My understanding is that USAF Phantoms did carry ALQ-71 pods asymmetrically on the outboard wing pylons early in the war. In early 1967 Col. Jones Bolt pushed to get the inboard pylons re-wired to allow the pods to be carried there. Getting approval to modify the pylons was a big deal because they were originally wired for nukes.
In similiar fashion, Col Olds led an effort to modify the Sidewinder rails on the inboard pylons with spacers to allow TER’s to be carried along with the AIM 9’s.
I don’t doubt his expertise… He certainly sounds like he knows what he is talking about, and I will take a reference like that which I can ask questions of over a reference book written by god knows who any day.
I don’t think Monograms F-4J has been made in a long time. I can’t imagine the decals being in great shape if I did pick one up. I will hunt up a Pro Modeler F-4E… I like the Tamiya kits but I was trying to keep it all in 1/48.
Yellowhammer did a 1:48 sheet for Showtime 100. If you can track one of those sheets down it definitely would be a step up from the Monogram kit decals. Meteor Productions were the distributor for Yellowhammer - not sure what happened since Meteor pulled the plug on their operation. Might want to check out Ebay.
Monograms 1/48 F-4J is still around. OOP but you can still get one on ebay. I just got one for my next project which will be VMFA-333 Shamrocks Mean Marine Mig Killer.
Here is my Showtime 100 which I did from the Monogram kit with Berny’s tech advice.
Paintsniffer, I just finished going through my collection of decals. I can’t find what you are looking for. I have given them away or they are still sealed in plastic with the kits. As most of my kits are in storage waiting for our new house to be built, I can’t get to them at this time.
As I recall the last time I built the Monogram 1/48 F-4J it did have the right style navy inboard pylons but no outboard pylons unless I cut them from the wing drop tanks. I’ll check again to be sure. Also I got the right tires this time. [(-D] My True Details F-4J/S tires arrived this morning. Just waiting on the Shamrocks decals and the Airwaves cockpit PE set and I am ready to start a lean, mean Marines Phantom. [(-D]
Rand, post a request on this site. Hasagawa included that pylon in all of their 1/48 Phantom kits which wasn’t used. If anyone has the pylons in their spare parts they should be able to help. Right now I have most of my kits and spare parts boxed away and in storage. I had to do that because the roof is leaking in my model room. An improper repair from Huricane Ivan damage five years ago. We will be tearing down our old house (35 years old) and building a new one.
The inboard pylons were wired to carry more than Special Weapons. The F-4C was wired to carry the AIM-4 Falcon from the begining, as well as any ordinance in the USAF inventory. TCTO 1F-4C-521 had the wiring to the pylon so it would be AIM-9 capable pre installed. The relay for the Sidewinder was installed into the ACRP. The wiring for the AIM 9 was jumpered off of the Falcon missile wiring.
TCTO 1F-4C-523 added the control box, relay, and wiring for the ECM pod. The wiring went along the inboard leading edge, behind the LEF and BLC duct. From there it was sent to the pylon main electrical harness located just forward of the pylon. Additional wiring was added from the main harness to the pylon with the cannon plug connector located in the aft part of the pylon. A relay was installed into the ACRP. All aircraft that came off of the line starting with the F-4D had the relay relocated to the #3 MRP.
Col Olds did order his machine shop to manufacture Donuts so the Sidewinder wings would not hit the TER sway brace lugs on launch. That was done with approval from a MDD Tech Rep. MDD was informed after the fact and a TCTO came out for the pylon to be equipped with the Donut.
I ordered my markings for my 482TFW F-4D 66-7554. I found the Generic number and letter sheets on Squadron. A big thanks to whoever suggested that. I need to create an orange/black checkered stripe for the tail and the intake… I don’t suppose someone knows of anyplace I can buy one? Buying one aside, does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to make these stripes? My initial plan is going to be tamiya tape, paint, and a lot of time.
I have the kit a couple days from being primed and painted. It is a Revell kit and was way better than I planned. There was a little flash but the fit has been exceptional, even if the kit is a little weak on fiddly details… But an afterburner inside the tailpipes would have been nice (in case Revell is reading this)
I am planning on painting it in the late 1980s gray on gray scheme. I was planning on going with light ghost gray and Gunship gray… But I am open to suggestions if anyone knows better (I am sure someone does).
A lot of references indicate this is a three tone scheme… I am not seeing it, but all the pictures I have dug up are less than stellar.
Also, I am hunting for Low-vis national insignias. I think I have some off of an F-15. Would those be about the right size? I am thinking a set from an F-16 would be too small. That just leaves me hunting for a black AFRES insignia… Which I might have somewhere in my stash… But if I don’t is there a decal set with those insignia I could buy? I am not afraid to pay a few bucks to throw another partial decal sheet in the spare bag.
It seems like an insanely high percentage of all F-4 aftermarket decals are for USN/USMC.
Are you talking about the Hill Gray scheme or the ADC gray scheme? As for the AB cans, if I had known you needed a set I would have sent you some from the Hasagawa kit. I just sent Eddie Miller some -15 and -17 AB cans from the Hasagawa Phantom kits. Contact him and he might send you the set you need. I only have one extra set left and the box is already packed up and in storage.
I am not too worried about the cans, thanks for the offer though. This thing is going to be sitting on a bookshelf with its rear against the wall. I have a Hagesawa kit I could pirate if I was really that upset about it, I just thought it was a little cheap on Revells part.
This paint scheme.
I have nearly perfect color vision and that looks like two shades to me. Unless the nose is considered a third shade. It just looks less faded to me.
