1/32 Tamiya F-4J

by Chuck Sawyer

--------------------

 

Here is my fourth model submission, the Tamiya F-4J in 1/32 scale. I wanted to make a dirty Navy F-4 that you don’t see too often and I’ve always liked the Bedeviler artwork of VF-74. I used quite a few aftermarket items as follows:

Verlinden MB Mk7 seats.

Cam decals (32-005) + a replacement set from another Tamiya kit since the ones I had fell apart.

• Aires resin engine/exhaust kit (AI-2009). The detail of this kit is amazing.

• Seamless Suckers. Tough to find- and expensive. I’ve already ordered the D-Mold set for my next F-4 build.

• Eduard Big-Ed photo-etched detail set. This is what makes the cockpit come alive, although I only used about ½ of the parts on the rest of the model.

• Nautilus jig for wingtip correction to 12 ½ degrees.

• AIM-9D missiles from a Tamiya F-14A kit.

The build was fairly straight forward, although the Seamless Sucker edit was very, very picky work and took a long time. They also made the AIM-7 missile fit very tight, so be careful if you use these.

I used MM enamel paints and Alclad stainless steel on the tail with a bit of MM Metalizer titanium for the sooty effect. I did the usual Future (2 coats) decals, then Future routine, laying the decals down with both Future on the small ones and Microset/Microsol on the larger ones. I used an artist oil wash followed by salt weathering to get the aircraft carrier dirty bird effect and then I toned everything done with MM acrylic dull coat. The photos are a bit dark and they make it look a lot dirtier than it really is. I especially like how the walk ramps came out looking just like a lot of F-4J photos and the rear of the bird looks just like the real McCoy, although the Aires exhaust cans are too small, just like the kit ones.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

Photos of this Bicentennial bird (circa 1976) are hard to come by, but I did find a few that helped me with a lot of the details. The centerline fuel tank, for example, has a large black front cone while the star and stripes insignia on the wing is the same size as the one on the intakes and it does not go across the wingtip hinge-line. I also found that the tips of the rear stabilizers are also painted yellow, which you don’t see on the decal instructions or examples of other builds.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable build, but I’m going to try a straight OTB build on my next model, the Tamiya F-16CJ Block 50.  

Chuck  

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Chuck Sawyer