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BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:35 pm
by AMERICAN_GRENADIER
Just received word that BBI will be announcing a repaint of the very popular 1/32 F-4 Phantom. no word on paint scheme yet but hoping its camo and vietnam

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:40 pm
by Light.Inf.Scout
cool!

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:40 pm
by AMERICAN_GRENADIER
its still one of the most requested pieces for us at the store

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:25 pm
by [CAT]CplSlade
I hope this is the start of a re-entry into 1/32 in other items as well. Still plenty of schemes left for the Dauntless and Wildcat.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:45 pm
by vmf214
I prefer a Blue Angels scheme myself.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:47 pm
by MG-42
* This is good news ! ! ! :o ... a Vietnam camo'd example would be a welcome edition. 8)


... Glad I picked up the 1st. one pretty cheap a few yrs. ago . :wink:



- MG :hornet:

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:05 pm
by ketelone
That's great. Any idea on the price? I bet it will be pricey.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:59 pm
by tmanthegreat
Very good news. As noted above, I also hope its Vietnam cammo USAF scheme.

I love my BBI F-4. Its probably one of my most favorite models in my collection, in any scale. Simply a plane they did correctly from the start. I recall when the first one came out 5 years ago that there were plenty discussions on this forum about the aircraft's price and if it was worth the price given that it cost (then) about what a standard 1:18 aircraft went for.

Here's the original thread: http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... m&start=25

In the end, it was by far one of the best pre-built items made in 1:32 scale and still to this date. It will most certainly cost more this time around (my guess is in the $80-$90 range), but I will plan on adding a second to my collection.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:01 pm
by Dauntless
This is good news. I'm an airplane guy, but I do have this one. A camouflage scheme would be nice.

Someone needs to re-emerge in 1:32.

I don't suppose they'd want to take some thunder from the Merit Dauntless by reissuing their 1:32 version, or perhaps the F4F Wildcat in Butch O' Hare's ride.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:13 pm
by jlspec
Great news. Any guess on timing?

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 6:05 pm
by ketelone
Any new product in 1/32 is great news for 1/32 fans.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 6:28 pm
by Ruger
I'll probably get one, even though I know there's no way it'll be a Gulf War Wild Weasel version.

MV

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:01 pm
by RAD 2112
Hopefully they'll add an SUU-23A Gunpod instead of a centerline fuel tank...

Image

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:39 pm
by Yoxford
This is fantastic news...hope for Robin Olds "SCAT" livery

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:04 pm
by dragon53
My guess---the original F-4J will become Steve Ritchie's F-4D. :mrgreen:

I hope they don't keep the awful folding wing tips.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:51 pm
by big_mike
This is awsome news. I've always loved the F-4 and although I'm primarily a 1/18 collector I've always wanted to pick up one of these. Never seen one for a price I can justify so I think this might be a must have.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:58 am
by snake
That is great news. :D

Give the post some time to load, as it has a few pics. :wink:

And with BBI doing some repaints of previous 1/18 F-16, and F-18, this makes absolute sense. Would have made sense, even without the Viper and Hornet releases.

A great model, that has only been done in the VF-84 Jolly Rogers scheme, and is just a natural for repaints. And there are a ton of them to be considered and done.

And think that it would be a good idea to look at the massively successful Hobby Master 1/72 Phantom to see what will sell well. HM have almost 50 schemes that they have done, and some have done very well, while others haven't.

http://hobbymastercollector.com/1-72F-4.html

The most sought after ones are hard to find, and fetch good money.

I think a USAF SEA camo version would be the best bet for this BBI 1/32 F-4, as it is something very different from a Navy/ Marine bird. With Ritchie, or Olds, being at the top of the list.

However, the Cunningham "Showtime 100" is the top HM Phantom, as far as desirability, and price go.


Image


Steve Ritchie is a no brainer as well.

Image


Israeli "Kurnass" is also a great scheme, and highly sought after.

Image


Robin Olds "Scat IV".

Image


VF-31 "Tomcatters"

Image


"Euro 1" camo scheme.

Image


"Chico, the Gunfighter"

Image


VF-111 "Sundowners".

Image




Just a small sampling of what Hobby Master have done, and there are also Luftwaffe, and JASDF versions, as well as British Royal Navy, and RAF types that could be done as well.

But for the next release, a camo USAF version is the way to go. Steve Ritchie being the best, and most obvious choice. :wink:

The original BBI 1/32 mold of this Phantom, could have countless schemes, and do very well for BBI. Surprised it took them this long, but think that with everything going on on global markets, they took a wait and see attitude.

Very glad to see BBI getting back into producing 1/18 and now 1/32 models. They were always better than 21 century, although less subjects.

Pretty pumped about this. :D

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:51 am
by Black Lion VF-213
Not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer, but I'll bet money BBI is not going to be doing a USAF SEA camo scheme or represent any USAF scheme. They have a near identical copy of the Tamiya F-4J mold. That model of Phantom was used exclusively by the US Navy and Marines and only 15 were used by England's RAF. BBI would have to retool the mold to make a USAF no matter the scheme. Why I think this? BBI's track record from the Hellcat till now is showing they are paying attention to things like this. Their paint schemes are very close to matching the variant they are representing. The desert scheme Bf 109, pretty close to spot on; Zero, Wildcat, Dauntless, same thing. I honestly think it will be the Showtime 100. They will completely outsell the VF-84 from years ago. There's no more popular Navy scheme than VF-96....okay I stand corrected - VF-111 Sun Downers. Alas, they won't make that one. They flew B and N models only

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:26 am
by snake
Thanks for that bit of intel, Black Lion VF-213.

I don't know much on the different versions of the F-4, and there are lots of different versions, squadrons, era's etc.

If it is a J model, then limited schemes to make it accurate.

That is assuming that BBI is listening, and willing/wanting to make an accurate Phantom. And that the collectors that get this, demand an accurate Phantom, or will be happy with a inaccurate model, just to get the scheme.

Bring on "Showtime 100" 8)

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:38 am
by MG-42
............ if it ain't camo , I'm not buyin'. simple as dat .



- MG :hornet:

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:17 pm
by dragon53
For what it's worth about BBI releasing a USAF F-4D repaint based on the earlier Navy F-4J. BBI released the 1/18 P-51D "Cripes A' Mighty 3rd" with the dorsal extension----the real "Cripes A' Mighty" was an early D that didn't have the extension---BBI just repainted the P-51D "Killer".
That doesn't mean BBI will release a repainted USAF F-4D from the earlier Navy F-4J---it just means it's possible.

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:05 am
by Black Lion VF-213
Oh it's definitely possible BBI could paint S2 of the Phantom in any scheme they want. Most of BBI's early 1/18 models were painted in schemes that either were fictional or didn't represent the variant, whereas their later stuff progressively became closer to the real thing. The pinnacle being the S1 Phantom. Heck the pinnacle of all these pre-built plastic models in getting the paint scheme to match the variant and having all the correct details of the variant IS the Phantom....[Okay, the 1/18 Dauntless is tied]. I just don't see them veering away from that when there are other F-4J schemes available that would be knock out sales success stories:

VF-96 Falcons (Showtime 100)
VF-41 Black Aces (VF-84's longtime sister squadron from the Roosevelt days of the Phantom thru the Nimitz days in Tomcats)
VMFA-333 Shamrocks (super popular Marines scheme)
VF-151 Vigilantes
VF-74 BeDevilers
VF-102 Diamondbacks

Even if they wanted to do the F-4S variant, which is spot on identical to the "J" except for minor cockpit details and the slotted slats (no one would tell the difference since the slats don't deploy on this model), BBI could choose another bad@$$ scheme:
VF-161 Chargers

As for the comment on it being VF-111 Sundowners, I read the link between the two parties involved and I clearly inferred that they were referring to the JSI F-14 Tomcat being in VF-111 livery as the next release.....nothing about the Phantom

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:02 am
by jlspec
If BBI is using the Tamiya model as it basis there are 2 kits available that the decals and stencils could be copied. Model kits are 60306 or 60308. Schemes included are
WMFA 451 Warlords
VF 151 Vigilantes
VMFA 333 Fighting Shamrocks
VMF 232 Red Devils

I would like any of the Marines schemes

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:27 pm
by AMERICAN_GRENADIER
1/32 F-4J Phantom II VFA-154
U.S. Navy
* Realistic panel lines, antennas and surface details
* Functional canopy and highly realistic cockpit design
* 2 x highly detailed pilot figures included
* Authentic markings and paints scheme
* Optional extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels
* 2 x Detachable Missiles pack
* Detachable Drop fuel tank
* Folding wings
* Rotating stabilizer
* Functional airbrakes
* Suitable for hanging or static display

Re: BIG NEWS! BBI will be issuing a repaint of the 1/32 F-4

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:27 pm
by AMERICAN_GRENADIER
not happy wanted a camo version
release date is this winter no price yet