1:48 F-4B

Big Sin 1:48 F-4B, a bundle of resin sets from Eduard

This is a package of accessories, not a model of the aircraft. Big Sin is the designation used by the Czech manufacturer Eduard for a bundle of resin sets brought together into one package and one price, usually aimed at the most visible parts of a model. With Eduard the designation of the line settles what an item really is: a full photo-etched set carries the series designation forty-nine, a smaller pre-painted Zoom set the designation FE, masks the designation EX, and a resin bundle exactly Big Sin. There is therefore more than one identically named item, and that detail is what tells them apart.

The real subject

The F-4B was the first carrier version of the twin-engine, two-seat Phantom II to go into service with the US Navy and the Marine Corps. The design rested on a pair of J79 engines, high-lift devices for operating from aircraft carriers, folding wingtips and a tail with the tailplanes canted downward. The armament consisted of guided missiles on external racks, and the two-seat aircraft was listed as an interceptor and a multirole machine.

Building tips

Wash the resin parts first in lukewarm soapy water, because the remains of the mold release agent keep the paint from adhering. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw and sand wet, with protection for your airways. Glue with cyanoacrylate, because ordinary cement for plastic does not hold. Always dry-fit the mating surfaces first and, if need be, take material away on the side of the set rather than on the plastic. Fit and paint the parts of the interior and of the bays before you close the fuselage up.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the F-4B in 1:48 scale who want to take the model past the limits of plastic.
• Modelers who prefer one bundle to buying the sets one at a time.
• More experienced builders with experience of resin and cyanoacrylate glue.

This is an accessory set, not a kit. The base model, paints and glue are not included in the package.