The Official F-4 Phantom II Group Build 2011

Incoming Geasel:

Bockscar

Incoming Geasel:

 

Bockscar: Those kit markings look familiar somehow....

My Geasel started out with the Gray/green European colors and the 'SP' tailcode but changed to my SEA scheme when it became necessary to strip it down and redo it. I see markings for the weapons? Did your kit include them? Mine was an earlier version and I had to add them from one of Hasegawa add-on kits. 

My Geasel may soon have a companion: I just couldn't resist a Trumpeter F-105G "Wild Weasel" that was already discounted and Spue Brothers is marking everything down an additional 10% for their moving sale!

Just what i need...another kit in my stash!

In the meantime, my Geasel is finally getting it's metallics around the exhaust and I may actually finish this thing yet! It's been bad for me the last few weeks, between being sick, work issues, family issues, mounting yard work, and an overall case of the blahs, I haven't done much to it, or even been in the mood. If I manage to finish I will have to load some film in the old clunker camera to get some decent photos.

Bockscar: Those kit markings look familiar somehow....

My Geasel started out with the Gray/green European colors and the 'SP' tailcode but changed to my SEA scheme when it became necessary to strip it down and redo it. I see markings for the weapons? Did your kit include them? Mine was an earlier version and I had to add them from one of Hasegawa add-on kits. 

My Geasel may soon have a companion: I just couldn't resist a Trumpeter F-105G "Wild Weasel" that was already discounted and Spue Brothers is marking everything down an additional 10% for their moving sale!

Just what i need...another kit in my stash!

In the meantime, my Geasel is finally getting it's metallics around the exhaust and I may actually finish this thing yet! It's been bad for me the last few weeks, between being sick, work issues, family issues, mounting yard work, and an overall case of the blahs, I haven't done much to it, or even been in the mood. If I manage to finish I will have to load some film in the old clunker camera to get some decent photos.

Jim:

Here's the sprue:

Here's a pylon load chart:

Looking forward to seeing your build. Congrats on the 105G, I picked up a 1/32 Trumpeter 105G a few years back, that's an armload of styrene, the only place it fits right now is unassembled in the box, on a shelf. I hear you on the Blahs part, this was supposed to be the 'Rapture,' huh?

I hope those instructions sheets help. 

Interesting, because my 1/72 scale kit did not include the missiles, the rails, nor the ECM pod. I had to kit-bash/scratch the mount for the pod as nothing was provided for the Phantom. I haven't decided on whether or not I will include the center-line tank but the kit didn't provide the stubby pylon for it-it's molded onto the tank itself. I may have to make that as well, as it is too thin to slice off the tank.

jimbot58

Interesting, because my 1/72 scale kit did not include the missiles, the rails, nor the ECM pod. I had to kit-bash/scratch the mount for the pod as nothing was provided for the Phantom. I haven't decided on whether or not I will include the center-line tank but the kit didn't provide the stubby pylon for it-it's molded onto the tank itself. I may have to make that as well, as it is too thin to slice off the tank.

Maybe it's less expensive to cut tools for 1/48? The interesting thing about the kit was that they also included a one-piece canopy not on that parts list, and an extra set of intakes, and loads. Clearly they intended the tooling for a couple of versions, all they have to do is sub the radome/nose parts. The wing keel section has the inside gear-well doors molded in the open position. 

Son Of Medicine Man

berny13:

Sparrowhyperion:

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

Thank you Berny!  You saved me hours of looking.  Beyond the squadron and wing logo, were there any other unique markings, or was it just standard SEA camo?

Rich

 

The wing patch was on the right intake, squadron patch on the left.  The shark mouth was painted on almost all of our jets before departure to Thailand for Linebacker.  Top fin cap was all dark blue but I wouldn't be able to tell you the FS number.  As I said before the TAC patch on the tail was painted out and so were all names on the canopy.  The lower part of the canopy frames was the same blue as the fin cap.  All other markings were standard SEA camo. 

 

Hi Berny,

Since I am already doing an "E" model with the hard wing, would you mind if I changed mine to the "260"?

Ken

Not at all.  I just hope I will be able to see it.

Sparrowhyperion

Lookie what I found on eBay!!!

All I need are some white number stencils now.  It's amazing what you can find over there if you just look enough.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Thank you for sharing that!  I just ordered a set too!

Ken

Cool.  Not a bad price for a hard to find set either.  I wish I had a more colorful shot to see the exact blue of that tail topper.  It looks like a bit of cobalt blue mixed with some intermediate blue and a tough of duck egg.

Son Of Medicine Man

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Lookie what I found on eBay!!!

All I need are some white number stencils now.  It's amazing what you can find over there if you just look enough.

Rich

 

 

Hi Rich,

Thank you for sharing that!  I just ordered a set too!

Ken

Sparrowhyperion

Cool.  Not a bad price for a hard to find set either.  I wish I had a more colorful shot to see the exact blue of that tail topper.  It looks like a bit of cobalt blue mixed with some intermediate blue and a tough of duck egg.

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Lookie what I found on eBay!!!

All I need are some white number stencils now.  It's amazing what you can find over there if you just look enough.

Rich

 

 

Hi Rich,

Thank you for sharing that!  I just ordered a set too!

Ken

 

Hi Rich,

The picture of the decal placement shows an FS number but it is blury.  The best I can guess is FS35095.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Sparrowhyperion:

Cool.  Not a bad price for a hard to find set either.  I wish I had a more colorful shot to see the exact blue of that tail topper.  It looks like a bit of cobalt blue mixed with some intermediate blue and a tough of duck egg.

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Lookie what I found on eBay!!!

All I need are some white number stencils now.  It's amazing what you can find over there if you just look enough.

Rich

 

 

Hi Rich,

Thank you for sharing that!  I just ordered a set too!

Ken

 

 

Hi Rich,

The picture of the decal placement shows an FS number but it is blury.  The best I can guess is FS35095.

Ken

Hi Rich,

If that is the number, I found a company that makes it.  It is Vallejo Model Color - Royal Blue.  Sprue Brothers lists it.

Ken

Ken, we flew only air to air missions.  MIG Cap, Escort, Strike Cap, so we carried only AIM-7 and AIM-9 missles.  Only the '69 models were capable of carrying the new AIM-7F which could be identified by the stripe on the forward wings.  All of our jets were modified  to carry the AIM-9J.  We were the only unit in SEA that could carry them.  The AIM-7E would be loaded if there wasn't enough "F's" to load on each jet.

We always flew with 370 wing tanks and depending on the mission with or without a 600 gallon centerline tank.  An ECM pod would be loaded on one or both inboard pylons.  The type carried would be AN/ALQ-87 and AN/ALQ-101 pods. 

berny13

Ken, we flew only air to air missions.  MIG Cap, Escort, Strike Cap, so we carried only AIM-7 and AIM-9 missles.  Only the '69 models were capable of carrying the new AIM-7F which could be identified by the stripe on the forward wings.  All of our jets were modified  to carry the AIM-9J.  We were the only unit in SEA that could carry them.  The AIM-7E would be loaded if there wasn't enough "F's" to load on each jet.

We always flew with 370 wing tanks and depending on the mission with or without a 600 gallon centerline tank.  An ECM pod would be loaded on one or both inboard pylons.  The type carried would be AN/ALQ-87 and AN/ALQ-101 pods. 

Hi Berny,

Thank you for the intel!  I figured I was going to have to change my load out since it was during a later period and also since it was during Linebacker.  I have sets 1-3 of the Hasegawa munitions so I am assuming that what I need will be in there.  Very cool though!  Loaded to hunt Migs!  Lean and mean!

I have stepped up my progress to make sure it will be done in time for you to see it.  I worked on the new cockpit today.  I painted the "wash" to bring out the detail and also painted the control panels flat black.  I am using enamel and it was too thick so I added thinner.  But I added too much thinner.  It is going to take two coats to cover.  While I am waiting for that to dry I am going to work on the side panels tomorrow night.  I am going to have this cockpit finished by the end of this month (the end of next weekend), one way or another.

Ken

Rich:

Our collaboration is leaving by Fedex Tuesday, should be there Wed. or Thurs. if they don't impound it at customs for containing a styrene replica ECM pod and other devices dangerous to NS. If there's anything else I can do to help move the project along please let me know.

I'm going to try and get those intakes roughed in tomorrow, we'll see how it goes, every time I walk into a room Aurthur beats me to my chair! -not whining, just realistic.

I sent an email to the seller I bought it from to see if he could verify the number.  I'll let you know what he says.

Son Of Medicine Man

 

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

 

Sparrowhyperion:

Cool.  Not a bad price for a hard to find set either.  I wish I had a more colorful shot to see the exact blue of that tail topper.  It looks like a bit of cobalt blue mixed with some intermediate blue and a tough of duck egg.

 

Son Of Medicine Man:

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Lookie what I found on eBay!!!

All I need are some white number stencils now.  It's amazing what you can find over there if you just look enough.

Rich

 

 

Hi Rich,

Thank you for sharing that!  I just ordered a set too!

Ken

 

 

 

 

Hi Rich,

The picture of the decal placement shows an FS number but it is blury.  The best I can guess is FS35095.

Ken

 

 

Hi Rich,

If that is the number, I found a company that makes it.  It is Vallejo Model Color - Royal Blue.  Sprue Brothers lists it.

Ken

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

Bockscar

Rich:

Our collaboration is leaving by Fedex Tuesday, should be there Wed. or Thurs. if they don't impound it at customs for containing a styrene replica ECM pod and other devices dangerous to NS. If there's anything else I can do to help move the project along please let me know.

I'm going to try and get those intakes roughed in tomorrow, we'll see how it goes, every time I walk into a room Aurthur beats me to my chair! -not whining, just realistic.

 

Just some info for all found here:

http://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/f-4/f-4_all.shtml

Hey all,

Well, I'm ready to get going on my Phantom.  The semester's over and I've finished my latest project, so I'm ready to sit down to make some progress on my F-4.  Since the start of this GB, I've been able to steal a few moments at my bench and fondle some plastic.  I've rescribed and riveted the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces, and have started rescribing the fuselage.  I still have a lot to do, but I have a summer of evenings to work on it.

I definitely have my work cut out for me...

Wish me luck!

-O

Working on bits and pieces here:

I've opened up the canopies and worked on removing the masking. Below are the canopies that I just masked and painted the inside, and i wished I had taken a bit more time with the stationary sections and perhaps painted the inside of those. I did shoot on black before the color so the frames will appear black even if a bit shiny.

Also I painted the cover of the chute door as most references I could find showed it as painted and not BMF. I've applied some Parafilm and Tamiya tape masking around the back and soon i will shoot that.

One bad thing I discovered was that while the canopies were sealed up, I had left the insides stuffed with a bit of tissue. It apparently got wet during a exterior wash at some point and the dashboard decals, although sealed, now have a milky look to them. Not much I can do at this point though. I tried a bit of clear brushed on and it made no change.....They aren't really that bad, but I notice it.....

oortiz10

Hey all,

Well, I'm ready to get going on my Phantom.  The semester's over and I've finished my latest project, so I'm ready to sit down to make some progress on my F-4.  Since the start of this GB, I've been able to steal a few moments at my bench and fondle some plastic.  I've rescribed and riveted the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces, and have started rescribing the fuselage.  I still have a lot to do, but I have a summer of evenings to work on it.

I definitely have my work cut out for me...

Wish me luck!

-O

 

O, great looking project, nice work on the Eagles. Are there plans for some kind of explanatory plaque as well? What museum would put up a display without a plaque? -only kidding

Congrats on getting through another semester...

After all the fine grit sanding, I'm getting a bit nervous about the first re-scribe scratch....I'll have to practice a bit first....maybe on the hood of my neighbour's car....lol....

Jim:

"One bad thing I discovered was that while the canopies were sealed up, I had left the insides stuffed with a bit of tissue. It apparently got wet during a exterior wash at some point and the dashboard decals, although sealed, now have a milky look to them. Not much I can do at this point though. I tried a bit of clear brushed on and it made no change.....They aren't really that bad, but I notice it....."

If you sealed them with Future or another acrylic based product it might have been a reaction between that and the moisture. It might dry out on it's own over time...

BTW canopies are looking good, what did you use to mask the inside of your canopies, I might have missed that way back...

Bockscar

"...Are there plans for some kind of explanatory plaque as well? What museum would put up a display without a plaque?

Congrats on getting through another semester...

After all the fine grit sanding, I'm getting a bit nervous about the first re-scribe scratch....I'll have to practice a bit first....maybe on the hood of my neighbour's car"

Hey Bockscar,

Thanks for the kudos!  I did have plans to write up a little plaque, but I noticed that most of the stores displays don't have much in the way of plaques.  Besides, where the display's going to stand is going to be a bit away from the traffic area, so a plaque might be tough to read anyway. 

Good luck with the rescribe.  You know, it's not as hard as you'd think.  Yeah, it's a little time consuming, but if you go into it knowing that and knowing that you're gonna make mistakes (and having a plan to deal with said mistakes), it's really not that bad.  I can only repeat what everyone's already said about rescribing:  start with light strokes and take your time.  You'll be done before you know it! 

I gotta make some progress on this build so I can post some pix.

Cheers!

-O

Sparrowhyperion

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

 

 

I am sorry Rich, but you can't get there from here.  The F-4G had a football antenna on the vert fin cap where the F-4E didn't.  The F-4G also had the APR-38 housing under the nose section where the F-4E had the M-61A1 20 MM cannon.  The rear cockpit instrument panel was different, and Hasagawa does include the correct panel for the F-4G.  The F-4G is a soft wing aircraft so if you plan to convert it to a hard wing aircraft it will not work.  The F-4G had numerous antennas on the vert fin and along the forward fuselage just aft of the radome on both sides.  That is just the major differences that I remember and there are many more. 

LOL.. Oh well..  Back to eBay. :)  That's the last time I believe something I find on a website.  The site I found which was a Wikipedia article, said that the G was basically a Wild Weasel variant of the E...  So now I have a variant kit of everything except the E...

berny13

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

 

 

 

 

I am sorry Rich, but you can't get there from here.  The F-4G had a football antenna on the vert fin cap where the F-4E didn't.  The F-4G also had the APR-38 housing under the nose section where the F-4E had the M-61A1 20 MM cannon.  The rear cockpit instrument panel was different, and Hasagawa does include the correct panel for the F-4G.  The F-4G is a soft wing aircraft so if you plan to convert it to a hard wing aircraft it will not work.  The F-4G had numerous antennas on the vert fin and along the forward fuselage just aft of the radome on both sides.  That is just the major differences that I remember and there are many more. 

berny13

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

 

 

 

 

I am sorry Rich, but you can't get there from here.  The F-4G had a football antenna on the vert fin cap where the F-4E didn't.  The F-4G also had the APR-38 housing under the nose section where the F-4E had the M-61A1 20 MM cannon.  The rear cockpit instrument panel was different, and Hasagawa does include the correct panel for the F-4G.  The F-4G is a soft wing aircraft so if you plan to convert it to a hard wing aircraft it will not work.  The F-4G had numerous antennas on the vert fin and along the forward fuselage just aft of the radome on both sides.  That is just the major differences that I remember and there are many more. 

Berny, in case I am not interpreting correctly or missed it, did you work on the G Wild Weasel variety? Aircraft #'s if you recall?

Berny.  Can you tell me the difference between an E and an EJ?  Thanks

Rich

I was a bit confused too.  The site I found that image of 69-260  on said it was a G.  But the decals say E.  I am sooooo confused.. lol.  That's why I was initially looking for a G model.

Bockscar

 

berny13:

 

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

 

 

 

 

I am sorry Rich, but you can't get there from here.  The F-4G had a football antenna on the vert fin cap where the F-4E didn't.  The F-4G also had the APR-38 housing under the nose section where the F-4E had the M-61A1 20 MM cannon.  The rear cockpit instrument panel was different, and Hasagawa does include the correct panel for the F-4G.  The F-4G is a soft wing aircraft so if you plan to convert it to a hard wing aircraft it will not work.  The F-4G had numerous antennas on the vert fin and along the forward fuselage just aft of the radome on both sides.  That is just the major differences that I remember and there are many more. 

 

 

Berny, in case I am not interpreting correctly or missed it, did you work on the G Wild Weasel variety? Aircraft #'s if you recall?

 

Sparrowhyperion

LOL.. Oh well..  Back to eBay. :)  That's the last time I believe something I find on a website.  The site I found which was a Wikipedia article, said that the G was basically a Wild Weasel variant of the E...  So now I have a variant kit of everything except the E...

 

berny13:

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

I am going to try and find a set of the intakes I used on the FGR.2  They look great and it's better than having that big flat surface in there.  I am pretty sure I can use them on the kit since I think the Hasegawa  kit I used for the FGR.2 should have the same basic intake structure as the G kit I will be backdating to an E.  From what I understand, the G and E are almost identical externally so it should work out either way.  If I am incorrect about the external similarity, I hope someone lets me know before I make too much of an idiot of myself.  I am NOT an expert on the Phantom as some in here are.  But I am slowly learning.

Rich

 

 

 

 

I am sorry Rich, but you can't get there from here.  The F-4G had a football antenna on the vert fin cap where the F-4E didn't.  The F-4G also had the APR-38 housing under the nose section where the F-4E had the M-61A1 20 MM cannon.  The rear cockpit instrument panel was different, and Hasagawa does include the correct panel for the F-4G.  The F-4G is a soft wing aircraft so if you plan to convert it to a hard wing aircraft it will not work.  The F-4G had numerous antennas on the vert fin and along the forward fuselage just aft of the radome on both sides.  That is just the major differences that I remember and there are many more. 

 

The "G" started life off as an "E" but was castrated to convert to a Wild Wease. 

Sparrowhyperion

Berny.  Can you tell me the difference between an E and an EJ?  Thanks

Rich

Hi Rich,

I am not trying to answer for Berny, but the 1/48 scale Hasegawa F-4EJ is the way to go if you want a hard wing F-4E in 1/48 scale.  And there were two just posted on ebay.  Here is a link to them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/HASEGAWA-1-48-F-4-EJ-PHANTOM-II-/260788922725?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb83b2965 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hasegawa-1-48-F-4EJ-Japanese-Phantom-II-/200611581802?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb561cf6a 

Ken

Bockscar

 

 

 

Berny, in case I am not interpreting correctly or missed it, did you work on the G Wild Weasel variety? Aircraft #'s if you recall?

 

I worked around the F-4G at Spangdahlm AB, Germany from '82-'85.  One tail number I do remember was 69-300, named "Arnold The Pig" and just called "Arnold".  Several members of the 81st TFS remember the jet before it was castrated and turned into a "G".

Arnold was painted in the standard SEA camo.  "Arnold" was painted on the left side of the nose in black block letters.

Ken is correct.  The F-4EJ is a hard wing aircraft without all of the modifications done to later F-4E aircraft.  That would be the way to go for the early F-4E.