Gamera

Russ: Thanks but you do me too much credit. They're both 1/48th- I'd never have the hand eye coordination to do something like that in teeny 1/72nd!  

Never you mind, bud. That's a fine job at any scale!

Russ

Striker8241

Gamera

Russ: Thanks but you do me too much credit. They're both 1/48th- I'd never have the hand eye coordination to do something like that in teeny 1/72nd!  

Never you mind, bud. That's a fine job at any scale!

Russ

Ditto that!!!

Dom

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Thank you Russ for the compliments!  Hmm.... HF radio compartment....  hmm... must resist customization...  urge is becoming strong....  must complete model before I die...    

Ken

 

 

Lol Ken! Go into the light! Resist! Resist!   BTW, does your book show that compartment?

Russ

I did try to find it, the one thing the book does not have is an index where you can look up a particular part by name.  It has everything grouped together by area.  So I did look where the book is showing all the parts of the area around the vertical stabilizer but I did not see it.  But I did not look real hard, so it may be there and I just do not know what I am looking for.  The book does show all the antennas so it may be possible that it does have it.

Ken

Ken,

Where did it show the location of the HF antenna?

Russ

Bockscar

Ken:

Thanks for reminding me friend, sometimes I forget to back off on things like caustic, CA, and toluene.

But I keep coming back to beer, and the doctor says to back off on that too

Beeeauty pal!

That freighter?

Russian.

Dom

Hi Dom,

I knew you would like this.  The freighter is a Russian ship that is supposed to be transporting the missiles back OUT of Cuba.  This drawing is supposed to be depicting one of the flyovers to verify that the missiles were being dismantled and being shipped back.

Ken

Striker8241

Ken,

Where did it show the location of the HF antenna?

Russ

Okay, maybe the book is calling it something else.  Is there another name for it?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Bockscar

Ken:

Thanks for reminding me friend, sometimes I forget to back off on things like caustic, CA, and toluene.

But I keep coming back to beer, and the doctor says to back off on that too

Beeeauty pal!

That freighter?

Russian.

Dom

Hi Dom,

I knew you would like this.  The freighter is a Russian ship that is supposed to be transporting the missiles back OUT of Cuba.  This drawing is supposed to be depicting one of the flyovers to verify that the missiles were being dismantled and being shipped back.

Ken

the Aircraft?

Mig-19,

maybe a Sukhoi,

fuselage is long in front of the wings, that may be

artist's licence. Cannot be a Mig-15-17.

but as a former CIA analyst, my powers are waning....lol

Dom

Bockscar

Do like

the Aircraft?

Mig-19,

maybe a Sukhoi,

fuselage is long in front of the wings, that may be

artist's licence. Cannot be a Mig-15-17.

but as a former CIA analyst, my powers are waning....lol

Dom

I think that might be the shadow of the Voodoo flying overhead.  I will be able to tell for sure when it shows up.

Ken

AAAhhh I hear you on that, but the shadow is behind the VooDoo....

So the artist should have reversed the lighting on the ship and building.

If that is the VooDoo's shadow, and I think you are right, Ken, the artist made a mistake.

The starboard of that ship, and the side of that building should be in the light, not in the shadow

as the artist has depicted.

The building, and the ship, should be casting a shadow in full parallel to the shadow of the VooDoo.

The Voodoo is at about a 30 degree offset from its shadow.

It is a great picture, not trying to diss that work at all.

but i taught guys down at Langley how to read shadows...LOL....

See where the most light is reflecting off the 101?

That is wheere the light should be reflecting off the ship, and building.

Light rays from the star 'sun' are perfectly parallel to us here on earth, the

deviance is in the angular trillionths, so, all objects on the ground should be lit up the

same as the VooDoo, and they are not, according to the artist.

if I can get one of those prints Ken, let me know, I still love that artwork.

Dom

PS:

Lighting on the tail, vertical stab, and fuel tank, do not agree to the sun.....lol

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Ken,

Where did it show the location of the HF antenna?

Russ

Okay, maybe the book is calling it something else.  Is there another name for it?

Ken

Hey, Ken,

The F-4B had an ARC-104 HF/SSB transceiver. There was an AN/ARC-105  HF Radio in the RF-4C for sure. There was also an AN/ARC-182 HF/VHF/UHF Radio Set manufactured by Collins that was used in F-4s but I don't know which ones. Maybe all of them.

Thanks,

Russ

Hey All,

Ever wondered what equipment designations like "AN/ALA-17" stands for? Here's a useful link that lists all of the designations used by U.S. Military Electronic and Communications Equipment.

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/electronics.html#_JETDS_AN_Listings

Scroll up to see a breakdown of other codes and designators.

If I've posted this before, chalk it up to poor memory skills... ahh... what were we talking about?

Cheers

Russ

Striker8241

Hey All,

Ever wondered what equipment designations like "AN/ALA-17" stands for? Here's a useful link that lists all of the designations used by U.S. Military Electronic and Communications Equipment.

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/electronics.html#_JETDS_AN_Listings

Scroll up to see a breakdown of other codes and designators.

 

If I've posted this before, chalk it up to poor memory skills... ahh... what were we talking about?

Cheers

Russ

We were talking about the merits of the old analogue fusing technology, digital fusing technology, or the newer quantum fusing technology.

Quantum tech piggy-backs on GPS, IQPC, and IDGA protocols to precisely locate a missile's spatio-temporal co-ordinates to specifically determine it's kinetic outcome.

memory skills, who are you again????....lol

What were we talking about, oh yeah, AN/ALA-17, communications equipment.

LMAO....I'm just trying to keep up Russ, BS baffles brains, my eyes glaze over when i begin to realize the scope of the ops, yikes.........., just the documentation, or the Air Force's attempt at documenting all of the systems, is staggering.

Dom

Hey all!

So many discussions, I can't comments on them all!

First off, Thanks for the Birthday greetings! It meant more to me than the stupid text message my stupid sister sent me! How warm was that?

Finally got my detail set. I read the editorial in the newest issue of FSM, and he said that adding detail was almost addictive. I'm starting to agree!

I like the idea of using the vinegar for the resin. I probably have exposed myself to enough chemicals as it is. I soak the PE parts in vinegar for a bit, it etches the surface a bit. I don't know if it helps or not, but it never hurts to try make the paint and glue stick a bit better.

I worked a bit more on the seams underneath the LEX and I hate to say it, but I don't know if the glazing putty is a good thing or not. I get a smother finish with CA, although it is a pain to sand off. Plus the putty won't take a rescribing very well.

I also started on the cockpit details:

You can see I took of the arm consoles. What the heck, I have an extra set now, and I need to repaint the tub again once all the parts are attached. The upper part as well, also because you can see where I've worn away some of the paint.

Another view of the rear deck:

You can see it's turned a bit dark from the vinegar etching.

Bockscar

Gamera

Anyway here are the cockpit photos I promised. Funny my Droid phone takes better close-up photos than my expensive camera...

F4F, all straight from the box except for adding Eduard PE seatbelts. Weird that there was no decal for the instrument panel so I just dry-brushed it. There is a little blue tape in the wheel wells, I find it easier to mask them off from the inside before assembly and pull the tape out when done. 

F6F, all the PE came with the kit. Please excuse the sloppy yellow zinc chromate on the back of the seat. Only after assembly I found out the interior of the Hellcat was painted in yellow zinc chromate except for the cockpit which was interior green. The only visible area is seen though the small windows behind the cockpit so I just brushed the area, not much can be seen. 

Zounds Cliff!

What a nice table cloth!!!....lol

Really beautiful build there, pilot's bucket has nice weathering, and great work

on those straps. Did you use a jeweler's lupe for those buckles? Very nice.

Looking forward to the rest of that build for sure. i can't believe how small that reserve gas tank is, i don't know, but what, 10 gallons, or is it something else?

Photo Source: www.warbirdalley.com

She's a beauty plane alright!

Dom

Len

I was thinking the yellow tank was for windshield washer fluid... Seriously I have no idea, I'll have to look it up. Thanks guys, can't take too much credit, all the PE was the Eduard ZOOM pre-painted variety, I just glued the parts in place.

Ken: That's cool to know about 'Gus'. I became interested in him after he got hit with all the krap about the blown hatch on his capsule when he wasn't responsible. And a few years ago on the NASA tour I got the see the pad where Grissom, White, and Chaffee burned to death on Apollo I. It's just a abandoned concrete pad now with weeds around it but still a sad depressing place.

Jim: Nice work! I've always just used PE without washing it, I wonder if the vinegar will take the paint off pre-painted PE. I like the black patina seems like with a little paint the black will pre-shade it.  

Funny Cliff...

You want to know what`ll take the paint off of PE???  ....salt water. I had every PE set for a 1/48 B-17G...I was planning on super-detailing Revellogram`s " Visible " kit, after obtaining all of the resin A/M parts. I rescued all of the PE but stupidly didn`t remove the sets from the packaging thinking, "they`re metal, they`ll dry off eventually"...well, 90% of the PE is ruined beyond use...even the brass,or whatever they use now, is in a state of crumbling. The only one that is intact is the cockpit set. All of them were pre-painted and self adhesive sets....

Took me quite a while to collect them all thru Ebay, at good prices, and seriously doubt if I`ll get the same good deals on them again...but I`m hopeful.

Len

Ouch Len, it'd figured on the hurricane and flooding destroying your decals, the box, and instructions but didn't realize it would destroy the PE too. Now that sucks...

Striker8241

Son Of Medicine Man

Striker8241

Ken,

Where did it show the location of the HF antenna?

Russ

Okay, maybe the book is calling it something else.  Is there another name for it?

Ken

Hey, Ken,

The F-4B had an ARC-104 HF/SSB transceiver. There was an AN/ARC-105  HF Radio in the RF-4C for sure. There was also an AN/ARC-182 HF/VHF/UHF Radio Set manufactured by Collins that was used in F-4s but I don't know which ones. Maybe all of them.

Thanks,

Russ

Hi Russ,

I do not in any way doubt your expertise on what you are saying.  You have probably exposed the limitations of the author's expertise on the subject of the F-4.  I have scanned through the book as best I can, it is possible I still may have missed it but that radio and antenna is not mentioned.

Here is a list of radio antennas that is shown along the top spine of the fuselage:

IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antenna

SST-181X beacon antenna (installed during the Vietnam War to improve bombing accuracy)

TACAN (TACtical Air Navigation) blade antenna (added early in F-4E production and retrofitted to earlier F-4Es and RF-4Cs later.  The F-4C and F-4D do not have this antenna.)

APR-38/47 Upper Special Warning antenna (specific to only the F-4G)

Now the book does mention that there was a UHF antenna inside the top of the vertical stabilizer.

The following is a direct quote from the book, "The Modern Phantom Guide" by Jake Melampy on page 129 discussing the vertical stabilizer antennas:

"A Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) antenna is located in a fairing at the top of the stabilizer on most F-4s.  This antenna's shape has changed a couple times over the years as improvements to the RWR system were made.  Early F-4Cs were initially delivered without RWR gear, thus no fairing at the stabilizer.  However, an AN/APR-25 system was soon retrofitted, with an appropriate antenna on the fairing.  F-4Ds received the AN/APS-107A, in a less pointy, oval-shaped fairing.  Later in the F-4D's life, many jets were upgraded with the AN/APS-107E featuring a rounder, more blunt, antenna fairing.  Many F-4Es, especially early models, feature the fairing.  However, later in their careers, the RWR gear was removed, leaving the fairing empty.  Some F-4s kept the fairing until they were retired from service; many other jets later had a new fincap installed without the fairing.  All ARN-101 equipped F-4Es lack the fairing, as does the RF-4C, F-4EJ, and the F-4F.  A small navigation light is at the rear tip of the stabilizer, above the fairing, on all F-4 models (excluding the F-4G).

The vertical stabilizer of the F-4G features a sheet metal pod at its top housing additional Weasel-specific antenna, including the aft high-band antenna for the APR-38/47.  An additional black low-band antenna is located on each side of the stabilizer, forward of the upper half of the formation strip light."

The book also shows that there was RWR antenna added to the rear of the drag chute door beginning with the F-4D's AN/APS-107A.

Ken

Striker8241

Hey All,

Ever wondered what equipment designations like "AN/ALA-17" stands for? Here's a useful link that lists all of the designations used by U.S. Military Electronic and Communications Equipment.

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/electronics.html#_JETDS_AN_Listings

Scroll up to see a breakdown of other codes and designators.

 

If I've posted this before, chalk it up to poor memory skills... ahh... what were we talking about?

Cheers

Russ

Thank you for the link Russ!  Very cool to have this information available.

Ken

jimbot58

Hey all!

So many discussions, I can't comments on them all!

First off, Thanks for the Birthday greetings! It meant more to me than the stupid text message my stupid sister sent me! How warm was that?

Finally got my detail set. I read the editorial in the newest issue of FSM, and he said that adding detail was almost addictive. I'm starting to agree!

I like the idea of using the vinegar for the resin. I probably have exposed myself to enough chemicals as it is. I soak the PE parts in vinegar for a bit, it etches the surface a bit. I don't know if it helps or not, but it never hurts to try make the paint and glue stick a bit better.

I worked a bit more on the seams underneath the LEX and I hate to say it, but I don't know if the glazing putty is a good thing or not. I get a smother finish with CA, although it is a pain to sand off. Plus the putty won't take a rescribing very well.

I also started on the cockpit details:

You can see I took of the arm consoles. What the heck, I have an extra set now, and I need to repaint the tub again once all the parts are attached. The upper part as well, also because you can see where I've worn away some of the paint.

Another view of the rear deck:

You can see it's turned a bit dark from the vinegar etching.

Nice work once again Jim!  I just can't keep up with you!  How you can produce the amount of detail work you do just boggles my mind!  Looks fantastic as always!     

Ken

troublemaker66

Funny Cliff...

You want to know what`ll take the paint off of PE???  ....salt water. I had every PE set for a 1/48 B-17G...I was planning on super-detailing Revellogram`s " Visible " kit, after obtaining all of the resin A/M parts. I rescued all of the PE but stupidly didn`t remove the sets from the packaging thinking, "they`re metal, they`ll dry off eventually"...well, 90% of the PE is ruined beyond use...even the brass,or whatever they use now, is in a state of crumbling. The only one that is intact is the cockpit set. All of them were pre-painted and self adhesive sets....

Took me quite a while to collect them all thru Ebay, at good prices, and seriously doubt if I`ll get the same good deals on them again...but I`m hopeful.

Len

Wow Len, that is such a bummer!  I feel so sad for you.  It makes me think what a catastrophe it would be if a tornado or fire were to destroy my home!  I have so much stuff that I know I could not get replaced.  And you are still dealing with it everyday with the government dragging their sorry ass tails.  Any new word yet on getting your money?

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

 

Thank you for the link Russ!  Very cool to have this information available.

Ken

You're more than welcome, Ken!  

Russ

Hi Everyone,

Well I am calling the avionics bay done.  I added some touches of brass to mimic where pipe had been brazed together.  Here it is:

Next on the agenda is the engines.  Details, details.  I think you are right Jim, I am addicted to details! 

Ken 

Good job, Ken!

Striker8241

Good job, Ken!

Thank you Russ!

Ken

Looks good Ken! Yay, on to the things that make the plane go zoooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm!!!

Gamera

Looks good Ken! Yay, on to the things that make the plane go zoooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm!!!

Thanks Cliff!  I forgot to mention that they are the Aires resin aftermarket ones.  Great detail.  Here is a link to a review of them:

http://www.arcair.com/Rev1/301-400/Rev349-AiresExhaustsF-4-Toll/00.shtm 

Ken

Ohhhhh Ken, nice cans!

(not something I say to many guys....)

Gamera

Ohhhhh Ken, nice cans!

(not something I say to many guys....)

That made me laugh!   

Ken

troublemaker66

Bockscar

Gamera

Anyway here are the cockpit photos I promised. Funny my Droid phone takes better close-up photos than my expensive camera...

F4F, all straight from the box except for adding Eduard PE seatbelts. Weird that there was no decal for the instrument panel so I just dry-brushed it. There is a little blue tape in the wheel wells, I find it easier to mask them off from the inside before assembly and pull the tape out when done. 

F6F, all the PE came with the kit. Please excuse the sloppy yellow zinc chromate on the back of the seat. Only after assembly I found out the interior of the Hellcat was painted in yellow zinc chromate except for the cockpit which was interior green. The only visible area is seen though the small windows behind the cockpit so I just brushed the area, not much can be seen. 

Zounds Cliff!

What a nice table cloth!!!....lol

Really beautiful build there, pilot's bucket has nice weathering, and great work

on those straps. Did you use a jeweler's lupe for those buckles? Very nice.

Looking forward to the rest of that build for sure. i can't believe how small that reserve gas tank is, i don't know, but what, 10 gallons, or is it something else?

Photo Source: www.warbirdalley.com

She's a beauty plane alright!

Dom

Hey Dom! I believe that small yellow tank is for engine oil  Cliff can confirm or deny but I`m pretty sure that`s what it is.  

Len

Hear you on that, it looked way too small for a gas tank.

Photo credit: www.richard-seaman.com

Deadly piece of aluminum......

Dom