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For this build I used the Academy 1/72 USMC F-4J "VMFA-232 Red Devils" boxing
Its one of the "Press fix" kits that Academy has been issuing the last few years. One of the reasons I didn't do a build log on it. Got it cheap at Hobby Lobby and figured if it was a kidddy snap together kit I would just throw it away.
I also used the Afterburner/Sprue Brothers Models decal sheet "Yankee Station MIG Killers" which has markings for a VA-25 A-1H, VA-76 A-4C, VF-162 F-8E, VF-96 F-4B (not Cunningham's) VF-21 F-4B and the VF-114 F-4J
It was also my first time using the Vallejo Metal Color line
The model has good detail. Its not a kids snap fit kit at all.
Things i didn't like. Being "Press fit" there isn't really an opportunity to test fit parts. But except for 2 places no putty was required. Impressive
The other thing I wasn't happy about is the plastic that Academy used. And I ran into this years ago on their 1/350 OHP. Different from regular sprue, It has a shiny, almost oily feel to it. Like a toy. In fact it feels like the plastic that Bandi uses on their Gundam models. It caused some paint peeling issues. The Gull Grey and white wanted to pull up when I was masking all the way to bare plastic. Sprayed it over Vallejo Grey Primer, and let that cure for 4 days, First model I've had that issue with.
On the other hand i ws really impressed with the Metal Color paint. They advertise that you can mask over it within minutes. And they were right. I didn't have any problems with it peeling. As an experiment I sprayed it on bare plastic and primed some parts with gloss black primer. No problems with either. I used Steel, Jet exhaust and aluminum. Had no problems shooting it through the airbrush, or brushing it on small parts. Both gave excellent results.
That surprised me because it dries almost on contact when sprayed. Also did the tape test, and it didn't bulge. Sprayed it, waited 30 min then applied blue painters tape and Tamiya Tape. No problems.
Then I sprayed some, and immediately applied the tape. It did lose a bit of sheen but thats all.
The scheme required me to paint the top of the tail Orange. The big stripe is a decal. Instead of spending $5 on a bottle of model paint I hit the craft section at Hobby lobby and got this for $0.99. The color matched the decals perfect
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