Death Rattlers F-4B: Red Pill

[scott_t]

OK ....just received this kit and I MUST build it !!

Of course, I cannot leave it as an out-of-the-box Navy bird.

I'll be going with a F-4B VMFA-323 Death Rattlers jet from 1967 ....... Chu Lai Air Base, Vietnam.

 

As would be typical for one of these jets, I'll be loading her up with some appropriate air-to-mud ordnance.

Snake eyes, Napalm, and 5-inch rockets. 

 

I have 500-pound MK-82 Snakes, LAU-33 with 5-inch rockets, and MK-77 Mod 2 napalm canisters coming from ResKit.

I'll also use a ResKit MER with 3 MK-77's for the centerline (looks like they tended to load 2 on the rear shoulder stations and one on the front center station of the MER).

ResKit TERS for the inboard pylons holding 3 X MK-82 on each side.

The LAU-33's will be attached to the inboard LAU-7 missile rail.

2 wing tanks on the outboards.

I may end up using ResKit inboard pylons if they look better then the kit provided pylons.

 

The kit comes with AIM-9 and AIM-7 missiles ...... not a pound for air-to-ground. 

Maybe Red Pill will release a USMC version of the kit at some point and include some things that go BOOM ???

 

Starting with the cockpit ......will post pics as I slog along .....not in a hurry for this one.

 

 

 

 

[RichSpreier]

I have the same plan, but I am still considering a shift to VMFA-115 or VMFA-542.

[scott_t]

AOA Decals has a sheet with a few VMFA-115 options from 1967 Vietnam

[dmthamade]

Classic Snake n Nape!! Look forward to the build!

 

Don

[themongoose]

I’m excited to see this kit come together! I also spotted it and am tempted to add a 3rd Phantom to the stash 🍻

[RichSpreier]

I just finished the cockpit. The parts go together beautifully but the 3d decals are not my favorite. They are thin and pretty fragile.

[scott_t]

Here is my progress so far ...... strictly cockpit-related.

The 3D decals go on fine..... I use a coat of AMMO Ultra Glue (matt) to aid in sticking,

The 3D decals are good ...... not raised detail as much as Quinta.

You know what would be great for these ??? A ResKit Hyper-detailed cockpit ....wishful thinking :-)

 

Front cockpit ...no decals.... dry brushing ......etc.

 

Front panel 

 

Rear cockpit looking down to get the detail of the 3D panel

 

Rear cockpit

 

Another shot of the rear panel

Rear cockpit panel

 

 

 

[geedubelyer]

[scott_t]

2 more pics .....

 

 

[Out2gtcha]

Lovely work so far!

 

 

[Anthony in NZ]

Awesome!  Great to see this on someones bench.  Impressive start

[scott_t]

Few more pics ....... the sidewall panels had some really weird texture on them ....... so I covered with Tamiya tape and and painted ....... compared a J or and E, the B sidewalls are pretty bare ....... always looking for better photos for the next build.

 

Honestly, not a lot of this will be seen in the end.

 

And yeah, I knock off the excess paint from my brush onto my hands ........ 

 

 

[scott_t]

One more pic ....... left side attached .......

 

 

[RichSpreier]

I am working on this kit as well and, to me, the concern about the panel lines is way overblown. The engineering rivals the 1/48 Tamiya 1/48 F-4B.

[allthumbs]

5 hours ago, scott_t said:

And yeah, I knock off the excess paint from my brush onto my hands

  
Nicely weathered digits!
Seriously, the cockpit looks great!

-Rich