Subject: Re: Emailing: 09.jpg, 10.jpg, 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, 04.jpg, 05.jpg, 06.jpg, 07.jpg, 08.jpg
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Gil Gregg" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:52:08 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gil Gregg 
  To: [email-masked] ; [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 10:03 AM
  Subject: Emailing: 09.jpg, 10.jpg, 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, 04.jpg, 05.jpg, 06.jpg, 07.jpg, 08.jpg

  Gallery Article Template

  Revell 1/72 F-4F Phantom

  by Gil Gregg aka “Dutycat”
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  The Revell of Germany F-4 Phantom is a relatively new kit and well tooled. The boxing I was working with was the one with ceremonial red and black scheme. Although attractive enough, I was more interested in portraying an operational schemed aircraft than I was a gaudy ceremonial aircraft. The kit does offer the most recent two tone gray scheme as an alternative, but I wanted to go back a bit to the earlier four tone camo “scalloped” design of the 80s. This scheme has always interested me. I knew the pattern would represent freehand airbrush challenge, but I also knew it would look really nice if I did it well.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Construction is straightforward and traditional, but the some of the parts are a little delicate. If you are like me, one of those guys who puts the landing gear on during the main construction phase, then comes back later to paint the gear and wells after the main paint job, then you have be careful. The nose strut is a little delicate and I broke it off during handling. Also, as with most modern Phantom kits, the forward fuselage/cockpit is a separate piece, and getting this and the intakes assembled cleanly, and eliminating seam work is critical to the end result.

  The camo pattern features two shades of green and a gray on the upper surfaces, and a lighter gray for the fuselage sides and underneath. The paints for this scheme are not in my preferred brand of paint (Testors MM....not strong on modern European colors), so I could order them from another line at considerable expense, or just mix from what I had on hand. Looking at a bunch of photos and comparing them to what I had in my paint box, I felt I could pull it off, so “a mixing I went.” I used an old Paasche V suction feed (since replaced by an H & S Infinity gravity feed). After many hours of painful work I stood back and looked at the result. Although my lines were nice and tight, my colors were way off. The topside of the jet looked like a multi-hued avocado! The greens were way too bright and too green, and the gray was too light.  I looked at  more photos more, remixed all of the topside colors, and resprayed.  The second time around was much better.  Satisfied with the result, I proceeded to the decaling phase.  I did not have any F-4F decals for this scheme, but I did have some RF-4 decals from an older Fujimi Phantom.  Although technically not for an F-4F, I used the decals anyway as they were close enough and enabled me to avoid having to plop out $10 or so for an aftermarket sheet just for the sake of a couple of accurate squadron badges and codes.  I am simply representing an F-4F in this scheme.  Purests can look down their noses at the hacked together paint and decal job, but really, being 100% accurate was is not that important to me for this build. Unless you are an F-4F fan-boy, you probably would not have known had I not told you about it.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  I would like too talk a little about the natural metal rear fuselage a little.  Although I have built a lot of modern jets, I don't have a lot of experience with natural metal...mostly burner cans and very small aft fuselage sections(F-16). The few experiences I have had with larger areas have not been successful(F-15, SU-27).  I am still experimenting with surface preparation, masking, varying NMF products, and overcoats.  For this build I decided to experiment with the new kid on the block, Alclad II.  Before painting the main camo, I sprayed the NMF area with Testors gloss black.  After buffing it out with some polishing cloths, I decided to take the next step and try to get it glass smooth with Tamiya fine polishing paste.  Well, as it turns out, this was a mistake as the paste contains a solvent.  Even though the black was cured, the paste solvent ate away and lifted some of the black.  I attempted to sand and feather the black in, but this was not entirely successful.  When the Alclad went on, the sanding marks were evident. Disappointing, but still, a lesson was learned and experience was gained.  As an overall project, I am happy with the results of this build.

  Gil Gregg

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg 

  Photos and text © by Gil Gregg