Introduction: I
am from Karachi Pakistan and it’s my first ever article on internet about my
very first scale models.
Looking for any hobby shop here
in Karachi city is just like finding a pin in the dark. Coincidentally one day I
found the first ever scale model kit in a local market three years ago. They
were poor quality F-4 Phantoms! Without missing any chance I purchased 4 kits at
very cheap price. That day I became so happy to be a Scale Modeller for the
first time. Later on, I came to know that these are the Royal Navy’s and Air
Force’s F-4M/K Phantoms.
Within a few days I instantly
made my first ever F-4 (see above) without using any paints and with plenty of
mistakes in it for example, landing gears missing, nose wheel door in opened
position while main wheels doors not properly retracted. War loads carrying
ordinary fuel tanks with 4 Sidewinders.
All I want from my first kit is
just to see how the scale model looked.
After learning so many things
from the first one. I made a second Phantom, but this more clear, more
attractive than the first one, but still not much accurate. This time I decided
to apply some colors on it. I used black and red painting markers and loaded 4
Skyflash with fuel tanks. But still not appreciable and I wasn’t satisfied
with this one too.
My both first and second
phantoms are now hanging around my bedroom, showing spectacular peel-off.
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After searching pictures and
studying about the tired Royal Navy’s and Air Force’s F-4M/K Phantoms, I
tried to make something that looks like the real one, but it didn’t happened
so. Without any decals, markings, paints it became so hard for me.
One more thing I want to tell
you guys that there wasn’t any Canopy set included in a packet. All you see in
pictures is custom made by thin pet plastic.
Anyway, my third model bit looks
like RN’s F-4M
(that’s what I say!)
F-4K FG1 is RN variant of the
F-4J, incorporating a slightly different and extendable nose wheel unit for
smaller RN aircraft carriers. I had an option to install extendable nose wheel
but I didn’t find any pictures of such a type, so decided to use the default
nose wheel leg.
F-4M is externally identical to
the RN F-4K, no extendable nose wheel oleo (standard F-4C unit) unslotted
stabilators and minor changes in avionics. Armaments: 4 “Skyflash” in blue
and fuel tank under centerline station. Usually RN F-4M carries 370gal wing
tanks and 2 AIM-9 launching rails attached to the inner wing pylon. Below
picture shown a fully armed F-4M FGR2 carrying ordinary fuel tanks, 4 AIM-9
“Sidewinders” and 4 “Skyflash”.
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I was very much impressed with
Luftwaffen Phantoms wearing special paint schemes on occasions. After seeing one
GAF’s RF-4E in “Panther Look” I decided to make my last remaining Phantom
in overall Black scheme using painting marker and see how its look!
Finally I want to say my fellow
modellers that It’s just a beginning for me and I know that my Phantoms
can’t compete with other builders and they don’t meet with the reality at
all. You friends should appreciate our models, as we Pakistanis here don’t
have any modeling stuffs like you people.
I guess someone have to be
better think about it. For the better future of
PAK-MODELLERS
Shahrukh
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