War weary F-4 phantoms

Thanks Bernie.

I'm more using this kit to try new things as I get back into the hobby.

It's a crap revell kit from the 80's with no detail and very poor fit. Pitty , as the Phantom is one of my favourite jets.  When I'm done playing with this one, I'm building my dad a model of his F-111 that he flew when he was in the RAAF. 

When thats finished, I'll be keen to do another Phantom. A kit with lots of detail. When that time comes I'd love to pick your brains, maybe a few ideas as to a good vietnam era Phantom.

Thanks for your help.

Mark

A lot will depend on the location of the aircraft.  State side units had more time to take care of their aircraft and they went through a routine corrosion control program about every six months.  Units stationed over seas did not have this luxury as the sortie rate was much higher.  Most of the over seas units only got their aircraft painted when they went in for depot maintenance. 

In SEA the aircraft flew a lot of missions up until late '68 when the bombing of North Vietnam came to a halt.   After that, most missions were escorting recce aircraft or bombing of the Ho Chi Mihn trail.  Aircraft that arrived during that time period had very little weathering, as the sortie rate was much lower. 

I spent over twenty out of twenty-six years in the USAF on the F-4.  I have seen all type of weathering on them.  Let me know which unit, time period, and type of F-4 you will be building and I will be able to help you more.   

I'll play with them alittle and see what I can do.  In the book they look alright but on the screen the aircraft looks prestine.  I'm having someone return another one of my resources so I might have that for you if youcan wait 'til Monday.

Thanks for all your time MortarMagnet.

I am very grateful for all your help.

I'd be interested to see those photos, however they turned out.

Thanks again.

Mark.

 

I made an effort to scan a few pics but the images didn't show the chipping, but I found this you may or may not be interested in www.ugamedia.com/cd/f4.htm

The images I found show very light chipping on the intake starting at the panel line midway up all the way to the point where the curve sharpens.  The edge of the intake plate thingy is worn just on the very edge and slightly more the corners.  The leading edges of the wings are divided into three sections.  Only the middle sections appear worn.  They appear faded as though the paint was thin.  The is also light chipping.  There is some chipping around some panels that are often removed.  Hard point mounts are worn down to the metal on the very forward tip.  This is not a very large area that is worn, no more than half a scale hand.  It fades from paint to white to metal.  Most other chips appear white.  Maybe someone with some F-4 experience could help determine if there was a white primer or if this is just the metal I am seeing.  I wish these pics would have scanned better.  The best pic is of an F-4C in airguard service in the 80s.

I'll keep trying for you, I have time, I'm unemployed right now.

No.

I'd prefer USAF as i think they let their aircraft 'go' a little more.

The navy tend to look after their paint a little better. Some of their aircraft almost look like dalmations with the amount of touch-ups they recieve.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

That's a tuff one.  I'll see if I have anything. You want specifically navy stuff?