academy not-a-blitz phantom
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- NOT the sheep
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
Interesting stuff and you've made good progress with this, Rob. Alas, I am an AMS sufferer and the "snap-tite" nature to this brings out my classic British scoffing nature, I just can't take manufacturer's claims as their kit being able to be assembled without the use of glue seriously. In fact I'd steer clear of a kit marked "snap-tite" or similar.
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
I'm not overly AMS prone, but until rather recently, I would certainly have shared your disdain for snap-tites. And then I ran into these two:ShaunW wrote:Interesting stuff and you've made good progress with this, Rob. Alas, I am an AMS sufferer and the "snap-tite" nature to this brings out my classic British scoffing nature, I just can't take manufacturer's claims as their kit being able to be assembled without the use of glue seriously. In fact I'd steer clear of a kit marked "snap-tite" or similar.
http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t ... ng#p265976;
http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=355& ... ng#p295286;
Now, I treat them merely with suspicion, but I'm willing to give a specific brand the benefit of the doubt, at least for an experiment. Bandai passed the test with flying colours, Hobby Boss are more limited but will nevertheless give an excellent if basic result, Academy has now officially flunked, and until something convinces me otherwise, their snap-tites are banned, like those of pretty much every Western producer.
- Dazzled
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
My Rob, that is coming along quickly. It's interesting to get a head's up on this kind of kit. Can't really say that I've seen one built before.
COLD WAR S.I.G. LEADER
Wherever there's danger, wherever there's trouble, wherever there's important work to be done....I'll be somewhere else building a model!
Wherever there's danger, wherever there's trouble, wherever there's important work to be done....I'll be somewhere else building a model!
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
Another bit of ugliness revealed itself: the sidewinders and associated rails are useless. The rails are too thick to fit between the wings of the missiles, and the way they are supposed to be attached to each other is just weird: parts of the rails are moulded as part of the missiles, and these bits are supposed to slot into the rest of the rails. Not happening. No winders for this bird. I hope I'll be able to attachs the MERs and bombs, but even those are optional as far as I'm concerned.
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
I've gotten it to the point where it should be heading for the paintshop, but alas, this is as far as things will go today. Masking is going to complex, and therefore time consuming. No way to get that finished before about 10pm. The airbrush doesn't work without pressure, and pressure doesn't happen without running the compressor. The VERY LOUD compressor. I'm not anti-social enough to run that bugger, most likely multiple times, after 10pm, so my unofficial blitz attempt ends here in failure.
Am I the only one who thinks this doesn't even approximate a USN paint scheme?
I will, of course, continue to hammer this into a Phantom, but this won't be finished until next weekend, when I can find some longer blocks of bench time again.
Am I the only one who thinks this doesn't even approximate a USN paint scheme?
I will, of course, continue to hammer this into a Phantom, but this won't be finished until next weekend, when I can find some longer blocks of bench time again.
Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
This really is some undertaking Rob! Easy build or not, it would take me at least a week.
For all its problems, it looks fantastic so far.
For all its problems, it looks fantastic so far.
Regards, Paddy.
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Fujimi 1/72 A-7E Corsair II
On The Bench
Fujimi 1/72 A-7E Corsair II
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
Thanks.PTB11 wrote:This really is some undertaking Rob! Easy build or not, it would take me at least a week.
For all its problems, it looks fantastic so far.
I usually work at a much slower pace, mainly because I prefer to wait way too long for some chemical to do it's job than risk dealing with half cured materials. I would normally consider anything less than a month a rush job. Sometimes though, I like to do something just a bit nuts
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
I was tempted to try this one after my experiences with the Bandai kits. Judging from the parts, I already suspected it wasn't up to that standard, but I figured there was only one way to find out: try to build it, and try to build it fast. Lets say the experiment was successful in that it showed the true nature of the beasty. I won't be picking up any of Academy snap-tites for a long time.Dazzled wrote:It's interesting to get a head's up on this kind of kit. Can't really say that I've seen one built before.
Technical disappointment aside, as long as you don't take too close a look at the bottom of the model (where the snap-tite character will really show), it makes a nice Phantom, and it does have some very nice features, like the intakes and the single piece upper fuselage.
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
I just realised something a bit odd: this kit was the first 1/72 new tooling of a USN Phantom since 1990, and any Phantom since 1997 Everyone just keeps re-boxing toolings at least 20 years old. The new Airfix was long overdue (30 years since the Fujimi Speys came out), and really needs to be joined by the rest of the family.
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
That doesn't look bad at all, Rob but I have to agree that in the naked plastic it doesn't resemble any U.S. Navy scheme that I've ever seen! I'm also surprised that the kit manufacturers haven't seen fit to update their kits of this aircraft over the years - Airfix in particular should have re-tooled theirs years ago. The F-4 is after all one of the most significant post-war designs.
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
Well, my memory clearly wasn't running at full thrust when I made that remark about the colour scheme. In bad light, I could probably pass is of as the middle one on this picture:ShaunW wrote:That doesn't look bad at all, Rob but I have to agree that in the naked plastic it doesn't resemble any U.S. Navy scheme that I've ever seen! I'm also surprised that the kit manufacturers haven't seen fit to update their kits of this aircraft over the years - Airfix in particular should have re-tooled theirs years ago. The F-4 is after all one of the most significant post-war designs.
https://web.ipmsusa3.org/sites/default/ ... t00037.jpg;
Then again, nobody remembers the navy F-4G, so it's a bit of a stretch, although I seem to remember some Vigilantes also using it.
As for the need for a more modern Phantom, maybe this and the Airfix will wake up someone at Fujimi/Hasegawa/Tamiya, or maybe Airfix themselves will expand the family. I certainly wouldn't mind
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
Sacrilege!rob_van_riel wrote:I can easily do without yet another Phantom
Nevertheless, very interesting review, thank you. I have seen one or two magazine builds which seem not as honest as your description.
I like your cat, too! Us cat people know that the cuddle coefficient is inversely proportional to a drop in temperature.
Cheers,
David
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
With over 100 unbuilt in the stash? The real sacrilege is not having built those yet I still can't resist picking up a new tool though, so a new Airfix has joined the ranks recently, next to the very old one which was produced (not designed, produced) before me. It's that particular Airfix antique that got me into designing decals, since I couldn't find AM replacements for the decals that came with it. I don't know when yet, but that particular kit will be built, if it's the last thing I do.skypirate wrote:Sacrilege!rob_van_riel wrote:I can easily do without yet another Phantom
Building an AA gun, or heaven forbid, an SA-2 battery, now that would be fighting talk.
Well, I can afford more honesty than most magazines; I don't need to stay friends with the producers/importers. Generally critical reviews in commercial media are rare, at best sniping at details, and I don't recall ever seeing a review that tore the model to shreds, as some rather richly deserve. Also, I find that most reviews I encounter are "in the box" affairs, which can give a very different opinion of a model than actually building it. The previous incarnation of the Revell Eurofighter comes to mind; on the sprues it looked lovely, after halfway building the first I'm tempted to just bin the second.Nevertheless, very interesting review, thank you. I have seen one or two magazine builds which seem not as honest as your description.
This particular furball is a very advanced all-time all-weather cuddlemonster, although she is a bit more likely to actually be at home in wet/cold weather, rather than out on patrol.I like your cat, too! Us cat people know that the cuddle coefficient is inversely proportional to a drop in temperature.
Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
I'd certainly never heard of them.rob_van_riel wrote: Then again, nobody remembers the navy F-4G, so it's a bit of a stretch, although I seem to remember some Vigilantes also using it.
I thought the only G designation Phantoms were the Wild Weasel variants - But a quick look on Google has now enlightened me
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Regards, Paddy.
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Fujimi 1/72 A-7E Corsair II
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Re: academy not-a-blitz phantom
In excess of 100 unbuilt F-4 kits in your stash?!?!? Now that is what I call being an enthusiast for the type. Phantoms phorever!
Doing - Tamiya 1/35th Universal Carrier.
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300
Work is the curse of the modelling classes!
IPMS#12300