1:48 McDonnell F-4B FOD Cover

1:48 McDonnell F-4B FOD Cover - a resin accessory from Metallic Details

This set from Metallic Details is intended for finishing a model of the McDonnell F-4B Phantom II carrier fighter in 1:48 scale. It consists of covers for the air intakes, so it is an accessory, not a kit of the whole aircraft. The base model is bought separately, and before you start it is worth comparing the shape of the intakes on your own kit.

What the intake covers are for

The abbreviation FOD stands for damage to an engine caused by a foreign object sucked into the air intake. Jet aircraft therefore get covers over the intakes once they are parked on the ground, usually in a conspicuous color so that nobody forgets to take them off. On a model they serve a double purpose: they cover the intake ducts, which tend to be a weak spot on kits, and at the same time they give a parked machine a convincing operational look. They are therefore rewarding above all for a diorama, or for a model on a stand with the canopy open and the landing gear bay plugs fitted.

The real subject

The McDonnell F-4B Phantom II was a two-seat carrier fighter of the US Navy with two General Electric J79 engines. The identifying marks of the type are the raised outer wing panels, the drooping tailplane and the massive side air intakes, which are hard to miss on a model in 1:48 scale. The F-4B version formed the basis from which the whole extensive family of Phantoms for the Navy and the Air Force then grew.

Building and painting tips

First wash the resin parts in lukewarm water with detergent. Residue of mold release agent clings to the surface and paint will not hold under it. Do not snap the casting blocks off but cut them with a saw or a cutting disc and level the surface with a file and fine abrasive paper. Sand the resin wet and protect your breathing, because the dust from it is unpleasant. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue, because ordinary cement for plastic has no effect on resin. Before painting, spray the parts with primer, which unifies the resin with the plastic of the kit and brings out any imperfections still to be sanded away.

Who the set is for

• modelers building the Phantom II in 1:48 scale
• builders of dioramas of a carrier deck or a ground scene
• anyone who wants to cover the less successful intake interiors of a kit
• beginners in working with resin - there are few parts and assembly is simple

The set is an accessory for building a model, not a stand-alone model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.