The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

I have just started to build the new Airfix Phantom FG1. ( FAA ) The build is going well and very quickly, but is not without issues, due to the fit of parts. Nothing too daunting. I'm not sure what has caused these issues. I will post a few things to watch out for. Not for the novice, but basically a good kit.

Keep the instructions handy and do lots of dry fitting of components. Some of the parts key together and can be tricky. I wouldn't have expected this sort of issue on a new, precision kit.

So far, so good. Hardly a trace of filler.


A little persuation on a tricky joint.


Dotted lines show where I was trimming plastic away to prevent it fouling on other parts. The spacer allows the fuselage to be wide enough for the wing assembly. 0.5 mm does the job.


A little trim needed to fit the air brakes.


This little spacer helps to get a neat fit at the nose.


More here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23594891@ ... 8717077409;

Thanks for the heads-up Chuck

Thanks Chuck
And if somone can explain the front undercarriage leg length, I shall be grateful.

Not yet in possession of one!

CementNotGlue wrote:Thanks Chuck
And if somone can explain the front undercarriage leg length, I shall be grateful.

Not yet in possession of one!

To allow take-offs from the relatively short decks of Royal Navy carriers, the nose wheel leg was extended by means of a longer oleo. This was only fully extended before take-off giving RN Phantoms an exaggerated nose up angle.
Airfix provide two nose wheel legs; one for portraying any aircraft about to be launched and one for when the aircraft did not have the extra extension deployed

Thanks iggie
To quote from page 52 of November AMW "....posed extended or retracted with just minor surgery".
Then on youtube a modeller is taking knife to oleo leg without explaining what exactly he is doing.

CementNotGlue wrote:Thanks iggie
To quote from page 52 of November AMW "....posed extended or retracted with just minor surgery".
Then on youtube a modeller is taking knife to oleo leg without explaining what exactly he is doing.

I've photographed the instructions for this part of the build; the only 'surgery' involved is to remove the extended torque links moulded as part of G4. A different part (G13) is then used for the retracted Oleo instead of the longer version (G5). Seems straightforward enough
Postimage isn't playing ball so can't post the photo just now!

How exciting, another build of the new Airfix F-4 (I'm easily pleased these days ) and great progress so far, Chuck. A tight and fiddly fit is quite typical for Airfix NT kits in my experience (together with over sized sprue gates) but I'm prepared to forgive them as I find they usually look great once built up and painted.

Great work so far, some nice handy hints. Here's one for you, if you are building an early bird from the box you will need to remove the blade aerials off the fin. They weren't fitted to Navy FG1s. It's not mentioned in the instructions but is in the test build in the Nov edition of Airfix Model World.

Very nice - I might be tempted to get one when the RAF kit comes out.

Thanks for the details on those small fins. I'll check that.

I got carried away and pulled three old Matchbox kits from the box of past builds. These were built when the kits were brand new. I quite liked the old beast. It needed a new nose, canopy, seats and exhausts from Aeroclub, who included new wheels and legs, as an up-grade pack.

The model in the foreground is a modified Matchbox. Two Black Spined aircraft were painted up, both with different demarcation lines. All greys are Xtracolour enamels, brush painted over Halfords Acrylic Primer.

The two faded examples are getting some new decals and parts, and I have had to repaint the whole white section on the FAA machine. It had yellowed alarmingly over the years. I have some loose Modeldecal sheets.



More photos added.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23594891@ ... 8717077409;

I've always thought the extended leg looked cool ...