Jumping onto the Fast Mover Bandwagon

[GiantFlyingRobots]

As per usual I was getting a little bored with the "C" model Mustang (which is about 90% done) and have decided to attempt my first jet, in this case a RAAF F-4E Phantom. I am working at the usual scale, and as I tend to work from left to right the only thing that is even close to finished is the nose/canopy sections, with much to do, and many items shown here that need to be revised, I submit this WIP.

[GrubbyFingers]

Nice work, GFR!
You guys seem to get new projects up and running in a flash. It takes me an age to get the prliminary linework done. Nice work on the camo spray gun effect too. When I get round to my Nomad and Blackhawk profiles I will have to experiment to get the look right. There is always a distinct edge to the black paint. It doesn't seem to happen so much with the other colours.

GFR, where did you get the info for the stencilling? There is so much of it! There is bugger-all on the A 109E and I can't find out what half of it says. It is frustrating! On one of my profiles I ended up with things like "The front bloke sits here" under one canopy and "The other guy sits here" under the other, "THIS IS A HATCH" on a hatch, "FRONT DOOR HANDLE" ... well ... you get the picture.



Interesting that you work left to right. I usually work from the back toward the front. The disadvantage of this is that some work gets covered up. I did the whole rotor head on the A 109E and then put a rotor blade straight over the top of it. Ah well. It's like putting interiors in models, at least I know it is there.
Grubby.

[gamary]

I work from left to right and left to back and I'll try again later, next week perhaps. I've really got to do something about that workflow!

Nice looking F-4, GFR! As for stenciling, when I can't find what's written, I improvise:

"This should have a real meaning but it's so small nobody while notice my ramblings."

"I met a really good-looking girl today, for all you care. Specification T-0248-964."

"Why do they keep writing this stuff so small? The airplane's pretty big."

You can also add various political messages, insults, phone numbers, etc... lol As long as it's not legible.... But you do want to keep the looks right.

[AGNT_Matt]

nice work GFR, i do it the same as you left to right. seems the logical way to go with fast movers.

[Jesters-Ink]

That is looking nice m8, be very careful with what you put as your stencils.
I had the same problem with my very first profile, a 109E at 144dpi. So I typed a load of swearing on it. Imagine my embarrassment at the printers when I closed in on it and could read exactly what I had put.

[wh1skea]

Nice work, GFR!
You guys seem to get new projects up and running in a flash....

Grubby.

Yes. A good number of y'all seem to get pretty quick starts on your projects. I just started my F-4E yesterday and am nowhere near where you are.

I saw this post, and when I opened it, I was like and at the same time. Very good work. I wish I could find a good F-4N line drawing.... I'd rather be profiling a Navy bird than an AF bird.

[BLOWHARD]

Nice work Giant I'd like to see the shadows and highlights pushed a little more, but that's just me
One thing though, what's the story with the camouflage? Is that RAAF or US? Either way it looks like it should have soft feathered edges, no?





I'm not saying you're wrong, but it's worth checking unless the plane your doing shows hard edges in the photos.

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Thats ok, BLOWHARD I don't mind if you say im wrong it happens all the time.
I was aware that this would probably be pointed out here, the references I have were a little inconclusive, but considering the Phantoms were leased directly from the USAF, I doubt they would've have had a special hard camouflage applied. They arrived with the standard SEA colour schemes so you are certainly right. Its a very easy fix anyway(which was done in about 1 minute) as each colour is on a separate layer.
I haven't really done to much in regard highlight and shadow as yet, but I will probably keep it fairly drab and flat, with a washed out look consistent with spending time in the harsh Australian environment.

[BLOWHARD]

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to point fingers, it was more of a question type thing
So it is US camo then? The pattern looks the same but the top two color photos I posted looked like they might be something else.
About being wrong, it seems there's always a chance of not knowing the whole story or all the details. There might be hard edged camo on some Phantoms for all I know I was just pointing it out...but it's one of those things; if you did it that way for a reason, and the reason was good enough for you, then why not But between you and me, I like fuzzy edged camo better

BTW, I forgot to say "HOT DAMN VIETNAM!"

[anadc4]

I agree with GrubbyFingers and Wh!skea about the speed these project appear. My stuff isn't half as detailed yet I need a minimum 60-80 hours to get a layered, "blank" and shaded image. Add 10-20 more hours for a colour scheme.

A lot of this is research time but time nevertheless.