Hi guys!
Just a quick question here for you Phantom buffs. Did Vietnam era Phantoms have slime lights on them? I’m working on a Marine F-4J from VMFA-333 (Shamrocks) circa 1972 and I don’t know if it would be right to have them on it or not.
Thanks!
Eric
Yes. These lights were retro fitted to earlier version of the F-4 as they transited depot for overhaul. I think the first version to have them factory fresh were F-4Es. But the F-4 you are depicting didn’t have them during their tour in Vietnam, the were added post war.
The slime lights were not only used for night time formation flying but also for aerial refueling. These lights gave the boomers a visual reference that allowed for depth perception which is completely non existent at night at altitude.
Thank you Gerald! I appreciate the info. I’m working on the Accurate Miniatures F-4J. It’s a GORGEOUS kit with equally wonderful decals. They include the slime lights but I wasn’t sure if they went on the Marine Phantom I was depicting. When it comes to markings, I like living by the “trust but verify” rule. The instructions showed them going on some of the planes (depending on what markings you’re using) but not on others. I just wanted to be sure I didn’t put on the lights if they were not used on the plane I’m depicting.
Thanks!
Eric
Eric,
Don’t know if you can use these, but here are a few pix of VMFA-333 I’ve found on the web. I plan to do a -333 jet in the future, so I’ve been trying to track down as many pix as I can. As Gerald said, no slime lights for the era you’re building.
This one might be of particular interest to you, especially if you’re focusing on 1972. Here’s one from 1973: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f4/bluebook/images/f43911.htm
Circa 1981: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-4Js_VMFA-333_Cubi_Point.jpg
Here are some more –Js (including a shot of the flight line above, but from a different angle): http://image.flymcaa.org/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=3309
Here’s a –J onboard the Nimitz between ’76-’77: http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/cvn-68/dp7677-01.jpg
One more, around ’75: http://www.5053phantoms.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=25&pid=4710#top_display_media
Hope these help!
Cheers,
-O
WOW!!! Thank you Oortiz! Those pics were great and I truly appreciate you posting those links! Those will be great when it comes to decal placement AND weathering references. [:D]
Eric
