3D printed intakes for 1/32 Tamiya F4, thoughts

[Lee White]

LSPer Ruzlkampf showed us how to do it, I did on mine and it was pretty painless. Search LSP and you'll find his F-4S build.

[wunwinglow]

On 12/6/2022 at 9:07 AM, Stevepd said:

Ok ok, give me a steer Tim…….

I have used several brands, couldn't really put a knifeblade between them. eSun, RS, Filamentum, all worked well, although I picked up a load of 2.85mm  from Lulzbot when they had a massive sale, so I have to fit a new extruder to printer number 2 when I get it assembled.  Another project on the list....

[John1]

 

I did the DIY method on my ongoing F-4C build.   It's really quite easy.   If a knucklehead like me can do it, anyone can.    Sorry for the sub-par pictures.

 

 

Of course, it's your money and your decision.  Just tabling an alternative. 

 

John

 

 

[Mark B.]

Speaking of 3D Printed F-4 intakes, have you been to Model Monkey lately?

 

https://www.model-monkey.com

They have 3 new 1/32 F-4 items the first on is very relevant to this thread...

Seamless intake trunks and engine faces for Tamiya F-4 kits:

 

https://www.model-monkey.com/product-page/1-32-f-4-phantom-ii-seamless-intakes

and two sets of engine faces (one F-4B/J/S and RF-4B, one for F-4C/D/E/F/G RF-4C/E

 

USAF https://www.model-monkey.com/product-page/1-32-f-4c-d-e-f-g-n-s-phantom-ii-j79-ge-15-17-engine-inlets

 

USN https://www.model-monkey.com/product-page/1-32-f-4-phantom-ii-j79-engine-inlets-for-f-4b-rf-4b-and-f-4j

 

Just saying....

[cbk57]

Someone posted above modifying the kit parts, would love to see more detail on that.  I also just found the model-monkey upgrade which is now shown on scalemates.  If I had not already done up a fusilage with the GT Resin parts I would do the model monkey fought probably.  Right now I am not convinced I am going to get exactly where I want with the GT-Resin parts, we shall see.  While very good, they are not symetrical to each other and do not exactly fit the kit.  So some compromise and filler and describing are mandatory.  Hopefully I can get it all to look good.

[Mark B.]

Hello Scott,

This is the procedure I used with good results.  I got it from Paul Stoner.

 

Start by assembling the intake trunk parts (B26, B42, B27, B43) and the splitter plate parts (B11, B18, B12, B17).  

 

Then carefully cut the upper intake trunking out of the fuselage just as you would when installing resin or 3D printed intakes.  You want to be more careful though because you are gong to use these pieces vice tossing them when installing 3rd party intakes.

 

Then glue the cut out trunk parts to their respective intake trunk pieces.

 

At this point I filled the seems in the intake parts with putty and used sand paper taped to some artist sponge brushes

 

 

 

to smooth out the inside of the trunk after the putty cured.

Now would be the best time to paint the trunks gloss white.

 

Then tape the fuselage trunk parts (A1, A2) and the assembled splitter plates to the fuselage.  Now you can glue the intake trunks to the outer fuselage parts (A1, A2) ensuring the proper alignment of the trunks inside the fuselage.  

When cured you should have something like this:

 

 

Just as John showed above.

 

Affix a piece of thin sheet styrene over the step between the outer trunk parts and the inner trunk like below.  The resulting step between the sheet of styrene is a lot easier to blend in with putty and sanding.  I think I used  .010 in thick sheeting but I do know it was the thinnest evergreen sheet I could find.

 

I thought it gave a good result.

Hope this helps
Mark B.

 

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by Mark B.
adding pictures