rtwpsom2 Posted June 19 Posted June 19 (edited) To address the elephant in the room about this rather controversial kit, the manufacturer is based in Turkey and is unfamiliar with the connotation the term The Red Pill has taken on in the United States. They associate the phrase with the movie The Matrix and seeing how far down a rabbit hole they can go. And they have gone quite far down the rabbit hole. This kit was envisioned with the concept of not needing any aftermarket, and it does deliver that. It comes with full stencils (decals) for an F-4, which isn't always the case. It has a ton of 3D printed decals for the cockpit and other features, including remove before flight tags. It has metal landing gear, rubber tires, and canopy masks are included, but only for the exterior. Both versions of the centerline drop tank are available, as well as intake covers. It also has some huge color posters for the decals and marking locations. This will be just a test post to ensure I can use the image host I have opted for since imgur is now down. Let me know if you are seeing the images okay and if anything like obnoxious ads overlaying the image. If everything goes well, I will add more pics as I get them uploaded. This zoom in is interesting. It appears to have 3D printing striations in it, even though it's an injection molded part. It might be that these are milling striations in the steel mold that weren't properly polished out. Edited June 19 by rtwpsom2 Dany Boy, easixpedro, Polecadt and 17 others 16 4
RichSpreier Posted June 19 Posted June 19 This such a good kit. The panel line concerns are completely overblown. I am about halfway done with my first kit and I’m amazed at the quality and engineering. It’s expensive, no doubt, but I have spent less on this kit than I have on Tamiya F-4B conversions and the necessary aftermarket required. When you consider Quinta decals, canopy masks, intake corrections, and GT resin or cutting edge conversions, your price is north of $500 making $380 a bargain. I have pictures I will post as soon as I remember how to do it, but my iphone camera really doesn’t do it justice. Neither do my mediocre modelling skills. If you are considering this kit, I can’t recommend it enough, and it includes parts that would lead me to believe an Air Force version and an F-4J are in the works. I have purchased 3 (so far) RCPlym, allthumbs, rtwpsom2 and 1 other 4
geedubelyer Posted June 19 Posted June 19 The images are visible here in the UK. Thanks for posting. rtwpsom2 1
rtwpsom2 Posted June 19 Author Posted June 19 2 minutes ago, RichSpreier said: Let me know if this image comes through I am not seeing anything.
quang Posted June 19 Posted June 19 I see the images all right. Now how about a W.I.P. build of this exceptional monster kit? 🤩 scvrobeson and rtwpsom2 2
rtwpsom2 Posted June 19 Author Posted June 19 56 minutes ago, quang said: I see the images all right. Now how about a W.I.P. build of this exceptional monster kit? 🤩 I am working on a Tamiya F-4 I want to finish first, but this will be next because that one is USAF and I want a USN to go with it. Anthony in NZ and quang 2
RCPlym Posted June 19 Posted June 19 3 hours ago, RichSpreier said: The panel line concerns are completely overblown. The panel line concerns will always split opinion on this one. Now it is apparent there are also ripples in the underside moulding that 'may' show up when painted. Agreed, it really is well presented and certainly appears it won't really need aftermarket additions, but with the lines, ripples and sinks that have needed 'a bunch of filler and sanding' all being mentioned, the basic plastics may not be acceptable to many and put them off buying at this cost. 7 hours ago, rtwpsom2 said: It might be that these are milling striations in the steel mold that weren't properly polished out. Those are strange defects. It won't be from machining as tool milling process produces circles. I'd expect a mould surface finish to be SPI-A2 high finish standard (and perhaps bead blasted to give a 'satin' finish) if a steel mould as that must remove milling marks. Odd. 🤔 Jim Barry 1
Starfighter Posted June 19 Posted June 19 This kit is a huge missed opportunity IMO... Their claim of "not needing any aftermarket" is very subjective and - in my case - just plain wrong. I don't want fugly prepainted 3D consoles, so they'd go straight into the bin. Then, no early seats and the included ones have to be combined with Quinta crap again - meh. Rubber tyres - double meh. A canopy layout which didn't work properly 30 years ago already - triple meh. Just do a nicely detailed and reasonably IM kit and let people decide what kind of aftermarket - if any - they want to use. I massively dislike the overdone surface detail but I could accept that on a 100 - 150€ kit (Italeri's 32nd scale kits have the same issue), but ot on a 350€ kit which needs at least another 100€ because half of the stuff they have included is useless for me - definitely not. Man, I've been dreaming of a 32nd scale B/N for years and this thing is almost a guarantee no other manufacturer will ever do one I would want to build. Rant over... I can see the pics and will follow your build with interest nonetheless! Regarding the "striations" - you may want to remove the parts from the bag... those are most probably reflections caused by it. karimb, Paul in Napier, scvrobeson and 2 others 5
Out2gtcha Posted June 19 Posted June 19 7 hours ago, RichSpreier said: The panel line concerns are completely overblown. I don't know man, I used to bullseye wamp rats in my T-16 back home in trenches like these: 11 hours ago, rtwpsom2 said: RCPlym, Breaker, Dave Williams and 2 others 1 4
RCPlym Posted June 19 Posted June 19 2 hours ago, Out2gtcha said: I don't know man, I used to bullseye wamp rats in my T-16 back home in trenches like these: Thats one way of putting it! 🤣 Would it be crass to suggest making some X-wings and Y-wings to fly in them?
RCPlym Posted June 19 Posted June 19 3 hours ago, Starfighter said: Regarding the "striations" - you may want to remove the parts from the bag... those are most probably reflections caused by it. Yes! It is. Looking on a pc screen it is plain to see the bags are the source!
rtwpsom2 Posted June 19 Author Posted June 19 I'll look later today when I have a few and see what it looks like out of the bag. I should also mention the Ammo paint that is available for it. I didn't get it and I don't recommend it, not if you want to be accurate. They didn't color match the FS numbers to make the paint, they just took whatever already existing Ammo paint color was closest and call it that. For instance, on the box it lists ATOM-20031 as 'Insignia Red FS-31136.' But if you go to their store ATOM-20031 is listed as 'Blood Red.' And the Dark Gull Gray looks too blue to be a match. So just be warned there. geedubelyer 1
RichSpreier Posted June 19 Posted June 19 My picture taking skills are not the best, but the panel lines are not as bad as I suspected. rtwpsom2, Anthony in NZ, Out2gtcha and 3 others 6
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