edbert]

Aye yi yi Papi, 445 to go

There are some other subjects that rival it, but I agree the Phantom is the worst!

 

[VegasAWACER13]

Obviously there is a love hate relationship with the F4. Aye yi yi Papi, 445 to go

You're hard core. I plan to put about 10 of the supplied 200 stencils on my F-4 build.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

You're hard core. I plan to put about 10 of the supplied 200 stencils on my F-4 build.

I didn't say ALL of them would make it onto the plane. I mean, I'm going to try, but towards the end frustration might set in and some of them might mysteriously disappear

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Taking my time. I can only work on it about an hour and then I just got to go do something else. I can see why some people don't put them on. It can get frustrating. You get the tiny decal on just right and you roll the Q-tip on it and it comes out perfect! Woohoo.! And then 3 minutes go by as you put on another decal and you go look at the one you just put on and it's crooked. Ah man. What the hell? Then frustration sets in and you have to take a break. 225 to go on the plane alone. I haven't even done the missiles. Union break is over

 

[Littlemarten]

Taking my time. I can only work on it about an hour and then I just got to go do something else. I can see why some people don't put them on. It can get frustrating. You get the tiny decal on just right and you roll the Q-tip on it and it comes out perfect! Woohoo.! And then 3 minutes go by as you put on another decal and you go look at the one you just put on and it's crooked. Ah man. What the hell? Then frustration sets in and you have to take a break. 225 to go on the plane alone. I haven't even done the missiles. Union break is over

What gloss coat are you using under them? I use Quick Shine™ (the replacement for the old Future). Then I use the technique pioneered by Paul Boyer of putting the same thing over the decal, blotting the excess (paper towel leaves less lint), and letting it dry a few minutes. Once it turns clear it generally isn't possible to move the decal. Also, work on one end, then switch to the other end to give things a better chance to set before you have to handle them again.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

What gloss coat are you using under them? I use Quick Shine™ (the replacement for the old Future). Then I use the technique pioneered by Paul Boyer of putting the same thing over the decal, blotting the excess (paper towel leaves less lint), and letting it dry a few minutes. Once it turns clear it generally isn't possible to move the decal. Also, work on one end, then switch to the other end to give things a better chance to set before you have to handle them again.

I generally use Tamia ts-13 out of a can. Gloss clear. So I gloss over the paint job then I add decals one whole side at a time. I'm almost done with the bottom wing tips probably about 20 more details to put on and then I'll wait a little bit and gloss clear with ts-13 again. A nice good coat so I can basically use anything I want to paint stuff up or weather or panel line. After I get all that done then I give it a spray of either semi-gloss or flat clear. All my paints are basically lacquer based so I really don't know about using something like future.

 

[Littlemarten]

All my paints are basically lacquer based

Should be okay, as Quick Shine is alcohol soluble, but appears impervious once dry. If you want to try it, check for compatibility with a paint hulk.

 

[Jantk14]

No Step!!!!

I hate them

 

[Rockin' Rob]

No Step!!!!

I hate them

?

 

[Jantk14]

Doesn't the F4 have lots of No Step decals? Most Cold War aircraft are full of them. I just put 20 of them on my F18

 

[Littlemarten]

Ma

Doesn't the F4 have lots of No Step decals? Most Cold War aircraft are full of them. I just put 20 of them on my F18

Maybe what they are trying to say is "Don't tread on me"?

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Sorry, I didn't know what you meant at first cuz I just started on the bottom of the aircraft and I don't think no one's going to be walking upside down. And yes there's a bunch of them and also a whole lot of no push.