F-4 Phantom II print-in-place micro jet fighter

About the F-4 Phantom II

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber. It entered service with the Navy in 1961, then was adopted by the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force, and within a few years became a major part of their air arms. A total of 5,195 Phantoms were built from 1958 to 1981, making it the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history and a signature combat aircraft of the Cold War.

The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. Like other interceptors of its time, the F-4 was initially designed without an internal cannon, but some later models incorporated an internal M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.

The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War, first as the principal air superiority fighter for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and later as a ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance aircraft. The Phantom remained a major part of U.S. military air power into the 1980s, when it was gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U.S. Air Force, the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy, and the F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

About the model itself

You can find hundreds of fighter models on the Internet. 

Some of them are, however, a faithful reproduction of the machine itself, but such a model is not great to 3D print (because of the thin wings, complicated engines and landing gear, it needs tons of supports etc.). 

On the other side there are simple models of aircraft that are easy to print, but no longer represent the original plane.  

I tried my best to create something in between, a model that is both easy to print and looks like the real aircraft. I spent a lot of time to adjust the wing thickness, the acceptable landing gear design and the optimal way to get rid of default supports and to make the plane look so reliable that even a person not interested in aviation could tell the difference between several models.

Printing

• High quality settings, 0.12mm-0.15mm layer height (I am using 0.12mm)

• 0.4mm nozzle

• NO supports (unless you choose a version without them)

• 100% infill 

• I reccomend to use raft to ensure that the model will not peel off mid-printing.

• Printing (on my 3D printer) takes from 1h to 1h 40minutes depending on settings, printer efficiency and the size of a jet.

• I recommend NOT to scale down the model, because some parts (air intakes, engines, nose) might be deformed, or not even printed, because they will become too thin for the slicer and printer. I also do not guarantee good results when scaling up.

Cleaning the model

Here's a small instruction how to remove the unnecessary parts after printing.

The photos show a MiG-29, but the instructions apply to all models.

First, remove the raft with side cutters.

Then find the gaps in the wings (marked with red arrows). Don't forget about the engines and stabilizers.

CAREFULLY break the supports with pliers, I do not reccomend to use hands, because the wing may break along the layers, not where it should be.

Remember, that even if that happen, there is no need to print the model again. Sometimes it is enough to glue the wing with superglue. 

You can also smooth the wings with a small file or sandpaper and burn the strings with a lighter.

Additional information

If you enjoy my micro jets please leave a nice comment. I am working on some new arcrafts I will be uploading soon. I would be grateful if you would share with me your ideas for new fighters or something completely different. I am open to your suggestions.

I would just like to point out that I am not a professional and I treat creating models for 3D printing as a hobby. Therefore, I am asking for your understanding towards my work.

I wish you successful printing and lots of fun!