F-4 colours

The Horizontal stab is made up of five areas. The unpainted is made of stainless steel for the forward part. In the center part is a section made of titanium and steel. This part is called the torque box. It goes all the way to the tip. It also forms the main structural attachment point of the stab. It is the strongest part of the stab. The rear part of the stab is made of titanium. Above the stab is sheets of thin titanium, overlaped on the trailing edge. They are refered to as shingles. Their color varies depending on if they are old or have been replaced with new ones. Dull or darker for old, shiny for new, with vairing shades in between. Between the engines and in the direct exhaust path, the material is titanium. It would be very dark and dull due to the exhaust heat and soot.

The colors I use is metalizer stainless steel, titanium. dark anodonic gray and exhaust. For the inside of the exhaust I use titanium brushed with exhaust. For the flame holder and turbine I use burnt metal and then drybrushed with rust.

If you can get them, try using Model Master Metalizers. Buffing stainless steel for the horizontal stabs and areas below the vertical stab, then use buffing jet exhaust for the ares around the exhaust nozzles. Then, once dry, burnish the area with a Q-Tip. It will produce a very natural metal finish. Good Luck!

I have used 3 types of alclad2 on several F4s. jet exhaust for the cans and the area affected by the exhaust, dural aluminum for the leading edges and the tail plaines, and dark aluminum for contrasting hardened points. I like the results I have achieved with this method. hope this helps
rhino II