McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom CCV
The serial number 12200 is well
know as the " Father of all Phantoms ". This Hybrid has
been heavily used as flyng test stand first to check some improvements made to
the several versions of the F4, then as a testimonial for the growing
technology called FLY-BY-WIRE.
The aircraft was picked up by the assembly line
while it was getting shape as F4B in order to be prototype of a F4E with a
Vulcan cannon added in the bay former made for the cameras. Later on the
machine gun was removed. After a Fly-By-Wire device was assembled on, the
small canard surfaces and the manouvering slats were added.
To build a model of this nice version the easiest
way is to use the Hasegawa model of the RF4C, the modularity and the great
number of spare parts giving to you the best chances to finish your project in
reasonable lapse of time.
The characteristics of this Phantom are:
WINGS.
Underside they have the hooks for the catapult wires and the Sparrows bay only
in the back placements. The front ones are similar to the recce version.
In the early type of the CCV, the slats were not
mounted and they were added according to the assembly of the canard surfaces.
CANARD. They
were inserted in two bulges over each intake with neutral dihedral.
VERTICAL STABILIZER. This
is the simple type with the absence of the Pitot tube on the incoming edge.
TAILERONS. Formerly
simple then without triangular reinforcement in the "slatted "
version.
NOSE. Rectangular
plates were mounted to close the gas dissipators of Vulcan cannon tested on
the F4E.
A/B . They
are the E version with long burners. In the box are given as spare parts.
We have recognized as its possible to built the
same aircraft in different completion stages.
The easier, the one without canard, need only the
assembly following the suggestions given previously and the SUPERSCALE 72-137
decal sheet, rare but not impossible to find. The other stage is more
difficult having the necessity to build the bulges over the canard over
each air intake, but with good reference images, a good sense of proportions,
plasticard and epoxy putty, a nice work can be made.
The actuators of the slats are already given in
the kit as spare parts, other way the slats have to be found in the "
bank of spare parts " owned by every modeler. Regarding a lot of more
little details for sure we can talk about, but good reference material and a
good assembly can be more clear than my words. The painting was made with
gloss white and blue F.S. 15044.
Francesco
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