I see Hasegawa brought out new RF-4’s. What’s the diffs between them and the “normal” F-4’s? I see, for example, one of the kits available is a RF-4B. Is that an update to the “old” F-4B, or what?
Excuse my ignorance, please! Actually ran across it looking for a F-4B itself and was puzzled…
“R” designates a recon version of the fighter.
The RF-4’s have several camera mounts underneath the nose of the aircraft. There were at least three versions of the RF-4, the B was for the USMC the C was for the USAF and the E’s were used by Germany, Japan, Israel and maybe one or two other countires. The nose has a completley different appearance to compared to the rest of the aircraft.
Thanks guys!
The RFs also have different engines than other Phantoms, the RF had the J-79-GE-15 V the J-79-GE-17 in other Phantoms. Yes there are visual differances in the exhaust of the two engines.
I did not even know that one Dice. Thanks.
Also the RF-4E had an entirely different engine and exhaust than the RF-4B & Cs. Testors 1/72 RF-4C has the parts for the E, But no decals for that version.
Did the RF-4E also have the wing flaps and slats like the F-4E and F-4S models?
Anyone ever see the F-4N at MCAS Beaufort? A bit corroded, but it LOOKED like it was an S with an N radome… Last time I saw it I was a bit ignorant I’m afraid…
The RF 4 birds had too many differences to list… Some birds had sparrow and Gun pak options and some did not .Slats, afterburners etc. all varied. If you can obtain “Detail and Scale” publication on RF 4 birds it would put on right track… This publication was listed at Squadron mail order…
Also each variant’s nose shape differed from the other, though IIRC a very few Bs had C noses. Don’t forget the RF-4(S) HIAC also.