F-4S ?

A number of years back Testors had an F-4S in 1/48th - #573 - but I don't know if its still in production. At that time I picked up four of them at a model show for a real good price. I've built up two, one as a F-4S in "Heater" Heatley's experimental paint scheme and the other I back-dated to a USMC F-4J. The kit itself is of about Testors quallity, not much detail in the cockpit and some fit problems, but with some work I managed to build them up into something halfway decent. You might check e-bay to see if someone wants to part with one.

*** McC2

A number of years back Testors had an F-4S in 1/48th - #573 - but I don't know if its still in production. At that time I picked up four of them at a model show for a real good price. I've built up two, one as a F-4S in "Heater" Heatley's experimental paint scheme and the other I back-dated to a USMC F-4J. The kit itself is of about Testors quallity, not much detail in the cockpit and some fit problems, but with some work I managed to build them up into something halfway decent. You might check e-bay to see if someone wants to part with one.

The kit is actually the ESCII F-4S I have the E and S kits. And Hasegawa produced a F-4B/N in 1/48 as well

The best solution would be to track down one of the Hi-Grade Hasegawa kits.  They are rare, but still pop up on the market from time to time.

I have the Testors/Esci kit.  It's okay, but not in the same class as Hasegawa.

If you're really ambitious, you can do what I did years ago:  I used the old (pre Monogram merger) Revell F-4J and F-4E kits to build an S and an early non-slatted E by swapping the wings between the kits.

Mark

If I recall correctly, the primary visible difference between the F-4J and F-4S was the leading edge slats on the outer wing panels.

You may find this table helpful in regard to the Hasegawa kits. http://modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/has48d.htm

Steel Beach makes a resin "S" conversion set for the Monogram F-4J. I have it and it is ok. Paragon Designs also made a resin "S" conversion set. Don't know which model kit it was designed for but the photos I've seen of it showed the resin to be very nice. From what I understand, the Hasegawa F-4S is really just their F-4J fuselage kitted with their USAF F-4E late slatted wing. It's not really correct for a Navy slatted S but from what I understand the differences are not too great. Don't know too much about the Testor's S but I believe it was an Italeri rebox so any description of that kit should apply.   

One other thing, if you do a F-4S from a F-4J you will need to add the slime lights. The J's never carried them. They were only on the S's.

Steel Beach makes an S conversion for the Hasegawa J kit. It includes the slats and underwing strenghtening plates. They have one for the Monogram kit also, but it has more parts than you need if you want to use a Hasegawa S. SB also has vinyl slime lights to finish off the S kit.

Also, as an FYI, -41 never flew the S. They flew the B and then transitioned to the N. From the N, they converted to the F-14. That's cool you're doing their history. I have a friend in the squadron and I'm doing the same thing for their squadron space. I just sent them an F-14 in the Sukhoi killer markings. I thought that would be appropriate! Did you include the F4U-4? I've read conflicting reports that the -41 that flew the Corsair doesn't share any lineage to today's -41.

too bad i didn't see this post a week ago; i was given a hasegawa f4-j "showtime 100" that had the wrong wing in it i.e. the slatted one; i had no idea what to do with it so one of the guys in my club said "i'll make an f4-s out of it...." so i gave it to him....sorry!