Another
double build, this time the classic Hasegawa F-4E in two colour schemes I have
always enjoyed seeing. I built both kits with some Eduard colour PE for the
instrument panels. The E version also has the kit's ejection seats with PE
seatbelts added, in the EJ a couple of Verlinden resin seats were installed. In
both cockpits I added some simple sidewall details and detailed the areas behind
the seats with some wiring as well. Modifications towards the EJ version are
mostly included in the respective kit (fin cap, dragchute housing, correct
wingtip fairings and spine antenna). The F-4EJ's pilot instrument coaming was
modified a bit to better show its shape difference versus the F-4E.
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The
F-4E is finished as a USAF aircraft from the 57th FIS "Black Knights",
operating from Keflavik AB (Iceland) in the '80s. This interceptor unit was
tasked with controlling a large area of the North Atlantic airspace during the
cold war era. The unit flew the F-4C/E from 1973 until 1985, when these were
replaced by F-15C's. I used Xtracolor enamel ADC Grey as a basis with Alclad
shades for the exhaust area. BareMetal/Expert’s Choice decals were used for
the unit specific markings, with stencils and panel numbers taken from an
IsraDecal sheet, in order to bring some variation to the overall grey finish.
The AIM- 9E Sidewinders are from one of the Hasegawa weapons sets. Weathering is
rather restrained (just a dark gray enamel panel line wash and some oil streaks)
as the Black Knights had a solid track record of keeping their aircraft in
excellent condition.
The F-4EJ Kai is finished in JASDF markings, from the 8th Squadron, stationed at Misawa AB (Japan). This squadron's mission is anti-shipping/sub for which the very interesting sea scheme in two shades of blue / blue-grey was applied. I used DXM’s excellent - and exhaustive - decal set, with this particular aircraft being the winner of the 2003 ACM contest. Colours are Tamiya/Gunze acrylics with again Alclad on the exhaust area. The ASM-2 missiles are taken from a Hasegawa set. On the two blue colours: I looked at several other modeler's experiences and builds, and did some trial and error airbrushing on scrap plastic to see what looked best - settling in the end for these mixtures: the Light Blue is Tamiya XF-14 with some XF-18 (to add a touch of grey) in roughly a 7/1 ratio and only one drop of white, the Dark Blue is a 1/2 ratio mix between Tamiya XF-8 and XF-17 again with a drop of white. I also oversprayed with a heavily thinned Gunze H307, as well as a thinned Light Blue, to blend the colours. Also here, I just moderately weathered the aircraft.
Enjoy the pictures!
Patrick
Vossenberg
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