Does anyone out there know what the US Air Force is using now that RF-4C and the F-4G are out of service, or what the Marines are using now that the RF-4B is now out of service? F-14, F-18 in the Navy Marines and maybe the F-15 or F-16 in the Air Force?
If I’ve heard correctly, the F-4G was repaced by the Block 60 F-16C Fighting Falcon.
Not sure what would have replaced the other stuff though
You are correct on the block 60 F-16C. The RF-4C was replaced by the U-2/TR-1 for the recce role.
is there a 1/48 or 1/72 kit of the rf4 b?
No there isn’t. All the RF-4 kits represent the AF version with the larger wheels and tires and with the hump on the top of the wing and gear doors. The Marines used some RF’s that had these improvements but the nose would be all wrong. All kits have the flat lower camera area on the nose and the later Marine jets had a different shape. It could be scratchbuilt with a little research and a lot of time.
ok so is there a RF4 kit?
In 1/32 scale, Revell makes a fair RF-4C. In 1/48 Testers did have a RF-4B/C but it would be inacurate for the B model. It was a very poor kit, even by the standards twenty years ago. In 1/72 scale, I don’t know. I am sure members dealing in that scale would be able to let you know.
In 1/72nd scale hasegawa still has a RF-4B and RF-4C model phantom available . I just Saw them on the shelf in the hobby shop yesterday.
Try buyinga Hasegawa F-4B or F-4C kit and a Black Box resin conversion kit, also get their RF-4 cockpit set. I have them but haven’t used them yet but the kits look great, but be ready to spend $80 between the two conversions plus the kit itself.
just for 1/72?!?!!?!?!? i would just stick with a 1/32 revell f4 and turn it into a styrene f4
There are a lot of errors in the 1/32 Revelle RF-4C so do some research prior to building it. I built it when it was first released and being a former Phantom maintenance man I went a little further. Most would not be aware of the mistakes, but as an example they would have you put the wheels on backwards. I could give you other hints when you get ready to build.
Phormer Phantom Phixer
could u give me a list of errors? i am going to get one next week, but not willling to pay too much for the tamiya.
The most obvious is the cockpit and intakes. Go with the Verlinden Cockpit update. That will correct a lot of errors. The update does not include the standby compass located on the windshield bow, or the RHAW scope on the forward right glare shield, so you would have to add those. The cockpit update wasn’t available when I built my RF. I spent several weeks adding detail to the cockpits. Also be sure to put the lower eject handles on the seats, between the pilots legs. As for the intakes, I recommend Seamless Suckers intakes. Paint the insides gloss white. Also the inside of the vari ramps, parts 47 & 48 are gloss white. Go with after market wheels as the kits wheels are all wrong.
The instructions would have you put clear parts, # 38 on the forward RWR. If installed at all they would be black, not clear. The instructions tell you to paint the interior of the wheel wells and gear doors flat white. They should be gloss white. The gear struts should also be gloss white. There is no tail hook uplock mechanism so you will have to scratch build it. The inside of the speedbrake is flat red, not white. The speedbrake well is gloss white. The inboard pylons do not have the pylon adapter installed. If you use the pylons you will have to scratch build the adapter. The stores swaybraces go on the adapter, not on the pylon. It gives you the option to install AIM 9 launchers on the pylons. I NEVER saw these installed on the RF. I am not saying they weren’t , as it could have been a later modification. If you use them, they would attatch to the adapter, not the pylon. I left the pylons off of my model as we did not have them installed in '67-'68 time frame. The aircraft wasn’t modified to carry them until after '68. The old style 600 gal. tank does not have the sway brace fins installed. If used, you will have to add these.
Depending on the time frame of your subject, some of the antennas included in the kit were for a later time frame. Do your research before installing these. Also the ALE40/41 chaff/flair dispensers were not added to the pylons untill after 1980.
The J-79 engines used on the F-4 were bad smokers. The area aft of the exhaust should be painted metalizer exhaust to give it that dirty look.
The Revell 1/32 F-4E contains a lot more errors; the biggest is the rear missle wells being too long. But, that is another subject.