Artful69 Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 The RAAF once leased 25 F4-E Phantoms. I would like to build one in 1/32 (having enjoyed the RAAF F18A experience! ) I can see a 1/32 Academy F4-E for sale via an Aussie store … but some of the reviews I’ve seen are less than enticing … I have heard that the Tamiya F4-E is decent … but it’s now OOP … any thoughts?? Conversions for available Tamiya kits etc?? … Rog Paramedic and TankBuster 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Try to find the Tamiya kit unless you want something that just looks like a F-4E. The Academy kit is just a re-release of the very questionable Revell kit with the unslatted wing sprue coming from the Recce versions. Cutting Edge made a F-4E conversion for the Tamiya F-4C/D but it is OOP for ages. So it is without any doubt easier and cheaper to find a Tamiya E! TankBuster, LSP_K2, Artful69 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 (edited) 39 minutes ago, thierry laurent said: Try to find the Tamiya kit unless you want something that just looks like a F-4E. The Academy kit is just a re-release of the very questionable Revell kit with the unslatted wing sprue coming from the Recce versions. Cutting Edge made a F-4E conversion for the Tamiya F-4C/D but it is OOP for ages. So it is without any doubt easier and cheaper to find a Tamiya E! Thierry … What would be the difference between the C/D and the E kit … is it the wings (I can buy separate Tamiya Sprues off eBay for the E … or would it be easier to back date a J ?? Rog Edited August 8, 2022 by Artful69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 No, it is the front fuselage/nose with the Vulcan gun that is noticeably different. Wings did not change visibly up to the arrival of the slatted wings E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Backdating a J would not be more simple as the mark had naval features you do not see on the E. LSP_K2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Brown Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 If you want to build an F-4E in 1/32, your best bet is to track down the Tamiya kit. As has previously been noted, the Revell/Academy kits have shape issues. The old 1970s-vintage Revell F-4E kit is best avoided, as is the out of production Cutting Edge conversion for the Tamiya F-4C/D. I once spent many hours trying to correct the shape of the Cutting Edge nose, but it just wasn't possible. There was way too much wrong with it. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 I also forgot one aspect: the slotted stabs: the C/D does not have them. So, from a the perspective of the main visible features, you do not only have to change the nose but also the stabs. Ben is right with regard to the CE resin nose. However, in spite of its deficiencies it was far better than the Revell horrific option! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 BTW, if you can easily find the C/D, you need to add that to get an early E: https://www.ebay.com/itm/295115148073?hash=item44b63bcb29:g:E4AAAOSw84NdiRVr https://www.ebay.com/itm/304577658581?hash=item46ea3e3ed5:g:47sAAOSwL3ldiRIb https://www.ebay.com/itm/295115148057?hash=item44b63bcb19:g:PyQAAOSw72ddiROX Obviously, you will also need some decals. Hth Thierry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 15 minutes ago, thierry laurent said: BTW, if you can easily find the C/D, you need to add that to get an early E: https://www.ebay.com/itm/295115148073?hash=item44b63bcb29:g:E4AAAOSw84NdiRVr https://www.ebay.com/itm/304577658581?hash=item46ea3e3ed5:g:47sAAOSwL3ldiRIb https://www.ebay.com/itm/295115148057?hash=item44b63bcb19:g:PyQAAOSw72ddiROX Obviously, you will also need some decals. Hth Thierry Thierry … Have put a notice in the traders board for an E or an EJ … THANKS for those sprues!! - are they the only ones needed / different from the C/D?!? … Decals are readily available and so is a C/D … I will wait a few days and see what the ad brings! thanks again - very much Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 (edited) Actually I'm pretty sure the Tamiya C/D and J kits have a longer fuselage section as well compared to the E kit. Here's the last E I built. So you'd need that as well. Carl Edited August 8, 2022 by BloorwestSiR Artful69 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Yes Roger. But the EJ edition comes with clear and grey plastic nose parts, the E with clear only. The EJ also has a more accurate rear seat IP, eminently suitable for a 1970-1973 Aussie hardwing E. Tony Artful69 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 2 minutes ago, BloorwestSiR said: Actually I'm pretty sure the Tamiya C/D and J kits have a longer fuselage section as well compared to the E kit. So you'd need that as well. You just need to saw it back by x mm. BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artful69 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 1 minute ago, Tony T said: Yes Roger. But the EJ edition comes with clear and grey plastic nose parts, the E with clear only. The EJ also has a more accurate rear seat IP, eminently suitable for a 1970-1973 Aussie hardwing E. Tony Thanks buddy … I have included that one in my ad … I THINK that there may be a couple online for sale also … 5 minutes ago, BloorwestSiR said: Actually I'm pretty sure the Tamiya C/D and J kits have a longer fuselage section as well compared to the E kit. So you'd need that as well. Carl TY Carl … I’ll do a deeper dive this eve!! Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Also, if you are going from the C/D to an E, you will need new engine exhausts, updated RWR sensors and new cockpit IP's. Good luck on this, personally, I'd just find a Tamiya E. Even then, you'll have some significant work ahead of you. Paramedic and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 As Tony wrote, cutting back the C/D fuselage part front is very easy. With regard to the instrument panels and exhausts, you will still have a problem as the E kit does not give you another cockpit and the later exhausts are underscaled! There's no easy or cheap way to model a large scale F-4E! The three sprues I linked give all the required parts that are accurate. For the rest, even with the F-4E kit, you will need aftermarket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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