Originally posted by Hugh Wiedman
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Finally finished the F4 Blue Angel. As I mentioned before, MRC came through in a big way when my original F4 had issues with the elevator servo. I replaced that plane and was able to replicate the original, which I did in my version of a "Key West" Sundowner in camo. With MRC's help, I got another ARF version and used the EDF and ESC from the first for a complete plane. My wife talked me into doing this in a Blue Angel, but I was skeptical. Of my 25 planes, this is the first that I have done a complete repaint of a foamy. Half way into it, I was like what have I taken on, so much masking and trying to get the right colors. Used the Rustoleum 2x flat white primer but couldn't find a decent blue. The "official" blue angel blue sprays I found looked too dark and "muddy" to me and the 2x blue's I liked were high gloss, a great shine but showing all the foam imperfections. Finally found a Satin, which gave a decent shine and hid some of the foam imperfections. Then used the same 2x brand silver as the primer on the tail and horizonal stabilizers, but that somehow reacted with the original stock paint under the primer and buckled. Fixed it with hand painting with Testors Chrome trim enamel paint. The Blue Angel Yellow bottled paint is now only available in acrylic, which I will never use because it doesn't cover well and peels like rubber. Found 3 small bottles in enamel which saved the day (I will only use enamel bottled paint). Callie's graphics completed the project. Still need to do the 3D exhaust nozzle's, but MRC has been out of them for a while, so I can wait for that. After all that work, I'm really pleased with the outcome.
Did the 3D cockpit and pilots and replaced the nose landing gear pin with a modified Spitfire axel I have in spare parts for that plane (never broke the stock pins, but still use the modified one's cause you know I'm bound for nose gear first landing sometime). After building 3 of these, I did notice that occasionally, snaking either the vertical or horizontal servo wires with the cable wire ended up slightly missing the channel above the ESC and the wire ended up below and touching the ESC, a sure sign for a melted servo wire. Fortunately I removed the EDF cover before finishing and making sure all wires were above the ESC on all planes, so just a warning for anyone out there.
Now all I have to do is figure out a way to convince my wife that I need another F4 in Marine grey. I think I'll have a better chance of winning the lottery!
Did the 3D cockpit and pilots and replaced the nose landing gear pin with a modified Spitfire axel I have in spare parts for that plane (never broke the stock pins, but still use the modified one's cause you know I'm bound for nose gear first landing sometime). After building 3 of these, I did notice that occasionally, snaking either the vertical or horizontal servo wires with the cable wire ended up slightly missing the channel above the ESC and the wire ended up below and touching the ESC, a sure sign for a melted servo wire. Fortunately I removed the EDF cover before finishing and making sure all wires were above the ESC on all planes, so just a warning for anyone out there.
Now all I have to do is figure out a way to convince my wife that I need another F4 in Marine grey. I think I'll have a better chance of winning the lottery!
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