Hasegawa's original 1/48 scale
F-4C Phantom II

by Roger Jackson
 

Presented here is my recently completed Hasegawa F-4C in 1:48th scale. I performed some corrections and updates to make the model a bit more contemporary in terms of detailing and appearance.

This is the original P6 boxing first released in 1984 so I rescribed the entire model for visual compatibility with my other Hasegawa F-4s that all have recessed surface detail. Corrections included relocating the hinge pins for the horizontal stabilators, replacing the undersized inboard pylons, and rebuilding the secondary nose gear door to the proper configuration.

Additional details were added to the landing gear, pylons, tailpipes, and cockpit. I used ordnance from the various Hasegawa weapons sets to represent an aircraft configured for a strike or close air support mission. The Aero 3B centerline pylon mounting the gun pod came from Monogram's F-4C kit, which also provided the main landing gear doors.

The oversimplified nose landing gear strut was rebuilt with a proper slave cylinder and hydraulic lines since the standard-issue kit part looks pretty two-dimensional right out of the box. Common straight pins became a new AOA transducer and outside air temperature probe after some modest reworking. The boarding ladder is a "bonus" piece from Hasegawa's later F-4E kit.

I gave the cockpit some attention by adding some details to the seats, instrument panels, and side consoles. One shortcoming of all Phantom kits is the lack of any substance to the canopy rails and rear stiffeners. Those who have ever flown this ship or sat in a cockpit at an open house will understand. I used some Plastruct "L" shape to create the perpendicular rails then detailed the rear bows with Evergreen sheet.

The now-OOP Model Technologies photo-etched canopy detail set, jet mirrors, and seat buckle sets were used to finish out the interior, then I added the placards for radio frequencies, transponder codes, and other flight data to the inside of the canopy rails using bits of .010" plastic sheet.

The paints are my custom "re-blends" using Model Master enamels as a starting point.

I pre-shaded the panel lines with flat black then sprayed the camo colors freehand after first drawing the pattern lightly on the model with an HB drafting pencil. I kept the weathering to a minimum, using only a Payne's Gray watercolor wash in the control surface hinge lines and the recessed BLC vents on the intake ducts.

Various Model Master Metallizer shades were used on the aft fuselage and stabilators to simulate the unpainted areas, while Rub 'N' Buff silver was used on the tailpipes along with flat black paint burnished with powdered graphite to create the two-tone effect.

The decals came from a variety of sources since no one single commercially-available sheet had the all the correct markings and insignia I needed. I decided to rely on the memories of several maintenance troops who serviced these particular aircraft during their tours in Thailand since much of what passes for research among some decal companies has been proven to be erroneous.

Thus, the model as marked represents F-4C 63-7680 which was flown by Colonel Robin Olds on 2 January 1967 during "Operation Bolo" when he and weapons system operator 1st Lieutenant Charles Clifton claimed a MiG-17. The loadout is not representational of that event however. I chose to depict the aircraft later, as fragged for an air-to-ground sortie.

Many of these early F-4Cs were originally deployed from the US in their original pre-war Gull Gray over Gloss White paint scheme and they were literally covered with service stenciling. Camouflage colors were hastily applied to these aircraft, sometimes in Thailand and sometimes at Clark AFB in the Philippines. Regardless of location, the myriad of stenciling was never replaced when the ships received their warpaint; only the basic emergency egress information, pyrotechnic warnings, and ground crew hazard markings were re-applied, and only as time permitted.

The missiles, bombs, and pylons were decaled with a modest amount of stencils since my research indicated that these items were invariably embellished with data. Also the pylons were always serialized to a specific aircraft, with the ship's "last three" applied to both sides of the pylon, sometimes using vinyl peel-and-stick numerals.

I always seem to have a Phantom kit in progress, buried somewhere on my bench -- this one took me only fourteen years to finish. Look for a full-length feature article about this model to appear in a future issue of "Aerospace Modeler Magazine".

I hope y'all enjoyed it......MODEL ON!

Roger Jackson
IPMS 43070
 

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2006 by Roger Jackson
Page Created 01 December, 2006
Last Updated 21 February, 2007

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