We've been here!!
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum!!!

Well, what is SWS Development Team doing in front of that museum you may've heard of??

We're here because we'll be able to conduct the best research possible on Long-nose F-4E.
That's the idea.
There are several F-4 in the world that can be researched but we heard that the F-4E displayed here is in the best conditions you could expect.
And what we heard was true.
This F-4E is beautiful, kept and displayed in a stunning way. Zoukei-mura team, hats off!!

This time I'll tell you what the research was like.

There is still time until the release of F-4E and F-4EJ but let's take a step forward and enjoy the essence of the F-4E by looking at our investigation.

And, I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, Jennifer-san, David-san and Dave-san from the museum staff for the incredible support they gave this bunch of researchers coming from afar.
And special thanks also to Matthew-san, who's been more than helpful, from the day we applied until the day of our actual research.
Our staff was absolutely impressed by all the new things, visible only on real aircrafts, seen at the museum; thanks to you guys we could make an awesome research,.

Thank you so much.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• ▋Jennifer-san, David-san, thank you!! So, F-4E Real Thing Research is about to start!! Now we're going to wear these white uniforms and canvas shoes to be used during the research, to make sure we don't scratch or stain these precious machines; the excitement starts.
  
  Well, this Air Museum is just beautiful!! It's one of the best I have seen so far, and I feel it in every place of this museum. Here's where you can see the special passion Americans have for aviation.
• 
• 
• 
• ▋First of all, exterior check. Front, sides, downside, upside, each wing and every curve of the fuselage; it was a struggle against time running out too fast, while we were checking, shooting pictures and measuring. "With those shoes you can ride on" said Dave-san.
  "What!? Really!! Thank youuuu~" was the reaction……Now we can see right in front of our eyes many small parts, skin junctions and other details, things that we've never been able to see so close.
  "This is only for the shape of a long nose!" you would think if you see how many pictures we took and how many measurements we did. Of course, cockpit, front and back seat are kept perfectly. We also noticed a subtle angulation of the access pedal we never noted before.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• ▋"May I take a look inside the radar radome?" "Sure!!" The fastening plate was immediately unlocked. The staff said they hadn't opened it for a long time. The radar itself had been removed but the radome, that was always an issue, and the shape of the fuselage section became clear for the first time.
  Now we can reproduce precisely the delicate shape of this section with a plastic model.
  We also made an investigation on the muzzle of the Vulcan Gun and its shape. That investigation was perfect as well.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• ▋Actually this museum, as the name says, is built at 1600 meters above the level of the sea in the Rocky Mountains, so the air is rarified and our sissified team from Japan was out of breath, thirsty and they also had palpitations. At a certain point, if the outer wear wasn't removed sweat and dizziness would have taken over. It was such a hard quest. Up on the right, photo-shooting of the shape of the tip of the arrest hook and the V-latch base of the reception side. This is such a complex structure.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• ▋Look! Zoukei-mura research team in action with their all-body-down photo-shooting technique! The museum staff prepared this big stand for maintenance with foothold and stepladder. If we could accomplish such a complete research on the F-4E, it's for their merit. On the left, taking pictures at the angulation of the "breaks" (how they rise) of the broken lines passing through the fuselage underside (near the center of the main wings).
  In the picture up in the center, up on the right, measurement of aileron and flaps.
  
• ▋Of course, we took this chance for an overall measurement of the front edge slot of the tail (stabilator). Jennifer-san's help was invaluable.
• 
• 
• 
• ▋Oh, I can't forget this picture.
  Measurement of front and rear width of the front canopy (windshield), the "eye" of the F-4. Every time we look at a real aircraft there is always some tiny scratch. It conceals the hardship of maintenance on the battlefield.
• ▋In the right picture, lovey-dovey Jennifer-san and David-san.
  Thank you very much for everything you did, from the start to the end.
  So far, just taking pictures was a hard job. Here we were able to do a research where we basically had no trouble at all. It's hard to tell how grateful I am to America and all the generous people living there.

 Long awaited F-4C is in my hands!!
Japanese release scheduled for September 23rd!!

▋SWS 1/48 F-4J keeps on selling out across Japan, thank you very much.
S is following the same path. Given the small quantity available, you' d better get it as soon as possible.
(Zoukei-mura is a small manufacturer; once a product sells out it will take some time before we have a second production.)
◉SWS F-4C's details will be revealed in the next entry.

And also the long-awaited SWS 1/32 Do 335 A-12 is here!!
The new Pfeil Trainer-bomber will be available soon!!

▋Look forward to Do 335 A-12 Double-seat bomber as it will be available for pre-release in Telford!!
Japanese release set for November 18th. Available in Overseas Friend Shops around the end of November!!

How was the IPMS report this time?
Besides America, we received a lot of attention and appreciation from all the F-4 fans in the world. And, thanks to the thorough research we accomplished on the long-nose F-4E we will put even more power on the development of Phantom II kits.

Next time I'll give you something new and I'll tell you about our stores spread across Japan. VOLKS, Zoukei-mura's mother company, is a group dealing with all the types of hobby products.

Look forward to it!!

Still hot in the northern hemisphere and hot days continue. Take care of yourselves and get ready for another hobby season with next fall.

For the moment, goodbye.

Hideyuki Shigeta
President, Zoukei-Mura

↓ Please don't hesitate to use the submission form below ↓

◉Watch the PR video for Zoukei-mura "The Old Man's Seven Tools" on VOLKS Official Youtube Channel!!
English subtitles coming soon