F-4S ?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Does anyone know where to find an F-4S in 1/48th, or how to convert an existing kit into one ? I have an F-J “Black Bunny” Hasegawa kit would it work ? I know Hasegawa produced one, but Google searching it too purchase one, has proven no such results. Checked Oldmodelkits.com no luck there either. Any help would be much appreciated. Been working on an aircraft history of VF(A)-41 ‘Black Aces’, I’m only missing the F-4B-S, and the F3H-2 Demon. The F-4B I’m waiting on won’t come out till next year, from Academy.

Kit by David W. August (Hyperscale)

2

A number of years back Testors had an F-4S in 1/48th - #573 - but I don’t know if its still in production. At that time I picked up four of them at a model show for a real good price. I’ve built up two, one as a F-4S in “Heater” Heatley’s experimental paint scheme and the other I back-dated to a USMC F-4J. The kit itself is of about Testors quallity, not much detail in the cockpit and some fit problems, but with some work I managed to build them up into something halfway decent. You might check e-bay to see if someone wants to part with one.

3

The kit is actually the ESCII F-4S I have the E and S kits. And Hasegawa produced a F-4B/N in 1/48 as well

4

The best solution would be to track down one of the Hi-Grade Hasegawa kits. They are rare, but still pop up on the market from time to time.

I have the Testors/Esci kit. It’s okay, but not in the same class as Hasegawa.

If you’re really ambitious, you can do what I did years ago: I used the old (pre Monogram merger) Revell F-4J and F-4E kits to build an S and an early non-slatted E by swapping the wings between the kits.

Mark

5

If I recall correctly, the primary visible difference between the F-4J and F-4S was the leading edge slats on the outer wing panels.

You may find this table helpful in regard to the Hasegawa kits. http://modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48d.htm

6

Steel Beach makes a resin “S” conversion set for the Monogram F-4J. I have it and it is ok. Paragon Designs also made a resin “S” conversion set. Don’t know which model kit it was designed for but the photos I’ve seen of it showed the resin to be very nice. From what I understand, the Hasegawa F-4S is really just their F-4J fuselage kitted with their USAF F-4E late slatted wing. It’s not really correct for a Navy slatted S but from what I understand the differences are not too great. Don’t know too much about the Testor’s S but I believe it was an Italeri rebox so any description of that kit should apply.

7

One other thing, if you do a F-4S from a F-4J you will need to add the slime lights. The J’s never carried them. They were only on the S’s.

8

Steel Beach makes an S conversion for the Hasegawa J kit. It includes the slats and underwing strenghtening plates. They have one for the Monogram kit also, but it has more parts than you need if you want to use a Hasegawa S. SB also has vinyl slime lights to finish off the S kit.

Also, as an FYI, -41 never flew the S. They flew the B and then transitioned to the N. From the N, they converted to the F-14. That’s cool you’re doing their history. I have a friend in the squadron and I’m doing the same thing for their squadron space. I just sent them an F-14 in the Sukhoi killer markings. I thought that would be appropriate! [:D] Did you include the F4U-4? I’ve read conflicting reports that the -41 that flew the Corsair doesn’t share any lineage to today’s -41.

9

too bad i didn’t see this post a week ago; i was given a hasegawa f4-j “showtime 100” that had the wrong wing in it i.e. the slatted one; i had no idea what to do with it so one of the guys in my club said “i’ll make an f4-s out of it…” so i gave it to him…sorry!