DMold Model Works

1/48 F-4K/M Phantom II Seamless Intakes
For the Hasegawa kit
Stock Number: 48014
Reviewed By  Andy Renshaw, IPMS# 35806

[detail package image]

MSRP: $29.39
Distributor's website: www.victorymodels.com

[review image] For those who build Phantom kits in 1/48, Hasesgawa’s series has always set the bar and is considered some of the best kits out there. One of the few shortcomings of the kit is the intakes, where there is almost no attempt to mold any of the correct contours of the intake interior, but the intake itself ends in a unbecoming plastic wall about 1-1/2” inside. For an aircraft with such large, open intakes, any casual glance from the front end reveals the abrupt end. We have had various aftermarket manufactures provide solutions, but they have either been inaccurate or difficult to work with. It wasn’t until cutting edge released their intakes that modelers had a very easy to use, and accurate solution. Cutting Edge recently ceased operations, but lucky for us modelers one of the master makers from Cutting Edge has been producing his own line of products, and lo and behold, we get F-4 intakes again!

This particular set is for the Hasegawa F-4 K or M Phantom II. The K/M was the British version of the F-4, known as the FGR.1 and FGR.2, which was powered by the Rolls Royce Spey 203 engine. The Spey required more air, so the intakes were enlarged about 20 percent. This among other modifications and changes to the basic F-4J airframe resulted in a familiar looking, but distinct aircraft for the RN and eventually the RAF.

[review image] [review image] The resin parts are all very finely-cast and bubble free. The resin carrier plugs are attached in a very unobtrusive way, and are easily removed with a sharp knife. The intake trunks themselves, which are molded with the intake, are cast in white resin, which makes painting easy, as these should be white in the inside. The two parts that make up the inlet ramp and splitter plate are cast in a dark grey resin. I suggest priming and painting the inner part of the ramp before installing.

To use the set, you will need to remove a good portion of the plastic from the fuselage halves within the intake. The instructions are very clear on this, and all that has to be removed doesn’t require any precise measuring, just crank up the Dremel and grind away! Once the necessary plastic has been removed, you can turn your attention to the resin parts and remove the plugs as well as a little gate of resin on the intakes. Then the turbine fans just press into the ends of the intake tubes. Once this is done insert the intake ramp into the resin intake, then slip the trunk through the hole you just made in the fuselage. The part fits extremely well. For the photos in this review the parts were added with no filler or extra work other than removing the needed plastic from the fuselage, so you can see how well they fit. A little superglue secured everything, and any small cracks can be filled with a small amount of putty or Mr Surfacer and followed by some light sanding.

[review image] [review image] Overall, I give this set very a high mark. It is extremely easy to use even for those who have minimal experience using resin update sets or who just have basic tools. The end effect of full trunks all the way back to the engine faces is outstanding and adds a lot to the head on view of a Phantom model.

Highly recommended- my thanks to Bob Busby and Victory Models for the review example. As a side note, Victory Models is on a brief hiatus until September/October 2009 while developing new items. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. There’s still stock at Victory Models until all the new stuff arrives.