It's true Ken, after Phixer's demise, I too could not get back to the bench.

Given everything that happened, how can I complain?

I'll never forget the lunches at the OC.

He is still laughing at my F-4P.......and so it should be!

I might even build a scale 'resignator' in his honour.

Paperwork included!...lol.....

Bockscar

Son Of Medicine Man:

Hi Everyone,

Exactly 4 weeks until this group build starts!  I am getting fired up.  I am really looking forward to this build.  I think we are going to have a lot of fun.  I can't wait!

Ken

 

First off will be the flame holders for those J-79's.

I have a Tamiya kit to use as a prototype. Once I get that done I can glue the wings to the Fuselage.....

I may have to cheat Ken, maybe do that over the next 4 weeks.

Yeah, looking forward to this alright.

I know what you mean Dom.  Getting hard to resist the urge to turn the lights on the bench and start working. 

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

Exactly 4 weeks until this group build starts!  I am getting fired up.  I am really looking forward to this build.  I think we are going to have a lot of fun.  I can't wait!

Ken

I have a Tamiya kit to use as a prototype. Once I get that done I can glue the wings to the Fuselage.....

I may have to cheat Ken, maybe do that over the next 4 weeks.

Yeah, looking forward to this alright.

Damnit, i thought it started already lol. Ive only started the cockpit painting stage. Might have to take a 4 week modelling hiatus. Save up some dosh and buy something really cool.

Hi Everyone,

Exactly 4 weeks until this group build starts!  I am getting fired up.  I am really looking forward to this build.  I think we are going to have a lot of fun.  I can't wait!

Ken

Hi Ken,

Welcome aboard.  I am sure Berny will be very pleased with having you here.

If you don't mind, I will be interested in picking your brain and watching your build very closely.  I also have the C & H Aero conversion kit for the TF-102.  It is always great to find people who have experience with the aircraft we are modeling!

Ken

I had conversed a bit with Berny quite awhile back about the TF-102 he was building.  He mentioned that his conversion kit had suffered some warping from heat in storage or something like that.  Sadly, I don't think that he got to complete it.  I just received my C & H Aero kit for the TF-102, and though it looks like I might be in over my head, I'm gonna have a go at it.  I plan to replicate one that I had experience with many years ago.  I've committed to build it in Stik's Veterans GB, so would also like to enter it here in Berny's honor.

Ken

Hi RadMax8,

I am sure Berny will be happy to know you are here.  You got a month before we start, and a year to get finished.  We will be looking forward to building with you!

Ken

When I saw the title of this thread I felt pretty sad. Berny was one of the old hands here who really helped me along as I progressed in my modeling skills. Sad to hear he passed, but I'm glad he's being remembered. What a fitting memorial. If I can get my modeling area set up, I'd love to join. I'm not sure what I'll build, but I'll do my best to make it look as good as he could!

SuperB60ce:

Wow those are fantastic photos! Thanks for posting them.

I have to agree they're bright and clear enough they could have taken yesterday but I can tell from the sideburns they come from the '70s

I can't wait to see it!

Ken

Rich and I will be working on a badge,

We will try to incorporate Berny's PhantomPhixer logo, his profile taken from a photo, and with any luck the 2Sick0, Hangar Queen and Fighter Supreme.

We'll keep all here posted.

Bockscar

Hey,,,,,,figures it was TarnShip!

You got it!   Really glad he gave me that link.  And it is really cool that people put the work together on that link to show where the difference in each kit are.  A real help!

Ken

Hey,,,,,,figures it was TarnShip!

Well it bothered me not to remember who gave me the link so I went through all of my posts until I found it and it was Rex (aka TarnShip).  Here is the link:  http://www.modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48d.htm 

Ken

Bockscar

SuperB60ce:

Many thanks for the photo's, looks like they were taken yesterday!

Ken:

Good point about the '260, My kit has slatted wings. I would have to do an OOB for the 1/32 build.

Hi Dom,

I am in no way trying to come off as a expert on the F-4.  This info was bestowed upon me by Berny through many question and answer conversations.  Then someone else and I wish I remembered who, gave me a link to a web page that gave all the sprue descriptions Hasegawa used in all of their F-4 kits.  From this I was able to figure out which kit was the best one to use for this project.

Ken

Ken

SuperB60ce:

Many thanks for the photo's, looks like they were taken yesterday!

Ken:

Good point about the '260, My kit has slatted wings. I would have to do an OOB for the 1/32 build.

SuperB60ce

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Picture 1:  Unkown

Picture 2:  8 JUL 72: Steve Ritchie's Paula flight gets de-armed after their return from a MigCAP mission in which Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue shot down two Mig-21s

Picture 3:  Captain John Madden (3 Mig kills) plays photographer as Steve and Chuck return from Steve's third and fourth Mig kills

Picture 4:  Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue on 8JUL72 after shooting down two Mig 21s

Picture 5:  Captain John Madden and Lt Art Stark wait to greet Steve Ritchie and Paula Flight after Steve and Chuck DeBellevue shot down two Mig 21s

Picture 6:  F-4 instrument panel

Picutre 7:  Steve Ritchie paints the second red star on the F-4E (of the 58TFS TDY to Udorn from Eglin AFB, FL) he flew as Paula 1 on 8 July 1972 when he and Chuck DeBellevue downed two North Vietnamese Mig 21s. These were his third and fourth kills, leading up to his fifth kill on 28 August 1972 when he became the first Air Force Ace of the Vietnam War.

Picture 8:  Members of Paula flight, 8JUL72, after Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue shot down two Mig 21s. Back row: Capt Bryan Tibbett, Capt Steve Ritchie, Capt Chuck DeBellevue, Lt John Hamm. Front row: Lt Bud Hargrove, Capt Dwain Houck, Lt Tommy Feezel, Lt Bob Hornack

Picture 9:  Photo of 362 prior to the Midas gun muzzle install

Very cool pictures!!  Can you give us some text for each one? 

Ken

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Ken,

Sounds like a really nice model. I'm looking forward to the story behind her. Sadly I didn't really get to know Berny very well. I just read his comments and he helped me with a few questions I had on my Phantom back in the first F-4 GB. He was always helpful and had something nice to say about everyone's work. Great guy all around.

Cliff

SuperB60ce

Well, that's two birds from the 58th TFS.  I have un-earthed some great photos of 362 the day of the double mig kill, let me know if you want them, could be some good reference material for you.

That would be fantastic!

Well, that's two birds from the 58th TFS.  I have un-earthed some great photos of 362 the day of the double mig kill, let me know if you want them, could be some good reference material for you.

Good evening fellow modelers,

I realized that I haven't announced what I will be starting off with on this build.  I will be continuing with the model I was building when Berny passed away.  Berny was in the same group build that a few others that are joining this one was in when he passed.  I just could not get back to the bench after that.  But now, with the renewed spirit of you who have joined this one, I feel I can get back to it.

The model I am building is the 1/48 scale F-4E 69-260 as it flew in Vietnam when Berny was a crew chief for her.  There is a nice story behind this bird that I will share once the build starts.  The kit I will be using is the Hasegawa F-4EJ Phantom II P2.  The reason I am using this kit is because it has the "hard" wings (non slatted) which almost all F-4Es used in Vietnam. Also it does not have that darn U.S. Navy lump on the top side of each wing that would need to be removed on all other 1/48 Hasegawa kits.

I will be also using a countless number of after market parts and will list them as I come to them.  I do have the Aires cockpit almost completed already and will post pictures when the build starts.

Ken

Thanks Ken;

I have an opened Revell 1/32 with new tooling, and the old kit's RF nose section,

I'm wondering how close that would be to a build.

Bockscar

Hey Ken:

MIne was the 1/32 Revell RF-4E kit# 4754.

It would be interesting to know if yours is the new tooling or the old kit like mine.

I checked out a build of the original like mine, and there must have been some problem with it.

The fuselage around the forward missile bays on mine is 5/32 too narrow, other kits it looks fine.

Please send a picture(s) of the main components of your kit if you get the time and inclination.

Thanks

Hi Dom,

From what I understand the kit I purchased is the new tooling.  I will be more than happy to post pictures when it arrives.

Ken

Hey Ken:

MIne was the 1/32 Revell RF-4E kit# 4754.

It would be interesting to know if yours is the new tooling or the old kit like mine.

I checked out a build of the original like mine, and there must have been some problem with it.

The fuselage around the forward missile bays on mine is 5/32 too narrow, other kits it looks fine.

Please send a picture(s) of the main components of your kit if you get the time and inclination.

Thanks

Greetings fellow modelers!

I thought I would share this since it reminded me of Berny.  Sunday evening I won an auction on eBay.  It was the Revell 1/32 scale of the RF-4C kit number 4662.  Typically I would have asked Berny what I needed to do to the kit knowing that he would know the answer without a second thought.  It is going to take some time to get used to the idea that he is not here to ask those types of questions any more.

I did however find a very informative document by Ben Brown & Thierry Laurent that gives very detailed modifications required.  Here is a link:

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/Marketplace/Tweaks/RF-4C.pdf 

Ken

Sorry for the lousy looking cut n' paste guys, the previews looked good.

Just a taste of Berny's humor and generosity.