Derek B Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share Posted December 18, 2012 Early F-4Bs featured full-span BLC and an unslotted tail, plain fincaps and radome donkey dong with the shiny IR sensor. From around Block 26, in the early sixties, the inboard BLC was deleted and a slotted tail added. These mods were progressively retrofitted to surviving earlier examples during depot rework. I would guess all F-4Bs would have slotted tails by about 1965. Project Shoehorn: from late 1967 or so, the fincap sprouted fore and aft radar warning/launch warning receivers, ditto the radome dong which lost the IR sensor but added a receiver in its place, and new aft-looking sensor underneath. Chaff/flare dispensers were also added to the fuselage, above the engines. This was also incorporated during depot overhauls. This was the standard config for F-4Bs circa late 1967 through to the early 1970s. The project Beeline update in the early 1970s, which created the F-4N, upgraded the DECM to include the ALQ-126, manifested most obviously by antennae on the fwd intake trunks, with a bit of external waveguide ducting behind. VTAS was also added to many F-4Ns, noted by sensors around the pilot's canopy to track pilot head movements to assist with AIM-9G/H lock-on. At this stage aicraft lost the extra radar warning receiver underneath the dong, and many also progressively lost the fwd-facing receiver on the fincap. The CAM decals are predominantly for the late F-4B, pre F-4N jets. Tony T That is useful Tony - Thanks. Regards Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Cross Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Would the Jolly Rogers set from 1965 be Early B? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Bill, it sure would I have it planned as my first USN Phantom. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngtiger1 Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Derek, I don't know if you already know about this site, but here it is... http://aviation.watergeek.eu/f4b-panel.html I found it while looking up stuff F-4B/N drones. Hope it will answer some questions you might have about these jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 (edited) Have been flicking through books with pics of Navy F-4Bs and it appears that many still featured the UNslotted tail stabs well into the later 1960s. It obviously took a while longer for this mod to percolate back through earlier BuNos than I had realised earlier. Maybe Tailspin Turtle can come through with some precise info on the dates of AFC airframe changes etc.? Found this stuff by Tommy: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/you-cant-tell-phantoms-without-score.html It indicates that the slotted rear stab was only introduced on F-4Bs from around March 1966, and retrofitted to earlier examples over the ensuing years. I was about by 3 years on that one, for which apologies! One of the best sources for colour pics IMHO is US Navy Phantoms, Atlantic & Pacific Fleet Units 1960-2004, #3 in the Double Ugly F-4 series of hardbacks (# 1 & 2 were on Israeli F-4/RF-4s, and #4 is on RAF/FAA F-4s). That series is shaping up to be the definitive bookset on the F-4 Phamily. The old Lou Drendel books published by Squadron Signal are also real gold mines for pics. Tony T Edited December 19, 2012 by Tony T Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Cross Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Bill, it sure would I have it planned as my first USN Phantom. Barry Thanks, Barry. Ordered from Hannants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Derek, I don't know if you already know about this site, but here it is... http://aviation.wate.../f4b-panel.html I found it while looking up stuff F-4B/N drones. Hope it will answer some questions you might have about these jets. Thanks Mike - haven't seen it for a long while, but I have now book marked it. Cheers Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Have been flicking through books with pics of Navy F-4Bs and it appears that many still featured the UNslotted tail stabs well into the later 1960s. It obviously took a while longer for this mod to percolate back through earlier BuNos than I had realised earlier. Maybe Tailspin Turtle can come through with some precise info on the dates of AFC airframe changes etc.? Found this stuff by Tommy: http://tailspintopic...hout-score.html It indicates that the slotted rear stab was only introduced on F-4Bs from around March 1966, and retrofitted to earlier examples over the ensuing years. I was about by 3 years on that one, for which apologies! One of the best sources for colour pics IMHO is US Navy Phantoms, Atlantic & Pacific Fleet Units 1960-2004, #3 in the Double Ugly F-4 series of hardbacks (# 1 & 2 were on Israeli F-4/RF-4s, and #4 is on RAF/FAA F-4s). That series is shaping up to be the definitive bookset on the F-4 Phamily. The old Lou Drendel books published by Squadron Signal are also real gold mines for pics. Tony T Thanks Tony - page book marked also. Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael931080 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 One of the best sources for colour pics IMHO is US Navy Phantoms, Atlantic & Pacific Fleet Units 1960-2004, #3 in the Double Ugly F-4 series of hardbacks (# 1 & 2 were on Israeli F-4/RF-4s, and #4 is on RAF/FAA F-4s). That series is shaping up to be the definitive bookset on the F-4 Phamily. The old Lou Drendel books published by Squadron Signal are also real gold mines for pics. Tony T Was going to mention this book too Tony, but you beat me to the punch. Excellent series! Derek B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Derek Getting ready for the F-4B conversion when it's ready to go. Of course, as soon as it's a definite which kit it will use , I'll buy one and put it away. I dug through my decal files and found this sheet. Has to be my favorite F4 scheme of all time! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted December 21, 2012 Author Share Posted December 21, 2012 Derek Getting ready for the F-4B conversion when it's ready to go. Of course, as soon as it's a definite which kit it will use , I'll buy one and put it away. I dug through my decal files and found this sheet. Has to be my favorite F4 scheme of all time! Peter Nice sheet Peter - the F-4B's certainly wore some colorful markings Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Derek The Phantoms sure knew how to dress! I'm not sure how long I had the sheet or from where I even bought it. But it;s the one I'm planning on using. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I have already done that scheme. It is one very beautiful airplane. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phasephantomphixer Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Derek Getting ready for the F-4B conversion when it's ready to go. Of course, as soon as it's a definite which kit it will use , I'll buy one and put it away. I dug through my decal files and found this sheet. Has to be my favorite F4 scheme of all time! Peter AKA "The Can Opener" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Williams Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Also, "Supersonic Can Opener" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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