The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Yeh, sometimes my Daughter can make the Monster cough something back up.  I'm still looking for a small door that came off of a 1/48th. Testors F4 recon bird I did last year.  The rest of the kit is sitting inn  a box in my on hold pile until I find that tiny piece...  I don't even have any idea what it's for.  I think it's some kind of inspection hatch.  It covers a box shaped hole on the port aft of the fuselage, just at the trailing edge of the wing, up on top of the intake/engine tunnel on that side.

Rich

Thunderbolt379

Sparrow -- I know what you're going through with the carpet monster, I've had that happen more times that I can count. Somewhere down there is a grab handle for my Italeri M110 that'll never put in an appearance again... A small fitting from a Trumpeter Type 89 TD, and so forth. We should have forcefields round our work benches modulated to let our hands in but nothing else out...

68GT -- welcome to the Wing, page 1 is updated. Report to the production line and carry on, airman!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Son Of Medicine Man

You are not going to believe what just happened.  I was using a pair of tweezers to get an idea of how the broken piece was going to be oriented when I glue it.  The broken piece snapped out of the grip of the tweezers, ricochet off of the table then I heard it ricochet off of something else in the room.  Holy cow, how in the world am I going to find that piece?  It is incredibly small!  If you notice in the picture it is only about twice the size of the end of the ball point pen.

I got out my  flashlight and got down on the floor and started looking.  Unbelievably I found it after about 30 minutes of searching.  I thought for sure I would never find it.

Ken

Shish-kabob happens Ken you are sure you will never see something again, and then it shows up.

My best lost and found was the tail end gun-pod for a B-52 1:72. I heard it bounce, 'the teaser,' then flashlights and frustration. Three years later I went to disassemble an old shelving unit, and there, on the inside corner of a shelf second up from the bottom, was the pod. All those years I thought the little farmer was on the floor somewhere!

It's like "I went through loss cycle, I was at the acceptance stage, what the helium are you doin' showing up?"

Any ways I'm glad you found it so fast. What a top-off for the long wait!

Hi Rich, those doors cover the photoflare ejectors for the RFs -- both Fujimi and Hasegawa molded them as separate pieces too, which, given that the fuslage is a common component among variants, is very annoying when trying to get a smooth fuselage on Phantoms that didn't have them...

M/TB379

Sparrowhyperion

Yeh, sometimes my Daughter can make the Monster cough something back up.  I'm still looking for a small door that came off of a 1/48th. Testors F4 recon bird I did last year.  The rest of the kit is sitting inn  a box in my on hold pile until I find that tiny piece...  I don't even have any idea what it's for.  I think it's some kind of inspection hatch.  It covers a box shaped hole on the port aft of the fuselage, just at the trailing edge of the wing, up on top of the intake/engine tunnel on that side.

Rich

 

 

Thunderbolt379:

 

Sparrow -- I know what you're going through with the carpet monster, I've had that happen more times that I can count. Somewhere down there is a grab handle for my Italeri M110 that'll never put in an appearance again... A small fitting from a Trumpeter Type 89 TD, and so forth. We should have forcefields round our work benches modulated to let our hands in but nothing else out...

68GT -- welcome to the Wing, page 1 is updated. Report to the production line and carry on, airman!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

 

 

Rich:

Aren't you supposed to be telling us about how to put a blob of silly putty on the insides of our tweezer right about now?

Nah..  I gotta leave a FEW things for you guys to figure out yourselves.

Rich

Bockscar

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Yeh, sometimes my Daughter can make the Monster cough something back up.  I'm still looking for a small door that came off of a 1/48th. Testors F4 recon bird I did last year.  The rest of the kit is sitting inn  a box in my on hold pile until I find that tiny piece...  I don't even have any idea what it's for.  I think it's some kind of inspection hatch.  It covers a box shaped hole on the port aft of the fuselage, just at the trailing edge of the wing, up on top of the intake/engine tunnel on that side.

Rich

 

 

Thunderbolt379:

 

Sparrow -- I know what you're going through with the carpet monster, I've had that happen more times that I can count. Somewhere down there is a grab handle for my Italeri M110 that'll never put in an appearance again... A small fitting from a Trumpeter Type 89 TD, and so forth. We should have forcefields round our work benches modulated to let our hands in but nothing else out...

68GT -- welcome to the Wing, page 1 is updated. Report to the production line and carry on, airman!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

 

 

 

 

 

Rich:

Aren't you supposed to be telling us about how to put a blob of silly putty on the insides of our tweezer right about now?

68GT

I'm going to give this 1/72 RF-4E by Revell a go.  It looks to be real turd with a lot of filling and sanding involved.  If all is well then I'll put some Microscale AKG51 "Immelmann" 25th Anniversary decals on it.

 

F-4P

F-4Putty

RhinoPlasty

68GT:

Welcome to the World Famous Centre for Rhino Plasty!

At the WFCFRP we specialize in T.U.R.D. technology.

T.U.R.D. is the acronym for Tolerance Unacceptable - Re Design.

Put on a mask pal, and remember, from now on...repeat this over and over to yourself...Putty is my best friend...Putty is my best friend...

Here's my Tolerances Unacceptable build:

This is the version I chose:

This is the underside, the plastic was so thin it fragged when I glued one of the spars/bulkhead in, I put the wheel doors in, note the gap(s) as well:

Here's the cockpit with OOTB decals

Lastly, here's the not built bash:

Coveted Immelmann decal sheet (previously bashed by previous owner):

So you are in the right place at the right time.

If you ever need the RF-4E parts for the big bird, you know where it is!

68GT,

I also want to welcome you to Rhinoplasty 2011! I have the same mold Revell kit you have, just one of the shorter nose birds. After building all these nice, new kits; I've had the pleasure to reacquaint myself with putty, superglue, and plastic shims! I had to buy a new tube of putty; first one in 8 years! I forgot how good Squadron White smells.

Remaking T.U.R.D.'s into masterpieces, cuz' they may be all we have left one day..WFCFRP!

Glenn

mississippivol

68GT,

I also want to welcome you to Rhinoplasty 2011! I have the same mold Revell kit you have, just one of the shorter nose birds. After building all these nice, new kits; I've had the pleasure to reacquaint myself with putty, superglue, and plastic shims! I had to buy a new tube of putty; first one in 8 years! I forgot how good Squadron White smells.

Remaking T.U.R.D.'s into masterpieces, cuz' they may be all we have left one day..WFCFRP!

Glenn

That's it Glenn;

It's not about the plastic, it's about the subject. We bend, literally, material until our artifacts help others to envision the original...(no wonder they gave Socrates hemlock, I just like Rhinos).

Remember that Howell guy on Gilligan's island, he always said: "Break off a piece and make it fit!"

Oh yeah, I like the sweet smell of MEK, and that's nothing, I love how it magically appears under my fingers when I am manually clamping stuff together. It's evil. If you even think about putting elastic bands around the T.U.R.D., the bands get scarred into the plastic even before you stretch them!

I'm using Testors putty for the final, I think it is about an 800 grit, which is great, but it uses acetone as a solvent. Krikey, at least I can smell MEK, but acetone is even more evil. Make sure you have really good ventilation guys, and use wet impliments.

I have water handy, and wet bounty/kim/shop towels to take away the dust. 

Inspite of the T.U.R.D. challenges "Chasing" the shape is well worth it.

Dominic

WFCFRP, T.U.R.D. Division, Office of Glue Fumes and Putty Dust

Hello all! Tonight i spent some time doing fiddle work on the 'F' as I yet to pick up those fresh paints for the Geasle (I check my resources and decided I can afford it this week-stopping at LHS Monday evening!). I spent time drilling holes for attachment  points for drop tanks, pylons, and actuators. I also began removing extra antennas and so on. I saw that the kit instructions showed to remove those triangle reinforcement plates off the stabilators and began to shave away. I then noticed the painting guide still shows them! I went into panic mode thinking which is correct? I was past the point of no return! I jumped on the 'net and started google searching F-4F's for images, and wouldn't you know: the first 'F' I pulled up showed the plates! I then went through about another 2 dozen or so and couldn't find another! According to the ARC forum, they were found on a few F's but not many. Whew! All the rest of the photos, the plates were not present! Sometimes these 'One kit for all versions' can be a pain!

jimbot58

Hello all! Tonight i spent some time doing fiddle work on the 'F' as I yet to pick up those fresh paints for the Geasle (I check my resources and decided I can afford it this week-stopping at LHS Monday evening!). I spent time drilling holes for attachment  points for drop tanks, pylons, and actuators. I also began removing extra antennas and so on. I saw that the kit instructions showed to remove those triangle reinforcement plates off the stabilators and began to shave away. I then noticed the painting guide still shows them! I went into panic mode thinking which is correct? I was past the point of no return! I jumped on the 'net and started google searching F-4F's for images, and wouldn't you know: the first 'F' I pulled up showed the plates! I then went through about another 2 dozen or so and couldn't find another! According to the ARC forum, they were found on a few F's but not many. Whew! All the rest of the photos, the plates were not present! Sometimes these 'One kit for all versions' can be a pain!

Those reinforcement plates are called "Beef Up Plates" or "Stab Wedges".  The official nomenclature is "Stiffener, Torquebox, Stabilizer".  Another official name for another item is "Slot, Fixed, Stabilizer, Leading Edge, Horizontal".   We just called them "Tear Drops".

The term "Geasel" was first used at Spangdahlm AB Germany,  I had just arrived at Spang and had to clear in, in a hurry as we were due an ORI.  I was assigned to the 81st TFS/AMU, a F-4G unit.  As a new arrival my task was to ride around with the unit maintenance officer so he could keep an eye on me and keep me out of trouble.  I saw a "G" rolling down the runway after landing and called ops and asked if they had received a squawk.  I used the word Geasel with my conversation with ops and the name kind of stuck.  From then on, every one started calling them Geasels.

At George AFB, CA, I was in the 35th TFTW, 20th TFTS.  When talking on the radio to maintenance control I used the term "That Geasel Outfit" referring to the 37th TFS also at George AFB.  That afternoon at the laugh in, the Wing King asked me if it was me that had called them that?  I told him yes it was, thinking I might be in trouble.  He said he liked the term and from then on he and others would call them that.

Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you calling out panel numbers, identifying controles in the cockpit, using maintenance terms to identify items, and speaking terms or words not known by the majority of people.  It is like having our own language.

This is getting better all the time.

I actually started mine today.  Not really worth a WIP image yet.  I have the resin seats adorned in their primary base color.  I  put down a semi-gloss black base to show the contrast between the 2 or 3 shades of Green on the seat better.  In this case, it is also the main color of the seat frame so it's the old 2 birds with one stone.  Thanks to those lovely Mk7 images that were sent up, I have a perfect painting guide.  Which is a good thing, since the paint guide that came with the seats is horrible...  I am planning to do a light wash with some flint gray today to highlight some of the detail bits of the frame.  I am working on the assumption that a "working" bird would not be exactly pristine so some paint wear and scratches are to be expected.  I will have to ask my Daughter to do some of the tiny stuff since I physically can't do it anymore.  Luckily she is becoming a great little artist.  The cockpit is going to be brush painted I think.

I did have one large hiccup which was luckily confined to a new tshirt I was wearing and some papers I had in a stack.  I was using my dremel on it's lowest setting with a T shaped piece of sprue in it to stir the Semi Gloss Black I had, since it had separated a little, and right in the middle of it, my Daughter's idiot cat jumped up on the desk and hit my arm.  I had the dremel in the paint and spinning at the time...  I think you can do the math from there...  Now I need to talk the Mrs into going out for some more semi gloss MM enamel.  Which is going to get me in trouble again.. lol  At least my Daughter offered to pay for the paint and the half can of thinner I had to use to clean up the mess, since it was her cat..  I declined... (If I had accepted, I know she would have been all upset.   Plus I am sucking up to the two of them since my Bday is just over a week away...   .) 

I'll post some images of the completed seats when I have them painted.  Oh..  I almost forgot...

I have not worked with resin parts before this so I was wondering if someone could tell me the best kind of cutoff wheel to use to remove the excess base material, and what speed to use?  I don't want to wreck the paint job on the seat or melt it.  Thanks.

Rich

berny13

"...Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you...using maintenance terms to identify items..."

Is "whatchamacallit" an official maintenance term?  I hope so, because that's the term I use most often when referring to stuff.

Seriously, it's great having you as a well of first-hand knowledge.  I'm learning a lot!

BTW, cool story!  I like hearing these first-person history lessons.

Cheers!

-O (Who really wants to get started on his Phantom)

Rich, unless you are talking about doing something like the length of a ship kit hull,,,,,,I have the perfect "cut off wheel" idea for you

go to UMM-USA and look at their razor saw

one of the "tricks of the trade" in modeling is "slow and controlled",,,,,,,the UMM saw lets you do that, costs about the same as a set of Dremel wheels,,,,,,,and gives you that little "stop,  hold it, am I screwing this up?" moment,,,,,,,the wheel just goess whiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrr, PING!!,,,,,and then you don't have to ask, lol

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/product_info.php?products_id=35&osCsid=d54ca90b52077525368e11ffce18e3ef

each blade has two teeth pitches, and you can mount the blade for "push or draw" use

it's fine enough and controllable enough to be able to lay it right along one of those casting blocks that's bigger than the part (we've all seen those), and just slice right off, always in control,,,,,,,it's what I use to cut noses off two planes to change their versions

Rex

oortiz10

berny13:

"...Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you...using maintenance terms to identify items..."

 

Is "whatchamacallit" an official maintenance term?  I hope so, because that's the term I use most often when referring to stuff.

Seriously, it's great having you as a well of first-hand knowledge.  I'm learning a lot!

BTW, cool story!  I like hearing these first-person history lessons.

Cheers!

-O (Who really wants to get started on his Phantom)

 

No, whatchamacallit is not an official term.  Sorryboutthat. 

When I was at George AFB, QA did an inspection on one of our aircraft.  An inspector wrote up "Strike camera lense cover cracked".  There was no strike camera loaded so we started looking around the gun camera recorder and could find no cracks.  We finally asked him to come out and show us.  He kept commenting about how dumb we were if we couldn't find it.  He walked right up to the TISEO housing and pointed to the cracked cover.  The crew chief looked at him and said, "You dumb azz, that is a TISEO and if you would look in the forms you will see where the part has been on order for over a month".  The inspector got mad and told the crew chief he had worked F-4's for over five years and knew what he was talking about.  The crew chief told him he needed to go back to school again to learn what items were called, and as a crew chief, he had over eight years on the F-4.  The rest of us just stood there and let the crew chief give the inspector holly heck.

I agree with TarnShip on the razor saw.  It also cuts down on the resin dust and gives you more control.  I have several and use them for all my resing cutting.  I wouldn't use anything else.  Wet sandpaper can be used for final shaping and cleaning up areas.

Thanks for the idea.  I am trying to get to their site, but it keeps timing out.  I'll keep trying.

Rich

TarnShip

Rich, unless you are talking about doing something like the length of a ship kit hull,,,,,,I have the perfect "cut off wheel" idea for you

go to UMM-USA and look at their razor saw

one of the "tricks of the trade" in modeling is "slow and controlled",,,,,,,the UMM saw lets you do that, costs about the same as a set of Dremel wheels,,,,,,,and gives you that little "stop,  hold it, am I screwing this up?" moment,,,,,,,the wheel just goess whiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrr, PING!!,,,,,and then you don't have to ask, lol

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/product_info.php?products_id=35&osCsid=d54ca90b52077525368e11ffce18e3ef

each blade has two teeth pitches, and you can mount the blade for "push or draw" use

it's fine enough and controllable enough to be able to lay it right along one of those casting blocks that's bigger than the part (we've all seen those), and just slice right off, always in control,,,,,,,it's what I use to cut noses off two planes to change their versions

Rex

Berny

"Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you calling out panel numbers, identifying controles in the cockpit, using maintenance terms to identify items, and speaking terms or words not known by the majority of people.  It is like having our own language."

After Ish gave me the suggestion for dressing up the burner cans, I realized the intakes could use a bit of detailing as well. I always thought those big axe like wedges on the inside and extending out along the fuselage were called 'splitters.' I was told they direct shock waves away from the intakes and fuselage. What did you guys call them, and what are they for?

Thanks

Hi Everyone,

Berny:  I totally enjoy hearing your stories!  Keep it up!  And I really like the idea of learning more about the Phantom.  I am all ears!

Rich:  Thank you for asking that question about cutting the resin.  I was wondering about that myself.

Rex:  Thank you for the tip on the saw blades.  I will be ordering a set for myself.

Well since I am now waiting on that "Helping Hands Octopus" to arrive, I have time to build my paint booth.  I am going to start on it this evening.  I will post some pictures of it later.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

I searched for a suitable tool to use for holding those pieces together while I glue it and found this:

It is called Helping Hands Octopus.  With shipping it came to around $13.00.

Ken

Oh no, I think we've created a monster:

I already ordered one too.

Bockscar

 

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

I searched for a suitable tool to use for holding those pieces together while I glue it and found this:

It is called Helping Hands Octopus.  With shipping it came to around $13.00.

Ken

 

 

Oh no, I think we've created a monster:

Having completed a recent kit and clearing the bench, tonight I started my Testors F-4F, Luftwaffe version. And wow does the cockpit suck.

You just discovered the main reason I decided to do the Hasegawa kit instead of my 1/48 Testors F-4G.  :)

hkshooter

Having completed a recent kit and clearing the bench, tonight I started my Testors F-4F, Luftwaffe version. And wow does the cockpit suck.

Rex:

"it's fine enough and controllable enough to be able to lay it right along one of those casting blocks that's bigger than the part (we've all seen those), and just slice right off, always in control,,,,,,,it's what I use to cut noses off two planes to change their versions"

That makes you an honorary Dr. of Rhino Plasty!

That's a very interesting site, I'm assuming you are talking about the double edged blades? I've only used the 'Xacto' type. Yeah Rex it's amazing how much extra can come off with the rotary tools. Actually I'm back to drilling by hand. The only thing is that sometimes the manufacturers don't grind the tips right.

As another poster here mentioned, The hard points all need to be drilled out. I'll be using paper clips cut to length for the studs to hold the pylons.

The putty is so thick on those wings, I just may hit oil!

Interesting.  I had never seen a saw like that one.  I was thinking of one of th single edge Xacto or Zonar saws.

My Dremel is one of the old multiple speed ones, at low it's very slow.  I use it for Modding PC cases.  Cutting windows in door and top panels etc.  As well as making holes for more fans. lol

Rich

Bockscar

Rex:

"it's fine enough and controllable enough to be able to lay it right along one of those casting blocks that's bigger than the part (we've all seen those), and just slice right off, always in control,,,,,,,it's what I use to cut noses off two planes to change their versions"

That makes you an honorary Dr. of Rhino Plasty!

That's a very interesting site, I'm assuming you are talking about the double edged blades? I've only used the 'Xacto' type. Yeah Rex it's amazing how much extra can come off with the rotary tools. Actually I'm back to drilling by hand. The only thing is that sometimes the manufacturers don't grind the tips right.

As another poster here mentioned, The hard points all need to be drilled out. I'll be using paper clips cut to length for the studs to hold the pylons.

The putty is so thick on those wings, I just may hit oil!

Sparrowhyperion

This is getting better all the time.

I actually started mine today.  Not really worth a WIP image yet.  I have the resin seats adorned in their primary base color.  I  put down a semi-gloss black base to show the contrast between the 2 or 3 shades of Green on the seat better.  In this case, it is also the main color of the seat frame so it's the old 2 birds with one stone.  Thanks to those lovely Mk7 images that were sent up, I have a perfect painting guide.  Which is a good thing, since the paint guide that came with the seats is horrible...  I am planning to do a light wash with some flint gray today to highlight some of the detail bits of the frame.  I am working on the assumption that a "working" bird would not be exactly pristine so some paint wear and scratches are to be expected.  I will have to ask my Daughter to do some of the tiny stuff since I physically can't do it anymore.  Luckily she is becoming a great little artist.  The cockpit is going to be brush painted I think.

I did have one large hiccup which was luckily confined to a new tshirt I was wearing and some papers I had in a stack.  I was using my dremel on it's lowest setting with a T shaped piece of sprue in it to stir the Semi Gloss Black I had, since it had separated a little, and right in the middle of it, my Daughter's idiot cat jumped up on the desk and hit my arm.  I had the dremel in the paint and spinning at the time...  I think you can do the math from there...  Now I need to talk the Mrs into going out for some more semi gloss MM enamel.  Which is going to get me in trouble again.. lol  At least my Daughter offered to pay for the paint and the half can of thinner I had to use to clean up the mess, since it was her cat..  I declined... (If I had accepted, I know she would have been all upset.   Plus I am sucking up to the two of them since my Bday is just over a week away...   .) 

I'll post some images of the completed seats when I have them painted.  Oh..  I almost forgot...

I have not worked with resin parts before this so I was wondering if someone could tell me the best kind of cutoff wheel to use to remove the excess base material, and what speed to use?  I don't want to wreck the paint job on the seat or melt it.  Thanks.

Rich

Rich it seems funny now, though I bet it didn't make you laugh at the time. Is that kitty possessed, or maybe likes models more than the average cat?

Here's an early Happy Birthday Rich in case you don't mention it again, all the best in your model building endeavours!

Bockscar

mississippivol:

68GT,

I also want to welcome you to Rhinoplasty 2011! I have the same mold Revell kit you have, just one of the shorter nose birds. After building all these nice, new kits; I've had the pleasure to reacquaint myself with putty, superglue, and plastic shims! I had to buy a new tube of putty; first one in 8 years! I forgot how good Squadron White smells.

Remaking T.U.R.D.'s into masterpieces, cuz' they may be all we have left one day..WFCFRP!

Glenn

 

That's it Glenn;

It's not about the plastic, it's about the subject. We bend, literally, material until our artifacts help others to envision the original...(no wonder they gave Socrates hemlock, I just like Rhinos).

Remember that Howell guy on Gilligan's island, he always said: "Break off a piece and make it fit!"

Oh yeah, I like the sweet smell of MEK, and that's nothing, I love how it magically appears under my fingers when I am manually clamping stuff together. It's evil. If you even think about putting elastic bands around the T.U.R.D., the bands get scarred into the plastic even before you stretch them!

I'm using Testors putty for the final, I think it is about an 800 grit, which is great, but it uses acetone as a solvent. Krikey, at least I can smell MEK, but acetone is even more evil. Make sure you have really good ventilation guys, and use wet impliments.

I have water handy, and wet bounty/kim/shop towels to take away the dust. 

Inspite of the T.U.R.D. challenges "Chasing" the shape is well worth it.

Dominic

WFCFRP, T.U.R.D. Division, Office of Glue Fumes and Putty Dust

 

Couldn't agree more!

Glenn

"Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you calling out panel numbers, identifying controles in the cockpit, using maintenance terms to identify items, and speaking terms or words not known by the majority of people.  It is like having our own language."

Berny: Could I just get a free ride in one instead?

Glenn

berny13

 

jimbot58:

 

Hello all! Tonight i spent some time doing fiddle work on the 'F' as I yet to pick up those fresh paints for the Geasle (I check my resources and decided I can afford it this week-stopping at LHS Monday evening!). I spent time drilling holes for attachment  points for drop tanks, pylons, and actuators. I also began removing extra antennas and so on. I saw that the kit instructions showed to remove those triangle reinforcement plates off the stabilators and began to shave away. I then noticed the painting guide still shows them! I went into panic mode thinking which is correct? I was past the point of no return! I jumped on the 'net and started google searching F-4F's for images, and wouldn't you know: the first 'F' I pulled up showed the plates! I then went through about another 2 dozen or so and couldn't find another! According to the ARC forum, they were found on a few F's but not many. Whew! All the rest of the photos, the plates were not present! Sometimes these 'One kit for all versions' can be a pain!

 

 

Those reinforcement plates are called "Beef Up Plates" or "Stab Wedges".  The official nomenclature is "Stiffener, Torquebox, Stabilizer".  Another official name for another item is "Slot, Fixed, Stabilizer, Leading Edge, Horizontal".   We just called them "Tear Drops".

The term "Geasel" was first used at Spangdahlm AB Germany,  I had just arrived at Spang and had to clear in, in a hurry as we were due an ORI.  I was assigned to the 81st TFS/AMU, a F-4G unit.  As a new arrival my task was to ride around with the unit maintenance officer so he could keep an eye on me and keep me out of trouble.  I saw a "G" rolling down the runway after landing and called ops and asked if they had received a squawk.  I used the word Geasel with my conversation with ops and the name kind of stuck.  From then on, every one started calling them Geasels.

At George AFB, CA, I was in the 35th TFTW, 20th TFTS.  When talking on the radio to maintenance control I used the term "That Geasel Outfit" referring to the 37th TFS also at George AFB.  That afternoon at the laugh in, the Wing King asked me if it was me that had called them that?  I told him yes it was, thinking I might be in trouble.  He said he liked the term and from then on he and others would call them that.

Before this group build is over, I'll have many of you calling out panel numbers, identifying controles in the cockpit, using maintenance terms to identify items, and speaking terms or words not known by the majority of people.  It is like having our own language.

I hope you will not mind if I used the Geasel term? I kind of like it. I'm kind of glad I decided to join the group. It's a great chance for those of us who are lucky to even see these aircraft from those like Berny13 who has had a bit more experience with these birds.

I did spend about an hour tonight finishing shaving off those plates, sanding smooth and scribing panel lines on just one. I remember when I was about 10 and finished off a whole model in about the same amount of time.....

Today's question for the panel 

F-4S  Rear of fuselage, midway between exhaust cans and start of tail there is a panel on each side, covering 72 holes. Edit; as seen in Jimbot's 4th photo on page 29 I presume (wild guess)  this would be where chaff is fired from to prevent a missile strike? If so would the panel be jettisoned when the chaff is deployed ? On the Hasegawa kit it shows to install the covers but before I do I'd better check I'm not wasting an opportunity for extra detail, perhaps a carrier deck diorama servicing scene. I also wonder which way they would hinge?

I haven't noticed these before in my "Google research"

Or perhaps they are just servicing covers for some thingy-ma-jig?

Any ideas out there?

Another question? In my research I found a statement from the USS Midway museum that one of her Phantoms claimed the first and also the last Mig kill of the Vietnam war. Can anyone here substantiate the story

And another ?, the initials VF on naval planes stands for what?  Very Fast?

Cheers, RAG.