TC`s build thread.

[Tophe]

Your black and white pictures with background are incredible (I mean: incredibly pleasant...)

[pyro-manic]

The Flanker is a cracker, TC - kudos once again.

[tc2324]

Thanks guys....

Not much done tonight. Primed the cockpit and seats and then sprayed on their base colour. Wait to dry and add a bit of detail tomorrow.



Primed the missiles and this happened.....



Any one know why..??

Finished by glueing the main section together and then buffing it off. The kits not a perfect fit and I have a feeling that filler will be my friend....

[tc2324]

Trying out a new way of filling that seems so obvious when you think about it. Use masking tape so that you don`t cover the entire model in filler, which is what I tend to do.....

Before....





After....





Willpost the results later tonight to see if it worked.

[tc2324]

Said results.......





Not perfect, but need not be as this will fall in line with my backstory when finished.

[tc2324]

Yes I know, another update....,   I promise to finish this one up asap...

Anyway, completed my scheme today, a mixture of polished and un-polished aluminum to represent the various aircraft parts patched together. Also added a bit of weathering to add to the `weary` look.





Going to complete the u/c, canopy and Soviet AF missiles during the week.

[tc2324]

Model complete. Next post will be the diorama shots and backstory.

[pyro-manic]

BMF Phantoms aren't something you see very often. That will soon change! Looks good, TC - might I suggest a green nosecone and fin tip? That would be the "icing on the cake" for this machine, IMO.

[GTX]

Didn't I see one oor two of these MiG-29s in Iron Eagle 2 .

Regards,

Greg

[tc2324]

BMF Phantoms aren't something you see very often. That will soon change! Looks good, TC - might I suggest a green nosecone and fin tip? That would be the "icing on the cake" for this machine, IMO.

Cheers Pyro, had a choice when it came to the nose cone colour of `off white` or green as back in the early 80`s these seemed to be the `in` colours. Choose white, but now thinking the green would have been better. Saying that, I don`t doubt that if I had gone for green, I`d be thinking white would have been better....

[tc2324]

Didn't I see one oor two of these MiG-29s in Iron Eagle 2 .

Regards,

Greg

No. If I remember correctly, those `Migs` were black?

[tc2324]

Time to put this puppy to bed, so backstory and pics as follows.....

BREAKING SKY NEWS

De-classified files and photographs released from the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation have now come to light of a number of secret trails conducted with captured or rebuilt Western aircraft types. Although a number of a western aircraft had been known to exist within the Russians inventory, the most surprising shock of these revelations was the use of a number of McDonald Douglas F-4 Phantoms, a type that was never considered to have been test flown by Soviet pilots.

According to the files at least four F-4 Phantoms were flown and test evaluated from 1969 through to 1986. They consisted of two C`s, one D and E version of the type. The only pictures released so far are low grade black and white and seem to show the E version on the ramp at an undisclosed airbase `in Siberia`.

According to the documents, this particular aircraft was rebuilt using various parts from crashed examples obtained from countries with `strong` diplomatic links to the old communist regime. It is believed that parts came from Vietnam , Syria and Egypt where numerous Phantom aircraft had seen combat over the years. All examples were flown in a bare metal finish and had a `patchy` appearance due the various companies charged with rebuilding or reconditioning the parts needed or obtained.

An interesting section of the Phantom file is the assessment given by the Soviet pilots that flew them. While most commented that the aircraft was a delight to fly and very forgiving with its flight characteristics, the views changed when it came to `dog fighting` and using the aircraft in an operational capacity. While the F-4 was considered a good `stand off` platform, during eight out of ten 1v1 `within visual range` engagements with Mig-21`s, the Mig-21 always managed to out turn the F-4 and gain a better advantage. It is now understood by analysts that the high amount of Mig casualties during the Vietnam conflict was due to pilot error and inexperience within the North Vietnamese air force. Also noted was that due to the size of Soviet Air to Air Missiles of the day only the short range versions could be stored on the inner pylons as the medium and long ranges missiles would disrupt the undercarriage from extending or retracting and these were placed on the outer pylons during live fire exercises. This was also noted to have an adverse effect on the in flight handling of the Phantom during hard G manoeuvres.

Overall, the achievement made by the old Soviet guard to recreate and reverse engineer these Phantoms should be considered with high regard, but ultimately the next generation of fighters were getting airborne which would make the Phantom obsolete, and the only task left for these F-4 recreations was to supply the Soviet Air Force pilots with realistic opponents for ACM duties.

The low quality pictures released with the files show the E version and a Mig-21, circa 1985.

[Brian da Basher]

Yes indeed you could fool many with this NMF beauty, TC! Absolutely convincing, especially the black and white pics that are a perfect compliment to the backstory!

Four (red) stars!!!

Brian da Basher

[Taiidantomcat]

That is just excellent  The NMF rocks

[jeremak]

That silver paint is amazing. Backstory, model, colours...everything.