Revell F-4F ICE in 1:32 Scale

By Dr Menelaos Skourtopoulos

Introduction

In the first article about the F-4F we took a look in the history of the F-4F and the very interesting camouflage scheme called NORM 81, that make this Phantom variant a most attractive one.

In the '90s the German Bundesluftwaffe began a program to improve their F-4F and extend its service life beyond 2000. The reason why, was the delay of the Eurofighter program.

The new F-4Fs KWS (Kampfwertsteigerung ) or ICE (Improved Combat Efficiency) is one of the best of all Phantom update programs (the more advanced Peace Icarus 2000 program for the Hellenic Phantoms is principally an improved version of the ICE program).

All of the ICE Phantoms carry a new camouflage scheme called NORM 90J. It is a combination of three gray tones (RAL 7030 for the radome, FS 35237, 36320, 36375 for the fuselage and wings). You can easily recognize an ICE Phantom from its tan nose.

The kit

Once again I used the Revell F-4F kit, because I think it's simply the best alternative for building an accurate F-4F ICE in the 1:32 scale. I'll not write again about the goodies and the problems of that kit, just take a look at my previous articles to take the information you need.

But here are the major changes I made for that particular kit:

1. I used the Eduard set for the cockpits and for the formation stripes around the fuselage

2. I used the kit seats, because they are accurate (German version of the MB-H7) and I only put the harnesses (Eduard set) on them

3. I made some changes for the WSO instrument panel (cut the upper panel extension and glue it separate under the upper edge of the middle canopy)

4. I changed the depth of the cockpit tub, cause it's too deep

5. I reshaped the contours of the radome to make it looking better

6. I build the whole nose gear leg from scratch

7. I used Tamiyas oleo for that leg

8. I used the Tamiya rubber tires for both front and main landing gear and only the Tamiya main wheels, the front gear wheels are from the kit (I removed the styrene part of the tire)

9. I cut off the kit slats and used the Paragon set to show them in the open position.

10. I cut off the flaps and glue them "down"

11. I put some details inside the canopy rails.

12. I put some details behind the seats for the front and the back cockpit

13. I make the nozzles much deeper

14. I used the Tamiya boarding ladder

15. I used a telemetry pod from Revell's F-16N

Last but not least the painting scheme. It was a fun to paint the ICE in the new NORM 90 scheme. It gives the Phantom a really striking look and a high grade of low visibility capability.

I used enamels from Humbrol for the painting job. I had to make all gray colors much lighter by mixing some white with. Take a look at an ICE Phantom and you could hardly see a difference between the tones of the medium and the light gray.

There's one more point that you have to look after, if you want to build the ICE. The gun muzzle is painted also with RAL-7030. Only a small front part of the gun nose is left unpainted (steel).

German Phantoms and actually all Phantoms are not among the cleanest aircraft I know. Oil and dirt are somehow the best friends for every Phantom, that was already for some flight hours in the air.So, I used a fine pencil (0.3mm) to go though all of the panel lines and an old brush to drybrush the most of the panel lines with a mixture of black and brown. This gave a really decent look to the ICE.

Once again I used no spray guns, everything was made again by brush...

Decals

The unit I chose for this F is the JG74 "Moelders" one of the units to receive soon the Eurofighter. I chose to build the 38+10, because I have some good pics of that aircraft. The decals I used, are all from the Revell kit.

I used a good old Canon T70 and various lenses (28 to 200mm) to take that pictures.

That was my ninth Phantom in the 1:32 scale and for sure not the last one!

Back in 1999, I was very lucky to visit the JG72 in Hopsten/Germany. I could see and touch some F-4F ICE and look how they fly. I'm living near a training range and see very often "birds" like Tornados, F-16s, and F-4Fs fly over. The most impressive of them is the Phantom. But its days are closing to an end here in Germany and soon will be replaced from another new "electric" jet: the Eurofighter...

I'd like to thank two Gentlemen who send my some of the extra parts I used for that kit:Mr Paul Stoner for sending me the Tamiya parts and Mr Larry Hawkins for the Paragon set.Thanks a lot guys!

References