I have dug out the broken remains of an F-4 I upgraded a few years back, and fortunately, I have found 99% of its parts. Digging this out jas given me the urge to make another one, this time using an F-4F as the donor. Has anyone else here done an upgrade F-4, in 1/72nd scale, as I need ideas for upgrade engine nozzles, as I want it to have turbofan engines. I was thinking F-18 nozzles as they should be similar diameter wise. All info will be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

The Spey turbofan was used on some UK Phantoms, about 5 inches bigger in diameter than the J-79 and has a good looking nozzle. You might want to start with a Spey UK Phantom kit.   

F-18 engine is not a bad choice.  The TF30 as used on the F-111 and early F-14's would be too fat.   

Quote from: sandiego89 on October 11, 2024, 10:39:03 AMThe Spey turbofan was used on some UK Phantoms, about 5 inches bigger in diameter than the J-79 and has a good looking nozzle. You might want to start with a Spey UK Phantom kit.   

F-18 engine is not a bad choice.  The TF30 as used on the F-111 and early F-14's would be too fat.   

Cheers for the ideas, I have a couple of spey phantoms, but they don't have the internal gun hence me using the F model. F-14 nozzles could work, I think F-111 ones will be too big though, but I don't have one to compare unfortunately. F-18 nozzles could be the way forward so far.

for an engine fit, i would go with either the General Electric F404/F414 (F-18) or even the Eurojet EJ200 (EF Typhoon) engines, maybe MBDA Meteor instead of the sparrow/amraam's. maybe ad AIM-9X's and an IRST sensor in front of the windshield.

Quote from: chrisonord on October 11, 2024, 10:45:57 AM

Quote from: sandiego89 on October 11, 2024, 10:39:03 AMThe Spey turbofan was used on some UK Phantoms, about 5 inches bigger in diameter than the J-79 and has a good looking nozzle. You might want to start with a Spey UK Phantom kit.   

F-18 engine is not a bad choice.  The TF30 as used on the F-111 and early F-14's would be too fat.   

Cheers for the ideas, I have a couple of spey phantoms, but they don't have the internal gun hence me using the F model. F-14 nozzles could work, I think F-111 ines will be too big though, but I don't have one to compare unfortunately. F-18 nozzles could be the way forward so far.

Oh I don't know about that..... 

Gondor

Quote from: Spey_Phantom on October 11, 2024, 10:53:35 AMfor an engine fit, i would go with either the General Electric F404/F414 (F-18) or even the Eurojet EJ200 (EF Typhoon) engines, maybe MBDA Meteor instead of the sparrow/amraam's. maybe ad AIM-9X's and an IRST sensor in front of the windshield.

May I suggest the F110-GE-400 as an alternative for the engines? These should be available as they were used on the later F-14's but it all depends on when you are wanting the aircraft to be in service.

Gondor

Quote from: Spey_Phantom on October 11, 2024, 10:53:35 AMfor an engine fit, i would go with either the General Electric F404/F414 (F-18) or even the Eurojet EJ200 (EF Typhoon) engines, maybe MBDA Meteor instead of the sparrow/amraam's. maybe ad AIM-9X's and an IRST sensor in front of the windshield.

The aircraft will be mid to late 90's to early 2000's so the F 404/F414 should fit the bill, I might have a donor typhoon for the EJ200 engines, if I can't source a 2 seater canopy, so they could yet donate too. Missile wise, I am going to stick with flush fit aim-120's, and sidewinders, as I have plenty of both. IRST sensor should be reasonably easy to replicate.
Alastair, have you fitted F-111 nozzles to a phantom?
Cheers.

Here is a pic of the can from a Hasagawa F-111 in the back end of an Airfix F-4K/M. I did try it in a Hasegawa F-4J fuselage and in a Revell F-4F, it didn't fit either time. I should be able to fit a pair of F110's in though so that could be a nice whiff 



Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on October 11, 2024, 12:57:22 PMHere is a pic of the can from a Hasagawa F-111 in the back end of an Airfix F-4K/M. I did try it in a Hasegawa F-4J fuselage and in a Revell F-4F, it didn't fit either time. I should be able to fit a pair of F110's in though so that could be a nice whiff 



Gondor

Cheers Alastair, the kit that is getting used for the upgrade is the Hasegawa F-4F, as I wanted an internal gun version, thus as you have described, the F-111 nozzles won't fit. My 2 spey phantoms have a different job, and will remain unmolested(ish).  It is looking like the spare F-18 nozzles are going to be used for this build. I have 3 more F-4's to join my Honduras air force, one being an RF-4 E, an F-4 F and an.F-4 S. There could possibly be an F-4J too, if I don't put it in RAF service.

I have made a gun-armed F-4M. You possibly missed the link in my first response in this thread, so here it is below.

A Little Rhinoplasty

In that build, I simply swapped the noses from a Hasagawa E/F with that of a Fujimi F-4K/M to put the gun onto the K/M.

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on October 12, 2024, 03:02:04 AMI have made ⅞a gun-armed F-4M. You possibly missed the link in my first response in this thread, so here it is below.

A Little Rhinoplasty

In that build, I simply swapped the noses from a Hasagawa E/F with that of a Fujimi F-4K/M to put the gun onto the K/M.

Gondor

Ah, I see now, thankyou Alastair.I will look into that for a possible future project, as an RAF F-4k/m with an internal gun, would be a useful tool.

Quote from: chrisonord on October 12, 2024, 03:06:03 AM

Quote from: Gondor on October 12, 2024, 03:02:04 AMI have made ⅞a gun-armed F-4M. You possibly missed the link in my first response in this thread, so here it is below.

A Little Rhinoplasty

In that build, I simply swapped the noses from a Hasagawa E/F with that of a Fujimi F-4K/M to put the gun onto the K/M.

Gondor

Ah, I see now, thankyou Alastair.I will look into that for a possible future project, as an RAF F-4k/m with an internal gun, would be a useful tool.

I have three planed like this, one built and the other two partly built. The same aircraft with three different camouflages and markings as they depict its life with the RAF. I really need to finish them as they will make a nice little display when finished.

Gondor

This the unfinished upgraded F-4 I did a few years back. It needs the paint touching up, new front landing gear doors and decalling. Every small part that can come of had done, or broke off. Fortunately I found all but the front landing gear doors, which aren't a straight forward fix due to their shape, and I can't find the instructions. I think it is possibly an Italeri F-4S, but not 100% sure. It has conformal tanks on the fuselage, a 2 seat F-16 canopy and exhaust nozzles from I don't remember. Also an extra pair of wing pylons, and Amraam's instead of sparrows, and a 1/48th scale F-16 centreline tank, on its erm....centreline.

That looks nice. Everything is very logical the way you have done it. Is that a refuelling probe on the left intake?

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on October 12, 2024, 01:59:50 PMThat looks nice. Everything is very logical the way you have done it. Is that a refuelling probe on the left intake?

Gondor

Yes,  can't remember what that was off, but possibly an A-7.
I want to replicate this to a certain extent with the Hasegawa F-4F