Looking for reference photos and weathering advice

These are a few of many I found with a google search. 

Yes, they were painted a gloss, however, the elements would eventually reduce the gloss to a satin finish. I believe other have more experience with these aircraft.

Hope this helps.

While I was not in the Navy back then, I was in the Air Force and from time to time Naavy and Marine aircraft would stop at the base for a short while.  Most of the time they had gloss paint jobs, either because they were land based at the time or had gone through corrision control or some other process that meant they would get a new paint job.  After while the paint would flaten out due to wear or just being on a carrier where the looks didn't matter quite as muchand the fact they were performing like they should.  I have seen pictures of some aircraft in need of a paint job, even a touch up job would be an improvement.

One time I caught a squadron of A-7s on the transit ramp and it looked like they had been cdalled to go somewhere in the middle of a new paint job.  Each one had various parts painted, and only one or two were finished.

Personally I liked the glossy looking aircraft.  Our interceptor aircraft always had a high gloss paint job.  The large aircraft like the C-121s remained flat as well as the cammo birds.  

Yes, during the 70’s USN & USMC aircraft were in gloss paints. But under operational conditions it did tend to weather down to a semi gloss or satin finish. But display birds for airshows and open houses were cleaned up real nice and fine.

I spent time on aircraft carriers and all a/c were given anti corrosion treatment with rattle cans of paint looking a little spotty all over with slightly lighter or darker shads of paint and washed as often as possible.

That depends on the period of time of the plane. Carrier planes got faded on top and dirty on the under side, navy planes were cleaner then usaf or usmc thats my appinion.  

Thank you guys! 

This was info I ahd been looking for as I am close to wrapping up my current project, and was hoping to get started on this next. 

 One other question, and this is mostly for the Navy guys. What was the usual configuration for the drop tanks? Most of the photos I have found only have the centerline tank with no wing tanks. Was this the norm? If so, what would go on the wing pylons as far as ordinance?

Not a Navy guy myself. But yes, wing tanks are not commonly seen on carrier based Phantoms. While centerline tanks were commonly carried. Marine Phantoms from land bases can be a different story. 

Ordnance depends upon the aircraft’s tasking. Strike, flak suppression, or CAS tastings will see all the various types of air to ground ordnance in use at whatever time employed. Aircraft tasked for escort and CAP type missions will pretty much stick with strictly AAM loadouts. Regarding those AAM loadouts, particularly Sidewinders, try to use the timeframe and service appropriate version of that missile. The Navy/Marine Corps never used the E and J versions. The B was phased out of use by F-4s fairly early in Vietnam, and the all aspect L did not appear until 1981 or so.

Looking thru this image search, TERs with Mk.82s on the inboard pylons looks to be a common loadout. No outboard tanks or pylons in most photos of actual aircraft. 

f-4b phantom vf-111

well it does not seem to want to let me post a link to that google image search... copy that text and paste it into google, then have a look for yourself. Ignore the models, color plates, etc. Look at the actual operational photos.

In the last several years I have not started a kit without finding photos of the subject with a Google image search.  While doing a search with google, among the results it usually suggests looking at images, you can just start with an image search.  On the home page, in the upper right corner is a list of options.  Select image from that list.

While Google is getting rediculous with its sponsored ads, I put up with it.  Yeah, there is a lot of junk among the results.  But there are gems if you stick with it.  I never start a kit now if I don't first have pictures- even scifi stuff.

I was amazed yesterday.  I will be starting a car kit, the 1886 Benz Motorwagon, which has a lot of oak panels.  I usually make woodgrain decals for such panels.  I had photographed some oak doors in my house, but decided to see what a google search would yield.  Found great oak grain photos!  Better than what was on my doors.  Figured I'd try some more woods in case I needed them for subjects using other woods, and found great walnut and mahogany grains too!