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This is the new resin
F-4B, F-4N & F-110A Airframe Basic Conversion Set for the Tamiya kit
from Cutting
Edge Modelworks. This set also
REQUIRES
either CEC32185 OR CEC32187 from Cutting
Edge Modelworks.
This is the basic set
required to create an accurate F-4B or F-4N from EITHER the Tamiya F-4C/D
kit OR the Tamiya F-4J kit. This set will NOT work with ANY of the Revell
F-4 kits! The 27 parts in this set include the following parts related to
the wings:
-
flat right upper inboard wing with MLG mounting point stiffener
bulges (bulges are easy to remove for earlier versions before the bulges
were installed);
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right MLG bay front wall;
-
right MLG bay aft wall;
-
right
lower wing triangular flat insert; right lower wing flat insert abaft of
the MLG bay; right flat speed brake; right flat MLG inner door;
-
right flat
MLG outer door;
-
flat left upper inboard wing with MLG mounting point
stiffener bulges (bulges are easy to remove for earlier versions before
the bulges were installed);
-
left MLG bay front wall;
-
left MLG bay aft
wall;
-
left lower wing triangular flat insert;
-
left lower wing flat insert
abaft of the MLG bay;
-
left flat speed brake;
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left flat MLG inner door;
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left flat MLG inner door;
-
thin main wheel & nose wheel (2 each).
The
fuselage conversion parts include:
-
fin cap with AN/APR-32 RHAW leading and
AN/APR-25/27 trailing edge antennas;
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plain fin cap without RHAW antenna;
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late under-nose IR seeker with AN/APR-32 (horn) antenna;
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AN/APS-126
Shoulder ECM antennas (L/R) for F-4N;
-
corrected rear fuselage vents above
nozzles (L/R). Note that Superdetailed engine nozzles are available
separately.
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Click on
images below to see larger images
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This is a
complicated and sophisticated conversion set and should not be attempted casual
modellers. You will need to cut and grind your kit to prepare it for
these resin parts so be prepared.
This set has an
added bonus of including the rear fuselage vents above the exhaust
nozzles. These vents are not accurate on the Tamiya kit, so Cutting
Edge Modelworks has
included them. You will need to cut out the existing vents along panel
lines and the new resin parts will drop right into place.
The instructions
include info about the general airframe configuration of the F-4B and F-4N
regarding the randome, IR sensor, refueling probe, cockpit including differences
between the USAF and USN Phantoms. The instructions also guide you through
the mid-life upgrade and what was done during these upgrades including such
items as the stabilators, drooped flaps and a major landing gear upgrade.
The stronger landing gear required a fairing on top of the wing to accomodate
the strengthened attachment point for the landing gear. These fairings are
included in this set.
This resin
conversion set also includes the "Flat" Inboard Wings Tops.
These wings are direct replacements for the kit parts. You will also be
modifying the lower wing area. Resin parts are included for each of these
modifications and you'll be basically going through each modification one by one
following the photos and text in the 4 pages of instructions.
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This set includes
the ECM alternatives that are covered in the instructions and you'll need to know
which IR sensor your particular plane was fitted with. AN-ALQ-126 and AN/APR-32 antennas are also
included in this set if your aircraft was fitted with those. If your
modelling a jet without the RHAW, then a resin plain fin cap is included in this
set.
Changing the wings
will require using the resin main gear bay bulkheads instead of the kit
parts. The resin wheels/tires are an improvement over the kit parts but you
might need to trim the landing gear axle to get them to fit.
The instructions are
4 pages long and include photos and very detailed text, but certain sections
will require an advanced knowledge of the Phantom to figure out all the various
differences between the Phantoms and which antennas etc are applicable to your
particular aircraft and where all the resin goodies from this set will go on
your model or if your model should have them at all. The instructions will
appear lacking in photos and diagrams for the novice Phantom builder.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Resin casting
is of a very high quality and all the detail is very well done with no air
bubbles. This
new resin set from Cutting
Edge Modelworks will permit modelers to
create an accurate F-4B or F-4N from the big Tamiya Phantom kit.
Steve
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.
Photos and text © by Steve
Bamford